Read on for lots of information about the Monstera Lechleriana, including how to identify it, how to care for it and how to diagnose any health problems it may encounter!
How To Recognize The Monstera Lecleriana Plant?
There are many varieties in the Monstera family and it is very important to have the ability to identify this variety to ensure that you are caring for the correct plant.
The Lechleriana variety is a rare one, making it more important to identify correctly.
There are a few things that you should look at in order to identify the Monstera Lechleriana plant.
Young Lechleriana Plants
The Monstera Lechleriana plants may not be very distinguishable as young plants as they often don’t develop any holes until they are older.
Lots of Monstera plants don’t fenestrate until later on in their life, so this can make it very difficult to identify.
There are a few things about a young Lechleriana plant that does set it aside from other Monstera plants.
The plant’s leaves are usually very narrow and shaped like an arrow. At a young age, these leaves rarely grow past a few inches.
If you are still unsure of the variety, you may have to wait for the holes to begin appearing. This can take up to a year!
Older Lechleriana Plants
As the plant grows older, it becomes much easier to identify. The leaves of a Lechleriana plant will grow very big, up to 10 inches long.
The main thing that sets this plant aside from other Monstera varieties is the round holes that occur close to the central rib on the leaf.
These leaves are very beautiful and they stand out from other plants!
Usually, if you can see these holes, there will be no doubt that you are looking at a Monstera Lechleriana.
Like many of the other Monstera varieties, these plants will grow very tall if they are given the correct growing apparatus.
You should provide the plant with a trellis if you would like it to grow to its full height.
Variegated Monstera Lechleriana
There is a variegated Monstera Lechleriana available but they are very rare, and if you are able to locate one they will cost you a lot of money!
I’m talking hundreds or thousands of dollars! This variation is very beautiful and it has a dark green and white marbled pattern on the leaf.
These plants are hard to look after as they have less chlorophyll than their non-variegated counterparts.
This means that the plant will need more sunlight than other plants in order to photosynthesize and create enough energy.
It also means that the plant is sensitive to direct sunlight. Finding suitable conditions for this plant is quite difficult.
Is The Monstera Lechleriana Plant Rare?
This plant is not as common as some variations of the Monstera plant – such as the Monstera Deliciosa which is found in living rooms all over the world!
However, it is not too hard to find a Monstera Lechleriana if you are looking for one. Head down to your local plant store, or look online for this plant!
Monstera Lechleriana Vs. Monstera Adansonii
There are two varieties of the Monstera family that are often confused with one another.
These two varieties are very often mislabelled and they are quite difficult to tell apart from one another.
Below are some of the ways that you can tell the difference between the two:
Lechleriana leaves usually have more round holes that are closer to the rib of the leaf. There are also fewer of these holes on the lechleriana variation, while it is common for a third of the Adansonii leaf to consist of these holes.
Lechleriana leaves are usually much bigger than Adansonii leaves which can reach about 5 inches. This is in comparison to the Lechleriana leaf which can be up to 10 inches big.
Adansonii plants are usually fuller with more leaves, whereas the Lechleriana variation are less bushy.
On the Adansonii plant, although the plant itself is fuller, the leaves are thinner and more delicate than the leathery Lechleriana leaves.
What Are The Best Conditions For Growing The Monstera Lechleriana Plant?
Read on for all the information you need on taking care of your Monstera Lechleriana plant!!
Light Conditions
This plant is quite fussy with its light conditions and it can take a few tries to get this right.
The Lechleriana thrives in bright, indirect sunlight but in direct sunlight, the leaves will experience discoloration and the plant will not flourish.
Like the more common Monstera Deliciosa, the best position for this plant is at an east facing window.
This is perfect because east facing windows get very little direct sunlight, but they will get a lot of bright light.
This plant will not do well at a North facing window as there is not enough light produced there.
Humidity
These plants are fairly easy when it comes to humidity.
While they are used to being in a humid environment, they can flourish at humidity levels of about 40%.
If you live in a dry climate, you might want to opt for a humidifier to provide extra humidity for the plant.
Another way to increase humidity levels is to place the plant amongst other plants.
If your plant is kept in conditions that are not humid enough or are too cold, the plant will not produce the holes that make it so distinctive.
Water
It is important to ensure that you are not over or underwatering your plants!
In comparison to most Monstera species, this species can last for longer without water.
While a Monstera Deliciosa will need to be watered when the top 2 inches of soil are dried out, the Monstera Lechleriana will not need to be watered until the top 3-4 inches are dry.
This needs to be watered about every 7-10 days depending on the temperature.
Drainage is a very important part of the care for your Monstera Lechleriana.
