The monstera plant has impressive dimensions, so it can only be kept in spacious rooms. Liana is popular for growing in offices, foyers and halls. In addition, flower leaves contribute to the ionization of air. The name delicacy, or dainty, the variety received thanks to the fruits that have a sweet pineapple taste.
Biological features
The Monstera clan belongs to the Aroid family. The field is tropical forests of Central and South America.
Monstera Deliciosa is a climbing species, the height of which can reach 4 m. The plant has a main fleshy stem, from which aerial roots grow. They are needed not only for nutrition and reproduction, but also as an additional support.
Flowering monstera
For your information! Monstera tidbits has a bright green color of leaves, their surface is smooth and shiny. Young leaves are heart-shaped, whole, with time holes appear, and after elongated or round cuts.
During flowering, cream cobs appear on the monster, covered with a light green fluff. After flowering, sweet and sour berries are formed. Flowering time falls on the spring-summer season, but this is extremely rare in residential premises.
Interesting facts about the delicious Monstera
There are many myths about the plant. The most common rumors are that the monstera is poisonous, brings trouble to the house and takes energy from residents. There is no scientific confirmation of this, so you can safely start a vine in your apartment.
What interesting things are known about the Deliciosa monster:
- from Latin the name "monstrum" is translated as "monster". It happened due to creeping stems, whose diameter reaches 20 cm and has long aerial roots;
- according to another version, the name is translated from Latin as "bizarre", "amazing", which fully corresponds to its appearance;
- laid the tradition to eat the fruits of the monstera for dessert, Princess of Brazil Isabella Braganca, daughter of Emperor Pedro II, this was her favorite treat;
- drops of sticky juice appear on the leaves before rain, so the flower is a kind of barometer;
- esotericists believe that aerial roots take away energy from others, but they are necessary only to obtain additional moisture from the air, since the tropics are the birthplace of the plant;
- Southeast Asian people believe that Monstera is a source of health and well-being;
- in Thailand, near sick people, it is customary to put a pot of liana;
- in Laos, the monstera delitsiosis is used as a talisman and placed on the threshold of the house.
Note! On the origin of the name of the flower, there are also several versions that relate not only to its appearance. One of the legends says that after the discovery of South America, killer plants were discovered in the jungle that attacked people and animals. It was said that after the battle with the vines, only the skeletons hanging from the trunk remained from the body. In fact, travelers confused the murders with sprouted aerial roots in the already deceased body of a man who once died in the jungle.
Liana in the wild
Monstera as a food
The shape of the berry resembles an ear of corn, on top they are covered with dense scales, their length ranges from 20 to 40 cm and up to 9 cm in diameter. The fruit pulp is juicy, sweet in taste, reminiscent of a mixture of pineapple with banana, a little jackfruit.
Note! Fully ripened fruits do not burn the mucous membrane, unlike the same pineapple. Juices of an unripe fetus cause irritation, you can get a burn of the mucous membrane of the mouth, provoke the development of stomach ulcers and duodenal ulcers.
For eating the fruits of monstera, the plant is bred in Australia and India. If it was possible to buy unripe fruits, then they are wrapped in foil and laid out on a windowsill under direct sunlight.
Monstera fruits
The composition and calorie content of monstera fruits
Nutritional value of fruits per 100 g:
- 73.7 kcal;
- 77.9 g of water;
- 16.2 g of carbohydrates;
- 1.8 g of protein;
- 0.2 g of fat;
- 0.57 g of dietary fiber;
- 0.85 g of ash.
The composition of the berries is not well understood, it is known that they are rich in the following elements:
- sugar;
- starch;
- vitamin C;
- oxalic acid;
- thiamine;
- calcium;
- phosphorus;
- potassium;
- sodium.
As a result, the use of berries favorably affects the immune system, preventing viral and bacterial diseases, the body's tone increases, and physical and emotional activity is stimulated. Eating fruits improves intestinal motility, eliminates muscle cramps, and fights dehydration.
Important! Many people face individual intolerance to the product.
Monstera: poisonous or not
Since the plant came to Europe from the tropics, the logical question is whether it is possible to put a flower at home, is the monstera poisonous or not, especially if there are small children or pets in the room.
Is it possible to keep a monster delicious at home
Keeping the plant in the house is not only possible, but necessary. Monstera leaves do not contain any hazardous substances. Be careful with microscopic needle formations that are in the pulp of the leaves, capable of causing a burning sensation if the leaf enters the mouth. This can happen with cats, dogs or parrots that sin to nibble on indoor flowers.
Note! It is believed that a tropical plant absorbs a large amount of oxygen, especially at night, which can cause suffocation in a sleeping person. No such cases have been recorded.
As for the poisonousness of the plant, there is some truth in this statement. The poison is in the juice of the flowers of plants, but in order to burn the mucous membranes of the mouth and stomach, you need to bite and chew the flower petal.
In defense of the monstera, it is worth noting that its leaves well retain dust entering the room. At the same time, the plant releases biologically active substances that purify the air and fight against some viruses and bacteria.
Features of caring for a delicious monster
Delicious Monstera is an unpretentious plant, minimal maintenance is required.
Growing and Care Requirement:
- any lighting except direct sunlight;
- moderate air temperature (not lower than 12 ° C), the hotter, the more rapid growth occurs;
- soil composition for cultivation: 1 part sand, peat, turf land, 2 parts humus, can grow hydroponically;
- frequent spraying, sponging, polishing leaves;
Monstera in the interior
- plentiful watering, constant maintenance of the soil moist;
- transplantation as the plant grows (about 2 times a year);
- replacement of the upper layer of the substrate in adult flowers once a year;
- the introduction of complex fertilizers in the period from March to August once every two weeks.
Monstera is ideal for growing in a heated conservatory. The plant is not afraid of pests, except for scale insects.
Thus, all the myths about the flower are nothing more than fiction, so you should not be afraid of planting a monstera. It, on the contrary, will bring only benefit.
