Monstera Obliqua Amazonas vs. Peru (Key Differences)

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This article will explore the following topics:

• The origin of Monstera Obliqua Amazonas
• The similarities between monstera obliqua amazonas and monstera Peru
• The differences between monstera obliqua amazonas and monstera Peru
• Frequently asked questions regarding monstera obliqua amazonas and monstera Peru

Monstera Obliqua Amazonas Origin

True monstera obliqua originates from the Amazon Basin in South America. It’s an epiphyte, which means it uses other plants for support but doesn’t get any of its nutrients from them. The plant draws moisture and nutrients from the air via its unusual aerial roots and huge, split, or punctured leaves. Due to its eye-catching look, the Monstera obliqua plant is frequently planted as an ornamental plant in tropical and subtropical climates worldwide.

Monstera Peru Origin

Monstera plants are endemic to the tropics of the Americas, specifically Central America and South America. Monstera Peru is one such plant; however, its exact origin is unknown. Because of its huge, tropical leaves, this plant is popular as an outdoor decorative and a houseplant in many parts of the world.

Monstera Obliqua Amazonas and Peru: Similarities

Growing Medium

Real Monstera obliqua and Monstera Peru thrive in a wide range of soilless growth media. They thrive in a potting mix of peat moss, perlite, and vermiculite because of their high porosity and excellent drainage.

Choosing a growing medium that allows excess water to drain away quickly is crucial to avoid the root rot that might result from waterlogging. You can grow them in moist sphagnum moss, orchid bark, coco coir, or peat moss moist for best results.

Humidity

Monstera obliqua and Monstera Peru require moist environments.

Native to South American jungles, these plants thrive in damp conditions. They flourish in conditions with a relative humidity of between 60% and 80%.

A Monstera plant’s leaves can dry up and become brittle if the humidity level is too low, while a plant’s susceptibility to fungal infections can grow if the humidity level is too high.

Sunlight

Monstera obliqua is a delicate plant that thrives in strong, indirect sunlight, and Monstera obliqua Peru is the same. They are used to the diffused light of the forest canopy and can be found naturally occurring in the South American jungle. They thrive when exposed to bright, indirect light and should be planted near a sunny east or west-facing window. Keep the leaves out of the direct sunshine to prevent them from getting scorched.

A lack of light can cause the plants to get lanky and have yellow leaves, while an excess of direct sunlight can cause the leaves to scorch and become damaged. You can ensure the health and growth of your Monstera obliqua and Monstera Peru plants by placing them in a location that receives bright, indirect light.

Temperature

Monstera obliqua and Monstera Peru thrive in the warm conditions of South America’s tropical rainforests. These plants do best at a temperature range of 65°F to 85°F. The leaves and roots will be damaged if the temperature drops below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

Keep your Monstera plants safe from rapid temperature changes to avoid stressing them out. If you live in an area where the weather fluctuates wildly, it’s best to keep your Monstera plants in an area where they won’t be directly exposed to the cold.

Toxicity

Common Pests

Pests that might cause damage to Monstera obliqua and Monstera Peru include the following:

• Spider mites are little insects that feed on a plant’s sap, resulting in the leaves turning yellow and eventually dying.
• The sap-sucking habits of mealybugs can lead to wilting and poor development in affected plants.
• Monstera obliqua yellowing plants result from the development of the pest known as a scale insect. It can be inhibited if it gets too many of them.
• Thrips are responsible for the mottled and discolored appearance of the leaves.

It is crucial to keep your Monstera plants clean and to check the leaves frequently and stems for symptoms of pests to prevent pest infestations. Use insecticidal soap, neem oil, and horticultural oil sprays to deal with pests in your garden.

