When it comes to growing plants indoors, there are no better plants than the Philodendron Xanadu and the Monstera deliciosa. Their beautiful foliage and unique features make them desirable for plant owners. However, many plant owners fail to differentiate between the two species.
Here, we will examine the similarities and differences between the split-leaf Philodendron vs. Monstera and how you can grow the two plants indoors.
What is the Philodendron Xanadu
The Philodendron Xanadu, also called the Thaumatophyllum Xanadu, is a tropical plant that belongs to the arum family Araceae and is native to Brazil and cultivated in warm climates and tropical regions.
The plant was first reported in 1983 and became part of the 500 varieties of Philodendron in the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). The Xanadu was first confused with the Philodendron bipinnatifidum (Philodendron selloum) and was addressed with many nicknames, including the Winterbourne, heartleaf philodendron, wonder leaf, the showboat plant, Horsehead philodendron, and the split-leaf Philodendron.
What is the Monstera Deliciosa
The Monstera deliciosa is one of the 48 species in the genus Monstera that is native to the tropical regions of Central and South America. The tropical plant belongs to the Araceae family and is accustomed to tropical regions and USDA zones 10-12.
The Monstera deliciosa is one of the most common Monstera plants grown indoors, with other Monstera species including the Monstera adansonii and Monstera variegata.
The deliciosa plant is known for its fenestrations, tiny holes n the leaves, that gave it its nickname, the Swiss Cheese plant. Other nicknames include the Heart-shaped leaf plant and the Mexican breadfruit plant.
Philodendron vs. Monstera: Key Similarities
Despite belonging to different species, the split-leaf Philodendron and Monstera share many similarities, so much so that some plant owners think they are the same plant.
Below are some key similarities between the Philodendron Xanadu vs. Monstera deliciosa.
Plant Family
One of the main reasons the two plants share so many similarities is that they belong to the same family of Araceae, which is commonly called the arum family and consists of more than 3000 species.
One of the key similarities between the plant species of the Araceae family is the development of a spadix. However, the shape and color of the spadix can vary depending on the genus.
Origin
The Monstera deliciosa and split-leaf Philodendron share similar origins, native to tropical rainforests and USDA zones 10-12.
Although the split-leaf Philodendron is found mainly in Brazil and the Monstera species are found in tropical regions of Central America, the two plants thrive in warm climates and grow on forest grounds.
Leaf Shape and Structure
One of the main similarities between the two tropical plants is that they have similarly structured leaves, although different in size.
Both plants support heart-shaped and deeply lobed leaves with splits. The splits are an adaptive feature for the plants to survive in the strong winds of the tropical rainforest.
Growth Habits
In their native habitat, the plants attach themselves to surfaces such as rocks and forest trees and exhibit a climbing nature. This is possible because the plants develop aerial roots out of the main vine.
The aerial root anchors the tropical plant to the support and absorbs moisture from the air. As the plants mature, they start to vine and sprawl, making them ideal for growing as floor plants or hanging baskets.
Growing Conditions
As the split-leaf philodendron and Monstera deliciosa are accustomed to growing in tropical environments, their growth depends on how well you can replicate the environment.
As such, these plants have specific growing requirements that they share.
Bright Indirect SunLight
In their natural environment, the plant species adapted to the bright filtered light passing from the forest canopy. Thus, the plants prefer growing in bright indirect sunlight. However, you must keep the plants away from direct sunlight.
Keeping the plants in too much sunlight or bright direct light can cause leaf scorching and dehydration, resulting in brown and droopy leaves.
However, too little light causes a lack of photosynthesis, resulting in stunted growth and yellowing leaves.
Watering
Monstera and split-leaf philodendron plants are constantly in search of water. As such, you should water them once every week during the growing seasons and once every two weeks during the winter when plant growth is slow.
Overwatering the plants can lead to suffocating the roots and fungal diseases such as root rot. Underwatering the plants can result in dehydration and wilting of the plants.
Temperature and Humidity
In their native habitat, the split-leaf Philodendron and Swiss cheese plants are accustomed to warm climates with high humidity levels.
The plants thrive in a 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit temperature range and a humidity level above 60%. However, too much humidity could result in bacterial and fungal infections.
Soil Mix
True split leaf philodendrons and Swiss cheese plants prefer slightly acidic soil of pH 5.0 to 5.7. Moreover, these tropical plants thrive in well-aerated soil that does not restrict root growth.
You can purchase a nutrient-rich potting mix for aroid plants, such as the split leaf plant and the Monstera deliciosa, and add perlite or coco coir to ensure drainage, and the plants love well-draining soil.
Propagation
Both split-leaf philodendron and Monstera deliciosa can be propagated by stem cuttings. The cuttings should be taken from healthy plants and allowed to root in water or soil before being planted in their pot.
Toxicology
The split-leaf philodendrons and Monstera deliciosa plants share similar toxic traits and are toxic to humans and pets such as dogs and cats.
The Monstera deliciosa sap contains calcium oxalate crystals which can cause skin irritation and throat swelling if ingested. Similarly, split-leaf plants contain oxalic acid, which can cause throat irritation, vomiting, and stomach aches.
Split Leaf Philodendron vs. Monstera Deliciosa: Key Differences
Despite their many similarities, the Philodendron and Monstera are not the same plant and show many differences that can help plant owners tell the two apart.
Some key differences between the split-leaf Philodendron vs. Monstera are mentioned below.
Scientific Classification
Although they belong to the same aroid plant family, they belong to different plant genera.
The plant taxonomy is one of the most significant differences between split-leaf philodendrons and Monstera. Split-leaf Philodendron is a member of the genus Philodendron, while deliciosa is part of the genus Monstera.
While the split-leaf Philodendron is scientifically named the Philodendron bipinnatifidum, the latter is scientifically named the Monstera deliciosa.
The polarity in their classification is due to the differences in their physical characteristics.
Leaf Size
One of the key differences betwee