If you like to collect rare monstera plants then you must add Monstera Dilacerata to your plant collection.
This rare plant has beautiful leaves and people often confuse it with Monstera sierrana. It is totally different plant and but its care is somewhere similar to other monsteras.
In today’s care guide, you will learn care tips for Monstera Dilacerata, propagation, and common problems with solutions.
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What is Monstera Dilacerata?
This plant is naturally found in Asian countries from Australia to India. The best part is now it is available in North America.
Visit your nearest garden store to buy this beautiful plant. It has long thin and delicate leaves.
In its natural habitat, Monstera Dilacerata grows up to 15 feet tall. But this height is not possible in North America due to weather changes.
Most people like to grow it as an indoor plant and it stays under 4 feet in plant pots.
It needs indirect bright light and well-draining soil for its good health.
Because Dilacerata is prone to root rot. You must need to choose well-draining soil that is also lightweight and allow air to easily enter the root zone.
To prevent overwatering problems, you must learn the correct watering technique. It is explained in the watering section of this article.
Monstera Dilacerata Care Needs
Because it is a rare plant this means it is also a costly plant. So, it’s best to learn about its growing needs before bringing it home.
Once you are sure that you can give proper care to Monstera Dilacerata then you can buy this plant and bring it home.
Let’s discuss What it Needs to Grow?
Light Requirement
Dilacerata Monstera needs bright light for its good health. Because in its natural habitat, it grows in partial shade under the canopy of large trees.
Then it spends its energy growing its size to reach the sunlight.
But direct sunlight is not beneficial for the indoor growing Monstera Dilacerata. Direct sunshine can burn the leaves and you end up with yellow and brown crispy leaves.
The best place will be a shady window where it can get plenty of indirect light with some shade.
If your plant is losing slits and perforations this indicates that your Monstera plant is getting less light than required.
Shift your plant to a little bright area and it will heal itself in a few days.
M. Dilacerata Potting Soil
This Monstera is prone to root rot and to avoid this problem you should use well-draining soil.
This type of soil contains a good amount of organic material like leaf bark and compost.
I prefer using a compost of about 50% in the potting soil mix. This way you give organic nutrients to your plant.
Also, compost is light in weight, and even after watering, compost keeps the air pockets open. This reduces the chances of root rot to 87%.
Do not use normal soil for Monstera Dilacerata care. Garden soil is not suitable for all species of monstera plants.
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Watering Monstera Dilacerata
Use filtered water to avoid water-related problems. In the summer season, you need to give more water to your plant.
Because it is the growing season and plants use more water to make glucose to grow in the hot season.
Before watering your plant, you must check the soil moisture level. For accurate readings buy a soil moisture testing meter.
This is an inexpensive device and gives instant soil moisture readings.
Or
Insert your finger into the soil and check moisture. Water your plant only when you are sure that the top 2 to 3 inches of the potting soil are dry.
This method is perfect for avoiding overwatering problems.
Moreover, you should reduce the watering sessions in cold weather. Soil check is mandatory in the winter season for a healthy growing Monstera Dilacerata.
Fertilizing Monstera Dilacerata
Fertilizers help this plant to build a healthy and strong immune system. Nutritional boosts also help plants to grow fast and produce beautiful leaves.
You can use high-nitrogen supplements like 20-10-10. I use the same ratio of NPK and it gives new life to my weak Dilacerata.
To reduce fertilizer expenses, you can mix organic material like manure or compost in the potting soil.
Organic substances are slow-releasing fertilizers. This way your plant always has a bunch of nutrients. It will never face a lack of essential nutrients with organic material.
Spring and summer are the best time for fertilization. Do not use fertilizers in winter because it is dormancy time.
Loading nutrients in this time frame will result in overfertilization and you will get a burned plant.
Temperature
Dilacerata is a tropical plant so it needs warm weather to grow healthy. Keep the room temperature above 50 degrees F.
Below 50 F is deadly for the plant. The room temperature that is suitable for you is suitable for your plants.
Protect it from cold winds and cold weather. It is not frost resistant plant therefore, bring it indoors before the first frost hits.
Monsteras are indoor plants but you can grow them outdoors if your residential area is warm. And the temperature stays above 50 degrees F throughout the year.
Humidity
Maintaining the right level of humidity is crucial for the plant. Because in the absence of enough humidity.
Monstera Dilacerata becomes unable to absorb the proper amount of water from the soil. It develops brown leaf tips but before that, you observe curling leaves.
Keep the room humidity above 55%. The good news is this is the general home humidity range.
