With its unique foliage, heart-shaped leaves, and easy-care requirements, the Monstera 'Thai Constellation' has become one of the most popular houseplants among the plant community and we're here to help you nurture it into a staple in your collection.
Care
The Monstera 'Thai Constellation' is a star in the world of houseplants. Ensuring its well-being is a straightforward yet rewarding journey. Here are some care tips to keep your Monstera 'Thai Constellation' thriving:
Lighting: Keep your 'Thai Constellation' in a bright spot with indirect sunlight. Steer clear of direct sun rays to protect those variegated leaves.- If lighting in your space is limited, we recommend using a grow light to help your Monstera thrive!
- Pro-tip: signs of overwatering are yellowing and browning leaves, while signs of under watering are curled leaves and drooping stems.
- You may see droplets coming from the tip of your leaves but don't worry! This is a scientific process similar to dew that is common in houseplants called guttation.
Humidity: Originating from the humid Thai rainforests, your Monstera is going to appreciate a bit of moisture in the air. If your humidity is low, try using a humidifier near your plant or creating a pebble tray! Aim for above 60% humidity.
Fertilizing: During peak growing season (Spring to Summer), feed your plant with a well-balanced liquid fertilizer no more than every 2-4 weeks. The energy boost will encourage vibrant, healthy foliage.
- Check out our Organic Plant Care Solutions
Supporting growth: As your 'Thai Constellation' grows, offer it some support with a moss pole or a trellis to promote larger leaves and keep it from falling over.
How can I get splits in the leaves?
Fenestration are a direct result of maturation and lighting conditions. You can expect your 'Thai Constellation' to put out those iconic leaves in about 1 year – encourage more once they start by providing as much light as you can without leaving your plant in direct sun, especially during the hottest parts of the day.
Repotting
Why Repotting Matters:
Your plants need space to grow and flourish! Over time, they outgrow their containers, exhaust the nutrients in the soil, and become rootbound. Repotting provides plants with fresh soil, room to stretch their roots, and access to fresh nutrients.
When to Repot:
- Roots are spilling over: if you see roots escaping through drainage holes or circling the surface of the soil, it’s a sign that your plant is feeling cramped.
- Stagnant growth: If your once-vibrant plant is showing slowed growth, it might be struggling to find the resources it needs in its current pot.
- Water doesn’t soak in: When water starts to pool on the soil’s surface rather than being absorbed, it indicates compacted soil – a signal that repotting is in order.
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Choose the right pot: Opt for a pot that is no more than 1-2 inches larger in diameter than the current one. Make sure it has drainage holes in the bottom!
- Pro-tip: If you’re reusing a pot, disinfect it before use with a mix of 3% hydrogen peroxide and water. This will reduce potential threats like fungi or harmful bacteria from harming the pot’s new resident.
- Terracotta vs. Plastic: If you tend to overwater, terracotta is ideal for you since it wicks away excess moisture from the soil. On the other hand, clear plastic pots allow you to see the roots and moisture levels at a glance.
- Size matters: Look for deeper pots as the Monstera 'Thai Constellation' likes to have a deep root system.
- Grab some new soil: You want to look for something tailored to your home conditions - commercial mixes may not always be suitable! Go for a high-quality blend of mediums including perlite, orchid bark, or coconut coir to keep the soil chunky for aeration.
- Be careful: Remove your plant from its pot carefully, being mindful of the roots. You don't have to separate them if they are wound together but while you're looking, inspect the roots for any signs of disease or damage. If you spot anything, you can trim any affected roots away with sanitized shears.
- Transferring: Place your rootball in the center of the new pot and fill the sides and top with your fresh soil. Water thoroughly to settle the soil and hydrate the roots.
- Our signature soil – Dirt Bag – is hand-mixed with just the right ingredients, perfect for these Monsteras!
What is this sponge thing?
Our Monstera 'Thai Constellation' are grown in a specialty medium layer called a FlexiPlug. It's a blend of high-quality peat, coconut coir, organics, and micronutrients that contain active biologicals – it has all the elements needed to promote root growth and young plant vigor!
Not only does the FlexiPlug provide excellent support for seed germination and root development – it's also pH-balanced to ensure optimal growth.
If you're over the science talk, this medium just makes the entire process of growing these rare plants easier and more successful than ever before so they are accessible to anyone who wants one!
When it's time to repot, there's no need to stress about removing the FlexiPlug - it's actually doing great things for your Monstera by providing consistent moisture and nurturing root development. It'll breakdown over time in any medium so no rush to remove it – in fact, peeling it off could be a bit rough on your plant.
