Hi, I am

Cato

WHO'S

THIS

Girl?

Hi! Cato here.

In the books I am called the Philodendron Cobra or Monstera Standleyana Variegata. Want to bring a plant with a unique look into your home? Then you are in the right place with me! My green and white leaves are very striking and you will not easily see them elsewhere!

I grew up in the warm rain forests of South America, where I am a strong climber. I still love this, so also feel free to let me climb up against a rack, moss stick or anything else. This makes me stronger and bigger.

Quick guide

meetlint
Height: 50 CM
plantenpot
Diameter: 17 CM
zon
Placement: Semi-sun
water
Water: frequent, lukewarm water
air cleaning
Air purifying
do not eat
Toxic, not for consumption
schaar
Cut away old leaves
voeding
fertilize twice a month, not during winter
Monstera blad

MORE INFO

  • Where should you place me?
  • I feel most comfortable in a place where I cannot catch direct sunlight. Therefore, put me in a place where I am several meters away from a window. Also put me in a place where I can't be exposed to drafts, I really don't like this.

  • How much water do I drink?
  • I like a slightly moist soil and prefer not to dry out. Be careful with too moist soil, though, because I can't stand this very well. Never give me too much water, as this causes root rot. Regular sips of lukewarm water are enough for me. This does vary by season: in winter I drink less than in summer, because it is warmer and lighter in summer. Also, the brighter the location, the more I drink. Give me water from below, it's better for my roots and this also reduces the chance of bugs. Also, this way I can absorb the amount of water I need. You may give the rest of the water, after I have been drinking for 15 minutes, to another plant. In between, you can feel with your finger how wet the soil is. Does soil stick to your finger after you put it in the potting soil? Then I still have enough water. Is your finger dry and clean? Then give me something to drink. Also, feel free to lift me up. Am I heavy like a tree? Then I have enough to drink. Am I light as a leaf? Then I could use a sip. Cheers!

  • How much fertilizer do I need?
  • Please give me fertilizer during the growing season, which is from March to September. Give me some fertilizer twice a month during this period, and stick to the recommended amount described on the package. After all, too much fertilizer is not good for me either. Outside the growing season, you don't need to give me any fertilizer since I do not require it during this time.

  • When do I need to be repotted?
  • If you have just bought me, you don’t need to repot me for the first few months. I need all the energy I have to adjust to my new environment. You can, of course, put me in a decorative pot. After the first repotting session, I’d like a new pot every two years that is 20% bigger than my previous pot. Please repot me in Spring, this is when I’m at my strongest. I also like fresh potting soil, because this is filled with nutrients that I need to grow. Sometimes, it happens that I go through a major growth spurt and need a new pot sooner. You can check if I need a new pot by checking my roots. Do they grow out of the bottom of the pot? Then you can repot me sooner.

    It is very important to plant me in an inner pot first before putting me in a decorative pot. Thus, you can check if you’ve overwatered me by checking if there is water on the bottom of the decorative pot. You can also easily water me from the bottom.

  • When do I need to be pruned?
  • I am a climber so I can get very tall! In general, you don't need to prune me. Do you think I grow too tall? Then you can cut off my long tendrils. This way I will also grow back fuller. Always do this with clean, sharp scissors. Do this in spring so I am strong enough to recover from the cutting.

  • What is my superpower?
  • I am a real air purifier! Thus, I make sure that the room I am standing in is provided with clean air. I do this by converting the CO2 in the air into oxygen. This gives you a boost of energy, focus and creativity.

  • Did you know that...
  • I also exist without white spots! In this case, my name is simply Monstera Standleyana.  

  • Am I edible?
  • No, I am not edible.

I feel most comfortable in a place where I cannot catch direct sunlight. Therefore, put me in a place where I am several meters away from a window. Also put me in a place where I can't be exposed to drafts, I really don't like this.

I like a slightly moist soil and prefer not to dry out. Be careful with too moist soil, though, because I can't stand this very well. Never give me too much water, as this causes root rot. Regular sips of lukewarm water are enough for me. This does vary by season: in winter I drink less than in summer, because it is warmer and lighter in summer. Also, the brighter the location, the more I drink. Give me water from below, it's better for my roots and this also reduces the chance of bugs. Also, this way I can absorb the amount of water I need. You may give the rest of the water, after I have been drinking for 15 minutes, to another plant. In between, you can feel with your finger how wet the soil is. Does soil stick to your finger after you put it in the potting soil? Then I still have enough water. Is your finger dry and clean? Then give me something to drink. Also, feel free to lift me up. Am I heavy like a tree? Then I have enough to drink. Am I light as a leaf? Then I could use a sip. Cheers!

Please give me fertilizer during the growing season, which is from March to September. Give me some fertilizer twice a month during this period, and stick to the recommended amount described on the package. After all, too much fertilizer is not good for me either. Outside the growing season, you don't need to give me any fertilizer since I do not require it during this time.

If you have just bought me, you don’t need to repot me for the first few months. I need all the energy I have to adjust to my new environment. You can, of course, put me in a decorative pot. After the first repotting session, I’d like a new pot every two years that is 20% bigger than my previous pot. Please repot me in Spring, this is when I’m at my strongest. I also like fresh potting soil, because this is filled with nutrients that I need to grow. Sometimes, it happens that I go through a major growth spurt and need a new pot sooner. You can check if I need a new pot by checking my roots. Do they grow out of the bottom of the pot? Then you can repot me sooner.

It is very important to plant me in an inner pot first before putting me in a decorative pot. Thus, you can check if you’ve overwatered me by checking if there is water on the bottom of the decorative pot. You can also easily water me from the bottom.

I am a climber so I can get very tall! In general, you don't need to prune me. Do you think I grow too tall? Then you can cut off my long tendrils. This way I will also grow back fuller. Always do this with clean, sharp scissors. Do this in spring so I am strong enough to recover from the cutting.

I am a real air purifier! Thus, I make sure that the room I am standing in is provided with clean air. I do this by converting the CO2 in the air into oxygen. This gives you a boost of energy, focus and creativity.

I also exist without white spots! In this case, my name is simply Monstera Standleyana.  

No, I am not edible.

Fave spot

Where should you place me?

Just put me in a place where I stand a little darker, I don't like a lot of sunlight. However, I do like to get some natural light. So don't put me in a room with no windows, but a few meters away from a window.

Plant care

Medic heart

What do I like?

Give me a glass of lukewarm water regularly, but be careful not to give me too much water! The darker I stand, the less I will drink. Also, give me some fertilizer twice a month during the growing season.

Adopt Rainforest

Plantanious works together with the Work with Nature foundation. Our tropical rainforests are disappearing at a rapid pace and an enormous biodiversity is being lost along with the trees. If it were up to us, the jaguar would soon walk around again in the rainforest in Costa Rica protected by 'Adopt Rainforest'! The place where many of our special plants originate. In order to make an important contribution to the goal of the foundation - to protect 2,000 hectares of rainforest in the next ten years - we donate part of our turnover to protect part of the tropical rainforest. To achieve their goal, the foundation puts money into protection, conservation, reforestation, education and research.