But if there is low humidity then you can use a traditional method like a pebble tray. Do not use a spray bottle and mist water on its leaves.
A Pebble tray is a strong solution to low humidity.
Fill the tray will small pebbles and water and place your plant pot over it. Do not allow the water of the tray to touch the bottom of the plant pot.
There must be a 1-to-2-inch gap between the water and the plant base.
If you have a good budget then buy a plant humidifier for your indoor growing Monstera Dilaceratas.
Pruning
Pruning is important for M. Dilacerata care. Because it makes room for new growth and removes dry and dead parts of the plant.
First of all, you should start pruning by cutting yellow leaves. Then trim the dead vines of the plant and dead leaves.
To keep your plant beautiful, you should regularly trim the dead parts.
Use sharp and sterilized knives or shears. Disinfect them before storing this will prevent the chances of disease from infected tools.
Toxicity
The Dilacerata is mildly toxic to humans and pets. The juice of the leaves contains a chemical compound name calcium oxalate.
This substance is toxic and ingestion of any part of the plant is toxic to health.
Keep your pets away from the plant and teach your kids not to touch the leaves. And after touching the leaves make sure they wash their hands with soap.
Excessive drooling, stomach pain, and skin rashes are a few early warning signs of toxicity. Immediately call the hospital for help.
Repotting Monstera Dilacerata
For best M. Dilacerata care you should use the 10 inches pot for the matured plant. Also, use a moss pole to support the structure of the large plant.
No need to tie the plant to it.
Monstera Dilacerata produces aerial roots that automatically tie the plant with support and grow upwards.
Repotting is required when you see slow growth in your plant or after every 2 years. The reason is the soil in the plant pot becomes infertile over time.
It is best to change the soil on time and give new life to your slowly growing plant.
The material of the pot does not matter. But I prefer using terracotta pots to avoid overwatering and to improve drainage.
Propagating Monstera Dilacerata
- Leaf-cutting and stem-cutting are two methods of Monstera Dilacerata propagation. But I only describe the stem-cutting method because it is easy and has a high success rate.
- First, choose a healthy stem with aerial roots and at least two nodes. Then make a cut 2 inches below the last node.
- Remove the bottom leaves they are not required in propagation.
- Add perlite and sphagnum moss in a plant pot and plant the cutting in it. Give some water to keep the growing medium moist.
- No need to use rooting hormone but if you already have it at home then you can use it if you want.
- Place the pot away from sunlight in a partially shady place.
- Keep the soil moist and within a few days, you will see the new growth of leaves. Now you can follow the regular Monstera Dilacerata care routine.
Propagation in Water:
- Instead of potting soil and plant pot, you can use a glass of water.
- Put the cutting in a glass of water and place it away from direct sunlight.
- Keep an eye on the water and change it when it gets dirty and unclear.
- Protect it from direct sunlight because sunlight triggers the build-up of algae in the glass jar.
- Within 20 days you will see the tiny new roots. Once they grow near about 2 inches, transfer your plant to the potting soil.
Monstera Dilacerata Common Problems
Leaf Problems
The common leaf problem is yellow leaves on Monstera Dilacerata. This can be triggered by overwatering and underwatering.
In overwatering, you will also see root rot and leaf rot along with yellow leaves. This condition is serious and you need to repot the plant to save its life.
Whereas in underwatering green leaves turn yellow due to lack of moisture.
Low humidity also triggers yellow leaves because M. Dilacerata starts losing water in a low-humid environment.
To correct underwatering, immediately water your plant and it will heal itself in 3 to 7 days.
Bacterial leaf spot is another leaf problem but it is rare in Monstera Dilacerata. It is caused by a bacterial infestation.
Using infected garden tools for pruning or using infected soil are the two common reasons.
Pest infestations
Mealybugs and spider mites are common enemies of M. Dilacerata plants. These sap-sucking insects drink all the juice of your plant.
Make it weak and wilting. To prevent these pests, you should use neem oil spray twice a month.
To get rid of them use rubbing alcohol and wipe each leaf manually including vines. It will kill them on the spot and also destroy their colonies.
Insecticidal soaps are more effective than isopropyl alcohol. Rinse your plant with it and keep it separate until it develops new healthy growth.
New growth is a sure sign of the good health of Monstera Dilacerata.
Conclusion
Monstera Dilacerata care is not hard if you take your plant seriously. It is a costly and rare plant but it needs less care than other monsteras.
The only drawback is this plant is more prone to root rot. Follow the above-mentioned watering method to prevent overwatering and root rot.
Keep the surroundings clean to avoid pest infestation and use neem oil spray every month.