Pruning

Monstera obliqua and Monstera Peru benefit greatly from regular pruning to maintain their desired size, promote vigorous development, and enhance their aesthetic appeal. If you have Monstera plants, here are some suggestions for trimming them:

• If you want to keep your Monstera plants at a moderate size, trim the stems as necessary to control their height.
• Remove any leaves that have turned yellow or are damaged to enhance the plant’s aesthetics and slow disease development.
• If your Monstera plant has aerial roots, you can prune them back to maintain a manageable size.
• Monstera leaves will eventually turn yellow and die unless you remove them. It would help if you always took off the dead leaves as they appear to maintain the plant looking its best.
• Use clean, sharp pruning shears when trimming Monstera plants to prevent stem damage. Make sure to disinfect your pruning shears after each use to keep diseases from spreading.

Propagation

You can propagate Monstera obliqua bolivia and Monstera Peru plants by cuttings of their stems or by splitting the existing plant into new pieces.

• Remove the bottom leaves from the mother plant and cut a stem with a few leaves. Put the cutting in a container of perlite or moist sand and keep it in a warm, humid environment. Repot monstera obliqua and obliqua Peru cuttings into a bigger pot once roots have grown.
• If your Monstera plant has outgrown its pot, you can divide it by removing it and carefully separating the roots.

Optimal circumstances for plant growth are essential while propagating Monstera plants. The cuttings or divisions should be kept in a warm, humid environment with bright, indirect light until they become established.

Once the roots of your cuttings or divisions have taken hold, you can continue to care for them as you would an established plant, giving them the appropriate growing conditions and watering and fertilizing them at the appropriate times.

Monstera Obliqua Amazonas and Peru: Differences

Taxonomy

Monstera obliqua monkey leaf is more slender and has deeper cuts and smooth leaf margins than Monstera Peru, which are broader and have shallower cuts. The two species develop in very different ways. Morphological and molecular analyses support the separation of Monstera obliqua as a distinct species from Monstera Peru.

Growing Habits

Although Monstera Amazonas and Monstera Peru are common houseplants, they have slightly different requirements for care and maintenance.

Monstera obliqua care requires vigilance. The slow-growing Monstera obliqua Amazonas can grow 3–4 feet tall in its native environment, although it usually stays within the 1- to 2-foot range when kept inside. Its tall, deeply cut leaves set it apart from other plants. This plant is susceptible to overwatering and needs high humidity and bright, indirect light to grow.

In contrast, Monstera Peru is a species that grows quickly and can reach heights of 6-8 feet. It grows to 3 to 4 feet when kept as a houseplant. The Monstera obliqua Amazonas has softer, more rounded leaves with less sharply defined lobes. It enjoys bright, indirect light but may thrive in different circumstances, including decreased humidity.

Leaf Shape

One of the most noticeable distinctions between Monstera obliqua Amazonas and Monstera Peru is the leaf form.

The leaves of the Monstera obliqua Amazonas are long and heart-shaped, with deep cuts and fenestrations. One of the most distinguishing features of this plant is its enormous, up to 12 inches long and 6 inches wide leaves.

Monstera Peru has softer, more rounded leaves that are often less severely sliced and fenestrated. These leaves have a greater degree of symmetry and can reach a diameter of 8 inches.

Monstera obliqua Amazonas is much more popular as a houseplant because of its distinctive leaves.

Fenestrations

The fenestrations, or holes and incisions, in the leaves of Monstera obliqua Amazonas distinguish it from Monstera Peru.

Monstera obliqua has extremely fenestrated leaves, with deep cuts and holes that can take up to half of the leaf surface. This makes the leaves look lacy and unique and helps them thrive in the deep forest canopy by letting in more light.

On the other hand, Monstera Peru has more subtle fenestrations; the holes and cuts that characterize this plant’s leaves often comprise less than a fourth of the leaf’s total area. The leaf shape is more rounded and symmetrical, and the fenestrations are spread more uniformly.

Leaf Appearance

One major distinction between Monstera obliqua Amazonas and Monstera Peru is leaf appearance.

The leaves of the Monstera obliqua Amazonas are long and heart-shaped, with deep cuts and fenestrations. These leaves can reach a length of 12 inches and a breadth of 6 inches. They have a dull, vivid green coloration. The lacelike look of the leaves is unique to this species.

Monstera Peru is a green climbing plant with more rounded leaves that are often less severely sliced and fenestrated. These leaves are more symmetrical in shape. They are a darker shade of green with a glossy finish.