It is important to allow the plant to fully drain when you are watering it to prevent any root rot.
Soil Conditions And Fertilizer
All Monstera plants like soil that can easily drain. Make sure that the soil that you are choosing is not too dense.
It is a good idea to fertilize your plant during the spring and summer because this is when the plant will do its most growing.
The Monstera Lechleriana is not a big grower, though, so it won’t require too much fertilizer.
Repotting
This variety of Monstera does not need repotting as often as other species because it does not grow as quickly.
However, it will sometimes need repotting. You can tell if it does by checking if the roots of your plant are popping out of the top or bottom of the pot.
It is also important not to neglect reporting your plant because you may need to change the soil to ensure there are enough nutrients in the soil.
If you do need to repot your Lechleriana, you simply need to trowel the plant out under the roots and place your plant in the new pot.
Add some fresh soil into the pot and voila! Always make sure that the pot you have chosen has adequate drainage.
Common Problems With The Monstera Lechleriana
While caring for your Monstera Lechleriana is fairly straightforward, you are bound to encounter some problems along the way!
When these problems occur, it is important to act quickly to prevent any permanent damage to your plant.
Read on for some of the common problems faced by owners of the Monstera Lechleriana and how to overcome them:
Pests
If you are experiencing drooping leaves, yellowing leaves or black or brown spots on the leaves of your plant, your plant may be suffering from pests.
There are a few different pests that are attracted to the Monstera Lechleriana including spider mites, mealybugs and aphids.
These pests will suck the moisture out of your plant, as well as taking small bites from the leaves.
If you are struggling to identify pests as your problem for leaf problems, you should study the leaves in close detail to check for any small insects that might be visible.
You should also check for any webs caused by spider mites.
If you see any of these things, it is very important to get rid of the pests before they cause further or irreconcilable damage to your plant.
How To Remove Pests
There are a few ways in which you can remove pests from your plant. These include:
Remove any bugs by hand.
Use a sprayer to dislodge some pests.
Spray your plant with an oil spray or an insecticide.
Use a lint roller on the leaves.
Do these things a few times so that any newly hatched bugs will also be treated.
Remember to make sure you keep your plants that are suffering from pests away from other house plants so they don’t get infected too!
It is quite difficult to diagnose the problem of drooping leaves as they can be caused by lots of different things.
Drooping leaves can be caused by underwatering. This problem is very easy to fix.
If your plant looks dry, simply give it a good watering and the plant should perk up again in no time!
This can also be caused by overwatering.
Although it might be a surprise to you, overwatering is a very common cause for the death of houseplants, so be very careful not to overwater!
Overwatering can cause root rot which can, in turn, cause drooping leaves.
Drooping leaves are difficult to diagnose because they can be caused by many different things, however, it is important to use the process of elimination to ensure that your plant is in good health.
Brown Or Yellow Tips
If your plant is suffering with brown tips, it is usually caused by a lack of humidity.
You can increase your plants humidity levels by following these steps:
Mist your plants every now and then.
Use a humidifier.
Group some plants together.
Use a humidity tray (place your plant on some pebbles).
How To Mist Your Plants
Mist your plants a few times each week. It is more effective to spray the plants in the morning or the evening.
You should spray both the tops and the underside of your leaves to allow the plant to absorb the moisture.
Another cause of brown tips could be the type of water that you are using.
If you are using tap water, some of the chemicals in the water could be causing the plant to have a bad reaction.
Try filtering your water or using rainwater to see if this makes a difference.
Yellowing Leaves
If you are experiencing yellow leaves on your Monstera Lechleriana, there can be many different causes.
This could be due to overwatering, underwatering or lack of sunlight.
Have a look at your plant and try to determine what is causing your yellow leaves.
If the soil looks very dry, perhaps your plant is under-watered.
If your plant is very moist and the water doesn’t seem to be draining away, you are likely facing an overwatering problem.
Consider the spot that it is in, is it too dark? Perhaps it is in direct sunlight? Monstera Lechleriana plants do best in indirect but bright conditions.
You should also consider the amount of fertilizer you are using if your plant is experiencing yellow leaves.
Both too much and too little can cause problems. As this plant is not a fast grower, it does not need lots of fertilizer.
Final Thoughts
So, now you know everything there is to know about the Monstera Lechleriana from its characteristics, how to tell it apart from other varieties, and common problems you may encounter when caring for this plant.
Hi, my name is Amy Enrich and I have had a keen green thumb since my parents first taught me how to sow a sunflower seed. The process of watching it grow from seed to sprout, sprout to shoot, and then to a full-blown plant is a wonderful sight - I never get bored of it!
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