Last Updated on March 19, 2022 by Admin
The Monstera Aurea is also called the Monstera Aurea Variegata or Variegated Monstera Aurea. Other names you may hear people refer to it as:
- Monstera Deliciosa Aurea
- Monstera Marmorata
- Monstera Borsigiana Aurea
- Yellow Variegated Monstera
All of these names refer to the same plant.
And it is a rare and expensive plant if you can find iit.
It is one of those very sought after variegated monstera plants that many people love.
The Monstera Aurea Variegata is distinct because it features beautiful and unique yellow variegations on its larges split leaves. Thus is does have the holes (fenestrations) that the Monstera Deliciosa has. And it inherits the same leaf shape.
But it come with the yellow variegations that are different for each leaf.
It is a native of Central America and therefore, fond on tropical climates.
Why is Monstera Aurea So Expensive?
The main reason for its expensive price is its variegation. Additionally, it does not feature the same white variegations that other variegate monstera plants have. The Aurea’s variegations are yellow.
But in general, variegated varieties of the monstera cost a lot of money because of 2 things:
- Rarity
- Popularity
The high demand and low supply of the plant cause its price to go up as people are willing to pay more because there aren’t many of them around.
Monstera Aurea Plant Care
Monstera Aurea Variegata Light Requirements
The Monstera Aurea thrives in bright, indirect light. it likewise does well in moderate light and a bit of low light.
However, because of tis variegated foliage, you want to be careful of the extremes.
- Too much light and direct sun – are both a bit too much for the plant’s leaves. While it will survive its leaves will lose their variegations and become dull looking. If the heat from the sun or light sources gets too strong, it can even scorch the leaves. Note that the variegated leaves also mean the plant needs more bright light than similar species with solid-green foliage. But keep it away from too much intense light especially in the summer and mid-day.
- Too little light, dark locations and full shade – here, the opposite is true. There’s insufficient light to support the plant’s optimum growth. Like other plants, the Monstera Aurea needs light for photosynthesis. But the yellow parts of the leaves don’t contribute to that nor do they collect light. This is why the plant needs more illumination. It is also why it cannot tolerate low light like plants with solid green foliage. If there’s insufficient light, you’ll see the yellow variegations revert to green. Here, the plant gives up its pretty looks for survival. That’s because the green parts are caused by more chlorophyll, which is also what absorbs light.
In both cases, you lose the most attractive feature of the Monstera Aurea Variegata, its dual colors.
Thus, the best locations for the plant are:
East, northwest, northeast – anywhere near a window in these locations will work really well as they get a enough light without overly strong sun.
South and west – keep the plant a few feet away from the window with the goal to avoid the sun’s rays. These locations get the sun during late morning to mid-afternoon which is when it is strongest. Therefore, some distance is needed. Another option is to protect the plant by filtering the sunlight coming in. You can do with by using sheer curtains, drapes or even a shade cloth.
Monstera Aurea Variegata Temperature
Since the Monstera Aurea Variegata hails from tropical regions it enjoys warm weather and sunshine all year round.
Outdoors, this makes USDA Hardiness Zones 9b to 11 perfect for it. Thus, you can keep it outside all year round if you live in these locations.
But anywhere colder, you’ll need to look out for the cold.
The Monstera Aurea is not frost hardy and will not survive the winter snow. This means it is very important to bring it back inside before temperatures drop under 50 degrees Fahrenheit as it has trouble there or anywhere colder for extended periods of time.
Indoors, the ideal temperature for the plant is between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. If possible, try to keep things consistent as the Aurea Variegata is not a fan of temperature fluctuations.
Monstera Deliciosa Aurea Humidity
Humidity is likewise something the plant likes. Ideally, it prefers 65% humidity and above. In fact, the higher the better since rainforests regularly get down pours which keep humidity very high (in the 80s and 90s).
Thankfully, it can tolerate lower humidity as well.
This makes it easier to take care of if you don’t live in tropical or subtropical regions of the world. However, try to keep humidity at 40% or higher if possible.
The lower you go, the higher the risk becomes of dry leaves, crispy tips and browning.
So, in order to avoid this, you can either mist the plant or use a humidifier.
Alternatively, you can also place it on a pebble tray or group it with other plants.
How Often to Water Monstera Aurea
Water is the one thing that can mess up your Monstera Deliciosa Aurea. Once you get this part right, the other parts of caring for the plant are easy.
Therefore, it is very important to remember a few things.
- Let the top 1-2 inches of soil dry out before adding more water
- Use the soak and drain method when watering.
While the Monstera Aurea likes soil to be kept moist, it is sensitive to too much water. Therefore, it is important not to overwater the plant.
The best way to avoid watering too frequently is to allow the top 1 to 2 inches of the soil to dry out before you add more water.
