Monstera: benefits and harm, magical properties, photo of the plant

Monstera is an evergreen exotic liana of the Araceae family. The epiphyte is native to the humid tropics of South America. The plant has large leaves with cuts or whole. At the top of the shoot there is a growth point.

The adventitious roots are quite long, thick and brittle. The flowers are inconspicuous, but the fruits are edible. The plant genus includes about 50 species and many varieties.

Types of monstera for the home - table

Not all types of plants are suitable for home cultivation; it depends on the region. Most often, two types are grown: oblique and lovely. You can try to keep the vines presented in the table at home:

Delicatessen

Oblique

Adanson

Thin

Borziga

Dubia

Variegata
Unpretentious nature allowed plants to decorate rooms of houses, offices, and botanical gardens. Thus, the variegated monstera is a symbol of luxury and wealth. It should be remembered that many vines reach large sizes and require a specific place: some species grow up to 3 meters in height.

What is the harm and how dangerous is Monstera for humans?

The benefits and harms of the Monstera plant for the office and home are closely related to each other. When growing a tropical flower, it is necessary to take into account a number of its features:

1. If during the day the monstera produces oxygen, then at night the situation becomes reversed - the plant actively absorbs the beneficial gas. For this reason, it is not recommended to keep the flower in the bedroom. You need to place the tub in public places, in which case the culture will not cause harm.
2. Monstera can grow to enormous sizes. In a cramped apartment, it is quite difficult to place a flower so that it does not occupy useful space and does not interfere with movement. If space in the house is very limited, then it is better to refuse to grow crops.
3. Like any plant, perennials can cause individual intolerance reactions. At particular risk are asthmatics, young children and people prone to allergies. If the presence of the plant in the room causes lacrimation, runny nose and sneezing attacks, you will have to abandon the idea of ​​\u200b\u200bgrowing monstera in the house.

The perennial crop is not classified as poisonous, but the juice of its leaves is quite pungent and caustic for the epidermis and mucous membranes. For this reason, it is not recommended to tear off the plant plates with bare hands. You should not grow Monstera in a house with small children. If they accidentally reach a beautiful flower, they may become poisoned or experience skin irritation.

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Caring for monstera by season - table

Liana does not require complex care. She needs a lot of water in the warm season, rest in winter and timely pruning.

At low temperatures in the house, watering should be sparse. Feeding is carried out approximately once every 30 days during growth. If the plant is always in the shade, its crown will become smaller. At very low temperatures, the leaves can turn black, and if you add abundant watering to this, they become lethargic. When the temperature is too high, the leaves curl, this occurs more often in winter.

The table shows plant care by season:

It is difficult, and sometimes impossible, to achieve monstera flowering at home, since it prefers to bloom in natural conditions, but if you follow all the simple rules for caring for it, this can be achieved.

Useful properties of monstera

The benefits and harms of the monstera plant when caring for the crop remain balanced according to all the rules. Contrary to its name, the flower has a mainly positive effect on the home environment:

• humidifies the air and enriches it with oxygen and ozone;
• cleans the apartment of excess carbon dioxide;
• absorbs formaldehyde released by plastic and building materials;
• suppresses viruses and fungi in the apartment space;
• prevents the spread of dust;
• absorbs electromagnetic radiation emitted by household appliances;
• decorates the interior and enlivens the space.

In an apartment, dark green monstera is useful because it helps improve mood and relaxation. A houseplant strengthens the nervous system of household members and harmonizes space, stimulates thinking and imagination, and prevents aggression. When growing a tropical flower, the likelihood of developing seasonal depression is reduced. Monstera brings missing colors to the surrounding space, reminding of the sun and summer warmth.

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It is convenient to grow the crop indoors because even one plant becomes a striking element of the decor. There is no need to place several flowers around the apartment or supplement the monstera with other perennials. A large mature plant will enliven even a very restrained space. In this case, the home design will not suffer. The culture will easily fit into a classic or modern interior and will decorate both light and dark rooms.

Advice! It is recommended to place the plant in the living room or library, office or hallway.

Monstera is often installed in offices to enliven the space.

