The Monstera Thai Constellation is the houseplant dreams are made of. Its ethereal coloring and generous growth will make you the envy of your plant-loving friends. For its uniqueness, this beautiful plant is more popular than ever, and it’s easy to see why.
As its name suggests, the Monstera Thai Constellation has variegated leaves seemingly patterned with the stars themselves. Think of them as having the signature shape of the Monstera Deliciosa touched with the paint strokes of Jackson Pollock. Adding to this, the creamy color of their signature splatters makes their leaves even more striking.
Of course, their loveliness is not only in their outward appearance. They’re also hardy, easy-to-care-for plants that require minimal maintenance and aren’t inclined to have health issues. In this article, we’ll look at how to care for these gorgeous plants in-depth, as well as where you can find them and roughly how much you can expect to pay for one.
Read on to find out all about how to care for your Monstera Thai Constellation.
Table of Contents
How do you care for a Monstera Thai Constellation?
A crucial part of Monstera Thai Constellation care is ensuring they have enough light. This is because the cream-colored parts of their leaves cannot photosynthesize. They also require regular watering and good-quality, well-draining soil. High humidity levels and occasional feeding are a bonus.
Understanding how to care for a Monstera Thai Constellation becomes much simpler when you consider that it was originally bred in a laboratory to parents Monstera Deliciosa. Given this fact, its care requirements are almost identical, barring one significant difference: the Thai needs a lot more sunlight, making it a bit more selective about where it wants to live.
The reason for the above is directly related to its stunning creamy leaves. Indeed, a Thai Constellation’s leaf variegation results from a tissue mutation in its chlorophyll. This mutation eradicates color and prevents those spots from absorbing sunlight. Consequently, the green parts of its leaves need to work twice as hard to turn light into the energy your plant needs to grow and thrive.
To keep your Thai Constellation happy and healthy, make sure to place it near a window where it can receive a minimum of six to eight hours of bright direct light each day.
In the absence of enough sunlight, you may want to consider investing in some grow lights to help your Monstera along. Grow lights do not emit heat, so there’s no chance of hurting your Thais with regular exposure to them.
Another integral part of Thai Constellation care is a regular watering schedule and good-quality soil. Monstera are tropical plants, which means they enjoy quite a lot of water, but not to the extent that they develop “wet feet”.
Best soil for Monsteras
Specially designed soil for your Monstera. Light and well-draining, making it perfect for avoiding root rot, while being packed with just the right nutrients to keep your plant happy.
If you don’t want to use a commercial one like the one above, you can mix this yourself by combining potting soil with perlite and a few chunky bits of bark or sphagnum moss for moisture retention.
Does the Monstera Thai Constellation like humidity?
As the Monstera Thai Constellation’s genes are inherently tropical, it favors living conditions with medium to high humidity levels, between 60% and 80%. The higher the moisture level in the air, the more likely your plant will experience rapid growth, whereas too-dry environments can cause leaf curl.
As mentioned in the previous section, the Thai Constellation is a hybrid variety of Monstera bred from parents of the Deliciosa species. Almost all Monstera are tropical plants hailing from the jungle regions of Mexico and Central America. It is in their biological make-up to seek out warmer, moister environments.
Generally speaking, the average indoor living space has a 45% and 55% humidity level. While this is adequate for a Thai Constellation, they do fare far better in areas with slightly higher levels of moisture. If you’re concerned about dry air negatively affecting your plant, you can supplement the humidity in its growing environment in a few ingenious ways:
- For starters (and this is one of the most straightforward solutions), try misting your plant’s leaves every one to two days.
- If you’re not up to this task, you can invest in a small humidifier to add some dampness to the air.
- Alternatively, you can group your Monstera Thai Constellation with your other houseplants to help them create their own humidity ecosystem.
A sign that your Monstera Thai Constellation is longing for a little more humidity is brown tipping on the edges of its leaves, a dry papery texture, or your Monstera drooping with curling leaf edges. If you notice these symptoms cropping up, tend to your plant immediately by resting it on a damp pebble tray. Then, get to work ramping up your humidity levels as soon as possible.
Find out more: 12 Proven Tips to Get Your Monstera the Humidity It Needs
Why is my Monstera Thai Constellation not growing?
Thai Constellations may undergo difficulty growing for a number of reasons. The most common are overwatering, underwatering, overfeeding, a lack of nutrients, and a lack of sunlight. To assist your plant on its path to renewed growth, it’s first necessary to determine what’s causing the problem.
