Hi guys, it's been a long time.
I wrote the thread about propagation of my variegated monstera few months ago, now the root is quiet healthy lol

But now I'm worried about new leaf ='(
It is still lovely but full green leaf.









Also the stem is the green.
Is there any way to fix this problem?

Here's another photo of the leaf of monstera

Well, its a long story.....get a coffee and sit a while LOL.
This may be more info than you want to know but as a certified plant nerd who grows a lot of variegated monsteras and other plants I feel its my obligation to give it to you.
In variegated Monstera plants, the variegation is highly chimeric. In sprite of different 'types' that you see on the internet for plants that are for sale (like Thai Constellation, Mint, Marmorata, Half Moon etc) there are only TWO TYPES that are accepted in science: Monstera deliciosa albo-vargeiata (green and white form), and Monstera deliciosa aurea-variegata (yellow and green form). There also is no real 'different' 'borsigiana' form based on the different inter space distance between the stem nodes....borsigiana is just a synonym for deliciosa, and deliciosa is the only accepted name.

But to explant the difference in variegation of each leaf:
All the variegation in each leaf of variegated monstera regardless of whether it is the white form or the yellow form is UNSTABLE. It changes from leaf to leaf according to how the differently colored cells are randomly distributed along the apical meristem when they are produced by the plant. Its all RANDOM genetic expression. The genes for variegation exist in EVERY LEAF that emerges, and as the leaf is produced, they are distributed into the leaf as different patterns....splashed variegation, spotted and speckled variegation, half and half variegation, all white leaves, or all green leaves.
The green cells can photosynthesize, the white and yellow ones cannot.

All the leaves have the ability to variegate, but the patterns they choose are completely random. Plants that have a high degree of spots and speckles have acquired the trade name 'Thai Constellation'. Plants that have a higher degree of solid splashed and segmented variegation like yours have come to be called simply 'Albo-variegated' (which is correct, but not really a trade name). Plants that look like you took a paintbrush and swirled green and white fine stripes all over the leaf have come to be called 'Mint' and are the newest 'NEW THING" that is being used by sellers to try and charge more for variegated monstera in general. They think that 'collectors' will not realize that its just a variegated Monstera that happens to be expressing its genetics a little differently, and that, at any given time, that pattern can actually CHANGE. And, to their (greedy and calculating) credit, this is usually true. People who don;t do their research think they are looking at something new, that they MUST HAVE, so they shell out big bucks for this "NEW" (but in reality not new) 'variety'.

The truth is, there is no real 'Thai Constellation', no real 'Mint' or other cutesy name, that is scientifically accepted as a real 'cultivar'. They are all the same plant, all expressing their genetic patterns randomly in different ways.

And this includes leaves that come out all green, and all white.

Every plant has the ability to variegate, but every leaf may or may NOT express variegation. Just because a plant produces one all green or one all white leaf isn't a reason to panic. But if it keeps going that way, then it can be a problem. Because the all green ones make it 'normal' again, and the all white or all yellow ones (or in the case of Philo Pink Princess, all pink ones) cannot photosynthesize.

The plant can start producing the variegation again at any time to any degree (highly variegated to barely variegated) or can stay all green or all white.

And this phenomenon is not limited to variegated Monstera. Variegated Alocasias and colocasias and other aroids also can do this. I have had variegated alocasia macrorhizza that is very highly variegated suddenly start throwing out all green pups. I separate those out, and plant them separately, and sooner or later, they will make the variegated leaves again to some degree. Or they won't.

If you would like to read a very informative article about the chimeric variegation in your Monstera, Google this title:
'Chimeras and Variegation: Patterns of Deceit' by Michael Marcotrigiano in the scientific journal Horticultural Science, Vol 32 (5) Aug 1997 pp. 773-784

Hi Gena, thanks for your time and effort.
It was very informative.
Actually I didn't expect someone is going to spend this much of effort and time to help me.
I admire your personality and also knowledge.
As you said, I'll wait for next leaf and give it time.
And also I'll definitely read that article which you recommend.
Thanks again.

You are welcome Ariel. (My daughter is named Ariel!)
I think the title of the article says it all....the second part, 'Patterns of Deceit'. Its like the plant says, 'I can take it back at any time, human!'

That is why also that the variegated forms of Monstera do not always come true from seed. The only way to be sure you will get any kind of variegation with them is vegetative propagation.

Lately, on some other aroid forums I am on, people have been posting that they are finding plants with tiny amounts of variegation (usually just on one leaf) on the regular green Monstera deliciosa sold at box stores. They are snapping them up whenever they see them in hopes that the plant might turn 'more variegated' later. But the truth is, it usually won't. I have had palm trees that put out single variegated fronds before, once on a fishtail palm and once on a Lady palm. They were both green plants normally and those single fronds were a fluke, never happened again on either one

Hello,

I am new here, I bought Monstera albino, but now I would like to find Monstera Thai constellation "half moon", any ideas where to look for? Except Ebay....