Planting, replanting, pruning, support

When planting a plant, you need to pay attention to the soil. It should be loose and neutral. There are several mixture options:

• take one part each of humus, peat and sand and add 2 parts of turf;
• mix one part each of bark, leaf soil, peat, moss and ½ part coarse sand;
• Add coconut fiber or perlite to the purchased soil for Saintpaulia.

Young vines should be replanted annually, as they grow very quickly. The pot should be 2-3 cm larger than the old one. It is better if its height and diameter are approximately equal. In a cramped container, the leaves may turn brown and thin, like papyrus.

The soil, drainage material and container must first be sterilized. Drainage should occupy approximately a fifth of the volume.

The plant must be replanted carefully, along with a lump of earth. Dry damaged roots must be trimmed. The vine is placed in the middle of the new container, covered with earth and lightly compacted.

Adult vines are replanted after two years. You will need fairly large flowerpots. It will depend on them how large the vine will be. The new container should be larger than the old one so that the root system feels comfortable.

Since the plant is quite large, it is better to transplant it together. Make the transplant step by step.

Replanting a very large monstera is a difficult task, so over time, only the top old layer of soil is changed with the addition of humus. If you don’t want such problems, you can start a mini plant.

A young monstera definitely needs support, as it curls. In addition, the vine will look more attractive. It is placed in a permanent place and sprayed. For an adult plant, you can make the support yourself. Sticks with coconut fiber are not a very suitable option, as it is difficult for the vine to gain a foothold. To make a support, you can take a piece of plastic tube, longer than the plant, and drill many slots in it. Next, place it in a pot and pour sand inside to the surface of the soil. Moss mixed with peat should be poured on top. The support is wrapped with damp moss, a mesh with cells on top and secured with fishing line. This design also requires regular spraying. Other options are possible.

The plant grows aerial roots, but they cannot be removed. If a vine climbs up a moss tube, the roots will grow into it themselves.

When an adult plant stops growing intensively, you can cut off its top for rejuvenation. The cut should be sprinkled with coal. This procedure promotes the growth of side shoots and crown formation.

Watering, fertilizer

Caring for vines at home is not difficult. The plant does not require frequent watering, although it is moisture-loving. Monstera leaves are covered with a waxy coating and evaporate little moisture. Watering is carried out after the soil has dried from above, preferably with warm water.

Young plants do not need fertilizing, but adults need organic and mineral fertilizers 2 times a month during the warm seasons of the year.

Flower shops have a wide selection of fertilizers. For example, “Agricola 7”, “Nitrophoska”, “Lingogumat” and others. Before use, you should read the instructions.

Reproduction

Monstera propagates by seeds, cuttings and air layering:

1. When propagating by seeds, light and warmth are needed. Seeds are placed in soil or damp moss. They should emerge in a month. It is recommended to leave the planting material overnight in a growth stimulator.
2. When propagated by cuttings, stem or lateral shoots are planted in a pot under glass. Cuttings should be short with 1-2 leaves. A cut is made at a right angle on top, and an oblique cut on the bottom. Plantings should be watered and sprayed as the top layer of soil dries. The plant takes root and is placed in a pot.
3. A layer with an aerial root and a leaf is planted in a pot.

Magical properties of monstera

Although the indoor plant does more good than harm, signs about the influence of the monstera flower on humans have a mostly negative connotation. First of all, it is believed that the culture absorbs the surrounding energy, and in return releases fluids with the opposite sign. In other words, in a negative environment, the monstera will harmonize the space and smooth out conflicts between household members. But if the atmosphere in the apartment is favorable, the flower will begin to produce negative energy.

Popular beliefs also claim that Monstera does not help strengthen family relationships. It is believed that the flower causes discord between spouses and provokes a cooling of feelings, sucks energy from household members and makes them irritable. Unmarried girls who grow perennial crops may have difficulty finding a life partner.

Most flower growers note that bad omens about indoor plants actually have no basis. Like many crops, perennials affect the energy of the house, but most often positively - they decorate the apartment, improve mood, and refresh the atmosphere.

Attention! It is believed that bad omens about the plant are rooted in its name, which really has a negative connotation.

Pests, diseases, possible problems - table

Diseases and pests rarely affect the vine, but sometimes they cause its death. The plant's leaves may curl, fall off, turn yellow, and dry out.