Looking for answers to your questions I discovered that the splits in your Monstera leaves are botanically known a "fenestrations".

I learned Monsteria were introduced in England in 1792.

That Growing Indoor Plants with Success | UGA Cooperative Extension - Bulletin 1318 is a delightful source of information on light, soil, temperature and moisture for houseplants.

These do not help you in any way. I did read that generally variegated houseplants want a higher temperature and more light than the same species non-variegated, but I could not find anyone would assert this for Monsteria.

Yeah, true... I guess I’ve dine that before with other plants, but they’ve always been established plants rather than a cutting... for some reason I thought that it having less variegation on the cutting might mean it’s genetically got less colour or something? It’s a good price for the size of cutting of a variegated Monstera, so I might just try my luck... worst case I guess I can sell it on haha

You won't get more variegation just by growing in more light.......though the variegation pattern is somewhat unstable so it may alter slightly. However you will more likely to continue to grow similarly variegated leaves as it elongates. The best plants with this unstable type of variegation have a nice marbled mix of green and white. These are much better/valuable than a plant that has say half green and half white leaf. In any case my first Monstera was very similar to yours.....in fact it would only show white in about every other leaf or so along one side of the plant. You would see where the white replicated in a single white line along one side of the stem.....those leaves that occured on that line showed the white. What I did was grew the plant very long. Than cut it into sections of stem each with one leaf. Most grew new stems from the green tissue, but at least one sent out new growth from the area where the white and green met on the stem. This produced a new stem with more white. A big improvement but still not quite what I wanted. When this new plant grew long I cut it up into one leaf sections. One produced new growth with a very nice mix of green and white which I continue to grow.

Whoops I just saw this is not your plant yet. I would try to get one with better variegation to save you time and trouble. Maybe you can trade someone for a piecs as they still go for high prices in catalogs and ebay but are not really difficult to grow.

Thanks Woodnative, I did end up buying the cutting & will give it a shot growing in high light & see if that improves. Certainly my Philodendrons have worked in that way, so hoping this will at least somewhat work!

if that fails, I’ll try cutting up as you said. Sadly mine has no white on the stem, though, so not sure how that’ll work. Might just keep an eye out for a more variegated cutting anyway & plod away with this one in the background ;) haha

Ethanwes, do let us know how it develops. If the mother plant wasn't getting enough light and the cutting is representative of how she was doing overall, then the cutting should be genetically identical. That means more light will produce more variegation. If the cutting is a genetic mutation, there's no telling. And what Woodnative describes is exactly how new cultivars are produced -- taking cuttings of stem sections with atypical leaves and propagating just those segments. It will be interesting to see what you end up with.

Cheers Sage, will let you know how goes....

Hi ethanwes, just wondering how you're cutting went? I've also got a cutting off a parent plant that's variegated, but the leaves on the cutting are all green. Just wondering if the theory of more light etc worked? Cheers

Hey Chevrontreen, for my plant it has kind of worked! It had a few more leaves come through with next to no variegation, but in a spot with direct sun for the first 3-4hrs after sunrise & bright indirect light for the rest of the day it has started putting out leaves with a bit more white... pic below is of the most recent leaf, so still not heaps of white, but it’s something! I hear heat also plays a part in this, so I’m not expecting much from it over the next few months in our winter...

with something fully green I’m less sure - I have heard of variegated Monsteras completely reverting to green & never returning to variegated... wait & see is all you can do, but fingers crossed!!

Got several messages on here & Instagram over the last few months, so thought I’d update anyone who sees this post in future - variegation has continued to slowly improve!

its been slow & I still get the occasional leaf that’s nearly all-green, but on the whole its going well! Pic below is the latest leaf, which now is getting sections like along the top of that leaf there. For the first time, I can now also see decent amounts of white along the stem for the next leaf to come, so I think we’re onto a winner at last!

another update: I cut the plant back to one of the better leaves in December. I’ve now got 4 growing tips/vines, which have mostly shot out all-green leaves with the tiniest specks of white again, but this one vine has given me probably its best leaf yet. The one before it was ok, but not brilliant, but this leaf is looking good!

Love this thread! Best of luck. You have given me some hope :D

I just made an impulse by where I am having buyer's remorse. I was happy to find this thread. Wish me luck!!! I guess it'll be an experiment. I truly just love the shape of the leaf. If it reverts completely back to green, it'll be discouraging as it will be a really expensive green leaf. I suppose it's a gamble no matter what. The good thing is the leaf is rooted, so at least I have a good start in terms of health of the leaf.

I'm looking to get one where did you buy it from?

I have a couple young plants available and occasionally sell on eBay. There are a lot on eBay right now. They are expensive though prices have gone down a bit. Message me if you are interested and if you live in the United States.

Looking to purchase a monstera albo if anyone has any! I live in CA.

