Monstera Mint Care

About: 

Monstera Mint are a subspecies of the popular Monstera Deliciosa (a flowering plant native to tropical forests of southern Mexico) characterized by large patches of speckled green (mint) variegation. The come in several flavors including Monstera "Jungle Mint," Monstera Mint NoID and Monstera "Full Mint."

More information on Monstera Mint and the differences between the cultivars can be found HERE. 

FUN FACT - The fruit of variegated Monstera are also variegated! The smell has been compared to a combination of pineapples and bananas. The fruit is edible (safe for humans) and, I'm told, delicious - hence the name.

Family: 

Araceae

Light Requirements: 

While I wouldn't consider any variegated Monstera "low light," Mints are definitely on the lowest compared to other variegated Monstera, as they can go a little bleached (those beautiful deep greens will start looking a bit washed out or yellowish) if getting too much light. 

My shop plants are getting around 150 PPFD (µmol/m²/s) and I'm not actually sure what my mother plant (kept in my house) is getting, but she's near an east-facing window which really only gets direct light in the early morning. 

Temperature & Humidity: 

60 - 80° F (15.5 - 26.5° C) / 50% + Humidity
Monstera, in general, are pretty tolerant to most normal household conditions. As with any tropical plant, they'll certainly do better (grow larger, and a bit faster) with higher temperatures and especially humidity, but they have no problem getting on in less ideal conditions either. They're pretty hardy. 

The one kept in my house is at anywhere between 62-68º and 20-50% RH throughout the year and she's getting on just fine (she's the one pictured above.) 

Watering: 

Monstera like to dry out a bit between waterings. I let mine dry out almost completely before I soak them, usually waiting until I can't see much moisture around the outside of the pot - clear pots make this much easier, or until they feel light using the lift test. You can also check for guttation, or the lack there of, or the leaves are another good indicator - If you notice them drooping or feeling a bit thin, it's probably gone too long without a water. 

Grow Media:

Chunky and well-draining, something heavy with perlite, orchid bark or coco husk. I use this Monstera Mix. They also do alright in semi-hydro (though I do prefer the coir mixes.)  I've had success with both Pon and LECA and even Perlite. They also like to be a bit root-bound, so I would up-pot conservatively and not as routinely as with some other plants.

Growth Rate:

Growth rate is going to depend a lot on your conditions. Faster in ideal conditions or in the summer months, slower if colder or at lower humidity. Generally speaking, as long as your plant is happy and healthy, you can probably expect about one new leaf per month. 

Propagation: 

On a scale of 1 (easiest) to 5 (most difficult) I'd say they're a 2. Propagation is done via stem cuttings with one node / leaf per section.

I've had great success propagating these guys in perlite (treating it like LECA, so in a net pot with a reservoir.) Provided you have a decent size aerial root, they also prop well directly in soil.

Toxicity: 

Mildly toxic if ingested. Please keep out of reach of children and pets. Like all Monstera, they contain calcium oxalate crystals which can cause oral irritation. In rare cases, it can result in painful swelling, vomiting and difficulty swallowing. It's rarely fatal but can be extremely uncomfortable.

Additional Information: 

Monstera are (hemi)epiphytic which means they start their life on the ground and then begin to climb up surrounding vegetation (or structures) as they grow. As such, they definitely do benefit from having a nice support to get their aerial roots in or around. Obviously, traditional moss poles are a popular choice, personally I find them to be a huge enormous pain in the ass (my ass, your ass, all asses everywhere, really) to maintain and so I tend to only use them when I absolutely must.

My Monstera are all on these poles from Mossify, which don't require hourly watering to avoid them becoming hydrophobic like traditional moss poles do. Coir poles are another great option. Some people like to use planks, they climb trees in the wild so I promise they're not particular. Whatever you go with, be prepared to anchor it as the plant gets larger. 

I think that's about it! If you have any questions, or some advice of your own to offer, please feel free to comment below. 

Thanks so much for stopping by!