How to Grow and Care for Monstera Standleyana Albo

Monstera standleyana albo (Monstera standleyana 'Albo Variegata') is a tropical plant native to parts of Central and South America. Also called philodendron standleyana or philodendron cobra, this plant is prized for the speckles and splashes of white, cream, or pale yellow variegation on glossy, oval-shaped green leaves.

Monstera standleyana albo is sometimes known as five holes plant, even though its leaves don't have any holes. This climbing vine makes an excellent indoor plant and is relatively easy to care for.

Monstera Standleyana Albo Care

Like other types of monstera, monstera standleyana albo is an attractive, low-maintenance houseplant as long as you give it basic care and the proper growing conditions. This plant grows best in a warm place with high humidity and bright, indirect light. Use a moss pole or trellis to give this plant support, or keep it in a hanging basket to allow its vines to trail down.

Light

Give your monstera standleyana albo at least six hours of bright, indirect light per day. This could be in a north-facing or east-facing window or several feet from a south-facing or west-facing window. Be sure to keep the plant is out of direct sunlight, which can burn the leaves. You can also put monstera standleyana albo in a brightly lit window with a sheer curtain to filter and diffuse the light.

Soil

Your monstera standleyana albo will grow best in a light, chunky potting mix that drains well but holds moisture. You can buy premade aroid potting mix at garden centers and plant stores or make your own mix by blending equal parts peat moss or coconut coir, orchid bark, and perlite.

Water

Rather than watering on a set schedule, check the plant's soil moisture regularly to keep from underwatering or overwatering. Water your monstera standleyana albo when the top two inches of soil have dried out. Note that your plant will probably need less water in the winter when growth slows down.

Temperature and Humidity

Monstera standleyana albo can grow in temperatures ranging from 50 to 95 degrees. Temperatures under 50 degrees or over 95 degrees can damage or stress your plant. Keep it away from drafty doorways and windows or vents blowing hot or cold air.

Fertilizer

During the spring and summer, feed your monstera standleyana albo once per month. Use a balanced organic houseplant fertilizer diluted to half strength to avoid overfeeding. Always fertilize your plant after watering it well to avoid burning delicate roots.

Pruning

Though monstera standleyana albo can grow up to 20 feet tall in its native habitat, it's unlikely to grow anywhere near that large indoors. If your plant is outgrowing your space, you can prune back unruly growth in spring (and save those stems to propagate into new plants). Give your plant a moss pole for support.

Propagating Monstera Standleyana Albo

You can propagate a mature monstera standleyana albo by rooting cuttings in water or soil. You'll get the best results in the spring or summer when the plant is actively growing. Here's how to propagate monstera standleyana albo using stem cuttings.

Propagating Monstera Standleyana Albo in Water

1. Choose a healthy stem on the mother plant with several leaves. Cut a stem tip six to eight inches long, cutting just below a leaf node. Trim away the leaves on the lower half of the stem.
2. Fill a small jar halfway with cool water. Place the cutting in the jar. If necessary, add water so that the nodes on the lower half of the stem are below the water line.
3. Keep the cutting in a warm place with bright, indirect light. Change out the water if it gets cloudy. Within one month or so, you should see white roots begin to grow from the submerged nodes.
4. When the roots are at least one inch long, you can plant the cutting in soil and care for it as usual.
   

Propagating Monstera Standleyana Albo in Soil

1. Select a stem with several leaves from a healthy, mature mother plant. Cutting just below a leaf node, take stem cuttings that are six to eight inches long. Trim away the lower leaves.
2. Fill a small plant pot with fresh potting mix and add water to moisten it. Use your finger or a pencil to poke a hole a few inches into the soil.
3. Plant the cutting in the hole, ensuring that the lower nodes on the stem are below the soil line. Pat the soil gently around the stem to keep the cutting in place.
4. Place the cutting in a warm place with bright, indirect light. Keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy. New leaf growth is a sign that the cutting has rooted and you can care for it as usual.
   

Common Pests & Plant Diseases 

Monstera standleyana albo is susceptible to common houseplant pests like aphids, mealybugs, scale, and spider mites. Check your plant regularly for signs of an infestation. If you spot signs of pests, use a cotton ball or swab dipped in rubbing alcohol to dab away pests, then treat the plant with neem oil or horticultural soap to keep them at bay.

Common Problems With Monstera Standleyana Albo

Monstera standleyana albo is a pretty low-maintenance plant as long as it's in a space with the right conditions, but you may run into occasional issues.

Leaves Turning Yellow

Some monstera standleyana albo plants have patches of naturally yellow variegation rather than white, which is normal. But entire leaves turning yellow is a sign that something's not right. Yellowing leaves typically indicate overwatering. Allow the soil to dry out completely and only water when the top couple of inches of soil are dry going forward.

Leaves Turning Brown

Brown leaves accompanied by soft, brown stems can indicate root rot, typically caused by overwatering. Brown, dry areas on leaves can be a sign that your plant isn't getting enough humidity or that it's getting too much direct sunlight. As with other variegated species like monstera albo, monstera standleyana albo leaves with lots of white, cream, or yellow tend to die back sooner than green leaves since they're not supporting plant growth.

Drooping Leaves

If your monstera standleyana albo's leaves are drooping, that could be a sign of overwatering, underwatering, or not enough light. Check the soil moisture and adjust accordingly, or if your plant is in a lower-light area, try moving it closer to the light source (but still out of direct sun).