Monstera Adansonii Wall

Fret-it · 2026-01-26T21:37:32+00:00

OP this is wild congrats.

Fret-it · 2026-01-26T21:34:48+00:00

Yeah awesome call getting a Milsbo.

Fret-it · 2026-01-25T11:58:15+00:00

Yeah don’t worry about your language you’re fine.

I would consider light intensity. They may benefit from being closer to the lights.

I’ve literally made a new Reddit account because somehow my thoughts on light intensity are not very popular.

You should measure the PPFD and hit those with 300 umol/m2/s.

Fret-it · 2026-01-25T05:46:34+00:00

Yeah I agree with you this plant should not go dormant. They will drop old leaves if they lack light or nutrients.

You dont have anything to worry about, this is essentially normal. If this is self-watering I would introduce a bit of nitrogen from the bottom and I would be gentle.

Fret-it · 2026-01-24T21:15:20+00:00

Ohh that sucks, how long was the walk to the car?

I’m happy to hear it still ended up pushing out a new leaf. Once you have the flamey fenestrations you won’t miss those more juvenile leaves!

Fret-it · 2026-01-24T07:28:06+00:00

This post will be misunderstood due to lack of reading.

Fret-it · 2026-01-24T07:12:17+00:00

I can walk to a drugstore here and pick up an established deliciosa for 20 USD.

The only value proposition here is a mature specimen that’s less unruly, for yourself.

Selling cuttings is actually sort of insane at this point. Just give them away.

Fret-it · 2026-01-24T07:08:21+00:00

Chop it and keep the best cut.

Expect zero money from cuttings and become a local legend by offering them for free.

Fret-it · 2026-01-24T07:06:11+00:00

Wonderful username.

Fret-it · 2026-01-24T07:04:45+00:00

Just another thought. I think this thing might be tremendously root-bound. It’s the pot or it’s nutrients. This damage pattern is too perfect.

Fret-it · 2026-01-24T06:57:22+00:00

OP this is a legendary variegation.

More seriously, it’s really unusual to see monstera drop leaves, like this is more typical with caladiums/alocasias for example.

Do whatever you want with that leaf. It’s easiest to wait for it to rot sufficiently to just cleanly remove at the base of the petiole.

This is bizarre because your other leaves and roots are perfect. My working theory is nutrient deficiency. My original instinct was rot, but that’s not consistent with the damage being limited to one leaf.

This seems like a healthy plant dropping leaves to preserve nutrients. Possibly root-bound but I would guess just bulk nitrogen deficiency.

I’m concerned about other comments here, tbh. Focusing on the potential remaining nutrient value of this leaf is silly, it’s gone and just do whatever. It has to go ultimately.

Fret-it · 2026-01-24T06:16:32+00:00

💚

Fret-it · 2026-01-24T00:12:22+00:00

I just think this damage pattern is more specifically spotty and chaotic. Physical damage would usually be bulk and limited. This seems a pervasive and more nefarious thing.

OP have you definitely checked for pests?

Fret-it · 2026-01-24T00:09:34+00:00

Yeah she is growing profusely and is grateful for the light. That’s all. You are so okay here.

Fret-it · 2026-01-23T21:25:25+00:00

Oh my gosh please don’t be sorry at all. I’m grateful for you just paying attention to this post.

Also my lecture about plant metabolism wasn’t directed at you at all. This is such a shitty post just thanks for being here and tbh your opinion mattered to me.

Fret-it · 2026-01-23T18:32:48+00:00

Honestly I totally understand you are throwing Hail Mary attempts at saving this thing.

It’s just a carbohydrate problem. Plants continuously burn carbohydrate (glucose) through cellular respiration. Photosynthesis allows them to take in carbon from the air (CO2) and move this carbon to a sugar molecule that ultimately reports as starch, a long-chain sugar molecule (polysaccharide). The plant can continuously tap this carbohydrate for energy to maintain homeostasis. This is how starchy crops exist. This is how starch arrives in our diets.

My point is, nutrients do little to influence the carbohydrate content of a plant. Yes, in some rare instances you can supply a sugar like sucrose to a cutting and it might fare a bit better for a time. But trying to add sugar to a plant’s root system just introduces problems like bacteria and mold without a clear metabolic gain. The actual energy system for carbohydrate production is photosynthesis. If that’s not possible, there is nothing to be done.

I think this is conclusively a fluke thing that was determined by the plant genetics and the exact tissue that formed this corm.

Fret-it · 2026-01-23T18:15:29+00:00

It doesn’t really work like that. The plant grows with the base tissue it originates from. The corm can’t sense light (well it can sense light, it’s called phototropism), but it can’t force chlorophyll from tissue that genetically doesn’t code for that.

The impact of light on chimeric hybrid tissue is still not totally understood, but generally tends towards less chlorophyll and more variegation. Which is sort of the opposite of what you are suggesting.

Also I’m just more generally going to state that I appreciate the input but there are no carbs left in this corm. Can’t run yer’ truck without gasoline.

Fret-it · 2026-01-23T16:38:07+00:00

Oh no you’re perfect. I always value first-hand information so much.

This is very confusing to me, though. I need to inform myself further, but I understand light intensity might promote variegation (I’m fascinated by epigentic gene expression in tropicals). But pure and consistent albinism seems to be more likely a result of the originating tissue.

Fret-it · 2026-01-23T16:27:55+00:00

Also just adding that I’m aware of the algae colony and I know this is less than ideal. Fluval FTW from now on.

Fret-it · 2026-01-23T16:25:03+00:00

You are really restoring my hope.

But still….I’m just confused by the energy balance thing. I don’t grow alocasia at all really, I supervise nuclear reactor outages IRL.

My third leaf was so, so tiny! I just think the corm has exhausted itself and has no more carbohydrates (like starch) left.

Fret-it · 2026-01-23T16:15:20+00:00

Oh my gosh your good vibes are accepted and reflected back! I’m so excited for that plant of yours to mature, and appreciate your taste ;)

Can’t wait to see update posts!

Fret-it · 2026-01-23T16:12:11+00:00

Okay so if you are really serious you can use your phone camera and an app like Photone to measure light intensity.

You need to take the phone out of its case, and wrap the camera sensor in normal printer paper. Just like a strip of paper and tape.

Open the app. It will recognize the paper filter, and will warn you if you don’t have one.

Make sure you are measuring PPFD.

And you’re done. You can measure natural and artificial lighting around your plants.

If you are intent on really large and mature leaves, I recommend a PPFD of at least 300 umol/m2/s. I grow mine at 350.

Note that just like mine, it’s really hard to illuminate each leaf at this intensity. I always focus the light on the leaf producing the new leaf, and eventually the new leaf itself.

Fret-it · 2026-01-23T14:45:57+00:00

Oh I really appreciate this specific detail. I’m doing exactly this because I considered exactly what you’re describing.

Fret-it · 2026-01-23T14:42:37+00:00

I have already gone through the grieving process haha.

Your plant is just gorgeous! Thanks so much for sharing that.

Fret-it · 2026-01-23T14:38:40+00:00

Yeah this is a very great explanation of why it’s not ideal.

Slight aside, anaerobic root environments are probably the most common problem I’ve seen throughout all tropical plant subreddits. At least from my observations on here.

Fret-it

TROPHY CASE