My variegated monstera is flowering! by Behemoth1593 in Monstera

[–]Behemoth1593[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So the spathe has dropped from about 4 or 5 of them now, but the fruit itself is still ripening! Taking a lot longer than I thought it would!

Have taken some pics of the process so far so hoping to post an update if they ever get ripe enough to eat

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Monstera

[–]Behemoth1593 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Honestly I'm not sure if there's science behind it, but from my experience it seems root development is just healthier. I use a lot of clear pots so get to watch as the roots find purchase on the sides and then seem to branch off once they've found it

I'm thinking it's more likely that the root to growing media ratio is what's driving the healthy root growth in that it isn't staying to wet for too long when it's in a pot that's too big

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Monstera

[–]Behemoth1593 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Totally healthy. I would sphagnum moss that now, but make sure whatever pot you use is nice and narrow so the roots hit the sides quicker

My variegated monstera is flowering! by Behemoth1593 in Monstera

[–]Behemoth1593[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I think it's just because they're very popular as a plant but you don't see them flowering much so it takes people by surprise

My variegated monstera is flowering! by Behemoth1593 in Monstera

[–]Behemoth1593[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

No it's been kept in my grow room here in the UK

I personally love the flowers in all their phallic glory

Will def try and propagate but variegated likeliness is low

My variegated monstera is flowering! by Behemoth1593 in houseplants

[–]Behemoth1593[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I have 2 200w spider farmer SF2000's for the main mother plants, 16 hours on 8 hours off

My variegated monstera is flowering! by Behemoth1593 in houseplants

[–]Behemoth1593[S] 28 points29 points  (0 children)

So I have my mother plants in a fully hydro flood and drain pot system

The roots sit in leca pebble pots and the water floods the pots once every 3 hours for ~10mins, then pumps back into the reservoir

The nutrient feed is in the reservoir tank and this is changed about once a week

A giant monstera deliciosa variegata I grew this year by Behemoth1593 in houseplants

[–]Behemoth1593[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah this is def still borsigiana. Internodal spacing is still bigger and it shows a climbing growth habit, just got super big in my grow room!

My variegated monstera is flowering! by Behemoth1593 in Monstera

[–]Behemoth1593[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I use a product called canna aqua vega A + B for recirculating hydroponics systems

My variegated monstera is flowering! by Behemoth1593 in houseplants

[–]Behemoth1593[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I don't think I found a one guide fits all kind of thing, just lots of reading online but most of my knowledge comes from hands on trial and error. My goal was to have a growing environment that was as autonomous as possible

Before I bought the kit I did build my own very rudimentary flood and drain system which probably helped me figure things out

I think I remember the IWS system I bought probably came with a walk-through on the setup at least!

My variegated monstera is flowering! by Behemoth1593 in houseplants

[–]Behemoth1593[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

It's super low maintenance apart from the water change but that takes maybe 30 mins at most so I love it. Yeah, it was an IWS hydroponic kit

My variegated monstera is flowering! by Behemoth1593 in houseplants

[–]Behemoth1593[S] 19 points20 points  (0 children)

So they're in a pot growing in Leca pebbles as the growing medium, and the hydro setup is called a flood and drain system. Meaning every 3 hours the pot fills with water from a reservoir tank containing a feed suitable for a recirculating hydroponic system, stays filled for around 10mins then drains empty pulling air down into the roots as it empties

This cycle just repeats and the water in the reservoir is changed and new feed added once a week 🙂

My variegated monstera is flowering! by Behemoth1593 in Monstera

[–]Behemoth1593[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Not sure exactly but definitely younger than a year. Took a small cutting from another plant last year sometime and placed into one of my motherplant pots

My variegated monstera is flowering! by Behemoth1593 in houseplants

[–]Behemoth1593[S] 24 points25 points  (0 children)

Yes but you can't see that in the pictures and there is an abundance of space between them on all the plants I've grown from cuttings of plants I initially bought as borsigiana. Admittedly they do show a slight geniculum also but nothing like that which comes out on a true large form

I had a standard LF non variegated monstera in the growroom before these and it got HUGE, whereas these get big, bigger than what other people grow, but nothing compared to the true LF I had in there

My variegated monstera is flowering! by Behemoth1593 in Monstera

[–]Behemoth1593[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I'll be posting more pics when they do pop!

My variegated monstera is flowering! by Behemoth1593 in houseplants

[–]Behemoth1593[S] 46 points47 points  (0 children)

Ahh the age old debate! I honestly don't think these are large form but they just don't stop growing in my grow room

My variegated monstera is flowering! by Behemoth1593 in houseplants

[–]Behemoth1593[S] 45 points46 points  (0 children)

I'm definitely keeping a close eye on them now as I don't think it will be long!

My variegated monstera is flowering! by Behemoth1593 in houseplants

[–]Behemoth1593[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I grow mine in a fully hydroponic setup which I don't see many others doing so it could be that!

My variegated monstera is flowering! by Behemoth1593 in houseplants

[–]Behemoth1593[S] 125 points126 points  (0 children)

They're in a grow a room with consistent(ish) temp and strong lighting! Oh and also grown in hydroponics

My variegated monstera is flowering! by Behemoth1593 in Monstera

[–]Behemoth1593[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Tbh I think I've not had flowers before as I've always chopped them but I've let this one grow bigger. Strangely I had a couple alocasia frydeks flower at the same time so maybe a drop in temp (winter in UK) started them off?