variegated philodendron monstera Monstera deliciosa Albo Variegata

variegated philodendron monstera Monstera deliciosa Albo VariegataMonstera deliciosa Albo Variegata is one of the most iconic plants in the houseplant world. A naturally occurring mutation of the classic Swiss cheese plant, it produces the same large, fenestrated leaves but with dramatic white and cream sectors that replace areas of green in patterns that vary from leaf to leaf. Some leaves are predominantly green with white flecks; others are half and half. No two leaves are ever the same. It loves to climb

Monstera deliciosa Albo Variegata is one of the most iconic plants in the houseplant world. A naturally occurring mutation of the classic Swiss cheese plant, it produces the same large, fenestrated leaves but with dramatic white and cream sectors that replace areas of green in patterns that vary from leaf to leaf. Some leaves are predominantly green with white flecks; others are half and half. No two leaves are ever the same. It loves to climb vigorously given the right conditions, and training it up a moss pole will encourage larger leaves and more pronounced fenestration. This is a long-term plant: slow relative to the green form, but extraordinarily rewarding over time.

Origins
Monstera deliciosa is native to the tropical rainforests of southern Mexico and Central America, where it grows as a hemiepiphyte, beginning on the forest floor before climbing toward the canopy. The Albo Variegata is a spontaneous mutation in which certain cells lack chlorophyll, producing the characteristic white sectors. 

Soil and Substrate
The white sections of an Albo leaf contain no chlorophyll and cannot photosynthesise, which means the plant is working harder than an all-green Monstera to sustain itself. Good substrate and consistent care are therefore more important here than with the standard form. Our Monstera and Philodendron Premium Potting Mix is peat-free, hand-blended in Yorkshire, and formulated for vigorous climbing Monsteras.