While monsteras have been popping up in homes and offices everywhere, the Monstera pinnatipartita is still a relatively rare plant. This plant is slowly making its way into the houseplant scene with gorgeous bicolor leaves that are studded with deep fenestrations. Despire their beauty and rarity, these plants are as easy to care for as your other monsteras. This guide will take you through everything you need to know about how to grow and care for Monstera pinnatipartita plants at home, including planting, soil, light, watering, fertilizing, repotting, and pest control.
How to Grow Monstera pinnatipartita — The Essentials
| Botanical Name: | Monstera pinnatipartita |
| Growing Difficulty: | Moderate |
| Light Requirements: | Bright yet indirect light |
| Temp & Humidity: | Prefers temperatures ranging from 65ºF to 85ºF and moderate to high humidity |
| Watering Needs: | Water when the top few inches of soil is dry, about every one to two weeks |
| Soil Preferences: | Well aerated and well-draining with a slightly acidic pH |
| Fertilizing: | Apply a balanced houseplant fertilizer once in the early spring, late spring, and early summer |
| Growth Expectations: | Can grow upwards of eight feet indoors |
| Toxicity: | Toxic to humans and pets when ingested; causes mild to severe irritation |
About Monstera pinnatipartita
The Monstera pinnatipartita is a member of the Monstera family. Other members of this family include the popular Monstera deliciosa, Monstera obliqua, and Monstera adansonii. The species name pinnatipartita refers to pinnate leaves.
Monstera pinnatipartita is native to tropical forests in Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador, where it grows as an epiphyte. While the plant may sprout and root in the soil, its aerial roots eventually attach to other plants. Therefore, Monstera pinnatipartita is known as a climbing plant.
Botanical Characteristics
Like many types of monstera, this species is loved for its fenestrated leaves. However, young plants have solid leaves without any fenestrations.
But that doesn’t mean young plants are boring! They have oblong leaves with an intriguing bumpy surface. At this stage, the plants look very similar to Monstera peru.
As the plant matures, it produces leaves with fenestrations (aka holes) that extend from the leaf’s midrib to its edge. The leaves become larger and also develop more holes than Monstera peru.
Monstera pinnatipartita has ovular leaves that exhibit a mesmerizing two-tone color. Bright green mingles with yellow to create a beautiful display.
Uses and Benefits
Like many monstera species, this plant is primarily used as an ornamental houseplant. Since it’s relatively rare and hard to find, it makes a great collector’s item.
Toxicity
Monstera pinnatipartita is toxic to both humans and pets. Like other Monstera, these plants contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals that can cause irritation when the plant is chewed on and/or ingested. Symptoms include mouth irritation, vomiting, and an upset stomach.
How Long will Monstera pinnatipartita Plants Live?
If these plants are well taken care of, they can live more than ten years.
How to Grow Monstera pinnatipartita at Home
Are Monstera pinnatipartite Considered Easy to Grow at Home?
Although these plants are rare, they are relatively easy to grow at home. While you can’t neglect them for an extended period of time, they aren’t highly finicky.
However, before you bring one of these rare plants home, you may first want to try your hand at caring for a more common type of monstera. If you can properly care for a Monstera deliciosa, you can likely care for a Monstera pinnatipartita.
Growth Expectations
The Monstera pinnatipartita grows at a moderate rate. The plant typically grows between one and two feet each year and develops a new leaf or two every month.
What to Do Before Planting
Before you bring a Monstera pinnatipartita plant into your home, make sure you have the proper environment for it. We’ll cover more about that below.
Since this plant likes to climb as it grows, find a spot where it can grow vertically. You may also want to provide a moss pole or coco coir trellis for the plant to climb up.
You’ll also want to find an appropriate pot for the plant to go into. If you’re moving your plant from a plastic nursery pot into a nicer container, make sure the new pot is only a few inches larger in diameter. And check to ensure that the container has drainage holes.
What’s the Best Soil Mix?
Monstera pinnatipartita prefers a soil mix that provides plenty of aeration and drainage. You should also look for a mix with a pH between 5.5 and 7.0.
Some pre-mixed potting soils that can work well include this potting mix from Rio Hamza Trading and Fox Farm’s Ocean Forest potting mix.
(Editors Note: Petal Republic participates in partnership programs with Amazon and other merchants to help connect readers with relevant products and services we may recommend).
You can also make your own potting mix by combining a few ingredients. Aim to use a material that holds water—peat moss and coco coir both work well. You should also mix in materials that provide aeration and drainage, such as perlite or pine bark fines.
One mixture that works well is two parts pine park fines, two parts peat moss, and one part perlite.
How to Plant
Once you’ve found a planter with drainage holes, fill the pot halfway full with potting mix. Add the monstera to the pot, then add more soil, so the roots are covered. The leaves should not be below the soil.
Light Preferences
Like other types of monsteras, the Monstera pinnatipartita likes bright yet indirect light. This mimics the light it receives in its native forest understory habitat.
A good place for Monstera plants is the interior of a bright room or near a south-facing window covered with a sheer curtain. These plants can also handle lower levels of light, but they should never receive direct light.
Temperature & Humidity Preferences
The Monstera pinnatipartita likes warm temperatures and moderate to high humidity. Keep the air temperature between 65ºF and 85ºF.
If the area you’re keeping your plant has dry air, you may need to increase the humidity. A humidifier is the best way to do this, but a pebble tray can provide a slight increase in humidity.
For more, see our in-depth guide to the best temperature and humidity ranges for Monstera plants.
How to Care for Monstera pinnatipartita at Home
Watering
A good rule of thumb for all types of Monstera is to water when the top few inches of soil is dry. The frequency you should water depends on the temperature, humidity, and sunlight. However, watering every one to two weeks is a good bet.