Stems

Another distinguishing feature of Monstera obliqua Amazonas and Monstera Peru is their distinctive stems.

Monstera obliqua Amazonas is able to thrive in the teeming jungle because its flexible, thinner stems allow it to wrap around and climb other plants. These erect greenish-yellow stalks are coated with aerial roots that draw water and nutrients out of the air.

In comparison, Monstera Peru has thicker, less flexible, and less able to climb stems. These stalks are often covered in aerial roots and have a slightly darker green hue.

Petiole

The leaves of Monstera obliqua Amazonas can respond to shifts in light and temperature thanks to the plant’s long, pliable petioles. The base of the petiole, where it attaches to the stem, is often thicker and lighter green than the rest of the leaf.

In contrast, Monstera Peru has shorter, less flexible petioles that keep the leaves standing erect. Compared to Monstera obliqua Amazonas, these petioles are often a darker green and much thicker near the base, where they link to the stem.

Fruits and Flowers

Both plants have enormous, juicy fruits that people of some cultural backgrounds consume. The fruit has a rough, inedible peel that normally surrounds a yellow-green inside that is delicious and juicy.

In addition, flowers of both species are similarly modest and unassuming while being carried aloft on tall stems. These blossoms normally bloom in a soft white hue and are not as eye-catching as the plant’s leaves.

Growth Rate

Growing circumstances, light exposure, and temperature can affect how quickly Monstera obliqua Amazonas and Monstera Peru develop. Monstera obliqua Amazonas is generally thought to develop more slowly than Monstera Peru.

It may take Monstera obliqua Amazonas a few years to attain its full size and produce mature leaves because it grows more slowly than faster-growing species. This plant can use other plants as support structures and as competitors in thick jungle conditions thanks to its climbing abilities.

On the other hand, Monstera Peru is thought to develop into an adult plant more rapidly. This plant type is well-known for its development and adaptability to many environmental settings.

Monstera obliqua Amazonas may be preferable for growers who like a more gradual, less demanding plant because of its slower growth rate; however, both varieties are well-liked houseplants due to their lovely leaves.

Price

Monstera obliqua Amazonas and Monstera Peru can range in price from very cheap to very expensive based on several criteria such as plant size, vendor location, and species availability. Monstera obliqua Amazonas is often thought to be more expensive than Monstera Peru.

The Amazonian Monstera, or Monstera obliqua, is a more exotic plant that can be difficult to find in stores. Additionally, botanists and collectors highly prized the split leaves of this species. Therefore, Monstera obliqua Amazonas, particularly large or fully matured specimens, can be sold for more money.

Dry Leaves

Underwatering, dry air, and temperature shifts are some of the causes of dry leaves in Monstera obliqua Amazonas and Monstera Peru. The leaves of the two species may react differently to drought conditions.

Monstera obliqua Amazonas is more likely to show signs of dry or yellow leaves in less-than-ideal conditions. This plant is best suited to the moist conditions of the rainforest and may not thrive in arid regions.

However, Monstera Peru is less likely to develop dry or yellow leaves in arid environments. As a result of its robust growth and adaptability to many environments, this species makes for a more forgiving houseplant.

Native Habitat

Monstera obliqua Amazonas is endemic to the jungles of South America’s Amazon Basin, typically along the sides of rivers and streams. Climbing on other plants for support, this species thrives in the damp and humid circumstances typical of its natural habitat.

However, Monstera Peru is actually from the Andes in South America, where it thrives in the drier, cooler climate found at higher altitudes. Compared to Monstera obliqua Amazonas, this species is more versatile and adaptable because of its rapid growth and success in many environments.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many types of Monstera Obliqua are there?

The number of Monstera Obliqua species is unknown. Collectors and horticulturists highly value this species due to its lovely leaves, making it a popular indoor plant.

Is monstera obliqua rare? Where can you find it?

If you’re looking for a rare or unusual Monstera species, your best bet is to contact a nursery specializing in tropical and exotic plants.

Daniel Elrod

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.