Table of Contents
What is a Monstera Albo?
Variegated plants are in incredibly high demand.
The variegation is caused by tissue culture or mutation.
Variegated Monsteras are loved for their beautiful and rare leaves, but they are also expensive compared to the regular green-colored plants.
There are several variegated plants, but Monstera Albo is popular among plant enthusiasts for its white-colored foliage.
This variegated Monstera also goes by the names Monstera Albo Variegata, Half Moon, or variegated Monstera Deliciosa.
The white patches on this plant are not consistent, which makes it an attractive plant.
The variegation is prominent on a mature plant, and the leaf structure or perforation also changes with age.
The leaves can reach a maximum size of 35 inches and a width of 30 inches.
The creamy white coloring on the leaves of this Deliciosa variety gives a marbled look. You will also find entirely white leaves on this Deliciosa Plant.
The variegated leaves are caused by a genetic mutation where a few leaves can produce chlorophyll while others cannot, leading to new plants.
Monstera Deliciosa Borsigiana Variegata is a sub species and it is not a true Deliciosa plant. It originates from Southern Panama and Southern Mexico.
Some variegated Monstera plants have white variegation, while others have creamy yellow colors.
Monstera Thai Constellation is one of the most popular plants with yellow variegation.
The Monstera Thai Constellation has scattered variegation that resembles a galaxy, and it is a cultured tissue Deliciosa developed in a lab in Thailand.
If you maintain the optimum environment, the variegated Monstera Plants can also produce white blossoms and fruit.
Related post: 14 Monstera Varieties to Grow In Your Home
How to Care for a Monstera Deliciosa Albo Variegata
For the most part, Variegated Monstera care is similar to caring for the green counterparts.
However, it would be best to keep in mind that the Monsteras with white variegation tend to be more sensitive than the green ones.
This is a rare, low-maintenance plant that’s easy to grow.
Temperature
This variety does not like cold temperatures; it will survive in a temperature range of 65 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit (18- to 27-degrees Celsius).
Apart from temperature, this variety also loves humidity levels ranging from 65-70%.
Light
To achieve optimum light levels, you have to understand that variegated varieties produce less chlorophyll.
The plant’s cells in the white areas do not contribute to photosynthesis; therefore, all the hard work is done by the green portions of the leaves.
Lack of sunlight for variegated Monsteras will result in fully green leaves.
To maintain the variegation of these plants, keep them under bright, indirect light. East and south-facing windows are ideal locations for this plant.
Watering
Maintaining the proper watering schedule for this Swiss Cheese Plant is vital because it’s susceptible to root rot.
Allow the potting soil to dry out before the next watering session completely.
You can water it whenever the top two inches of the potting soil have dried out. Watering once or twice every week will keep the soil mix moist in summer.
Read more: How Often Should You Water Monstera Plants?
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Soil
The soil for this elusive variegated Monstera should be mildly acidic with excellent drainage properties.
Avoid using a heavy soil mixture for the plant as it limits airflow around the roots and increases the risk of root rot.
The ideal soil mix for these Monstera plants will have sphagnum moss, peat moss, perlite, coco coir, and vermiculite.
Fertilizer
An adequate fertilizer dose in the growing season will help these plants maintain the variegation and a steady growth rate.
You can fertilize this variety once a month using a complete fertilizer solution. Discontinue fertilizer usage in the fall and winter months.
Repotting
Generally, the variegated Monstera grows slowly, so repotting is not required often.
However, if the roots start coming out of the drainage hole, moving the plant to a bigger pot will help it grow.
Propagation
It’s hard to find a variegated Monstera in local shops or online stores; therefore, these beautiful plants are shared using propagation techniques.
Even if you find it, a single cutting for this plant is sold for hundreds of dollars. So, getting a cutting from a gardening friend is a great deal.
Propagating variegated varieties like Albo Monsteras is tricky, and it isn’t easy to achieve stable variegation.
Most private growers propagate Monstera variegated using the cuttings or separation method.
This version also produces aerial roots and thus qualifies as a climbing variety. Locate these roots on one of the healthy items on the mother plant.
Wrap moist sphagnum moss around the roots using a plastic sheet.
Keep the moss moist by misting it until you see some root growth.
Once the roots are strong enough, prune the cuttings near the growth area and pot them in a soil medium.
The leaf should be above the soil surface.
Depending on the plant size and growth pattern, you might have to install vertical support in the pot.
Read more: How To Propagate Monstera Plants
Pruning
Pruning should be performed once a year to get rid of diseased or yellow leaves on these plants.
If your variegated Monstera produces completely white or green leaves, you can prune these to preserve the variegation.
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FAQ
What is the main difference between Monstera Deliciosa and Monstera Borsigiana?
Monstera Borsigiana is a variant of a Monstera Deliciosa; however, it is unclear whether they are different plants. The size of their leaves varies from 20 to 40 inches (50 to 100 cm) in a mature plant. Monstera Deliciosa leaves can grow up to 40 inches long, but Monstera Borsigiana leaves can only grow to 20 inches. If your Monstera has ruffles at the top of the petiole where it joins the leaf, it’s a Deliciosa, not a Borsigiana.
Why is the Monstera Deliciosa Variegata expensive?
Because of their scarcity and high demand, variegated Monstera plants command high prices. As a result, it requires more light and develops slower because of its lack of chlorophyll in the leaves Slower growth implies fewer new plants since propagation takes longer.
Other Monstera Plants to Consider
There are many varieties of Monstera houseplants. If you are looking for another type of Monstera plant, check out our other related posts:
Conclusion
The glossy, heart-shaped leaves with the white and green color make this Swiss Cheese Plant standout among other Monstera Deliciosa plants.
If you love plants with variegation, variegated monsteras are a rare plant variety that is an impressive addition to any indoor garden.
Other variegated Monstera varieties include the Monstera Borsigiana Aurea, Mint Monsteras, Thai Constellation Monstera, and Monstera Adansonii Variegata.
Mint Monstera is gaining popularity because of the minty white, light green leaves.
References
Lindsey Hyland grew up in Arizona where she studied at the University of Arizona’s Controlled Environment Agriculture Center. She continued her gardening education by working on organic farms in both rural and urban settings. She started UrbanOrganicYield.com to share gardening tips and tactics. She’s happy to talk about succulents and houseplants or vegetables and herbs – or just about anything in a backyard garden or hydroponics garden.