You can use your finger to test the soil by inserting it down to the second knuckle. Or, you can use a wooden stick to check the water level. Similarly, a moisture meter will work as well.
The key is to let some of the soil dry before watering again which prevents you from adding more liquid when the soil is still moist.
When watering, you want to use the soak and dry method.
This means soaking the entire root ball until the bottom of the pot starts dripping water. This will saturate the soil allowing the roots to get the moisture they so desire.
After that, allow the soil to completely drain any excess water. This will prevent waterlogged soil and keep the roots from being left standing in water.
What you’re left with is moist soil that is neither wet nor soggy.
If you do both, you’ll automatically adjust the your watering schedule dynamically since the soil will dry much quickly in summer and take longer to do so in winter.
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Potting Soil for Monstera Aurea
In addition to the watering the proper frequency, your Monstera Deliciosa Aurea needs well-draining soil. This ensures that the excess moisture is released by the soil.
Otherwise, even if you water properly, the soil can retain this moisture which will cause the plant’s roots to end up standing in water.
Thus, choose a loose, airy, well-draining potting mix for your Monstera Deliciosa Aurea. Ideally, it should be rich in organic matter and have soil pH between 5.0 and 7.5 as well.
Avoid heavy soils that hold on to too much moisture as well as sandy soil that drains too quickly.
The best soil I’ve found is an Aroid mix, which you can use for other monsteras, philodendrons, and anthuriums.
You can check if your local nursery carries one. Otherwise, here’s an Aroid potting soil recipe I like to use.
- 3 parts orchid bark
- 1 par sphagnum moss
- 1 part perlite
- 1 part horticultural charcoal
You can likewise go with something simpler like
- 3 parts peat moss or coco coir
- 1 part perlite, pumice or sand
- 1 part compost
Monstera Deliciosa Aurea Fertilizer
Depending on which part of the world you live in, you’ll need to adjust how you fertilize your Monstera Deliciosa Aurea.
- If you live in a tropical region where the weather is warm all year round with sunshine dominating the weather, you’ll be feeding the plant every month since it will continue to keep growing.
- If you live in North America or parts of Europe were there’s winter, then the growing season will be shorter, usually from spring to part of the fall. Thus, you’ll only need to fertilize your Monstera Aurea once a month during this time.
The plant is not picky about which product you use, just avoid the cheap, low quality ones as they leave a lot of salt residue in the soil.
You can use standard houseplant fertilizer, a balanced N-P-K product or an all-purpose formulation. They all work well.
The important thing is to follow the instructions and don’t add or use more than intended. The plant needs fertilizer to grow optimally. But it does not need a lot of it.
Pruning
The Monstera Aurea Variegata can grow to between 12 and 18 feet tall if given the right environment. However indoors, it will be quite a bit smaller.
That said, where you choose to grow it will also affect how big or small it gets.
Ideally, the plant likes to be allowed to climb. Therefore, giving it some kind of support like a moss pole will let it maximize its growth. It will also grow faster and produce larger leaves with more fenestrations.
But, you can keep it in pot or even a hanging basket if you wish.
Because the plants’ most attractive features are it large leaves, pruning is not something you want to do in aggressively. In most cases, you’ll only trim the dead, yellow or damaged leaves.
You can likewise use the stems for propagation. Or, cut them off to keep the plant growing the way you want it to look.
How to Propagate Monstera Aurea
Your Monstera Aurea Variegata can easily be reproduced through stem propagation. The process is simple because the plant roots quite well.
When using stem cuttings, you can propagate in water or soil. Both have high success rates so you can choose to go with either.
Here’s how to propagate Monstera Aurea Variegata from stem cuttings.
- Start by taking a 4 to 6 inch stem cutting. You want to select a segment with at least one node and a few healthy leaves on it.
- Once you have the cutting, plant it into a pot with well draining soil.
- Make sure the node is buried into the soil.
- If your stem has aerial roots that’s great since this increases the odds of success. It also makes the new plant root and produce leaves faster.
- You can cut the aerial roots if you don’t like the way they look. They won’t affect the new plant.
- Keep the soil consistently moist. But avoid watering too much that the soil gets soggy or mucky.
- Place the cutting in a bright location with no direct sun. Ideally, it should be warm and humid as well.
- It takes about 4 to 6 weeks for the new plant to root.
As mentioned, you can use water propagation as well.
- Here, place the stem cutting in water, submerging the node.
- If the cutting has aerial roots, insert those into water as well since they’ll be the first ones to develop roots.
- Change the water to keep it fresh. About once a week works well.
- Like soil propagation, place the cutting in bright, indirect light.
- Once the roots get to between 2 to 4 inches long, you can pot up the plant in soil.
