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blueberrybundtcake

What to do with this Monstera adansonii?

4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago

So this is the Monstera adansonii:



As you can see, I haven't actually potted it properly, yet. The reason? I'm just not loving it.


It looks scraggly and tattered. I know it's supposed to have fenestrated leaves, but it's just not looking great. I'm excited for the new leaf on my Monstera deliciosa that looks like it will have fenestration (its first), but this plant? Nope, not impressed.


I'm not sure this plant is worthy of this pot, which I do love.


Anyways, other than the pot conundrum (I do have other pots.), how do I make this plant look better? Can I cut off the scraggles to the left? It would certainly be cuter without that ... Can that piece be dovided off and sent ... I don't know where ... instead? I'm not really interested in having this trail all over the place, and I don't really know where it's final home will be ... this location is, um I'm, well, it's currently housing a number of items that are homeless, half of which are pumpkins, lol.

Comments (13)

  • 4 years ago

    it does look scraggly and washed out green rather than lush tropical. The leaves look pretty dull unless it's the lighting. Suggestions:

    Use a white pot, it would make the leaves look brighter and bring out the contrast.

    Try to bunch the stems/vines together by wrapping them around each other or tying them together.

    Pot them together with some other plants that have similar light and water requirements and that would complement each other aesthetically.

  • 4 years ago

    It is a dark green that the picture does not show well, since the light to my right created some glare and most of the leaves are showing their backs ...


    I like the idea of planting with something else ... would definitely help with the scraggly legs ... any suggestions?

  • 4 years ago

    What do you have around the house in plenty? Pothos, spider plant, croton, begonia, maranta..... Just put them together and see it it works. You may want to use a stake and tie all the the stems to it and see if that makes it look more presentable.

  • 4 years ago

    Plentiful house plants here would be: swedish ivy, jade plants, more jade plants, african violets, and there's a small philodedron that could use repotting ... Did I mention jade plants?

  • 4 years ago
    last modified: 4 years ago

    Here's a better shot of one of the monstera's better leaves:

    (Yes, the leaf behind is again upside down.)


    Jade plant army:

    (I think there are 12 or 13 of them counting stems ... and we could always chop and root more, haha.) That's an unkillable aloe behind them.


    Philodedron, paritially visible in the shot above:


    And the swedish ivy:

    (Also chop and propogatable ...)


    The philodedron and swedish ivy are both like 50 years old, the jade plant (well, the original ... whichever that is) is a few years younger around 40-45 years old, and the aloe was found in an abandonned planter circa 2000.


    African violets are an addiction ... There are four of them fighting for space by the kitchen sink, and I still look when I walk by them, haha.

  • 4 years ago

    Sorry , no jade. The water requirements don't align. Ivy, yes. Stake the plant, add plenty of swedish ivy. i understand that more light means more fenestration. In this case, you want less so may be move it to a less bright location and the leaves would hopefully bulk up.

    BlueberryBundtcake - 6a/5b MA thanked getgoing100_7b_nj
  • 4 years ago
    last modified: 4 years ago

    Blueberry, don't be so hard on yourself. I have this species summered outdoors, it still looks scraggily and tattered. This is my first year growing this species, can't say I am thrilled with it. I will try to wrap mine around a moss totem once it comes inside to improve its appearance. I know there was a craze over this plant when it first came out, not that long ago, I don't get it, if it were growing in my yard, I'd probably rip it out as a weed.

  • 4 years ago

    Congratulations on the fenestrated leaf in the deliciosa. Within an year or  so you can look forward to them turning into full fledged fringes with additional round holes starting to show within. I totally agree that this one looks ratty. With some companion ivys and a stake it might start to look better. Maybe add a pothos to climb along to give more substance along the stake. Or, maybe just gift it to some unsuspecting plant affiniado or better yet sell it on Etsy. :)

  • 4 years ago

    Have you considered hanging your adansonii? I wasn't much of a fan of these plants either, until I inherited one. I had no idea what I was even going to do with until I got it home and realized that I had an unused hanging basket that was waiting for the right plant to come along. It is now not only my favourite plant in the house, but my husband’s as well. We get a lot of compliments on it too. Your adansonii is definitely worthy of love, you just need to find the right planter for it. :)


  • 4 years ago

    Yours looks much nicer than mine ... it's got leaves in the middle, where as mine is all legs.


    I'm hoping that filling in with Swedish ivy will help ... it's got a bit longer to root before it'll be ready for planting.


    Swedish ivy rooting:



  • 4 years ago
    last modified: 4 years ago

    You can get yours to become bushier too, and it isnt hard to do. Simply take some cuttings and root them in water, then when ready, replant in the same pot. You’ll have a beautiful looking plant in no time!

    As for the Swedish ivy, my suggestion would be to not plant them in the same pot as your adansonii because they’re two very different plants. Swedish ivy tends to need more water so you’ll run the risk of your adansonii getting root rot. It’s also such a vigorous grower and could starve out your adansonii.

  • 4 years ago
    last modified: 4 years ago

    Any plant that can't survive benign neglect is in trouble in our house ... the orchid gets minorly more attention than its neighbors, since it gets soaks instead of normal watering. The african violets probably get the best attention of all the plants, since they live next to the kitchen sink and there's nearly always one of the group in bloom ... and it doesn't help that the four of them have gotten onto different 'schedules' and I can never remember which one should be getting dry, so I have to check them all.


    The Swedish ivy currently gets water in it if it looks dry or is drooping ... similar to the jade and aloe next to it. I can't imagine that would be too often for any plant ... unless you're saying that the two will take in water at different rates?

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