Monstera Siltepecana Complete Plant Care Guide

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One of my all time favorite houseplants is the Monstera Siltepecana. This plant has some of the most beautiful foliage and has quite the vine. This is a great plant to hang from a ceiling or let dangle off a bookshelf.

Monstera Siltepecana main care directions.

Water. Since the Monstera Siltepecana is a tropical plant, it prefers to stay moist, but not flooded in water in order to prevent root rot.
Light. This plant can grow in shade, but prefers to be in bright indirect light without any direct sunlight hitting the leaves. South, east, or west facing window is best.
Fertilizer. Fertilizer during growing season (when the plant is showing new growth). Once a month, fertilize your plant with a liquid fertilizer or use slow release granlues that fertilize overtime.
Humidity. This is a tropical plant so it’s best to replicate that environment. This plant prefers humidity ranges from 60%-80%.

Let’s dig deeper to make sure your plant not only survives but thrives in its new home.

Light

Monstera Siltepecana thrive in bright indirect sunlight. This is a plant that can tolerate low-light, but if you want your plant to be happy and grow, it’s best to put it near a south or west facing window.

In it’s natural habitat, this plant grows in the jungle under a canopy of trees and gets filtered sunlight.

A north or east facing window is best but a south window could also work as long as the plant is a few feet away from the window. For my south facing window, I have a sheer curtain and put plants a few feet behind the curtain.

If you don’t have sufficient sunlight coming into your home, plant grow lights are a great option. I use T5 Barrina plant grow lights and run them on a timer for 13 hours a day. This allows me to place plants in my house in areas where there is no sunlight whatsoever.

Water

The best time to water your Monstera Siltepecana is when it’s in between slightly moist and dry. Check the soil by placing 2 inches of your pointy finger in the soil. If dry, it’s time to water.

When it’s time to water your plant, use room temperature water and make sure you’re seeing water come out of the bottom of the planter when watering. This means your soil is well-draining. Do not leave your plant in a tray soaking with water. You don’t want excess water staying underneath the pot because your plant already got enough to drink.

In the wild, this plant has exposed roots that get drenched in the rain, but then get to benefit from drying out in the sun. Since you can’t really replicate that in your home, it’s important to make sure the soil is well aerated and stays moist.

If you’re having trouble knowing when to water your plants, a moisture meter is a great option. This handy tool lets you know when the soil is dry, moist, or wet.

Soil

Monstera plant varieties typically do not have their roots fully covered in soil, so it’s important to create a well-draining potting mix. Make sure your soil mix is well aerated by using perlite or orchid bark. You can also use a moisture meter to check the soil.

A mixture of 3 parts peat moss to 2 parts perlite work and make sure to put some fertilizer in the mixture as well (worm castings are a great option).

If you want to keep things simple, use a pre-made potting mix like Fox Farm Ocean Forest. This mix contains a blend of high quality ingredients that is perfect for any houseplant.

Temperature

Monstera Siltepecana will do well in any home that is between temperatures of 60° F to 90° (15° Celsius to 32° Celsius). You can also grow this plant outside if you live in USDA hardiness zones of 9b-11. This plant does not do well in colder temperatures outside under 60°.

Fertilizer

Fertilize your plant during it’s active growing season, which is typically spring, summer, and fall for most people.

If you are using a non-organic, synthetic fertilizer, it’s always recommended to dilute the recipe in half because of how strong the N-P-K ratios are. If you are using an organic fertilizer, you typically do not have to worry about diluting the recipe because the N-P-K ratio is so low.

I use Earth Medicine’s granule fertilizer. I follow the fertilizer instructions and sprinkle the correct amount onto each plant. Slow release fertilizers typically are not harsh like other fertilizers so I don’t have to worry about using half strength as you would want to do with many liquid fertilizers.

You can also opt for a liquid fertilizer like Blue Butterfly that feeds every time you water your plant.

Humidity

Monstera Siltepecana prefer higher humidity levels above 50%. However, they can tolerate levels under 50%. I live the desert so maintaining a nice level of humidity in the home is a must. Here are some quick tips to raise the humidity in your home.

Put high humidity plants together in a group. When you group high humidity plants around each other, this creates a humid microclimate. The plants will continue to release moisture around each other through transpiration.
Place a pebble tray underneath your high humidity plants. I purchased small rocks at a hardware store and placed them on a planter tray. Place your planter on the tray. Put enough water in the tray until it hits the planter bottom and the water will evaporate around the plant.
Get a high-quality humidifier and run it daily near your houseplants.
Mist your plants. Some people say this doesn’t help, but I think it does so I continue to do it.
Place high-humidity plants in your bathroom. I place certain high humidity plants in my shower and they’re thriving.

