Monstera Peru: Care, Propagation, and Price

Humans are fortunate to live on this home planet as beautiful plants of all kinds in our biosphere.

Each plant has its own distinct shape, attributes, and ecosphere advantages. Likewise, the Monstera Peru plant is such one-of-a-kind plant.

Monsteras are stunning plants in a broad sense, the color scheme and outlook of stunning Peru’s foliage make this climbing diva an invaluable asset to your potted plant collection.

Monstera Peru grows best in Medium to bright, indirect light and temperatures ranging from 65-80°F (18-27°C) with a minimum humidity of 50%. They prefer well-draining, mildly acidic to neutral soil rich in organic matter. The simplest propagation methods for this plant are Stem cutting and Root division.

Monstera Peru care is simple, which is surprising given how hard it is to obtain this plant!

You and your Monstera Peru will make perfect partners; just stick to the below-mentioned tips and tricks.

Monstera Peru Overview

It is a fellow of the arum family Araceae, also known as aroids. The family contains over 60 species, the majority of which are native to America’s tropical regions.

The term is derived from the word ‘monstrous,’ which means ‘abnormal or strange.

Several people believe it is a type, variety, or cultivar of Pinnatipartita. Others argue it to be the same as Philodendron Opacum.

However, because the plant is categorized as a Philodendron, this is also regarded as an old moniker. Even so, there is still some ambiguity.

Please Remember!! Monstera Peru, Monstera Karstenianum, Philodendron opacum and Philodendron karstenianum are all same.

While it is known colloquially as Philodendron Opacum, its scientific name appears to be Philodendron karstenianum.

Where to Buy Monstera Peru?

Monstera Peru can be hard to find in local retailers and nurseries. You might get fortunate and come across them at a nursery or greenhouse once in a while.

However, you can purchase this plant online; there are many startups that propagate and sell clippings and plants.

Make sure to carefully read seller policies and reviews to ensure you are getting a decent product and have viable alternatives if the plant turns up in poor condition.

Here are some of our favorite houseplant shops:

The given price may vary with an additional shipping charge.

Monstera Peru Care Guide

Monstera Peru necessitates intermediate care to ensure that it survives and thrives.

The plant can grow readily if the grower fulfills these prerequisites. Here are some general guidelines for caring for Monstera Peru.

1. Sunlight and Location

It is beneficial to showcase the plant, like the majority of the Monstera plant varieties, in a region where sunlight can indirectly impact the plant.

Subjecting the plant to direct sunlight can induce charring and withering of the foliage. To prevent this issue, place the plant in a window where it will receive indirect sunlight.

It is crucial to highlight that the Monstera Peru plant thrives in a shady environment, but you should avoid a completely shaded environment for the plant.

Remember tolerance to low light and living without light are two different things!

Like the others in the Monstera genus, this plant requires a good amount of sunlight for photosynthesis.

The leaves of this plant will quickly damage if exposed to direct light for more than a couple of hours (1 hour of moring direct sunlight is fine).

Locating your Monstera Peru plant in a darker location hinders it from growing. If you live in a dark apartment, you should consider investing in a good grow light.

When installing artificial lighting in your home, make sure not to overpower the natural light.

All in all, this plant does best as an indoor plant placed in bright indoors or beside a south-facing window.

Monstera Sunlight: How Much and How Often? I am sure this might Help

2. Water Requirements

Sticking to a timetable or someone else’s watering regimen does not often work. Since your watering should change as per the lightning, warmth, and humidity around your plant.

Thus, I won’t be able to determine for you when to hydrate your Monstera Peru.

Generally, during the hottest months of the year, you should water your Monstera Peru about twice a week and as little as once every two weeks throughout the colder season.

There is, nevertheless, an efficient way to identify hydration needs. In fact, the two approaches given below are the most effective.

Moisture meter-

Push the apparatus into the soil, and it will provide a digital reading.

And this is as precise as it gets. You will quickly know which moisture threshold to aim for based on how your plant reacts to that type of watering.

It is inexpensive, efficient, and simple to implement.

Sticks and Fingers-

With more practice, you can perceive the dampness of the topsoil by sticking your finger/stick down 2 inches.

It is time to hydrate if it is dry. Alternatively, any moist feeling indicates that you should wait a bit longer. Then, repeat the test.

You can prevent overwatering and underwatering by testing each time before watering. 

Overwatered Monstera Peru

When Monstera Peru is overwatered, the leaves turn yellow. Correspondingly, the planting media mix will always be wet or mushy.

