Monstera deliciosa ‘Thai Constellation’ is a form of Monstera deliciosa ‘Variegata’ with splashes of ivory coloured variegation over fresh green leaves.  The intensity of the variegation varies both from leaf to leaf and plant to plant, but the foliage usually features thin markings in a pleasing shade of soft white.  Let me reassure you, this is not a gaudy looking plant, it’s perhaps a little more demure than you might expect for a variegated houseplant and is certainly not as attention grabbing as some variegated houseplants can be.

Monstera deliciosa ‘Thai Constellation’ is a tender evergreen climbing plant, that requires an environment with bright, but indirect light.  Plants thrive in a very humid environment – Monstera deliciosa ‘Thai Constellation’ is an ideal houseplant to grow near a frosted window, in a steamy and light and bright bathroom.  Avoid areas exposed to harsh or direct sunlight; afternoon sunshine is more intense, so it’s worth checking on your plant in the afternoon.  To increase the humidity around your Monstera deliciosa plants, mist your plants regularly, using a hand-held mister.  Your Monstera deliciosa ‘Thai Constellation’ plant will enjoy growing in close proximity to other houseplants; this will help raise humidity levels around your plant and improve your plant’s growing conditions.  Avoid placing your plant near a radiator that’s operational.  Another way to create a more humid environment for your plant is to place it on a pebble tray that’s regularly topped up with water.

In the summertime, I pop my Monstera plants outside, while it’s raining, to wash their leaves and remove any dust or debris.  Rainwater is ideal for watering houseplants.  This is a tender plant, so don’t forget to bring it inside by the middle of August or before summer ends.  Don’t be tempted to move your Monstera deliciosa plants outside to receive the rainfall during cooler spring days or in autumn or wintertime.  During the colder months, it is better to collect rainwater and then wait for it to reach room temperature before watering your plants.

After watering, allow your Monstera deliciosa ‘Thai Constellation’ plant’s compost to dry out a little, before you water your plants again.  Check your plant’s compost regularly to avoid over-watering and under-watering and take care to mist Monstera deliciosa ‘Thai Constellation’ plants’ leaves daily.  Monstera deliciosa ‘Thai Constellation’ plants enjoy growing in moist, but well-drained compost – these plants really don’t want to sit in water.  Monstera deliciosa ‘Thai Constellation’ is a tender climbing plant that thrives in the warm temperatures inside our homes.

The standard green-leaved Monstera deliciosa is easier to grow than Monstera deliciosa ‘Thai Constellation’ because the foliage on the green-leaved form is packed full of chlorophyll, whereas variegated plants may have less than half the chlorophyll that green leaves contain; accordingly Monstera deliciosa ‘Thai Constellation’ requires optimum lighting and ideal growing conditions, as these plants are not as resilient as the more commonly found green-leaved forms.

Given the opportunity, Monstera deliciosa ‘Thai Constellation’ plants will keep on growing and climbing.  Their eventual size will depend on each particular plant’s growing conditions.  The plant’s support system will also effect the size and appearance of a Monstera deliciosa plant.  Many gardeners use a moss pole and encourage their Monstera deliciosa plant to climb it.  This works very well as the moss pole holds onto moisture and raises the humidity leaves around your Monstera.  Check and re-direct your Monstera deliciosa ‘Thai Constellation’ plant’s growth at regular intervals and tie in as necessary, to maintain a happy shape and an attractive form.

Plant your Monstera deliciosa ‘Thai Constellation’ plants in a peat-free, loam based compost.  Spring is the ideal time to re-pot plants into fresh compost.  These plants are easily propagated from cuttings.  Thank you to my friend, Lindsay who gave me the plant pictured above, which was grown from a cutting taken from her plant; due to this being a variegated form of Monstera, new plants are raised vegetatively from cuttings.

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