Scientific/Botanical Name:
Genus: Monstera
Specie: M. deliciosa
Variety/Cultivar:
English Name:
Common Name:
Delicious Monster, Ceriman, Swiss Cheese Plant (or just Cheese Plant), Fruit Salad Plant, Monster fruit, Monsterio Delicio, Monstereo, Mexican Breadfruit, Monstera, split-leaf philodendron, Locust and Wild Honey, Windowleaf, Balazo and Penglai Banana
Botanical Family:
Name in Latin: Araceae
Name in English: Arum Family
The Plant
Origin: Tropical rainforest, Central/ South America
Growth Habit: creeping vine, epiphyte with aerial roots
Flower: 3 years after planting, rarely indoors, white spathe, spadix will mature into edible fruit, take over a year to mature
Blooming Period:
Leaf: Large, glossy, broad, heart-shaped( young plants-leaves are smaller , entire with lobes, age produces deep lobes and holes.
Usage:
Decorative indoor plant, grown outside in tropical regions. Last for years, easily propagated
Care and Handling
Soil: Rich well drained soil.
Amount of water: thoroughly , do not let dry during active months, Water less in winter
Nutrition: Fertilize weekly during growing season using liquid fertilizer
Special handling: Requires high humidity and shade, handle with care - can cause skin irritation. Killed by frost.
Special feature/remarks:
Aerial roots have been used as soap and for making baskets. Leaf and root in fusion has been used medicinally to relief arthritis.