Use a hygrometer to check the humidity around your plants.

Propagation

Propagating a Monstera Siltepecana is easy. All you have to do is take a step cutting that has one node. A node looks similar to a pimple or pokey dot on the stem.

When I propagate a plant, I prefer to cut a stem that has at least 2 leaves and at least 2-3 nodes. This increases the chances of rooting. You can put your cutting into water, soil, sphagnum moss, or even leca, which I’m a huge fan of.

Monstera Siltepecana Common Questions

Is Monstera Siltepecana rare?

Monstera Siltepecna are readily available online, so they are not considered rare. You can purchase this plant on Etsy and other popular plant stores like Steve’s Leaves and even private sellers on Facebook.

How do you care for Monstera Siltepecana?

To make sure your Monstera Siltepecana thrives, place it in bright indirect sunlight near your other high humidity plants. This tropical plant prefers to stay moist, so don’t let it completely dry out.

Is Monstera Siltepecana a fast grower?

This plant is fast growing if you put it in it’s best environment in your home. That environment is above 50% humidity and gets bright indirect sunlight.

Should Monstera Siltepecana plant climb or hang?

The Monstera Siltepecana can climb up a trellis or hang down as a beautiful vining plant. If you want mature leaves with stunning fenestrations, it’s best to let your plant climb up a trellis or moss poll.

Is Monstera Siltepecana the same as Peru?

People often confuse the Monstera Siltepecana and the Monstera Peru but they are in fact different plants. The Monstera Peru has darker green puckered rounded leaves and the Monstera Siltepecana has silver-green more pointed leaves.

Does Monstera Siltepecana have fenestrations?

Yes and this is why people are often drawn to the Monstera Siltepecana. Your plant has a better chance of getting fenestrations if you climb it up a support pole.

How do you propagate Monstera Siltepecana?

Any time I bring a new plant home, I cut off a stem and propagate it in case the main plant dies on me. You can easily propagate your Monstera Siltepecana by cutting of a stem with a node and placing it in water.

To speed up the propagation process, I place some horticulture charcoal into the propagation water.

How much is a Monstera Siltepecana?

Depending on the size and maturity of the plant, you will pay $20-$90. At the time of this writing, you can purchase a 4 inch pot for about $20 on Etsy.

Can I water my plant using tap water?

I personally do not use tap water on any of my houseplants since our water is gross and tastes terrible, so I assume my houseplants wouldn’t like it either. Houseplants typically do not like fluoride or chlorine in tapwater.

We invested in a $200 reverse osmosis system so our water tastes good and is also good for our plants. You can also let tap water sit out for 12 hours before using it. Depending on where you live, your tap water may be just fine.

Is the Monstera Siltepecana toxic to pets?

Yes, this plant is toxic to pets. You can get more information on toxic and pet-friendly plants at ASPCA here.

Common pests

Some of the most common pests for this plant include spider mites, mealybugs, scale, and aphids. These pests can hurt your plant which is why prevention is key.

To help prevent any pest infestations on your plant, here’s what to do.

If possible, inspect your plant before purchasing at the plant store. If you’re buying a plant online, inspect your plant away from your other plants.
Regularly check your plants for pests. This is also a great time to clean your plants.
Cut off dead leaves.

If you find a plant that has pests on it, quarantine the plant away from your houseplants and clean the plant with an organic or nonorganic insecticide. I use Bonide Systemic on my plants as a preventative and Captain Jacks to kill pests. I spray the plant and wipe down the leaves and stems twice a week for a month until I know the infestation is gone. Make sure to check all of your other plants as it is easy for pests to spread.

Bonide Systemic Granules are a great way to get rid of unwanted pests.

Common issues

Brown tips: If your Monstera Siltepecana has brown tips, this is most likely due to low humidity or your soil drying out completely. Make sure to keep your plant moist by regular misting and using your finger or a moisture meter to check the soil.

Yellowing leaves: If your Monstera Siltepecana has yellow leaves, this can be due to the soil getting too dry or too wet.

Curly leaves: If your Monstera Siltepecana has curling leaves, this is typically due to low humidity. Place a humidifier by your plant or place your plant in a terrarium.

Key Points To Remember

Keep your Monstera Siltepecana in well draining soil near bright indirect light. Keep the soil moist and never let it completely dry out.

Higher humidity in your home is best but if not possible, make sure to put a pebble tray underneath your plant and a humidifier nearby.