How to Repot or Transplant Monstera Aurea
To help your Monstera Aurea Variegata grow, it needs to be repotted. But, only when the plant gets root bound.
It is not a fan of being moved. So, keep things to a minimum unless you’re repotting, dividing or there’s an emergency like overwatering or potential root rot.
It usually takes nearly 2 years or so before you need to move it to a larger container.
And when you do, just go up one pot size (2 inches). This will give the plant enough space to grow again.
Is It Toxic/Poisonous to Humans, Cats & Dogs
Yes, the Monstera Aurea Variegata is toxic to dogs, cats and people when ingested. Its sap can also be an irritant or cause allergies on people with sensitive skin. So, use gloves if needed. Although, this does not affect most people.
Monstera Aurea Problems & Troubleshooting
Is Monstera Aurea Variegation Stable? Can it Revert?
Yes, the Monstera Aurea has stable variegation. This means that it will not revert back to being solid green. Instead, it will maintain its beautiful yellow variegations.
Why Doesn’t My Monstera Aurea Variegata Have Holes?
The Monstera Aurea should develop fenestrations as it gets bigger. However, this will depend on its growing conditions.
Adequate light is very important when it comes to developing holes or fenestrations. Therefore, if your plant did not or does not receive enough sunlight, it may not have any holes.
The other reason is the age of the plant.
Only mature Monstera Aurea Variegata will have fenestrations. These will develop as it matures. Therefore, if you have a younger plant, it may have not be old enough yet. So, just be patient.
Brown Leaves and Tips
Too much or too little water is the main cause for brown tips and leaves.
To know the exact cause, check the soil to see whether is it dry or wet.
If the soil is dry, it means the plant needs more water. Therefore, add moisture and adjust your schedule.
If the soil is wet, you’re likely overwatering your plant. Thus, allow the soil to dry out a bit before watering again.
Yellow Leaves
Often yellow leaves is a sign of too much water. However, it can also be due to lack of moisture.
Again, check the soil to see whether one or the other is the cause.
Overwatering is the more dangerous one of the two. Therefore, if you’ve been watering the same way for a while now, you may want to take the plant out and check the roots to see if there’s any rotting happening.
The plant recovers much quicker from dryness. But you also don’t want to let the soil go completely dry for extended periods of time.
Monstera Deliciosa Aurea Pests
Spider mites and mealybugs are the most common pest attacks your plant will get. While they may never happen, you want o be prepared, spot the problem early and treat immediately.
Pests reproduce very quickly. Thus, a few bugs can quickly turn into an infestation. And the larger the popular, the more water and nutrients they rob from your plant.
I like to spray off the insects with water. You can use the sink or shower. And for a bigger plant just go with a garden hose.
Alternatively, you can use neem oil or insecticidal soap spray to get rid of the bugs.
Diseases
Root rot is the biggest treat to your Monstera Aurea Variegata. So, you want to let the soil dry out between waterings. Make sure to use well-draining soil and a pot with holes at the bottom.
Altogether, this will help prevent overwatering and waterlogging. In doing so, it keeps your plant safe from root problems.
Monstera Aurea Common FAQs
Because I’ve gotten a lot of questions about the Monstera Aurea Variegata, I’ll try to answer then here in the Frequently Asked Questions section.
What is the difference between Monstera Aurea and Monstera Deliciosa?
The two look very similar in size and shape. However, the one significant different is that the Monstera Aurea has yellow variegations while the Monstera Deliciosa has solid green leaves. They both do have the holes on the sides that make the m beautiful to look at.
What is the Difference Between Monstera Aurea and Monstera Borsigiana Albo?
Again the distinguishing factor between the Monstera Aurea Variegata and the Monstera Borsigiana Albo is its variegation.
However, this time, the different lies in their colors. The Aurea has yellow variegations while the Borsigiana Albo has white variegations.
What is the Difference Between Monstera Aurea Variegata and Thai Constellation?
The Monstera Aurea Variegata has a yellow variegation compare to the white variegations of the Monstera Thai Constellation. It is also more compact and they don’t grow as wide in diameter. If you look at the variegations, the Monstera Aurea’s variegation tend to be less than those of the other variegated forms including the Thai Constellation.
What is the Difference Between the Monstera Aurea and Monstera Mint?
The colors of their variegations are different. The Monstera Aurea features yellow variegations while the Monstera Mint as mint green or light green variegations against the dark green foliage background.
Why Does My Monstera Borsigiana Aurea Have So Many Holes?
These holes are called fenestrations. They are natural for the monster plants including the Monstera Aurea Variegata.
These fenestrations develop upon maturity. Therefore, younger plants will yet grow them.
As such once the splits start to happen, you know the plant is maturing.
One reason for the holes is that it allows the leaves to get bigger and wider without letting the plant expend a lot more energy in supporting itself.
