Monstera dubia is an uncommon and underappreciated species of Monstera, compared to the more common Monstera deliciosa and Monstera adansonii. This kind of Monstera can be challenging to track down. You won’t find this at big-box retailers, so how can you buy one, and when you do buy one, how can you care for them?
The best places to buy a monstera dubia are either in person at plant nurseries (which are more likely to carry them than big box stores) or online at Etsy or Ebay. If you choose to buy online, go with a trusted vendor with good reviews to make sure you’re not getting diseased or infested plants.
Monstera dubia is a smaller, less well-known Monstera variety, but it’s gorgeous and would make a great addition to any Monstera fan’s houseplant collection. This article will show you how and where to buy one, as well as how to care for one once you get one. Let’s get started.
How To Buy Monstera Dubia
This kind of variation can be challenging to come by. You probably won’t find this at significant retailers like Lowes, Home Depot, Costco, and others, but your local garden centers are more likely to have them, or they can get one for you from their suppliers.
Online vendors are your best bet for obtaining your very own Monstera dubia. Elements come and go, just like in a physical nursery, but Etsy and eBay are good places to start.
Here are some of the most trusted Etsy plant sellers:
You can also message online plant vendors to see if they’ll have any Monstera dubia in stock soon or, if not, they might recommend any merchants who might have one.
You can also run a quick Google search for “Monstera dubia for sale” or “shingle plant for sale” to check which online vendors carry them. Before you buy anything, make sure to read reviews and check out seller ratings, which apply to Etsy and eBay merchants as well.
Also, be prepared to pay a significant sum for this plant. Because they aren’t very prevalent in the world of houseplants, they are scarce, and prices might be costly.
Caring For Your Monstera Dubia
While the Monstera dubia is less popular than the Monstera deliciosa and Monstera adansonii, it requires almost similar care. If you’ve previously cared for Monstera varieties such as Monstera deliciosa, Monstera adansonii, or Monstera dubia, you won’t have any problems with Monstera dubia.
Monstera dubias, on the other hand, like mountain climbing a totem or assistance, require it to survive. Because the leaves are so flat, many indoor gardeners choose to put their Monstera dubia on a simple support beam to highlight this feature.
You Need Well-Draining Potting Soil
Monstera dubia thrives in loose, damp, but well-draining potting soils with plenty of natural dependability. For those tropical blooms, a thick soil combination developed for aroids is preferable.
You can readily make this soil at home by combining similar parts of:
- Orchid bark
- Peat moss or coco coir
- Perlite
This mixture is excellent for Monstera dubia since it is significantly freer and richer in the natural count.
It will contain the proper amount of water without causing the plant to get waterlogged. You should never use regular potting soil in your Monstera dubia since it may be excessively thick and choke the root system.
They Need To Avoid Direct Sunlight
Monstera dubias grow in their natural environment beneath a canopy of trees, where they receive dappled sunshine throughout the day. As a result, when cultivated inside, they must be exposed to intense oblique light.
You should avoid long periods of direct sunlight since they will burn the leaves of immature plants.
Tropical Temperatures and Humidity Levels
Monstera dubias are tropical rainforest natives, which means they flourish in hot, humid conditions.
Traditional household temperatures and humidity levels are generally suitable for this flora, but avoid placing your Monstera dubia near a drafty window or heating or cooling vents.
If your house is arid, you may need to provide more humidity to your Monstera dubia. Curling leaves off the stalk, or crunchy edges are both signs that your plant needs more humidity. A humidifier or a pebble tray filled with water placed beneath the plant are also excellent options.
Water Once In a While
When the top few inches (or centimeters) of the potting media are dry, water your Monstera dubia.
Make sure you’re watering thoroughly and allowing excess water to drain from the container. These Monsteras can take a little water neglect and won’t die if the soil dries up now and then, particularly in the winter, but don’t allow them to dry out too frequently.
Use a Standard Slow-Release Fertilizer
These aroids are considered modest feeders and benefit from regular fertilization. To support vigorous growth, use a standard slow-release fertilizer three times a year and a low-energy balanced fertilizer once a month throughout the growing season.
You can also fertilize with the Houseplant Resource Center Monstera Plant Food from Amazon.com, which is meant to be applied with each watering, eliminating the need to keep track of a fertilizer schedule.