Many thanks


Evelina

The 'half moon' is not a specific cultivar. It is just a plant that has a specific variegation pattern in its genetic makeup that allows it to put out a lot of half and half leaves. And these can be quite variable and sometimes disappear altogether.

Personally I would not waste my money.

And no, I don't know a source, I don't buy plants from eBay or ETSY or import from Asia. I buy from and trade with other collectors.

Lol

Haema1120 said:Hi guys, it's been a long time.
I wrote the thread about propagation of my variegated monstera few months ago, now the root is quiet healthy lol

But now I'm worried about new leaf ='(
It is still lovely but full green leaf.
Also the stem is the green.
Is there any way to fix this problem?
Here's another photo of the leaf of monstera

I believe it will came to any of gardener dealing much with variegated plants. the two side of the horror; green reversion as well as totally albino.
don't be worry as there is always hopes that the next, next, next leave will be variegated again, and actually it is less scary than a total albino, since in albino, the "whites" rarely green again, and usually burned easily and died.
This one is a cutting of Monstera 'marmorata' the first leaves actually great, but subsequent leaves are totally green, it is up until the fifth new leaves that it becoming variegated again. In the future either I will keep it growing, or cut it just above the variegated leaves to induce a better variegated branch. the totally green leaves usually produce low quality branch from their nodes (low quality=low variegation/less proportional)

first leave

sixth leave

Hopefully things get great with yours too :cross_finger:

any one can tell me where can I get half moon albo monstera not so costly?? Thank you

I'm going to disagree that there isn't a 'Thai Constellation' that is a different cultivar than the one often called borsigiana, both in terms of variegation and plant size. Unfortunately, there's no control or consistency, so I have no way to compare what someone else has with those I've grown for the last couple of decades.

"Half moon" looks like a scam. I don't know of a variegation pattern mechanism that will produce the advertised pictures without also producing all of the other patterns that albo-variegata is known for.

Yes those of us that believe that the Thai C and the Albo are the same are in a minority of old people who have maintained the same plants over a period of 10-15 years and seen them do all sorts of things in terms of size, and patterns of variegation.

Just for an example from my personal experience....I have the same 3 plants in my collection that I started with years ago. They have been propagated (by me) several times. The photos I am going to post are leaves resultant from taking cuttings from the original plants. And it may be worth noting that I bought my original plants before the Thai Constellation came onto the market

Some pics of the originals, these date back to between c2006/7-2010







And these are current propagations from these plants























As you can see, the 3 original plants produced progeny that exhibit a high degree of variability in their patterning as far as sectional vs non-sectional

you must be very careful tracking portions of rhizomes that generate variegated leaves.. they are hugely valuable, and you should research how this genetic "flaw" is propagated. it's actually a phenotype, which means it's not genetically different- or that geneticist haven't figured out what normal gene under certain conditions expresses this missing chlorophyll pattern..

you must be very careful tracking portions of rhizomes that generate variegated leaves.. they are hugely valuable, and you should research how this genetic "flaw" is propagated. it's actually a phenotype, which means it's not genetically different- or that geneticist haven't figured out what normal gene under certain conditions expresses this missing chlorophyll pattern..

you have one. no one in the world knows how to engineer one...get smart and sell that cutting before it's not special anymore, or before it sends up a new leaf that is entirely ordinary, which is not uncommon

Gina1960 said:Yes those of us that believe that the Thai C and the Albo are the same are in a minority of old people who have maintained the same plants over a period of 10-15 years and seen them do all sorts of things in terms of size, and patterns of variegation.

Just for an example from my personal experience....I have the same 3 plants in my collection that I started with years ago. They have been propagated (by me) several times. The photos I am going to post are leaves resultant from taking cuttings from the original plants. And it may be worth noting that I bought my original plants before the Thai Constellation came onto the market

Some pics of the originals, these date back to between c2006/7-2010

• White Variegated Monstera (Monstera deliciosa 'Albovariegata')
• Uploaded by Gina1960

And these are current propagations from these plants























As you can see, the 3 original plants produced progeny that exhibit a high degree of variability in their patterning as far as sectional vs non-sectional

Just in case this hasn't been cleared up already, "Thai Constellations" are the large form of Monstera deliciosa whereas "Albo Variegata/Variegated" are Monstera borsigiana, the small form. There are tell-tale differences between the two, such as growth pattern or the difference in geniculum on mature leaves.

Good day! tofitropic!
May I know your Monstera 'marmorata' stem got the variegation or not?
Because currently my Monstera Aurea also reverted. Now the 3rd leaf is still all green. I wonder have to wait until which leaf then I only can get back the variegation leaf? Do you mind to share with me what technique you used for it? Thank you.