Aroids

Monstera Thai Constellation vs. Monstera Albo

Monstera Thai Constellation vs. Monstera Albo
Monsteras are popular houseplants because they are low maintenance and can even help purify the air in your home. The Monstera Albo Borsigiana (known as 'Albo') and the Monstera Thai Constellation are two popular varieties known for their variegated leaves. The variegation is caused by a mutation, which makes these plants harder to find and more expensive than non-variegated monsteras.

Despite looking similar, there are significant differences between the Albo and Thai Constellation. The Thai Constellation's variegation is produced through lab tissue culture and is stable, while the Albo's variegation comes from a genetic mutation and is unstable.

The foliage is the main distinguishing factor between Monstera Albo and Monstera Thai Constellation. Monstera Thai Constellation displays more stable variegation than Monstera Albo and can be colored yellow-green or white-green, while Monstera Albo is almost always white-green.

In terms of leaf variegation, Monstera Thai Constellation exhibits yellow speckles or stripes uniformly scattered across the green leaf. Its variegation is consistent and does not change completely to green or yellow. Monstera Albo, on the other hand, has large white spots on its leaves, which can cover half of the leaf, while neighboring leaves may be solid green. This indicates unstable, floating variegation, necessitating the removal of green leaves to avoid dominating and turning the whole plant green. However, eliminating all the green leaves may result in chlorophyll deficiency and plant death.

Monstera Thai Constellation's leaves are larger, reaching up to two feet or more, whereas Monstera Albo's leaves typically do not surpass 12 inches in length. Monstera Thai Constellation's leaves can be white and green, cream, or yellow, while Monstera Albo's leaves are green and white, with rare changes in the snowy white color.

Regarding size and shape, Monstera Thai Constellation appears more squat and bushy due to its short internodes, while Monstera Albo has an elongated shape due to its six-inch node distance, making it a climbing plant. Monstera Thai Constellation requires more space, while Monstera Albo is appropriate for lovers of vine plants and necessitates a moss pole to grow successfully indoors.

Both the Thai Constellation and the Monstera Albo is relatively easy to care for and can thrive in a variety of environments. It prefers bright, indirect light and well-draining soil. Watering should be done when the top inch of soil is dry, and the plant should not be allowed to sit in standing water. The Monstera Albo is also sensitive to cold temperatures and should be kept in a warm, humid environment.

In summary, while both the Monstera Albo and Monstera Thai Constellation are beautiful and unique plants with variegated leaves, they have distinct differences in their variegation patterns, origins, and growth habits.

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