It is a more frequently mentioned issue.

Moldy soil, soggy stem base, wilting, leaves falling, and other symptoms are also present. The majority of these symptoms point to root rot.

Keep the plant in a dry location and avoid watering for a few days. It would also help if you removed the dead and water-logged plant parts.

And in case the damage is extensive, you can uproot the plant and change the soil.

For more detailed information on what to do here is; How to Save an Overwatered Monstera!

Underwatered Monstera Peru

If you don’t water your plants, they may become thirsty. Curly or droopy leaves and parched soil are indications of an underwatered Monstera Peru.

Shriveling, developmental delay, brownish to yellowish leaves with dead or dry tips, and so on are other early signs.

The only treatment for under-watered Monstrera Peru is to go ahead and water it until you see the moisture draining out the drainage holes.

Make sure to follow a good watering routine until the plant bounces back to health.

Tip: Regular tap water is good for Monstera Peru. However, if your tap is highly chlorinated, fill the jar and let it sit overnight before watering the plant.

3. Ideal Temperature

Monstera Peru thrives in temperatures ranging from 65 to 80°F. This makes it ideal for use in the home. Moreover, the plant cannot withstand cold or subzero conditions. 

As a result, if you reside in USDA zones 9b to 11, you can leave the plant outside all year. 

However, below zone 9b, you should be on the watch for temperature drops below 65°F and carry the plant indoors to a warmer climate during the fall.

Growth slows if it is left outside in this condition for an extended period of time. And it gets worse as the temperature drops, eventually coming to a halt when it reaches 50°F. 

You can also get a heating pad for your plant if you are worried that the cold might damage your beautiful Monstera.

4. High Humidity

Monstera Peru plant favors high humidity. These plants grow in the tropics. As a result, you should aim for a humidity level of 50% or higher.

The awesome thing is that it can acclimate to and tolerate lower humidity levels. 

Room humidity levels do not affect the development of Monstera Peru. However, you should keep an eye on how your plant reacts.

If you notice its leaves turning yellow, it is a sign that you need to find a more humid location.

The very first thing you can do is relocate it to the bathroom, assuming there is adequate lighting. This plant prefers a location where there is a lot of water evaporation.

Keep in mind that the soil should be kept hydrated at all times because the Monster Peru plant can become thirsty since water evaporates quickly in warmer months.

Increase the humidity around your Peru by using any of the methods listed below:

• Introducing a humidifier into the room.
• Misting the leaves of the plant.
• Placing a pebble-filled tray beneath the plant pot and filling it with water will provide the plant with the moisture it requires.

5. Well-Draining Soil Mix

Monstera Peru grows best in well-drained, oxygenated soil that is slightly acidic to neutral (pH 5-7.5) and rich in organic matter.

Any decent peat-based, puffy peat -mix with perlite, pumice, or bark bits, for example, will function properly.

Moreover, you can purchase an aroid combination or make your own at home. Just make sure it is fertile and holds moisture without becoming waterlogged or runny.

Peat moss or coco peat will aid in the creation of a slightly acidic pH, the retention of moisture, and the provision of organic matter. 

Eventually, avoid compacted soils because they do not drain well or allow adequate aeration. This will result in the death of your plant.

Take a soil-free mixture like 5:1:1 (5 parts orchid bark, 1 part sphagnum moss, 1 part perlite) or just pre-mixed aroid soil.

Monstera Peru should be fine as long as extra moisture drains well and plenty of breathable air enters the roots.

Here are some fantastic potting mixes available on the market for your Monstera Peru:

• SUN GRO HORTICULTURE Black Gold Potting Soil
• Organic Potting Mix by Perfect Plants for All Plant Types 
• Burpee, 9 Quarts | Premium Organic Potting Natural Soil Mix 

6. Moderate Feeder

First and foremost, Monstera Peru is a moderate feeder. Nourish your Monstera Peru once a month with balanced, all-purpose liquid indoor plant nutrients.

Monstera Peru requires very little fertilizer.

Nonetheless, because it is a quick grower, a little boost during the growth period will be acknowledged to help it along. You can use a wholesome liquid houseplant fertilizer.

Dilute the fertilizer to half strength and apply it while watering once or twice a month during the warmer months.

You should avoid fertilizer during the winter or if your Monstera Peru is not growing well. It will not be able to utilize the nutrients, causing harm to the roots.

If you don’t want to nourish your plants on a regular schedule, you can use slow-release granular plant nutrients. 

