In this article, we’ll tell you everything there is to know about differentiating between the Monstera Albo vs. Monstera Thai Constellation. Keep reading to learn about:
· The Genus Monstera
· The differences and similarities between Monstera Albo Borsigiana and Monstera Thai Constellation
· And more
Genus
The Albo and Thai constellation plants are two species of the genus Monstera. Different types of Monsteras are commonly found in tropical regions of North and South America, along with some areas of Mexico and the Caribbean. The most common species of the Monstera is the Monstera deliciosa.
Similarities
Monstera Albo Borsigiana and Thai Constellation are part of the same family of Aracaea and share many similarities that make it difficult to tell them apart. Some of these similarities are mentioned below.
Variegated Plant
Both the Monstera Albos and Thai Constellation are variegated plants. This means that certain regions in the plant leaves have an absence of chlorophyll, a pigment responsible for giving the leaf their green color. The lack of chlorophyll results in a bi-color (variegated) leaf, green with yellow or white patches.
Fenestration
The Albo and the Thai Constellation Monstera, along with the other species of Monstera, are known for their fenestrations, which are holes in the leaves. The fenestrations in both Monstera plants go from the mid-rib to the leaf’s edge, curving upwards.
The similar fenestration of the Albo and the Thai Constellation makes it challenging for people to differentiate between them.
Root System
The Albo and the Thai Constellation Monstera have aerial or adventitious roots. The roots grow along the plant’s vines and cling to any structure they find to anchor the plant, making it epiphytic.
These roots emerge from the nodes on the plant’s vine and grow sporadically.
Care
The Monstera Albo Borsigiana and the Monstera Thai share similar care requirements, mainly when grown as indoor houseplants. Many of these identical growing conditions include:
Light
The Albo and Thai (even though it is cultured in a lab) are tropical plants that do not do well in direct sunlight. Since the Monstera species are adapted to the filtered light, they get in their natural habitat; they grow well as indoor houseplants if put in an area that receives filtered and direct light.
Generally, they need more light than most Monstera. Eight to ten hours of indirect lighting is good for the growth of both Monstera plants.
Place the plants at an east-facing window or put them in an area that does not receive direct sun.
Temperature and Humidity
The Monstera species do well in high temperatures of around 60-80 degrees Fahrenheit and high humidity levels of 60-80 percent.
This allows you to place the variegated plants in the kitchen or the bathroom. Alternatively, you can put these plants in a cluster with other houseplants that circulate the humidity through transpiration.
You can also mist the leaves of the plants or use a humidifier to maintain an optimum humidity level.
Soil and Potting Mix
The plants of the genus Monstera, especially the Albo and Thai, require a loamy and well-aerated soil that does not constrict the new growth of roots.
Generally, pot mixes use perlite or cocoa peat to provide an aerated and well-drained soil for the plan to grow. The potting mix also contains fertilizers that speed up the plant’s growth and produce a thick stem.
Watering
Monstera Albo and Monstera Thai do not require a lot of water. However, they still need a good amount of water to prevent brown leaves and wilting.
Watering the plants is a delicate process since over-watering the Monstera can lead to diseases like root rot while underwatering and lead to wilting and death of the plant.
A general way to know when to water the plants is to check the top couple of inches of the soil with your fingertip; if the soil is dry, you need to add more water.
Repotting
Repotting the Monstera needs to be done once every two to three years. This is because the Monstera species are quick growers and grow new roots that continue to spread out.
When repotting, choose a clay pot as it has better water retaining features. The new pot needs to be a few inches bigger in diameter than the previous one, and you can also add a moss pole. The Moss pole allows for verticle growth of the plant.
Fertilization
The Monstera Albos and the Thai Constellations share standard requirements when it comes to feeding. They do well if fed with a liquid fertilizer once every two months during the growing seasons (summer and spring).
Fertilizers with equal parts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are suitable for plants. If the plant leaves turn yellow, it may indicate that the soil is low in iron, magnesium, or zinc.
Leaf Color
The Monstera Albo and the Monstera Thai Constellation have white and green leaves. While the Monstera Albo has pure white and green leaves. The white color in the Thai Constellation plant can change to yellow or cream, but the white in the Albo plant remains white throughout.
Differences
Despite their similarities, the Monstera Albo and the Monstera Thai Constellation are very different. Their differences can help tell the two plants apart. Below are some of the many differences between the two Monstera plants.
Origin
Despite being part of the Monstera genus, the two plants originate from different places. The Monstera Albo is native to the tropical regions of Central and South America. On the other hand, the Monstera Thai Constellation is not found in nature at all.
