monstera siltepecana

Monstera Siltepecana: Premiere Care Guide

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The Monstera siltepecana is a beautiful addition to any plant lover’s collection, both indoors and out. It’s a vining plant that climbs with support. It can grow 20+ feet tall or as tall as the tree supporting it in the wild. Indoors, however, the plant only grows with support.

This dual-phase plant has a juvenile and mature state, but only plants grown in the wild ever reach the mature state.

Monstera Siltepecana Overview

The Monstera siltepecana plant originates from Mexico and Central America. It makes a beautiful indoor plant. A part of the Araceae family, and the Monstera genus, this perennial plant is a vine with two stages, creating two different colored leaves depending on its level of maturity.

The Araceae family has over 60 species, all stemming from the tropics of Central and Southern America. the species name ‘Siltepecana’ means monstrous or large, which is evident in this plant’s large leaves.

The Monstera siltepecana has many nicknames, including the Silver Monstera, Swiss Cheese Plant, and Silver Queen Philodendron.

The Monstera genus has many varieties that closely resemble the Monstera siltepecana plant, including the Monstera species plants:

  • Monstera Acuminata – This is a smaller Monstera plant that can withstand lower temperatures and likes to climb; however, it doesn’t get as tall as most Monstera plants.
  • Monstera deliciosa – This is another smaller Monstera plant that grows to less than five feet. This is one of the Monstera plants that produce berries, which is what differentiates it from others.
  • Monstera obliqua – This is one of the rare Monstera plants. The leaves have giant holes, taking up over 90% of the surface, and you can typically only find these plants online.
  • Monstera dubia – This plant has heart-shaped leaves. It’s also a vining plant and clings to whatever it is closest to when growing.
  • Monstera adansonii – You can find this common Monstera plant in most nurseries and stores. It, too, has large holes in its leaves, but the leaves are larger than most other Monstera plants.
FamilyAraceae
GenusMonstera
OriginMexico and Central America
SunlightIndirect sunlight or partial shade
WateringOnce a week in growing months
SoilWell draining soil and moist
Temperature50 to 95 degrees
PropagationStem cuttings
Re-PottingOnce rootbound or if getting crowded
Pests and DiseasesFungus gnats, spider mites
ToxicityToxic to pets and humans

Monstera Siltepecana Features

The Monstera siltepecana plant has some unique features. Namely, it has two stages, a juvenile and a mature stage. As a result, both plants look entirely different, and some even mistake them for plants from other species.

Juvenile plants create long, silver, or gray leaves. It also has dark green veins at this stage. The leaves on this juvenile monstera grow to 3 or 4 inches long and don’t have holes. Mature monstera siltepecana plants have dark green leaves and typical holes Monstera plants have.

The Monstera siltepecana plant can grow indoors or outdoors. If grown outdoors near a tree, the plant will grow as high as the tree, using the trunk for support. Indoor plants, however, need support to grow. Therefore, they will only grow as high as the support and remain juvenile plants for life without it. This means they never develop the dark green leaves if they’re ‘dwarfed.’

It’s important to note that the Monstera siltepecana plant is toxic. You should keep it away from kids and pets. If ingested, seek medical attention immediately.

Monstera Siltepecana: Premiere Care Guide 1

Monstera Siltepecana Care Guide

Caring for Monstera siltepecana plants is fairly easy, and it makes a great indoor plant if you’re looking to add it to your Monstera plant collection.

Ideal Growing Place

The Monstera siltepecana is great for outdoor or indoor plants. Outdoors, it needs warm temperatures and some shade. If it has too much direct sunlight, the leaves will scorch. It grows best shaded by a tree, which it uses for support, but a trellis also works.

Indoors, it does best near a southern-facing window. This gives it plenty of indirect light to create the lush leaves you desire without giving it too much sun. If you want it to vine, it will need support; otherwise, it can grow in its juvenile state forever.

Water

The Monstera siltepecana plant loves water, but there’s such a thing as too much of a good thing. To avoid overwatering, check the soil’s moisture by sticking your finger in it. If the first three inches are dry, water it. If not, wait to avoid water logging the roots.

When watering your Silver monstera, keep watering until you see water coming from the drainage holes. Be sure to empty the lower tray so the plant doesn’t sit in water.

On average, make watering your Monster plant once a week a part of your Monstera siltepecana care.

Sunlight

Sunlight is vital for all plants, but too much sunlight isn’t good for the Monstera siltepecana. It prefers indirect light and shade over direct sunlight. The more indirect light the plant gets, the more beautiful its leaves become.

If you want your plant to have direct sunlight, the early morning sun is the best, with shade or partial shade for the remainder of the day.

Please note that if the plant is left in direct light for too long, it can burn the Monstera siltepecana leaves.