A well-balanced formula containing magnesium will be perfect. And, at the start of spring, begin fertilizing according to the instructions provided on the nutrient label.

You can also go ahead and fertilize your plant with homemade organic fertilizer. Banana peels, coffee remains, and eggshells are some of the best biofertilizers for Peru.

Here are some excellent commercial fertilizers available on the market for your Monstera Peru:

• Espoma 8 Ounce Concentrated Organic Indoor Plant Food
• Miracle-Gro Indoor Plant Food Spikes
• J R Peters 52024 Jacks Classic No.1.5 20-20-20 All Purpose Fertilizer

7. Features and Growth Rate

As a hemi-epiphyte, this species grows in a creeping pattern and will vine onto another plant for support as well as develop onto trees.

It is best to coach this plant onto a sphagnum pole or trellis as a houseplant so it can ascend while it expands.

This is a one-of-a-kind and lovely member of the Monstera genus. It has large, shiny, dark green, grooved leaves that are compact and sturdy.

Unlike Monstera Deliciosa and Adansonii, Monstera Peru does not have an opening on its leaves, which is its main selling point. 

The plant’s leathery leaves are spaced about 2 inches apart.

This fast grower in indoor settings reaches an average height of 35 cm. An adult plant can grow up to 6 meters tall in optimal circumstances.

Monstera leaves range in length from 4 to 9 cm.

Monstera Peru flowers in the wild with simple white flowers in the spring, but it is extremely rare to see it in the home.

8. Potting and Re-potting

Monsteras do not have a deep root system; hence there is no need for regular re-potted.

Monstera Peru should be re-potted every 2 to 3 years or when it becomes root-bound.

Choose a planter that is 2 to 3 inches larger in diameter when re-potting. It should also be equipped with drainage holes.

Also, wait until spring to re-pot your houseplants, i.e., invariably re-pot your houseplants during the growth period (spring or summer).

Spring, on the other hand, is the best season.

Clay or terracotta pots work best for Monsteras as they allow air exchange and evaporation of excess water, but keep in mind that this house plant climbs as well.

Thus, make sure to provide the necessary support as Peru gets bigger. It can also be cultivated in a floating basket if you have limited space.

A floating basket allows the plant to grow down naturally without using a pole, wooden stick, or moss.

Keep in Mind! Since the plant’s roots cannot absorb water or minerals from the soil, a rootbound Peru may undergo dehydration and nutritional deficiencies.

How to Know if Monstera Peru needs a Re-pot?

• The roots are emerging out of the drainage holes.
• The roots are poking out of the topsoil.
• The soil dries out quickly after watering.

Tips to Repot Monstera Peru

• Give your Monstera a nice soak for a couple of days before repotting.
• Find a pair of gardening gloves and sterilized pruning scissors.
• Loosen the soil by gentle tapping on the bottom or sides of the pot.
• Slide the plant out of the soil and set it aside.
• Trim away any slimy, mushy, or dark brown/black roots with pruning shears.
• Place small stones or pebbles on the bottom of the pot and fit it halfway with its ideal mix.
• Place the plant in the center and fill the sides with potting mix (not up to the top).
• Water thoroughly until water starts falling into the saucer.
• Remove the accumulated water and place your plant in a warm, indirect light location.

Why is my Monstera Drooping After Repotting? The plant may droop due to repotting shock, which is entirely normal and can be taken care of.

9. In Spring Pruning

Your Monstera Peru is a vigorous grower. It is also a climber, as stated previously.

In any case, it is a smart option to prune the plant on a regular basis to keep it neat and attractive. It also contributes to their overall health.

When left unpruned outside, the plant can grow 20 feet long. 

Indoors, it will be much smaller. Nonetheless, you can envision that some of this expansion will eventually become unruly.

Monstera Peru: All about Pruning

• When necessary, trim it back to maintain size and shape.
• Only cut just under 30% of the overgrown vines at any set moment.
• Furthermore, extracting any dead or discolored leaves prevents them from wasting vital resources.
• Hard pruning is acceptable with this plant because it can withstand it. And, when the plant is expanding, the best time to prune is in the spring or summer.
• Use disinfected shears or pruning knives as well (stops disease spread!)

Propagation Methods for Monstera Peru

Stem cuttings are the most common propagation method for Monstera Peru. Although there are other options, this is the simplest.

As a result, the majority of growers employ it. With stem cuttings, you can either root them in water or soil. Both are effective.

They do, however, have advantages and disadvantages. Alternatively, you can propagate these plants by root division, but this is only doable if the plant has a sucker.

