Predicting variegation (accurately) on variegated monsteras and other variegated aroids

The topic in this video was discussed lightly in my second variegated monstera care video, but my DMs are flooded with questions so I decided to create a dedicated episode to address this. We will follow variegation on the stem of a few variegated monsteras, and identify their growing eye in order to predict variegation for that node. Now, this is especially helpful because we may not cut up nodes that have no signs of variegation in their next leaves. It is also helpful when you are making a purchase. Note that this method of identifying variegation works on nearly all species of variegated aroids too.
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[@tcammac]

I love all your videos🥰. But the ending “don’t ask me again”….😂 hilarious.

[@maezherilouh.cagalawan8718]

Such a great wisdom on plants.I love how you observe and know your plants well.

[@onlyplants]

Thank youu

[@kimcofield]

Thank you for sharing your plant knowledge. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to afford a variegated monstera, but it’s still great to learn about them. And now I also know monstera’s grow a leaf from the left, then the right etc etc 😃

[@mariacapo2618]

We are so lucky and grateful to have you.😊 Can you talk to your plants on the next video it's just so

[@mariacapo2618]

It's just so Universal United when you speak to your plants that you transfer us to heaven literally 😇 thank you

[@frauneupo]

I love your videos! There's always something that I didn't know before! Thank you!

[@yimin1994]

Super useful video! Thank you for this because this was a question I had in mind for so long. This video more or less solved all my questions

[@jillianleblanc9370]

Good morning to you vary nice thank for sharing beautiful and amazing plants have a blessed day my friend

[@mariacapo2618]

WOW...AMAIZING SELECTION OF VIDEOS...👏👏👏👏👏 "YOUR SIMPLY THE BEST "

[@zorogoh83]

I really enjoyed to watch your video, Sean. Because it is very informative. Really appreciated and thanks for your sharing. :)

[@imizamonster]

Thank you so much for this video! I just ordered my first pricey variegated plant (not a monstera) & this is so helpful since I want to chop/prop in the future!

[@inos3697]

Love learning from your videos. You have such beautiful plants.

[@knitwit2871]

Thank you! This helps so much! I got my first albo, it’s a large plant with very marbles random variegation so I was worried about reversion but that pregnant bump, showing the new leaf does show some sectoral variegation! So no chopping yet!

[@onlyplants]

Sweet. The stem usually get fatter and healthier over time too. So keep an eye out on that node until its ready. I actually recommend air layering propagation 😀

[@knitwit2871]

@@onlyplants I definitely want to try air layering it when I decide it’s time to chop! It’s got some nice candy striping in the one area & that’s where the growth eye is so I think it’ll be nice & variegated when I do!

[@karloseverinmarfori663]

Thank you, Sean! Sending love from the Ph!

[@onlyplants]

♥️

[@excelfikri8630]

your content so amazing,can't wait another video!!

[@citraernestprasetyo3496]

I will put my bet on the table. For The first top cutting you showed on the video, the next leaf will be nicely variegated and not green☺️☺️

[@yyeonck]

The explanations were super clear thank you so much!

[@ryaleafplants238]

Your videos are very helpful, and makes us plabt parents hopeful... my Monstera Albos that I propagated have rooted already... hehee thankies

[@janetshepherd9062]

Such good info. Thanks!

[@ruthdennisKnits]

Fantastic information, thanks🌿

[@aeschylusuyan9003]

Very much informative. Thank you!💚🌱👍🇵🇭

[@Bandispaces]

Thank you for your explanations♥♥

[@anneregina7822]

really informative as always! finally I can get a clear explanation about variegation. wondering about bippenifolium variegata since it isn't a stable one xD

[@lindabeaulieu6770]

Informative video thx. Question: i had to chop my Monstera albo and so now I have 2 small stems and both are very well rooted as was mature mother plants. Why is it not growing the eyes when so much roots? I have both in same pot (original mother pot) under full spectrum grow light with about 85% humidity.

[@onlyplants]

Im thinking maybe thats a young stem and may not have the growing eye yet, it just needs time to put out those. It can take up to 4 months. Or another possibility could be that you cut the node without taking the growing eye with it 🙈

[@andreachang9998]

What is that amazing plant on the left (your right), between the calathea and the alocasia (with dark leaves and the white stripe going down the middle of each leaf)? It's soo beautiful I have to get one!

[@onlyplants]

That would be a leea amabilis. They looks much nicer up close.

[@MrTerrytoma]

wonderful thanks Sean, does each node of mostera only have 1 growing eye? Alot of buyers buy a plant cutting that already has had the growth from the eye cut ... will that be a spent node that never grows a new leaf?

[@onlyplants]

Yeppp one growing eye per node.

[@rebeccahenderson7761]

Very interesting video! I've been watching plant vids everyday since Spring 2019 and never heard this before - thanks!! - oh hey, I see all your coco coir chunks, I've been potting my philos & monsteras with a lot of big coco chunks and they as soon as I water they get covered in fungus. I spray with hydrogen peroxide, but I am really worried about below the surface in the cracks and the pots side slits. Do you get fungus on the coco, bc you sure seem to like it??

[@onlyplants]

Ive never had fungus on the coco chips. I suspect what you have may be mold? May I recommend to spray diluted fungicide with water instead of hydrogen peroxide. H2O2 kills every beneficial on the soil too.

