How The Variegated Monstera Became An Instagram Obsession
The rare and elusive Variegated Monstera. Photo: @lucidmonstera
First there was the Fiddle Leaf Fig, a beautifully sculptural plant that became a sensation of the interior design world seemingly overnight. But although the trend has not seemed to wane over the years, there’s a new plant in town that is quickly catching up in popularity. The only difference? It’s next to impossible to find.
The Variegated Monstera: Instagram’s most elusive plant
You may not know its exact name, but odds are it’s caught your eye before. The iconic split leaves of the Monstera Deliciosa are unmistakable, except rather than green, this plant’s foliage is either partially or entirely hypnotic white. It’s a plant commonly referred to as the Variegated Monstera, and though pictures of it populate our Instagram feeds, getting your hands on one is no easy task.
What is the Variegated Monstera?
The Variegated Monstera is a type of Monstera that sports variegation, or genetic makeup that is altered or mutated to produce various colors on the foliage and even stark white leaves. Variegation can come in many different patterns and colors across different plant varieties, but the Variegated Monstera is usually green and white, or all white.
Types of Variegated Monstera
There are at least two different types (or cultivars) of the Variegated Monstera:
Thai Constellation - more common as well as easier to care for, the Thai Constellation Monstera produces leaves with small splashes of cream coloring, reminiscent of stars in a galaxy.
Albo - less common and more difficult to care for, this plant produces leaves with large white splotches, and in some cases, half or full leaves that are entirely white.
Two different cultivars of the Variegated Monstera: Albo and Thai Constellation. Photos: @foreverplanty (left), @monstera.maven (right)
Why are Variegated Monsteras so hard to find?
Many plants with white variegation tend to be more delicate than their green counterparts, and the Variegated Monstera is no exception. They produce less chlorophyl, and as such photosynthesize a great deal less. Growing them is not only slow, but also requires a certain level of skill. Combine this with incredibly high demand, and you’ve got a rare plant that is going to be tough to find, and if you do find it, it will cost you!
Rare plant aficionados and growers do an excellent job of growing them from cuttings, and this is usually what we see when we search the hashtag #variegatedmonstera on social media. So beautiful, yet so out of reach! But could you do the same?
Propagating variegated Monsteras
One great way to get your hands on a Variegated Monstera is through propagation. Propagation is the multiplication of plants from one mother plant. If you are able to get a cutting, either by purchasing or through a friend, you can propagate your own plant. Here’s how to propagate the Variegated Monstera (the same method for regular Monstera propagation):
Step 1 - Take a cutting from a plant and be sure the stem has a node. The node is a small junction on the stem that sticks out and is where new stems sprout.
Step 2 - Place in a glass of water and put in a spot with bright indirect light.
Step 3 - Wait anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. You should eventually start to see roots forming.
Step 4 - Place in a small pot with fresh soil, and keep the soil just moist to the touch for the first few weeks until it feels firmly rooted in its pot.
Where can you buy a Variegated Monstera?
A mature (and staked!) Variegated Monstera. Photo: @craigmilran
Unless you have a local plant store that specializes in rare plants, your best bet is going to be online. Finding a mature plant will not be easy, though there are many people selling cuttings on Etsy. You’ll need to nurture the plant yourself from a cutting, but perhaps that will make you love it all the more!
At Léon & George, we occasionally are able to get our hands on one or two (which we’ve been known to hold giveaways for!), so make sure to follow us on Instagram to stay in the loop!
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