1. Stem Cuttings

• Begin by selecting a healthy stem with at least two leaves. The stem should be long enough to dip into water or stick up out of the soil.
• Snip the stem just below the node with a sanitized pair of scissors or pruning shears.
• Put the clipping in a jar with water. Every couple of days or so, change the water.
• Fill a small pot halfway with a well-draining potting medium. After the cutting has rooted, you will transfer it to this location.
• In a few weeks, you will notice roots growing from the cutting.

• Move it to the peat-based soil once the roots have grown to about an inch or two in about a month.
• If you want to go straight into potting soil, install the cutting into the soil.
• Hold the soil moist by watering it.
• Keep the plant in a warm, humid environment. Also, ensure that there is plenty of indirect light.
• Gently pull on the cutting after 4 or 5 weeks to see if it has rooted. It is a good sign if it resists.

However, don’t pull too hard because the roots are still very young and haven’t established themselves.

2. Root Division

• Remove the plant from the pot. You can soak the plant overnight to help loosen the soil.
• Check for suckers or plant bodies that have independent root systems.
• Using a sterilized pair of scissors, cut and separate the plants with roots. If the plants or suckers do not have roots, they will not make it.
• Now plant these divided Monstera Peru in different containers using a fresh potting mix.
• Make sure to place them in indirect light and maintain a good watering schedule.

Propagating Monstera Without Node, is it possible? Find the truth yourself.

Toxicity of Monstera Peru

The Monstera Peru plant, like its relatives, is toxic. They can trigger an allergic reaction in the eyes and throat if consumed.

It is strongly recommended to maintain children and pets away from the plant.

Aroids like this one constitute oxalic acid, which can irritate your pet’s mouth and throat if he nibbles on them. 

Inflammation may occur in exceptional instances, necessitating medical intervention, but this is unlikely. 

Once the burning sensation begins (after the first few bites), your pet will likely determine it’s not worth it.

If your pet or child chews on this plant, the insoluble calcium will become embedded in their oral mucous membrane, causing severe irritation and burning.

Additionally, the lips, tongue, or mouth will get inflamed.

Other symptoms include

• Hypersalivation,
• Swallowing difficulties,
• GI tract irritation and difficulties in breathing (rare),
• Pawing in pets.

Similarly, the plant is toxic to humans if ingested.

In case children and pets have ingested the plant, it is always best to either take them to the hospital or closely monitor them for any adverse reaction symptoms.

It is toxic, what to do now? Find out how to care for your beloved dog on Monstera Toxic to the dog.

Common Problems in Monstera Peru

Monstera Peru is a low-maintenance plant. Maintain it away from infested plants because it is susceptible to pest infestations that can cause disease or devastation to the plant.

And although they are sturdy, once in a while, diseases and pests might give you a headache!

1. Pest Infestation

Insect pests like to hide and thrive beyond our sight.

Pest insects of all sizes and species curl up out of glimpse. Keep in mind that your plant’s foliage is always the primary determinant of its health.

They basically squeeze the life out of your beautiful Monstera Peru one sip at a time.

Treatment against Pest Infestation

• Simply removing each and every one of them by hand is the best way to tackle if the size is smaller.
• Clean the bug off the plant with a cotton tip dipped in diluted alcohol.
• Spray neem oil solution on Monstera Peru. Make sure to spray it in all the nooks and corners.
• Wipe the insects off using isopropyl alcohol.
• A strong jet of water can help you get rid of the pests. Wrap plastic around the soil and protect your plant from the sog.
• Yellow sticky traps can lure pests.
• Pyrethrin spray helps control the bugs in the case of a severe infestation.
• Use organic insecticides like horticultural oil.

Monsteras prefer to be hosed down with a shower or hose because they are rainforest plants that will also aid in Pest removal.

Preventive Measures

• The utmost precaution begins with your purchase. Properly check the plant before buying.
• Skim and observe the plants. Pest can be very contagious. Quarantine your infected plant immediately.
• Inspect the pests properly before fetching the outdoor plant indoors.
• Remove the topmost layer of the soil before filling it in with composts. This removes the larvas or any other pests falling or resting there,
• Sweep off the dirt accumulated in the leaves using a slightly wet clean cloth. It enables to blocking of the roadway for bugs.

• Keep the entrance (doors and windows) closed during the active pest period, i.e., especially in the month of May and June.

Be aware of weeds growing in the soil. It easily invites Pests.