Temperature

Like most tropical plants, the Monstera siltepecana prefers warmer temperatures and doesn’t thrive in the cold. The ideal temperature for the plant is 50 to 95 degrees if grown outdoors. However, most indoor temperatures work well for the plant if grown indoors.

If you grow your Monstera siltepecana plant outdoors, ensure the temperatures don’t get below 60 degrees, as it will not survive.

Soil

The Monstera siltepecana likes well-draining soil. You can use a store-bought soil mix, but make sure it’s loose and drains well. The Monstera siltepecana roots like room to grow and don’t like to be weighed down, so the soil mix should also be light.

To add necessary nutrients to the soil mix, consider adding pumice, perlite, or bark to help drainage and keep the pH level between five and six.

If you’re having issues with getting the plant enough humidity, consider adding sphagnum moss.

Humidity

The Monstera siltepecana is native to the rain forests, so it needs plenty of moisture to thrive in your environment. If the air feels too dry, give the plant more humidity by adding a humidifier to the room it’s in, just don’t place the humidifier directly next to the plant.

Other ways to increase the plant’s moisture are to mist the leaves lightly with a spray bottle a few times a week or add a pebble water tray under the plant to increase moisture.

Keep in mind a big part of Monstera siltepecana care is to provide it with 60% – 90% humidity.

Related Article: Variegated Monstera Adansonii: Instructional Care Guide

Fertilizer

One nice thing about Monstera siltepecana care is that it doesn’t need a lot of fertilizer. You can use regular houseplant fertilizer; usually, liquid works best.

However, your Monstera siltepecana doesn’t need fertilizer in the first six months. It also doesn’t need it in the colder months. Therefore, only fertilize in the summer months and once a month after the plant is at least six months old.

The only time you might need to fertilize in its juvenile state is if you aren’t using a store-bought soil mixture that already has fertilizer.

Pinching/Pruning

Monstera siltepecana care doesn’t require pinching or pruning; however, if you want to keep the growth under control, you can prune it as needed. Gentle pruning may encourage new growth and help keep your plant’s shape.

If you notice dead or decaying leaves, make sure to pick them off the plant carefully. Also, ensure the scissors or your hands are sanitized before touching the plant.

Potting and Re-potting

Re-pot your plant direct from the nursery into a pot two times the size of its original pot. Monstera siltepecana plants grow fast, so you’ll find yourself re-potting again soon if you don’t.

If you notice the roots growing outside the pot, it’s a sign to re-pot immediately. You should also re-pot the plant when it looks crowded, choosing a pot two sizes larger than its current pot.

Growth Zone

If you grow the Monstera siltepecana outdoors, it only thrives in zones 10 – 12. However, it can withstand most indoor environments, so you can grow it indoors. For example, if you grow it outdoors in a pot, and the weather dips below 60 degrees, bring it indoors to protect it.

Common Pests, Toxins, Diseases & Other Problems

The Silver monstera has spikier leaves than most, so pests aren’t a big problem for the plant, but there are some issues they experience, including:

  • Fungus Gnats – These pests don’t hurt your plant’s leaves but can ruin your soil. Fungus gnats lay eggs in the soil, which affects the plant’s roots. This eventually causes the leaves to wilt. Since fungus gnats can lay many eggs at once, you must get rid of the soil immediately, replacing it with fresh soil and using a gnat dressing to keep them away.
  • Spider Mites – If you notice black or red dots on your plant’s leaves, they are likely spider mites. There may also be telltale webs around the plant. These pests suck the nutrients from the leaves, causing them to wilt and die. To eliminate them, prune leaves infested with the bugs, rinse the leaves with water and apply neem oil every couple of days.
  • Discolored Leaves – Pale leaves are often a sign of malnourishment. Adding a good fertilizer to the soil can bring them back to life. If the leaves have brown tips, it could be a sign of overwatering, leading to root rot.
  • Withering Leaves – Leaves that can’t hold up on their own are often not watered enough. Consider watering more frequently or checking the soil to ensure it’s moist enough.

Propagation

Learning how to propagate the Monstera plant is easy. The best technique is with stem cuttings. First, grab a pair of sterilized scissors and cut the stem behind a node with at least one leaf. Then, take your stem cuttings and place them in water.

Leave the cuttings in water until you see roots grow. Once it has roots, transfer the plant to a proper soil mix that allows room for drainage and allows the roots to grow further. Remember, this is a fast-growing plant, so plant it in a pot that leaves room for growth.

Monstera Siltepecana Mature Timeline

It takes approximately three to four weeks from stem cutting to a plant with roots. Outdoors, it takes the Swiss Cheese plant two to three years to fully mature. However, if not given a chance to climb indoors, the plant stays in its juvenile state forever.

Monstera Siltepecana: Premiere Care Guide 2

Monstera Siltepecana FAQ

Where Can I Find Monstera Siltepecana for Sale?

