In most cases, decorative crops grown in apartments were brought to Europe and Russia from tropical countries. The spectacular Monstera delicate (Monstera deliciosa) is no exception in this regard. Once upon a time, this unusual plant was imported from Guatemala to England. Later it began to grow throughout Europe and in Russia.
Legend
The name of this flower comes from the Latin word Monstrum, meaning "monster". This is due to one of the legends that once went about this plant. The conquerors of the new continent - America - often found under the monster, reaching in nature just huge sizes, the remains of small animals and their comrades, "pierced" by its aerial roots. Because of this, rumors began to circulate among the settlers about a vampire tree that kills people.
But, of course, the monste was not at fault for the death of the pioneers in the jungle. A dying person is always subconsciously seeking at least some refuge. And the wide leaves of the monstera in the jungle were the best suited for this purpose. The aerial roots of the plant pierced, of course, already the skeletons of dead people and animals. In the end, it turned out. However, the awesome name for the monster was fixed and preserved to this day.
general description
The tropical monstera is a delicious one, the photo of which, presented on the page, shows its spectacular appearance visually, to the Aroid family and is a very large plant with spreading leaves. Even in indoor conditions, this decorative culture can grow up to 2-3 meters in a fairly short time. The leaves of the monstera are dark green pinnate-dissected. In diameter, they can reach 1 m. It is spectacular leaves that represent the main decorative value of this plant.
Monstera flowers grow in the form of a long cob. The fruits of this plant are edible. However, under indoor conditions, this decorative culture never blooms. In the wild, its fruits can reach a length of 30 cm. In shape, like an inflorescence, they resemble an ear. The peel of the fruits of the monstera is dense, and the flesh is soft and juicy. To taste, the cobs of this plant resemble pineapple and banana at the same time. That is why the monstera got an additional name - delicious.
Biological features
The delicious delicacy among indoor plant lovers earned its popularity primarily for its relative unpretentiousness. To grow this decorative culture is not difficult even for an inexperienced grower. The advantages of monsters, among other things, include a high degree of instability.
In the wild, this tree grows under the canopy of higher tropical giants. Therefore, sunlight in the jungle is usually not enough for him. This explains the cirrus structure of the leaves of the plant. This shape allows the crown to receive the maximum amount of light. Moreover, water does not linger on dissected leaves during tropical rains. Consequently, the roots of the plant receive a sufficient amount of moisture.
Monstera belongs to the class of shade resistant plants. However, in a room, and especially in winter, it should still be placed closer to the window. With a lack of ultraviolet light, this plant develops worse. The monstera’s crown thins, the internodes lengthen, and the leaves become solid, losing their spectacular dissection.
What you need to know
Monstera does not belong to the group of poisonous plants. However, its thin needle-villi can greatly irritate the skin - until the appearance of blisters. Therefore, care must be taken when caring for the monster.
Is it possible to keep a monster delicious at home
The Monstera deliciosa plant is really very effective and can become a real decoration of any apartment. However, many lovers of decorative indoor crops are still interested in whether it can be kept at home. Such fears are associated primarily with the awesome name of the monster and the legends that once circulated about it.
There are really no grounds for concern among lovers of indoor flowers growing this plant in the apartment. Monstera’s culture is even useful in some ways. Its leaves emit just a huge amount of oxygen and moisture, which favorably affects the microclimate of the room. Also, the leaves of monstera are able to absorb formaldehyde contained, as you know, in chipboard, from which modern furniture is also made.
Energy Impact
In this regard, the delicate monstera plant is also not considered a harmful one. Many believe that it is capable of absorbing chaotic vibrations, streamlining thoughts. It is also believed that this plant can harmonize the state of mind and help the development of host intelligence.
Features of caring for a delicious monster
The roots of this decorative culture are distributed far on the surface of the earth, without penetrating too deeply. Therefore, the capacity for its cultivation is suitable low (about 30 cm), but wide and long (about 40 x 100 cm). They plant a monster at one of the edges of such a box. Holes should be made in the bottom of the latter. Also, expanded clay should be poured into the box for drainage (about 10 cm layer). The top during planting is directed along the tank. With this position, the tree will subsequently give a lot of aerial roots. As soon as the stalk of a delicious monstera reaches the opposite edge of the box, it is attached to some support.
Fertilize this decorative culture with a liquid complex top dressing for indoor flowers or with diluted mullein infusion. Water the plant should be plentiful. But this procedure is recommended not too often. The top layer of land between waterings in a container with a tree should completely dry.
A delicious monstera is propagated, care at home for which, in this way, is simple, in different ways. For example, to get new monsters from the mother plant, you can take green petioles and root them in water or a wet sand-peat mixture. The branches should be taken with one node and one leaf. Longer cuttings take root much worse. When planting in the sand, the assembly should be deepened a little. It is from him that roots will subsequently appear.