The birthplace of monstera and the history of its discovery

Monstera is often found in Russian institutions, offices, homes and apartments. This houseplant has very large interesting leaves. The structure of the leaf plates is not continuous, as in the overwhelming majority of indoor flowers, but unusually "full of holes". It seems as if someone deliberately cut their edges and cut out large particles.

The historical homeland of monstera is in South America, where there is no winter, it is always warm and damp, where monstera grows, twisting around erect trees. A plant is a liana that grows in natural conditions up to fifty meters or more. It never appears in the sun. Foliage, flowers, and fruits remain under the cover of other plants. The ability to attach to the trunks and additional nutrition are provided by adventitious roots.

Only in the tropical forests of Brazil and Mexico close to the equator does monstera bear fruit. The evergreen plant has huge leaves, reaching almost half a meter in length and slightly less in width. The surface of the leaf plates is smooth and shiny. Additional roots grow directly from the stem on the opposite side of the leaves.

The flowers are like ears. Ripe fruits of some varieties are edible. Their somewhat bitter taste resembles a cross between strawberries and juicy pineapple. The total number of species of monstera described by scientists is close to fifty.

Travelers trapped in tropical thickets in the eighteenth century told horror stories. What he saw caused horror in front of this beautiful plant. Judging by the descriptions, skeletons of people and animals were found under the trees along which the lianas crawled. Long roots dangling from the trunks sprout through the bare bones. Eerie pictures made one think that it was the plant that killed the people who approached it. It is not surprising that, translated from Latin, monstrum is a monster.

Research has shown that the monstera is not a predator at all. However, its leaves contain potassium oxalate, a substance that can cause poisoning. Simple touches won't do any harm. Danger lies in wait for someone who wants to try a leaf on a tooth. When the juice of the plant enters the mucous membrane, intoxication occurs.

The plant got to Southeast Asia in the 19th century. Today it can be found in Asian forests. The local climate quite satisfied the vine, and it quickly acclimatized in a new place, gradually expanding its growing territory.

The conquest of the European continent began with Great Britain. It was to this country that the monster was brought in 1752. The British liked the unusual appearance of a large-leaved green plant. But the climate did not allow the liana to settle in the open air. Europeans planted the monstera in pots or tubs and raised it in warm home conditions.

Indoor plants can grow to over five meters in height with reliable support. The first leaves have no cuts and are not large. Gaps appear on subsequent shoots, and the dimensions become more impressive, up to 30 centimeters.

The structure of monstera leaves is interesting not only for its perforated appearance. Where the veins end, there are microscopic holes in the plates. They are called hydatodes or aquatic stomata. The excess water received by the plant flows out into these holes.

Thin streams flow down to the tip of the leaf, droplets fall down. It seems that the vine sheds tears. Before rainy weather, the outflow of water increases. The appearance of drops is better than any barometer at predicting bad weather.

Monstera is cozy in spacious warm rooms. The preferred temperature in the summer months is 20 - 25 degrees C, and in the winter 16 - 18. Liana does not tolerate not only frosts, but also prolonged stay at temperatures below 15 degrees.

For good growth, vines need:

• free space;
• fertile moist soil;
• diffused soft lighting;
• protection from direct sunlight in the summer;
• periodic dust removal from sheet plates;
• protection from drafts, especially in winter.

The plant should be watered with settled, or better filtered water, preferably warm. The frequency of watering depends on the season. In summer - every two to three days, in winter less often - about once a week. In dry soil, the plant dies. With an excess of moisture, the root system rots, which leads to a similar result. Lack or excess of moisture is reflected in the state of the plant: spots appear on the leaf plates.

For information on how to care for a monster at home, see the video below.