The Thai Constellation resulted from genetically engineered tissue culture in a laboratory to get a mutated plant that showed variegation in every cell. The tissue culture is done in only one laboratory as of now.
Leaf Size
Leaf size is one of the most significant differences between the Monstera plants. While Monstera Albo has smaller leaves that can go up to 30 cm, the Monstera Thai Constellation has large leaves. The Monstera Thai Constellation’s larger leaves are twice or sometimes thrice the size of Albo leaves.
Leaf Variegation
Although both plants are variegated Monsteras, the variegation in the Monstera Albo is natural, whereas the mutation in Monstera Thai Constellation appears through genetic manipulation. Since mutation is different in both the Monstera plants, the variegation pattern is also different.
The Albo has large white spots on the leaves and can sometimes show floating variegation; some leaves are completely green, while others are completely white.
The Monstera Thai Constellation variegation follows a pattern of yellow spots or stripes on the leaf. Some of these spots can turn creamy white. However, the Thai Constellation plant does not produce entirely yellow or cream-colored leaves.
Additionally, the variegation is more stable in the Monstera Thai constellation and will not revert to green. However, there is a chance that the new leaves of Albo plant will revert to completely green leaves.
This also creates a difference in the pruning requirements of the two Monstera plants. Since the Albo plant has a few completely white leaves, these leaves without chlorophyll will die quickly, and the more white parts it has, the greater the chances of the plant dying. Hence, you need to prune the plant regularly.
Leaf Shape
The Monstera Thai Constellation leaves are rounded and much shorter. The inter-nodal spacing (where the leaves emerge) is about one to two centimeters, causing the leaves to be close together and give the plant a denser look.
The Monstera Albo leaves are thinner and longer. The inter-nodal spacing is up to ten centimeters long, causing the leaves to be more spaced apart and curve at the end.
Rarity
Both Monstera Thai and Albo are rare Monstera species. However, it is more readily available since the Monstera Thai Constellation is obtained from tissue culture and commercially produced in a lab. The Monstera Albo, on the other hand, is found only in nature and reproduces through cuttings, making it extremely rare.
Important to Know When Choosing Between Monstera Albo and Monstera Thai Constellation
If you are confused about which of the two Monstera species to choose, you need to look at their pros and cons.
The Monstera Albo is a variegated variety of the Monstera deliciosa and is referred to as the Monstera Deliciosa variegata. The variegation in the Albo plant is unique, and the plant shows unstable variegation, with each leaf having its variegation pattern.
There are many reasons to choose the Monstera Albo plant. The dark green leaves and the bright white leaves give a unique look to the plant that beckons a double take. It is a rare, expensive plant but well worth the price.
However, the Albo Borsigiana tends to give off white leaves that can not be propagated. Hence, you might have to rethink the idea if you plan on selling Monstera Albo stem cuttings. Since the leaf needs to have plenty of chlorophyll for successful propagation, white Albo leaves aren’t the best choice.
Additionally, the Albo plant will need a lot of pruning to maintain its growth, and you need to monitor the number of white leaves that grow in the plant to make sure they down affect the plant’s growth.
The Monstera Thai has more of a controlled and continuous mutation than the Albo. It produces a more stable variegation pattern, so you know what to expect the new variegated leaves to look like.
Since variegated Monsteras are expensive Monstera plants, having a new leaf sprout that does not show any variegation is disappointing. However, this is not the case with the Thai Constellation.
Additionally, the Monstera Thai can be propagated easily, making it ideal for selling stem cuttings of variegated Monstera.
However, the Monstera Thai is not as rare as the Albo. Hence it might not be a proper choice for a plant enthusiast who has a hobby of collecting rare plants.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What causes the Monstera to become variegated?
Variegation found in Monstera is caused by a naturally occurring mutation in the Monstera that inhibits the production of chlorophyll in specific mutated cells of the leaf. The chlorophyll is responsible for giving the Monstera green leaves, and the absence of chlorophyll gives white-green or yellow-green color leaves to the variegated Monstera.
2. Why does variegated Monstera grow slow?
Variegated Monstera plants produce less energy because the completely white leaves lack chlorophyll in the mutated cells as the plant absorbs less light, slowing down their growth. Hence, variegated Monstera requires extra indirect sunlight.
3. Monstera Albo vs. Thai Constellation: which is better?
Both Monsteras are exotic plants. But between the two, most people prefer the Thai Constellation due to its less expensive cost and stable variegation. However, the Monstera Albo vs. Thai constellation gives different results depending on the buyer.
My name is Daniel Elrod, and I have been houseplant love ever since I was 17. I love how much joy they bring to any room in the home. I’ve always been amazed at how a few pots of flowing leaves can turn a drab and sterile office into an inviting place where people love to work at.
