Rhaphidophora tetrasperma

Of all Monsteras the Monstera Rhaphidophora is by far my favorite. A super easy plant to care for, and my favorite thing about it is that it is a very fast growing plant. I have had this guy in three places in my house. It started at a South facing window and did well. Once I went to work from home I moved it to my desk that is right at an East facing window. He loved it there, and I loved him there. As the transition to going to work at home from the office it was one of those things that helped de-stress. Don’t think I’m crazy here! There are lots of studies that show that greenery/plants in work environments (any environment even) helps relax you/calm you and generally just make you a better person in this world. Any who. On my desk at this window he was growing steadily one leaf a week, sometimes two! Now my work from home set up was not designed to be the most permanent spot. So every day I have to move the desk in and out. Don’t judge me, it was the best option at the time! The point of this though is that this guy was getting too big and was hard to stabilize it while I moved the desk. Even if I moved it somewhere else it would often like to try to tip over. I was seriously debating and giving him a chop and propagating it. But when you have not chopped up a plant yet sometimes it is scary to think about, plus he is gorgeous just how he is. The cherry on top is that my husband enjoys this plant as well and any time I mentioned trying to propagate he would discourage it. Now he rarely has opinions on the plants so if he is enjoying one then of course I won’t do anything to ruin that. After a couple weeks of this struggle he dropped his very bottom leaf and started growing much slower. I decided to listen to him and move him to a more permanent spot. I did not move it far, just on the other side of the wall. Still gets enough sun light, I am able to put hooks on the wall to help support it’s weight. And after a week or two here he has started consistently growing again. Not as fast as he was when he was getting more direct morning light, but time will tell how happy he is there. Like I said, it is an easy plant to grow, you just have to watch the signals of if he is telling you he is happy or needs more love from the world.

I have been able to test this guy in 3 places. Where I had the best luck was at an East facing window. There he grew the fastest and biggest leaves. So it enjoys “bright indirect light.” Whatever that means. With what I learned that means prime property in an East or West facing window. It does well a little off side the window as long as it gets a few hours of direct light hitting it. So far what I have noticed it is in this location the leaves will be smaller, and it will grow a little slower.

This guy likes to be watered often. When the top inch gets a little dry. Honestly I find him very forgiving with water. You don’t want to let it get bone dry but it’s fine if you go a little longer than normal just make sure to make sure he gets a nice soak when you do water it. When it is staying at a nice damp level it will reward you with happy growth.

For soil you want to keep the general fast draining mix. I always mix in extra perlite. With this guy though he was potted in Fox Farms potting soil. One of two plants I have in it, and honestly they are both loving it.

For propagating I have yet to be brave enough to try this. I believe with as fast as this guy grows I will be doing that before the end of the year. From what I’ve seen is that they propagate easily by cutting it and putting it in some water. Make sure that the nodes are in the water to encourage root growth.