Monstera are uncomplicated plants and, generally, it’s pretty easy to determine what is causing them to grow slowly or not at all. Through the powers of deduction and careful observation, you should be able to diagnose the problem behind your plant’s stagnant growth in no time.
To start with, growth problems are commonly associated with inappropriate water practices or issues in a growing environment. Feel your Monstera Thai Constellation’s soil. If it is very dry, your plant might be thirsty. If it’s wet, soggy, and foul-smelling, your overwatered Monstera plant may be drowning or developing root rot. Either way, water is a vital part of the nutrient-absorption process, and if it’s not reaching your plant’s roots for whatever reasons, the specimen will cease to grow.
By the same token, these beauties cannot grow if they don’t receive enough light so it’s very important to know your Monstera’s light requirements here. Hybrid varieties of Monstera, especially those with less chlorophyll, need loads of light daily to thrive. Sunlight provides these plants with the energy they need to take in and convert nutrients for growth.
Other reasons a Thai Constellation may show a lack of growth can be related to over or under-fertilization causing root shock or the presence of illness or pests. These problems are slightly more challenging to pick up, but with careful observation, you may identify tell-tale signs like yellowing Monstera leaves, white residue in the soil, or the presence of tiny pests. Address this through transplanting your Thai or treating it with an organic pesticide.
Best fertilizer for Monsteras
Jack’s Classic 20-20-20 All Purpose Fertilizer
A great fertilizer with the perfect balance for your Monstera. Simply dissolve in water and feed your plant to watch it thrive.
When should I repot Monstera Thai Constellation?
Thai Constellations don’t require repotting as often as their single-colored cousins, but it is advisable to transplant them every two years to a pot or planter more accommodating to their size. Remember that transplanting can be stressful for Monstera plants, and so be as careful and gentle as possible.
There are two main reasons why we transplant Monstera. The first is to give them more space to grow and prevent them from becoming rootbound. The second is when we suspect something has gone amiss with their soil, for example, a fungal or bacterial infection, and they need to be relocated for the sake of their health.
Either way, it’s a necessary undertaking at some stage in your Monstera’s life, but it’s crucial to remember that transplanting is distressing for plants. Monstera Thai Constellations should only be repotted once they’ve well and truly settled in their environments, so try to avoid repotting them for the first few months after purchasing.
When it’s time to repot your Monstera, practice great care and work gently. Start by setting up your workspace so that it’s clean and convenient. Then, prepare your soil mix and planter so that the roots of your Thai Constellation only need to be exposed for a short while. Once you’re ready to make the move, gently slide your Monstera out of its existing planter, shake off the excess ground and try to loosen its root ball as much as possible.
If you notice any dead or decaying roots, prune them away. Finally, place your Thai Constellation gently in its new planter, spreading the roots out as much as possible. Fill the container with soil, pressing it down gently but firmly around your plant to support it. Give it a good dousing of water and set it in the sun to settle into its new home.
How do you propagate a Monstera Thai Constellation?
To propagate a Monstera Thai Constellation, you first need to identify a cutting possessing at least one leaf and a visible aerial root. Cuttings should be made ½ an inch to an inch below node, as it is from this node that your plant will start to develop new growth. Place your cutting in water to grow.
Basically, if you’ve propagated a Monstera Deliciosa, you can propagate a Monstera Thai Constellation. The process is straightforward and can be extremely rewarding when you see new growth starting to develop. The most vital step of this process is selecting an appropriate cutting that has a good chance of surviving and ultimately multiplying your collection.
When selecting a prospective cutting, there are a few things to consider. The overall health of your plant is a big one. If it’s strong, large, and in good spirits, it can survive sacrificing the odd leaf and root node. If not, you may want to hold off until it’s looking healthier and more settled. Cuttings should have one fully unfurled leaf (at least) and a visible node that can continue to grow once you’ve placed it in water, as you can’t propagate a Monstera without a node.
With your stem selected, it’s time to make the snip. Use clean, sterilized tools and ensure you have your water container prepared so that you can move our cutting straight into it. Once there, all you need to do is wait for your Monstera to start growing in the water. Change your water weekly to reinvigorate its oxygen levels and prevent algae buildup.
