Aiyla Heath
Like any other plant enthusiast, we love cute little plant monsters and have already discussed some houseplant monstera varieties you can smoothly grow at homes.
Monstera epipremnoides is not any different. A species of flowering plant from genus monstera, in the Araceae family, endemic to Costa Rica, offers beautiful fenestration of leaves just like its other sisters.
- Monstera adansonii (the no-trouble available sibling of Monstera epipremnoides)
- Monstera obliqua (the rarest and hardest to find Monstera epipremnoides sibling)
- Mini monstera (Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma, the dwarf and houseplant sibling of epipremnoides)
All monsteras are called swiss cheese plants due to the cheesy holes in the leaves
Monsteras are aroids, offer big fenestrated leaves, and grow like decorative climbers; it is the very thing that confuses plant enthusiasts to identify Monstera epipremnoides from its siblings.
Are you one of those? Don’t worry!
Here you will get an idea of, what is Monstera epipremnoides, how it is different from its sibling plants, and the Monstera epipremnoides care to see its thriving without challenge.
Identifying Monstera epipremnoides:
Epipremnoides is called with another name – Monstera esqueleto
Monstera Epipremnoides is an aroid and effortlessly growable tropical plant that requires little care indoors or out—sometimes referred to as XL monstera epipremnoides due to their giant size.
When the plant is new to your home, you may need to be a little more cautious as you and the plant are trying to keep up with the environment and the other things like watering, soil, light, temperature, etc., give and take time.
Scientific profile:
- Family: Araceae
- Genus: Monstera
- Species: epipremnoides
- Binomial name: Monstera epipremnoides
- Type: Houseplants / Evergreen
Plant profile:
- Leaf: glossy, leathery, broad, heart-shaped leaves
- Stems: long and thick
- Fruit: Yes! White/aromatic
- Fruit Type: Berry
“Monstera epipremnoides fruit isn’t edible.”
Care Profile:
- Care: Easy but regular
- Can we grow indoor? Yes!
The most prominent trait of monstera epipremnoides is inflorescence or flowers, usually called a spadix.
Monstera obliqua also form spadix flowers, and maybe people confuse epipremnoides with it; however, both are different species from the same family/genus.
Traits that make it stand out of the rest of the monsteras are:
- Leaves are bigger than adansonii or obliqua
- Dual colored leaves
- Half washed or bleached leaves
Disclaimer: Some experts say that Monstera epipremnoides is not the actual plant but different. However, we don’t have much information to agree or disagree with this claim.
Monstera Epipremnoides Care:
Here are some best, easy-to-follow, and proven care tips you would find no-difficult to adopt when taking care of your plants.
1. Container:
Not plastic or glass pot, a terra cotta pot made of mud is best
Containers play a role in helping a plant grow. Many times, people have been complaining about the no growth of Monstera Epipremnoides.
The wrong choice of the container can be the reason. So check it out and make sure you use a terra cotta pot made of mud. The plant loves a cold home, and mud pots can be kept cool with little misting from time to time.
2. Soil:
Wel-drained, breathable, but not soggy
Get the soil of your plant ready by yourself but make sure it is well-drained, moist, and breathable for the plant.
The ingredients you will need to make a rich organic mix are: perlite, coco coir, and pine bark.
You can take a soil mixing mat to avoid the mess and mix the ingredients well before pouring them into the pot.
Avoid using dry, sandy, or mucky soil and at the same time keep water from reaching the roots, or else root rot can happen.
3. Placement / Light:
Sprout well in the indirect light
In the forests of Costa Rica, epipremnoides monstera grow under their forest canopies, which means even the wild outdoor species love the indirect sun. Mimic the same environment indoors.
Find a room that receives sunlight and put your epipremnoides opposite the place so that it remains in the brightness but not in the scorching sunrays.
It won’t mind some hours of playing directly under the sun, but more than 6 hours can burn the leaves and definitely diminish the beauty and health of your plant.
Even in nurseries, these plants are grown under the shades.
4. Watering:
Once in a week watering is sufficient
We often think all plants need watering every day, like Scindapsus pictus, but not the epipremnoides. He is a slow keeper, a plant for lazy planters, just like Prostrata peperomia.
However, it doesn’t mean you keep it dry and expect it to come back to life like a Jericho rose plant.
Overwatering and underwatering are both equally harmful. Overwatering can cause root-rot, while under watering can lead your plant to lack nutrition.
Beware from both situations.
5. Temperature:
Monstera epipremnoides love milder temperatures and humid places
They will need humidity around them, so a temperature between 55°F – 80°F is quite feasible. You can again look at the environment where these plants naturally grow to maintain the temperature.
Monstera epipremnoides are also found in elevated areas; hence, they love mild to cold temps.
6. Humidity:
Monstera Epipremnoides loves to remain in humidity
The Monstera Epipremnoides needs humidity like any other ornamental houseplant, for example, the purple waffle.
You will have to maintain very high humidity around your plant as it will not just help Epipremnoides thriving but will also keep the insects away.
For this,
- humidifiers can be used to increase humidity
- You can also place your plant in a pebble tray and mist it regularly to enhance the humid environment around your plant
- Or, simply keep your Epipremnoides pot near to other plants for sufficient humidity
By doing so, you will see your plant growing so lush.
7. Fertilizers:
Diluted fertilizer is best – don’t go with slow fertilizers
Wrong, accessive, or lousy use of fertilizers can kill your plant. So be wise when you are giving it to your plant.
Being most comfortable to care for, monstera Epipremoides need fertilizers only in the growing season that make three times a year.
Make sure to apply fertilizers on the above edge and keep them from the bottom or base. For this, make sure not to water your plant at least for a day after diluting with nutrients.
8. Pruning:
Who would prune and cut such fenestrated leaves and branches?
Nobody!
So, epipremnoides don’t need pruning at all. Even if you see that some leaves turn yellow, instead of pruning them off, make sure to use some remedies to get them back to life.
You will not like to lose a leaf of this slow grower.
Propagation or growth of Monstera Epipremnoides:
Propagating your monstera epipremnoides is not a challenging task, as you can even use tap water to get started.
Usually, Epipremnoides are propagated through cuttings, and it is the easiest method to multiply your plant. For this,
- You need a healthy stem from your plant that may or may not has some leaves on it.
Before you plant it in its home for the next year, make sure to begin rooting. For rooting, you can:
- Put your plant in the diluted chemical-free water
- Sow it in the sphagnum moss
- Putting it in regular moist soil
- Root inside the Perlite
After a week, get the cutting out and sow it in the container; it’s home. Once done, apply all the methods of care that we mentioned above.
Diseases and Pests:
Your Monstera epipremnoides is prone to some illnesses and attractive to house pets and insects like its other monstera siblings. Such as:
- Fungal spots
- Leaf spots
- Root rot
While insects that are so prone to attack your plant are:
- Scale insects
- Spider mites
- Mealybugs
- Houseflies
To ensure safety from the bugs, increase humidity around your plant. Simultaneously, to keep from diseases, water as needed, and maintain the temperature and brightness around your plant.
Toxicity:
Almost all Monstera plants are toxic to pets and humans, and epipremnoides is not any different. It is better to keep this plant away from the reach of kids and animals.
Do not be mislead by its aromatic berry-like beautiful spandex as they are poisonous and can cause serious health issues, just like 15 Charming But Poisonous Flowers That Might Be In Your Garden.
Bottom Line:
Here is the discussion on monstera epipremnoides ends. Do you have any queries in mind? Feel free to write to us, and we will answer them ASAP, for sure.
Have Happy Planting Peeps!