The rare and highly sought-after Monstera Thai Constellation has captivated the hearts of plant lovers due to its stunning variegated leaves.

It’s a variety of the popular Monstera deliciosa, often called the “Swiss cheese plant” due to the characteristic holes that develop in its leaves. The Thai Constellation, however, has a striking contrast between deep green leaves and creamy white splashes, resembling constellations in the night sky.

This variety was cultivated in Thailand, and while it is more accessible than other unique varieties of Monstera plants, it’s still considered relatively rare and is still a prized possession for many collectors.

Although the Monstera Thai Constellation is easy to care for in general, it does require a little extra attention compared to its non-variegated relatives. Here are some key tips to help your plant thrive:

Light – The Thai Constellation loves bright, indirect light. The variegation in its leaves reduces the plant’s ability to photosynthesize, so it needs more light than a standard Monstera deliciosa. However, avoid direct sunlight, as this can cause leaf burn. 

Watering – Like most tropical plants, the Monstera Thai Constellation prefers consistently moist soil but doesn’t appreciate sitting in water. Water when the top 2-3 inches of soil feel dry, and ensure proper drainage to avoid root rot. Be mindful not to overwater during the colder months when the plant’s growth slows.

Humidity – Native to tropical environments, the Thai Constellation thrives in high humidity, so consider using a humidifier, placing your plant in a naturally humid area like a bathroom, or misting the leaves occasionally.

Fertilization – During the growing season (spring and summer), fertilize your Thai Constellation every 4-6 weeks with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer. This will help support its growth and ensure the variegation remains vibrant.

Tiny and super colorful, the fascinating grafted or “moon” cactus is an eye-catcher that is a miracle of human intervention.

You know them when you see them. They have a solid green succulent stalk that looks like a traditional cactus, but are topped with bright, almost neon-like domes in shades of hot pink, flaming tangerine and sunshine yellow.

It almost feels like you’re looking at two totally different plants – and you are.

The bright little ball on top is a “mutant” pup from a regular cactus. In the wild, it would detach from the parent plant and ultimately die soon after because these pups don’t have the chlorophyll (essentially the green pigment) needed to photosynthesize.

So humans graft them onto a rootstock plant and that bottom part provides nutrients not only for itself but the colorful pup. It’s really quite amazing and accounts for one of the spookier nicknames this plant has – the Frankenstein plant!

Caring for Your “Grafted Cactus”

• Light – These plants do best in bright, indirect sunlight. Prolonged periods of direct sunlight can be harmful to the plant. A sunny windowsill or a covered porch with some shade are good locations. They’ll survive a winter freeze but to be safe, bring them indoors.
• Water – The water requirements for grafted cactus are minimal. In fact, they don’t like to be overwatered, which can lead to rot. You can generally tell if your plants need watering by feeling the soil. If the dirt is dry and dusty, your cactus would probably benefit by a mild watering. Suspend water during the winter.
• Temperature – As you would expect with a plant that comes from the desert, a grafted cactus appreciates warm temps. No setting this one up near the air conditioning!

In short this is a fascinating plant, the product of human ingenuity that makes a great “beginner” plant because of its fun colors and minimal maintenance requirements. 

Lithops, split succulents, known as “living rocks,” make a rare, colorful and easy-to-care-for addition to your houseplant garden.

Tiny and total heat lovers, Lithops are native to South Africa and grow very, very slowly. They also tend to flower prior to producing new leaves, which emerge from the split in the plant.

Caring for Your Lithops Plant

Soil: Your Lithops needs good draining soil, and we recommend a cactus mix, maybe with some pebbles to increase drainage.

Water: Lithops store water in their leaves, which can keep them hydrated for months. That makes overwatering a concern. However, the little guys get stunted if they don’t have enough H20. The solution is making sure to water only when the soil is thoroughly dry. Here’s a cool trick – put a wooden skewer into the soil and see if it’s moist when you take it out. If it is, the plant doesn’t need to be watered just yet. Also, if your plant is in the process of producing new leaves, hold off on the watering until the old pair of leaves are dried up and withered.

Light: Sun and plenty of it. East or south facing sunny windows will give them the light and heat they need.