As an additional step to this process, and to deter your new Thai Constellation from becoming adapted to an aquatic environment, consider moving it over into sphagnum moss once its root system has started to develop. Moss is an excellent medium for encouraging even more significant root growth before transferring your Thai (and its new, strong roots) into a planter with soil.
Can you grow Thai Constellation from seed?
Monstera Thai Constellations can be grown from seed, but the process is not as easy as growing them from cuttings. Seeds require extremely particular conditions to germinate, with plenty of warmth and humidity. Together with this, there’s no guarantee that your seed-grown Constellation will retain its parent plant’s variegation.
If you happen upon Monstera Thai Constellation seeds for sale, nothing prevents you from giving it a shot at growing them. However, make sure to invest some time in conducting proper research into how to provide them with the best possible conditions in which to germinate.
As a general rule of thumb, Monstera seeds need plenty of moisture, warmth, and humidity to grow. They need to be soaked in water for 12 to 24 hours before planting, whereafter you can expect to see sprouts within ten days. Keep your seedlings in a light, warm room, but avoid direct sunlight, which may scorch them.
Why is it called Thai Constellation?
The Monstera Thai Constellation’s name speaks to both its early development and its beautiful variegation. “Thai” references the laboratory in Thailand where it was first developed. “Constellation” refers to its striking, creamy-colored splatters reminiscent of stars in the galaxy.
There’s an undeniable romance locked up in the name of this plant. The word “constellation” gives an already rare and unique plant an ethereal quality that makes it somehow even more enticing. It’s also interesting to note that this designer hybrid can be traced back to one exact lab, which is pretty unusual in the plant world.
While its parent plants, standard Monstera Deliciosa, are in actual fact native to Mexico and Central America, the Thai Constellation was created in a tissue culture lab in Thailand. Here, after plenty of experimentation, scientists found a way to mutate the Monstera’s cells. Consequently, we ended up with a plant sprinkled with spots lacking chlorophyll, giving this gorgeous creation its signature cosmic look.
And while that’s a fascinating origin story, it does present one stumbling block for potential collectors. Because of its special derivation, the Thai is a scarce find. While successful propagation is making the Monstera Thai Constellation ever more available, it’s still a long way from appearing in your local grocery store.
Can a Thai Constellation become more variegated?
To encourage a Monstera Thai Constellation’s variegation, the best thing you can do is place it in a spot where it receives plenty of light every day. As it lacks chlorophyll, its leaves need to work a lot harder to convert sun energy. Without adequate light, its greener spots will start to dominate its looks.
This makes a lot of sense if you think about it. The green areas of a Monstera Thai Constellation are all it can rely on for absorbing light, and they will overcompensate with limited access to it. Therefore, if you want to see your Thai become as variegated as possible, set it up for success in a place with multiple hours of bright light daily.
Together with this, you want to ensure your plant lives in an environment with a relatively consistent temperature and medium to high humidity. Regular watering and feeding also help keep your plant healthy, and healthier plants are more prone to retain their variegation.
Should you notice that your normally variegated Monstera Thai Constellation is suddenly giving way to predominantly green leaves, you may want to prune these away before they have a chance to take over. These types of leaves are prone to grow faster than the more variegated ones and will dominate your Monstera if given the opportunity.
My best advice if your Monstera Thai Constellation starts growing predominantly green leaves? Use these beauties to propagate your plant. With a hybrid this rare, you wouldn’t want to discard its hard-earned growth.
Can the Thai Constellation revert?
While some variegated plants are prone to revert to single-colored leaves, the Monstera Thai Constellation is not one of them. As their mutation is genetic and engineered, there is no way for them to lose it completely. However, they can lose some of their variegation if they don’t receive enough light.
In those cases, you may find greener spots to be in the majority. The best way to prevent this is to ensure your plant gets as much sun as possible (as outlined above). Also, nip too much green in the bud from the get-go by pruning your Monstera, if needed.
Overall, the Thai Constellation’s variegation is exceptionally stable and will carry over into its seeds and through propagated cuttings.
Does a Thai Constellation need a moss pole?
Moss poles for Thai Constellations are not strictly needed, but they can be highly beneficial. As Monstera are epiphytic plants, they love having a structure to grow onto. In addition to this, moss poles are a great source of nutrients and moisture and can even be spritzed with fertilizer.
There are plenty of benefits to moss poles for your Monstera in general. They aid in creating humidity, retaining moisture, serving as a source of nutrients and minerals, and providing a support structure for plants to grow on. They’re also great for keeping wieldy plants in shape.