The Monstera siltepecana plant is somewhat rare, so your best bet to find the Monstera siltepecana for sale is to look online. Etsy sellers usually have many of these plants for sale, as do specialty nurseries.

How Big Does a Monstera Siltepecana Get?

The Silver monstera can get quite large when grown outdoors. It usually grows as tall as what supports it. For example, if a tree supports it, it will grow as tall as the tree through the years.
When grown indoors, however, the Silver monstera may not grow much. For example, they thrive well in terrariums because of the humidity levels required, but this will keep the plant as a juvenile its entire life. The leaves won’t change from their silver color to dark green, and they won’t climb. For the Silver monstera to climb indoors, it needs support from a moss pole.

Does Monstera Siltepecana Climb?

The Monstera siltepecana needs something to climb to create its unique climbing shape. Outdoors, they usually don’t have trouble climbing as they can find something to climb. Indoors, however, you must provide the plant with the support it needs to climb, such as a moss pole. Without support, it won’t climb and won’t mature.

When Will My Siltepecana Get Fenestrations?

If your Monstera species plant matures, it will get fenestrations or holes in the leaves. This happens as the plant matures and the leaves change colors. The Monstera siltepecan fenestration is a sign of a mature monstera siltepecana.

Why Does My Siltepecana Have Brown Tips?

If your Monstera siltepecana leaves have brown tips, it’s a sign of overwatering. This is bad for a few reasons. First, it can kill the leaves, but it can also cause root rot, which can kill the entire plant. The Monstera siltepecana needs water, but not too much. Avoid watering it if the top three inches of the soil are moist, and make sure there are plenty of drainage holes in the pot to avoid water logging your plant.

Why Does My Siltepecana Have Yellow Leaves?

If your Monster leaves turn yellow, it signifies overwatering and inadequate sunlight. The combination causes the leaves to turn yellow. To avoid yellow leaves, ease up on the frequency of watering the plant, only watering when the top three inches of soil are dry. Also, put the plant in indirect light. Bright indirect light is the best for it and will help the plant thrive.

Where Does Monstera Siltepecana Originate?

The Monstera siltepecana is from Mexico and Central America. It thrives in rainforests, so it loves high temperatures and humidity. This is why monitoring the home’s humidity is essential for indoor plants. Fortunately, a spritz of water on the leaves or adding a humidifier can give the plant the environment it needs.

Is Monstera Siltepecana a Fast Grower?

It takes two to three years for the Monstera siltepecana to reach its full height. It’s an epiphytic creeper, so if it’s grown outdoors, it will reach its maximum size quickly. Indoors, however, it’s a terrestrial grower and won’t grow very fast.

What Does Monstera Siltepecana Smell Like?

The Swiss Cheese Plant doesn’t have a distinct smell. However, if you notice a foul odor, it could signify disease. Assess your plant’s health immediately and take the appropriate measures to eliminate dead leaves, root rot, or any other issues the plant is experiencing.

What Kind of Pot Is Suitable for a Monstera Siltepecana?

The Monstera siltepecana does well in any pot; the size matters the most. Since it grows fast, you want the plant in a pot that’s two sizes larger than it currently needs. This allows plenty of room to grow and ensures the roots don’t bulge out of the pot. The roots need plenty of room to grow and drainage holes to avoid getting water-logged.

What’s the Difference Between Monstera Siltepecana vs. Monstera Peru Vs. El Salvador?

The Monstera Peru plant has dark green leaves with a shiny appearance. The leaves are smaller than the Monstera siltepecana leaves, and it’s a climber like the Siltepecana monstera. It can grow up to 19 feet tall outdoors, but like the Siltepecana monstera, it needs support, such as a moss pole.
The Monstera siltepecana El Salvador plant looks similar to the Silver monstera, but there is tighter spacing between the leaves. It, too, is a climbing plant that needs a moss pole for support. Like the Monstera siltepecana, it has fenestrations upon maturity.

Is Monstera Siltepecana Rare?

The Monstera siltepecana isn’t as rare as some plants, but you might not find it at your local big-box nurseries. Instead, you’ll have better luck with online and specialty nurseries carrying the plant.

Is Monstera Siltepecana Toxic to Pets and Humans?

The Monstera siltepecana is extremely toxic to pets and children. Keep it out of reach of anyone who could accidentally ingest it and seek medical attention immediately if they do.

Monstera Siltepecana: The Bottom Line

The Monstera siltepecana makes a wonderful addition to any plant collection. It grows fast in the wild or stays in its juvenile state indoors. It doesn’t require much care and needs water infrequently, making it a great choice for busy households.

The Monstera plant propagates well, making it a great option for gifts or just to do something nice for someone. Our care guide makes it easy to share this beautiful plant with even novices who want to try their hand at collecting plants.

Last Updated on September 26, 2022 by Gustaf Johansson

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