Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma
Known for their closeness to the elegant Monstera deliciosa, the mini monstera (Rhaphidophora tetrasperma) is, in fact, not a monstera but a part of an autonomous genus, Rhaphidophora.
This genus consists of roughly 100 specific species, comes from tropical territories in Africa and Asia, and is a branch of the Araceae family, making Rhaphidophora plants distantly linked to those in the Monstera genus.
Identical to its Monstera cousins, the mini monstera serves as an attractive houseplant, easily fitting indoor conditions.
As their shared name suggests, this particular fenestrated plant is an excellent choice if you consider a modest vining plant to include in your selection. Indoors, the mini monstera typically tops out at about 6 to 8 feet in height, with leaves 6 to 8 inches long.
In its native habitat, the mini monstera is a scaling plant, so it will bloom if provided with support to go up indoors, such as a moss pole or trellis.
Money Grows on Houseplants
A rare houseplant with only nine leaves was sold on an auction site in New Zealand for an astonishing PS14,000. The week-long auctions of the extremely rare Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma in white closed on Sunday evening when a bidder identified with the name “meridianlamb” successfully fought “foliage_patch” to bring the plant to its home.
The spokesperson for the site, Trade Me, told CNN that it was the most expensive houseplant that they’ve ever sold.” After a heated bidding fight in the auction’s last minutes, the rare plant had over 102,000 views and over 1,600 watchlists, which goes to show how much Kiwis adore houseplants,” said Millie Silvester in a statement.
She also said that the cost of an indoor houseplant is going up from May to the end of 2019 with bids for rare varieties of plants rising rapidly.”Houseplants are now the most sought-after trend over the past few years.
Prices have risen, increasing as more New Zealanders are embracing this latest style,” she added. As per the information on their site, it has “8 leaves, with the ninth nearly uncurling.
Each leaf displays excellent variegation like the stem and is well established in a pot of 14cm.”This isn’t the first time Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma, also known as Mini Monstera, was sold for a large sum on the site.
In August, an unidentified buyer purchased the plant for PS3,756 on the same site.
The plant is native to Southern Thailand and Malaysia; it was the plant’s variegation which is the various colors of the plant’s leaves due to the mutation in cells which caused prices to rise.
The plant was first discovered by a British botanist known as Joseph Dalton Hooker in 1893. It thrives in bright indirect light and can be as tall as 12 feet.
Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma Care
Mini monstera is simple to manage and can be propagated indoors as houseplants. If you’ve had involvement with growing diverse aroids like monsteras, alocasias, or Philodendrons, then you’ll be ready to manage this miniature climber lively.
Light
Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma flourishes appropriately when it gets many hours in intense, indirect sunshine all day long. Take care of displaying the tropical understory plant to direct sunlight because leaves are prone to scorching. If your plant produces leaves that do not have fenestrations on them, this is a manifestation that it calls for more sunlight and should be transferred to a sunnier spot.
Soil
Your Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma can be planted in damp, well-draining soil that is nutrient wealthy as well as somewhat acidic. You can modify a standard indoor potting mix with perlite and orchid husk or mix with one component of coco coir with one portion orchid bark and one portion perlite to get the most efficient results.
Water
In tropical zones of Asia and Africa, Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma likes steady moisture and constant watering. The delicate root system is vulnerable to waterlogging and exaggerated watering, which is why having the soil wet (and not immersing) is the best choice.
Temperature and Humidity
The humid, warm conditions are the optimal conditions for Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma. A household’s common temperature is sufficient to support this plant species so long as temperatures do not go below 68°F However, they require a bit more moisture when growing inside. To heighten the volume of humidity within the pot, consider setting the plant on a plate of pebbles or employing a humidifier in proximity.
Fertilizer
Mini monsteras demand to be fertilized regularly throughout the growth period. Apply an organic liquid fertilizer every month during summer and spring to sustain healthy growth.
Propagating Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma
Mini monstera can be propagated through the stems that are cut. If you have to cut back your plant to trim its size, this is an excellent method to reuse the cuttings to make an entirely new plant or complete the plant you already have. Follow these simple steps to grow your plant with stem cuttings:
- A sharp pair of pruning shears or scissors takes out a branch from a healthy, mature plant with at least 3 or 4 nodes along the stem.
- Get rid of any leaves on the lower 1-2 nodes of the stem. Then protect the exposed nodes with water with an opal or small vase.
- Put the cutting of the stem in an area exposed to moderate to bright indirect light and replace the water at least once every week.
- If the cutting is rooted at most 1 inch long, It can then be moved back to the soil mix.
- Be certain to retain the soil’s moisture so that the fresh roots can accommodate growing in soil.
Common Pests
If they are cultivated indoors, Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma can be susceptible to many household pests universal to houseplants. Have an eye on the spider mites, fungus gnats, and scale especially and treat them with a suitable insecticide the moment you see the first signs of the existence of the pest.
Everyday Problems Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma
Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma is straightforward to cultivate indoors as a houseplant and rarely presents any issues. However, the most frequent problems from this plant tend to be caused by poor lighting or deficient watering, which are fortunately simple to correct!
Yellow Leaves
The yellowing of leaves could be an indication of diverse possible issues. The most frequent causes are exaggerated watering and a lack of lighting. Consider moving your plant to a more bright spot and reduce the amount of watering to see if it improves the situation.
Curled, Drooping Leaves
Because of their delicate roots, if the mini monstera can dry out too long, roots can begin drying out and dying. This can cause leaves to drop and curl downwards due to water. If the roots are long gone, your plant’s watering will not solve the problem since it can’t use the roots that can take in the water.
If that’s the case, then remove your plant from its soil and place it into a vase that is filled with water for a few weeks to let new roots grow like you propagate stem cuttings. Once the root system is set, transplant the plant back into moist soil.
Brown, Crispy Edges
Leaves with crisp brown edges, crisp edges, and spots commonly indicate a deficiency of moisture or humidity. Make sure you hold the soil moist and then increase the humidity in the area by using a humidifier or pebble platter.