While the Monstera Thai Constellation can grow perfectly well without one, giving your plant a moss pole should undoubtedly be a consideration, particularly as it starts to mature. With its heavy leaves and tendency to turn towards the sun, it’s nice to have a little something for it to lean on and you can see how simple it is to stake a Monstera here.
Best of all, you can spray your moss with a little bit of fertilizer to give your Monstera a boost without shocking it with chemicals directly into its soil. As hybrids, these plants tend to be ever-so-slightly more prone to distress than their fully-green counterparts, so you always want to be careful with what you feed them.
How do I stop my Thai Constellation browning?
Browning in Monstera Thai Constellations usually indicates a problem in their growing environment. They may be too dry and need more water or humidity, or it may be that they are scorching in the sun. To stop browning, identify the cause and change up your Thai Constellation’s environment.
Seeing your Monstera leaves turning brown can be very upsetting for plant parents and is a tough pill to swallow when dealing with a rare and unique species like the Monstera Thai Constellation. Unfortunately, variegated plants do tend to brown in their lighter spots, especially if their growing conditions are not ideal.
To prevent brown spots on your Monstera, you first need to identify what is potentially causing it. Usually, it means your plant is too dry, so make sure it receives enough water and consider investing in a home humidifier. Moisture in the air makes a huge difference to these precious plants, as they are inherently adapted to tropical environments.
Browning can also result from exposure to harsh sunlight or chemical burn. If your plant is near a window, consider setting it a few feet back during the warmest months of the year. If browning is starting to develop after feeding, cut down on fertilizing your Monstera or restrict it to a subsidiary source like a moss pole.
On the flipside, browning can also result from too little light, so make sure there is plenty of sun in your Thai’s environment. Overall, browning is not a death sentence for your plant, but it is a sign that a deficiency needs to be addressed. The sooner you sort out the problem, the faster your plant will recover.
Why are my Thai Constellation leaves curling?
If a Thai Constellation’s leaves are curling, it usually means one of three things. Either your plant is thirsty, it’s not receiving enough humidity, or it’s rootbound. While easy to resolve, it’s crucial that you determine the cause before treating your plant, or you could potentially harm it.
The beautiful thing about Monstera is that they will let you know if they’re unhappy. For the most part, their displeasure becomes evident through changes in their leaves. Monstera leaf curl is often a sign that your plant is feeling thirsty or dry, but on occasion, it may also result from suffocated roots.
To determine why your Monster Thai Constellation has curling leaves, start by feeling its soil. If the soil is arid, you may need to revisit how often you water your Monstera. If soil moisture is not the problem, it may be that your Thai’s growing space lacks humidity. To combat this, regularly mist your plant or invest in a home humidifier.
Observe your Monstera’s roots if you feel that neither of the above is the problem. Your Monstera could be root bound, especially if its pot has become too small, which means it may be unable to channel water to its leaves, causing them to curl. This can be resolved by repotting your plant into a bigger space.
Why is Monstera Thai Constellation so expensive?
The Monstera Thai Constellation is expensive because it is popular, rare, and highly in demand. As it grows more slowly than a standard Monstera Deliciosa, it also means it is more difficult to propagate and that suppliers run out of stock extremely fast.
If you’re an avid collector and you happen across a Monstera Thai Constellation for sale, my best advice is to jump on it. Given their increasing popularity the world over, these beauties are really difficult to come by and extremely sought-after.
As time passes, they’re likely to become more freely available, but for now, they’re a relatively new designer hybrid. They can only be found in select nurseries and through online specialist suppliers. Further impacting the high Monstera price is the fact that they are in such demand, which means people don’t mind paying high fees for them.
Which is more expensive: Monstera Albo or Thai Constellation?
While the Monstera Thai Constellation price is inarguably astronomical (excuse the pun), it pales in comparison to the Monstera Albo. The reason behind this is because of how they are produced, with the Monstera Albo resulting from a natural mutation, making propagation and a steady supply tricky. In particular, it means that they can only be bred from cuttings.
The Thai Constellation, on the other hand, is produced from tissue culture, implying that technically there should be a steady supply of these beautiful plants available to a broader market.
Irrespective of this, you can expect to pay quite a bit for either one. However, given its rarer nature, the Monstera Albo will always cost you a little bit more.