How to Treat Thrips on Monstera Leaves? Find out how and save your Monstera

2. Disease Infestation

Diseases are uncommon, but a Monstera Peru can become infected with a bacterial or fungal disease if the optimum conditions are not met.

Fungal Disease

Overwatering, overhead watering, and high temperatures are responsible for Rhizoctonia Root rot, Phytophthora Root Rot, and Pythium Root Rot in Monstera.

And these are all caused by fungus development.

It induces Monstera Peru to have irregular leaves, dark spots, and browning of the levels and stems.

A brown thread-like structure remotely similar to a spider web over the plant and discoloration, yellowing, and browning of leaves is all telltale signs of these aberrations.

Bacterial Leaf Spot

A multitude of bacteria species causes bacterial leaf spot Marks on Monstera plants. Symptoms of a bacterial leaf spot infection include

• Yellow, black or brown spots,
• Dark spots that dry and flake, revealing dead leaves underneath,
• Spots that ooze sap,
• Brown or black spots feature a ‘halo’ of pale tissue.

Treatment Measures

• The quickest way to save your plant from a fungal attack is to uproot it and change the potting mix.
• You can also use a fungicide to make sure that the plant is able to rebound to health.
• Also, make sure to avoid overwatering in the future.
• If only a few tiny spots are afflicted, you can securely eliminate the diseased leaves from your plant- use clean shears and snip the infected leaf near the stem.

If there is a lot of sighting and most, if not all, of your new growth is having problems, it is time to call in the interventions.

• A broad-spectrum plant drug is your best line of defense. Use a spray or soil drench comprising these antibacterial and antifungal substances to keep your Monstera healthy.

Preventive Measures

• Keep diseased or infested plants away.
• Use clean and well-sanitized pots and potting mix for your Peru.
• Sterilize your tools properly before pruning or propagating your plants.
• Use clean hands before working with your plants.
• When watering, try to keep the leaves dry and avoid drenching them.

Root Rot, a common problem in plants, Has it been troubling you? Help is on its way with Monstera Root Rot: Signs, Causes and Treatment

3. Crispy Brown Leaves

If your Monstera Peru foliage is crunchy and light brown, it is most likely due to a lack of water.

Inspect the soil with your thumb or evaluate the water content with a soil meter to see if a plant is underwatered. If it is dry, water it thoroughly till it runs out of the pot.

Consider removing the damaged foliage so that the healthy leaves can get more moisture and minerals.

4. Yellowing of the Leaves

Yellowing Monstera Peru foliage can reveal a variety of issues. If the yellowing is limited to the edges of the foliage, it is most likely caused by a lack of vitamins.

Yellowing and dropping leaves, on the other hand, can indicate that your plant has been submerged. 

Why are My Monstera Leaves drooping? Find out the reason with the expert Treatment advice.

When exposed to direct sunlight, Monstera Peru leaves turn yellow and have burnt black marks on them. Even if nothing is wrong, some of the foliage at the bottom of a plant may turn yellow.

This yellowing can also be a natural process in which plants shed old leaves that are no longer beneficial.

5. Faded-looking, Dry Leaves

Your Monstera Peru could be getting too much direct sunlight if the leaves are dry and faded.

While this plant’s light prerequisites are adaptable and can withstand quite a bit of bright light, it does not like the natural sun.

Too much light can cause it to appear washed-out and sun-bleached, and it can even scald the leaves. 

If you notice this, move the plant a few feet away from the window or find a window that doesn’t get direct sunlight.

Have you been punishing your Monstera with scorching sunlight? Minister the burns with: How to Treat Monstera Sunburn?

Frequently asked Questions about Monstera Peru

Is Monstera Peru RARE?

Monstera Peru is, indeed, a rare species. Monstera Peru shares the same rarity as Monstera Siltepecana (its nearest relative).

Why is my Monstera Peru Curling?

When the Monstera Peru curls, it indicates that you did not properly water the plant. Attempt to water the plant and retain the soil moist at all times.

The curling Monstera Peru plant indicates low humidity. Pest infestations can cause the curling of the Monstera Peru plant.

Please inspect the plant and keep the pest at bay.

Conclusion

If you are looking for a peculiar and one-of-a-kind plant, Monstera Peru is a great place to look!

Or, if you’ve been looking for a beautiful plant to “jazz up” your residence without a lot of attention and care, you will instantly fall in love with this Monstera.

Common bring them home!

Monstera offers you ample varieties, well don’t panic we are here with care details on Monstera Subpinnata, Monstera Lechleriana, Monstera Adansonii Variegated, and many more.