I have a few but don’t want to go to the post office at this time because the Coronavirus. If you are still looking when this is over feel free to contact me.

@woodnative do you currently have any monstera albo available for sale on ebay?

hi @ethanwes do you mind updating your current monstera's condition, have you achieved more variegated spreads on new leaves?

Hi,i am new to the group 😊 i just bought my first verigated monsteria

I read that before buying one to maake sure the stem has a definate white line going up each stem ,it has alot of verigation on it ,

@woodnative do you still have any variegated monster cuttings available, I’m very interested

This post is great! I found a very very lightly variegated Monstera at Bunnings amongst normal ones yesterday for $12 and it has the faintest white line about half way up the stem from the roots, and a couple of specs of pale green/white (just a little less than your original leaf). I’m going to experiment with a grow light or just leave it in filtered morning sun to see how it goes! So glad yours turned out so well! Keep us updated if you can!

I too am hoping my monstera reverts to its variegated status with increased light.Someone told me years ago variegation in plants is caused by a virus.It seems if the DNA of the original variegated tissue is still in there,it perhaps can be awakened by gene splicing or hormonal-chemical strategies.I am a licensed nursery grower in Ga.,but am self taught in botany;will continue to research strategies on making my very old plant return to variegation.Thanks for this discussion,Fred R.,owner,Olmstock GreenhousesAugusta,Ga.

Hey Everyone, I found this monstera at the store the other day and am wondering if anyone has any advice as to whether this tricolored stripe is varigation. I have no reason to believe that it is mosaic virus as the plant looks so healthy. Thoughts and advice welcome, thanks!

I'm not looking to pay alto's of $ for it

I'm not trying to sell it. That's why the comment says I'm looking for advice

Here in Ga. The county extension service,part of the University of Ga. Dept.of Ag. has agents and master gardeners who love to provide what resarch is available as well as possible lab testing for maladiies like mosaic virus. Your state probably has the same resource.But like mine,patience,waiting for a change can be frustrating.

Thank you :) I've got the cutting separated from the mother and I'm going to patiently wait to see what it brings. Thanks for your help!

My monstera has thrown an unusual leaf. Hoping for further variegation

Just one section of one leaf

@woodnative Hi there! I’d be interested in purchasing a cutting from you in the future, if you could provide me with a way to keep it touch?

@ethanwes would love to see an update!

I just scored and got a variegated monstera cutting from a lady who had no idea what the plant even was 🤣. Unfortunately the leaves doesnt have a lot of white, but the stem definitely does. the mother plant was in low light, hadn’t been repotted in 10 years, and while happy, could do better. I’m hoping with better soil and light to get some more marbling. Wish me luck!

I got a cutting that was over 50 percent whithe . It has grown over 7 new leaf non show any white not on the stems not on the leafs . I have had the plant less than a year should I give the leafs some time before cutting them

@Yvonne DeLauder Johnson sorry to hear about your plant.... leaves on the plant now will not gain variegation over time, so I’d be inclined to chop the vine back to the last good variegated leaf. You could then also propagate the green part to give you a decently sized normal Monstera! I’m guessing the plant might not be getting enough light to produce variegated leaves..?

@Carrie Lynn Grochowski sorry for the delay - just saw this... what a score you got!!

here’s an updated pic of my plant, still going strong. I’ve now separated my plant into two, one with good variegation, and one huge plant with no variegation! The variegated one is going very well, though - about 1.5m tall after a few cuttings were taken early on.

Simiar question here! I'm looking into buying a stem of a monstera variegata, with little to no white in the leaf but there are definetly some white stripes on the stem itself. Is it likely that I'll get green leaves only or is it still possible to get variegation? Would the light thing help? I can't afford to buy a leaf with lots of white, prices are insane these days

I just impulse purchased a lightly variegated cutting and this thread is literally everything I was hoping to find! Thank you so so much!

Hey - anyone out there based in NZ? Trying to start my variegated monstera journey, but can’t afford the $500 to $8000 price tag😬

Does anyone know if this is variegated? or just dying haha it seems healthy besides that scuff I accidentally made.

Timothy Sorry no variegation there. The color is a little uneven on the leaf.....probably something environmental caused that......but it is not variegated. Variegated sports do show up now and then, not often but sometimes people find them.

How can I tell of this is a birthmark or varigation?

I found this monstera the other day with slight varigation. Should I cut this leaf and propagate it?

I would wow thats the yellow too!

@woodnative would you possibly be interested in selling me a node? i recently bought one half white and half green. im praying the stem pops from the white side. i would LOVE to purchase a quality cutting

Im selling my cuttings to get my roon for my new mummy doggy, if anyone in canada, im not confident to mail them international since im not a business seller…. ContContact me insgram: loveinvancouver

Hi guys! gonna ask if this new purchased of mine has hope of more variegation? thanks in advance!