Remember to not overwater your plant, as this can lead to issues with root rot and oxygen uptake. But don’t forget to water since these plants aren’t drought tolerant.
Fertilizing
Monstera pinnatipartita plants aren’t heavy feeders, but they benefit from low doses of fertilizer. Choose a balanced fertilizer designed for houseplants and apply it once in the early spring, once in the late spring, and once in early summer.
For more, see our in-depth guide to fertilizing Monstera plants at home.
Pruning
In most cases, you don’t need to prune Monstera pinnatipartita. However, you may want to prune if your plant becomes unruly or leaves become discolored or disease.
To prune away individual leaves, start with a pair of sharp and sanitized pruning shears. This will help spread disease between plants.
If you’d like to remove individual leaves, cut them as close to the stem as possible.
The best time to prune is early spring, when your plant is just resuming rapid growth. However, you can remove diseased leaves at any time of the year.
For more, see our in-depth guide to pruning Monstera plants at home.
Propagating
The easiest way to propagate a Monstera pinnatipartita plant is via stem cutting. To start, take a stem cutting that has at least one leaf node.
Place the cutting in water, so only the bottom of the cutting is in the water, then place the container in an area with indirect light. Next, all you need to do is wait!
The cutting should begin to form roots within a few weeks. After the roots are an inch or so long, you can plant the cutting in a pot filled with soil mix.
Repotting
Since these plants grow at a moderate rate, you will only have to repot every one to two years. If you notice your plant’s roots are outgrowing their container, it’s time to repot. Brown leaf tips or brown spots on Monstera plants can also signify that you should repot your plant.
Late winter or early spring is the best time to repot. Choose a container that is just a few inches larger than the original (make sure it has drainage holes). Clean the pot if necessary.
Fill the new pot with a few inches of soil, and then remove your plant from its old container. If the plant is rootbound, tease the roots with your hands to loosen them. And if your plant is growing up a pole, you can repot the plant with its original pole.
Add the plant’s root ball to the new container and then fill the remaining empty space with potting soil. Water well and place in an appropriate container.
For more, see our in-depth guide to repotting Monstera plants at home.
Common Monstera pinnatipartita Problems & How to Treat Them
No Fenestrations
Like many types of monsteras, Monstera pinnatipartita is known for its fenestrations (the holes in its leaves). Therefore, you may be disappointed if your plant has solid leaves.
Young plants have solid leaves. So if your plant is only a foot or so tall, be patient.
If you have a mature plant that still has solid leaves, it’s likely that your plant is not receiving enough light. Try moving your plant to a brighter area, but make sure it doesn’t receive direct light.
Yellow and Brown Leaves
Since the Monstera pinnatipartita leaves have yellow undertones, some people often mistake their natural coloring as a sign that something is wrong. However, if leaves become fully yellow or brown, something is awry.
Low humidity, watering too often, and watering too infrequently can all lead to yellow leaves. Therefore, you’ll need to investigate your environment to find the cause of the discolored leaves.
If the soil is constantly saturated, overwatering is likely the cause. And if your house is extremely dry, low humidity is likely to blame.
Drooping Leaves
If you notice your plant’s leaves are drooping, you may think dry soil is the cause. And while this can be true, it’s not the only possible culprit.
Overwatering can also lead to drooping leaves. If your soil is constantly saturated due to overwatering or poorly draining soil, the roots may develop root rot. This fungal infection limits a plant’s ability to take up water and nutrients, leading to drooping leaves.
If your soil is wet, water less. It’s also a good idea to inspect the plant’s roots. If they are soft and/or slimy, trim off the infected portions and repot in fresh potting mix.
If your soil seems very dry, increase the frequency with which you water.
Sap-Sucking Pests
Small pests, including spider mites, aphids, and thrips, use their sucking mouthparts to pierce Monstera pinnatipartita leaves and remove the plant’s sap. This can cause small discolored dots and kill leaves in severe cases.
If you only have a few pests, you can remove them with a soapy cloth. You can spray large infestations with neem oil or insecticidal soap.
For more, see our in-depth guide to dealing with Monstera plant pests at home.
Essential Tools
Since these plants love to climb, it’s helpful to provide older plants with a moss or coco coir pole. Aerial roots can grow into the pole and help support the plant as it grows upward.
Monstera pinnatipartita FAQs
Is a Monstera pinnatipartita a Good Indoor Plant?
Yes, the Monstera pinnatipartita is a good indoor plant. It is relatively easy to care for and can thrive in an average home.
How Big Does a Monstera pinnatipartita Get
Indoors, these plants can grow upwards of eight feet tall. They have a climbing growth form, so it is helpful to provide them with a moss or coir pole to grow up.
How Fast Do Monstera pinnatipartita Grow?
These plants grow at a moderate rate. You can expect a healthy Monstera pinnatipartita to grow one to two feet per year.
Is Monstera pinnatipartita Poisonous to Dogs and Other Pets?
Yes, Monstera pinnatipartita is toxic to pets. If your cat or dog chews on or ingests the leaves, they will experience irritation.
Can a Monstera pinnatipartita Tolerate Low Light?
These plants can tolerate low light, but they are unlikely to thrive. Low light can also lead to leaves that lack the fenestrations these plants are known for.
Wrapping Up
While the Monstera pinnatipartita used to be hard to find, it’s becoming more common in the plant marketplace. Care for this plant like other monsteras, and you’ll be able to enjoy it for years to come.
Briana holds a B.S. in Plant Sciences from Penn State University. She manages a small market garden where she grows vegetables and herbs. She also enjoys growing flowers and houseplants at home.
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