The desert rose (Adenium obesum), a native of Africa and the Middle East, is a slow-growing succulent with a thick trunk and thin, delicate leaves. It sports beautiful trumpeting flowers that are similar to miniature roses and can come in pink, red, and white.

Other common names for the desert rose include impala lily, mock azalea, and Sabi star. Although not strictly bonsai plants, these plants are often used in bonsai gardens because of their small stature.

These are plants that like light – and lots of it. Desert Rose plants need bright, direct sunlight for at least 6 hours a day, so putting them in a South or West-facing window is ideal, or use a grow light if your space doesn’t provide enough natural lighting.

These plants are drought tolerant and prefer to fully dry out between waterings.

Use a sandy soil (similar to what you would use for cacti) when planting.

Peperomias are tropical plants from the pepper family that are popular as indoor plants because they are easy to take care of and come in an almost endless array of varieties. There are more than 1,000 sub-species of this plant!

Today we are taking a look at Peperomia obtusifolia variegata, also known as the “baby rubber plant” which has large oval-shaped leaves with deep green centers and white or yellow markings that give it a marbled appearance.

Peperomia generally prefer medium to bright, indirect light, but they can tolerate low light relatively well. They can even flourish under florescent lights, which makes them popular office plants. Keep in mind, however, that if you have your Peperomia in a low-light situation, it will grow more slowly and will require less water. Low light can also mute the color contrast of the leaves.

You’ll want to let your Peperomia dry out between waterings, and you’ll want to err on the side of underwatering your plant. It’s a succulent and those beautiful leaves retain water, so it will survive a missed watering or two. But Peperomias are quite susceptible to root rot, so overwatering can be a problem.

Because of this tendency towards root rot, you’ll want to plant your Peperomia in a pot with good drainage and use a light, well-draining soil for your plant. 

It’s easy to see where the heart leaf fern or heart fern (Hemionitis arifolia) gets its name. This charming plant’s most distinctive feature is its glossy, dark green, heart-shaped leaves, which can add a touch of elegance to any indoor garden.

Interestingly, many heart ferns feature two shapes of leaves. They are dimorphic, meaning some of the leaves are sterile and some are fertile. Sterile fronds tend to be heart shaped, while fertile fronds look more like an arrowhead and are on a thicker stalk.

Because of its compact size (it typically only grows between 6 and 8 inches tall), this plant packs a lot of style and in small space. As a plant native to Southeast Asia, the Heart Leaf Fern likes high humidity and warmth and recreating those conditions will keep your plant happy.

Growing Heart Leaf Ferns

Light: Heart ferns prefer bright, indirect light. Direct sunlight can scorch the delicate leaves, so it’s best to place the fern in a spot where it will receive filtered light. North or east-facing windows are ideal.

Temperature: Heart ferns like it warmish (75 degrees is ideal). It’s important to keep the temperature consistent, as this plant is sensitive to sudden changes. Avoid placing it near drafts, air conditioning vents, or heaters.

Humidity: High humidity is needed for this plant’s health, either through misting or setting the pot on a pebble tray with water.

Soil: A mix of peat moss and potting soil is excellent for this plant.

Watering: Regular watering is recommended, but the soil should not be soggy.

Alocasias are considered some of the most striking houseplants available because of their eye-catching foliage. Native to the subtropics, they have close to 80 varieties with a wide range of looks. 

This week we are focusing on Alocasia Polly, which is also known as Alocasia Kris or the African Mask plant, because of the leaves resemblance to traditional ceremonial masks. The leaves of this plant are such a dark green as to almost look black and are contrasted dramatically with highly visible white striping along the veins and edges.

Alocasias can be a little tricky with their light, humidity and temperature needs.

They require bright, but diffuse lighting. In nature, these plants thrive beneath tree canopies and direct sun will lead to the leaves getting burned. They are also used to high humidity, so don’t place them in a place where they will dry out easily, such as an air conditioner vent or a heater. Employ a pebble tray to keep the air around them humid or mist them with distilled water.

The preferred temperature range for this plant is 70 to 80 degrees, year round. With enough water they can survive extra heat, but your plant might get damaged if the thermostat goes below 60 degrees in your home. 

Allow the top 2 to 3 inches of the plant to dry between watering to ensure that the plant isn’t sitting in soil that is too wet. Make sure your soil has good drainage!