Monstera Dubia Propagation
Stem cuttings are an easy way to grow Monstera dubia. This method is the same as that used to propagate various Monsteras, such as Monstera deliciosa or Monstera adansonii, and different vining aroids, such as pothos and philodendron.
Here’s how to do it:
- Reduce the stem just beneath a node.
- Submerge the new reduction in water until the stem and node are submerged, but the leaves are not.
- Place the slicing in a bright but somewhat mild area.
- To stimulate roots, add a few drops of Houseplant Resource Center Propagation Promoter (also on Amazon) to the water.
- Wait until the roots are about an inch (2.54 cm) long before transferring the cutting from water to soil, which can take up to a week.
- After transplanting the cutting to the chunky aroid soil mix, keep the soil moist for the first few weeks to prevent the plant from going into shock.
Pests and Diseases That Are Common With Monstera Dubia
Root rot is a common problem that individuals have while growing Monstera dubias.
It occurs when watering isn’t always adequately regulated or when the Monstera is placed in soil that becomes excessively compacted and waterlogged the roots. To avoid overly-wet dirt, make sure you’re using a loose, chunky potting mix.
Purple spider mites and common brown scale, both sap-sucking parasites, are also widespread on Monstera dubia. Make it a habit to regularly inspect your plant for pests so that you may notice any infestations early.
Spraying neem oil or rubbing alcohol on the afflicted plant sections can control both of these pests. Scale bugs should be physically cleaned off the plant with cotton swabs and rubbing alcohol since they can be difficult to remove after adhering to the stems.
The Specifics of the Monstera dubia Plant
The tiny, heart-shaped leaves of Monstera dubia are speckled with both light and darkish green shades.
Because juvenile vegetation, which is the type you’ll most often see indoors, lacks the lasting Monstera slots and holes, you might not recognize it as a Monstera at first. However, even without the fenestration, the beautiful light and dark inexperienced patterned leaves make this a gorgeous plant in its own right.
Monstera dubia is a creeping vine that climbs shrubs and large plants in its native environment of tropical Central and South America. Monstera dubia is also referred to as the “shingle plant” because its leaves lie so flat on the bushes it climbs in the wild, resembling shingles.
Small heart-shaped leaves with mild green and darkish inexperienced variegation characterize juvenile plant life, and the leaves lay flat in opposition to whatever they’re growing on.
Mature Monstera dubia plants, usually only encountered in the wild, are similar to Monstera deliciosas. The similarity is due to large fenestrations and no variegation.
The adult leaves of Monstera dubia cling to the vines, unlike the immature ones.
A fascinating aspect of Monstera dubia is that it undergoes a remarkable transition when it reaches maturity and is exposed to bright sunshine. After climbing above a tree, the transformation happens naturally when a vine gets to the sunlight above the canopy.
These tiny, heart-shaped variegated leaves turn deep green and form large fenestrations that absorb most of the leaf’s area.
It doesn’t even appear to be the same plant. This change, however, takes years to happen and is seldom observed in indoor flowers since they are rarely permitted to grow large enough to get enough light to undergo this transformation.
Conclusion
Even if you give your Monstera Dubia the best possible care, it still has a high potential of developing problems in the end. It’s also worth noting that Monstera dubia is poisonous to pets.
If you suspect your child or pet has eaten any of your Monstera dubia, rinse their mouth with milk to eliminate any plant fragments and relieve discomfort. Getting a Monstera dubia plant is more complex, but once you’ve got one, it’s an exciting plant to care for. It will keep you enticed all day.
Have fun growing!
Sources
- Etsy: HirtsGardens
- Etsy: Planterium
- Etsy: FarmerJoePlantsStore
- Evergreen Seeds: Monstera Dubia | Grow and Care Guide with Tips & Tricks
- The Yard and Garden: Monstera Dubia Care | Shingles Plant
- Indoor Home Garden: How To Care For A Monstera Dubia
- Gardener’s Point: Monstera dubia –A Complete care guide on the Shingle Plant
- Monstera Plant Resource Center: Monstera Dubia: How to Buy and Care for this Monstera Variety
- Plants Spark Joy: Monstera Dubia – Everything You Need to Know to Care and Grow