[@rebeccahenderson7761]

@@onlyplants Oh!! I'm very grateful for your suggestion. That could be the issue! I live in a Pacific Northwest rainforest and my indoor humidity is often between 50-70%, but is regularly 70%, sometimes up to 80% - lots of ferns & caltheas. I never considered mold before or the killing of beneficial on the soil. Thank you!!

[@sherryporsch9349]

Thanks Sean. Hopefully you won’t get asked again but if you do, you can refer them too this an other two videos lol 😀💚

[@onlyplants]

Yes exactly haha. But i cant stress how important yet fun this method of identifying variegation on nodes is 😀

[@Tarmantarmant]

Nice video...

[@onlyplants]

Makasihhh

[@elizabethurdaneta1532]

My wishlist monstera🤩🤩🤩

[@plantsinner5072]

Left...right...left...right....That's what I say to myself when I walk 🤣.

[@onlyplants]

Lol so you dont mess it up ya

[@kudscruz]

Thanks for sharing this! 💚🌱 How about for reverted plants? Do you know how to bring back the variegations? Thank you! Labyu! 😅💚🌱

[@horace6851]

if the reversed plant has all green leaves but some white in the stem (that's not passing through the growing eyes so the leaves not get variegation) you maybe be able to bring it back by increasing the light the plant receives. But if there is no variegation in the stem it's not possible to bring it back. Most of the variegated plants have the variegation due to genetic defect so if the plant looses it, it won't come back, genetically it's a non-variegated plant at this point. I believe out of variegated Monsteras only Thai Constellation has the variegation due to a genetic mutation not a defect, so it can come back randomly. If anyone knows any other I would be glad to hear about it :)

[@onlyplants]

In my previous variegated monstera I share that more light = more variegation. And low light = reversion. There are other factors such as genetics and luck at play too. But propagating a node with variegated growing eye is one surefire way of getting variegation back.

[@kudscruz]

THANKS GUYS! 😊💚🌱

[@brianchinh]

Hi Sean, I have a monstera albo cutting which grows two consecutive full moon leaves. What should I do? Hope to receive your advice. Thanks in advance!

[@onlyplants]

I would cut it back 😀

[@brianchinh]

@@onlyplants thanks for your advice. Will cut away the white leaves and see

[@theofilaktoskaplanidis4921]

Hey guys I have monstera albo my previous leaf is very variegated and the last one that it unfolds is green completely why is that and what can I do ?

[@onlyplants]

Check the nodes and back of the petiole for variegation. Its 80% up to its genetics. But lower light also tend to promote reversion to green

[@zupercarloz7990]

hi, my MD albo new leaf turn green should i cut it or should i wait for the next leaf to see if theres a var showed up? need help 😭

[@onlyplants]

I would wait for the next leaf, although you can with near 100% certainty see if the next leaf is variegated or not by studying the back of the petiole of the newest leaf. Feel free to send pics on Instagram if you need a second opinion

[@user-tc1tc3gc3t]

Hi! Just bought a single leaf cutting for cheaps and found this video. Should have watched it before I purchased but oh well. In your other video, you mentioned that the variegation can come back. Do you think it’s the same for the node as well? If I provide the node with ample light would it increase the chance of variegation? The cutting I bought I looks to be 99% green and lies over a part of the stem that looks to be light green instead of white.

[@onlyplants]

Hello, unfortunately variegation is mostly determined by genetics. Although putting it in good light certainly helps promote variegation but in your case it is an uphill battle. But do give it good care and a chance to push out some variegation.

[@user-tc1tc3gc3t]

@@onlyplants I’ve placed it under grow lights, so hoping for the best! I shall manage my expectations with this cutting. Thanks for replying!

[@4everdreamer569]

The moments after 3:37 where the huge leaf is dragging on the ground gave me anxiety 🤣

[@onlyplants]

Haha thats amazing cuz it means you feel the pain of others! Compassionate soul you are.

[@TehBananaBread]

4:50 , predicting the new propogated leaf color based on the node just doesnt work like that. I tried it several times. Nodes with 60/70% white came out 99% green. Yet the leaf sleeve it was growing in was 60/70% white. The color doesnt transfer from the first few sleeve layers to the leaf. At least not for me.

[@onlyplants]

Its not 100% prediction, but its close enough for us to make informed choices of risks should we decide to chop up ours. Other conditions such as care style, conditions, and luck still a factor

[@andreachang9998]

I wish I had seen this video over a year ago, before I bought mine. Oh well.

[@lindadianamurrell6653]

💚

[@mrsbungeejumper]

Hi Sean, what does it mean when seller says “sectoral variegation”? Thanks!

[@sendoh7x]

Google it. Better to see image rather than reading text for this case 😉

[@onlyplants]

It means solid green and white. Like a flag 😀

[@mrsbungeejumper]

thanks Sean!

[@amandajoannehottie]

Oh no now I'm worried, I bought a baby albo cutting, no fenestrations, even mother plant looked young. There are a few little white patches on the two leaves but I don't see any white on the petiole so now I'm scared its gonna be green 😭 can a young albo get more verigated if it doesn't have a lot of verigation to start with?

[@onlyplants]

I would grow it out in good light, and then when the stems mature and you have lots of nodes, cut them into single node cuttings. Note the growing eye on each node at that time 😀 you may end up with some green monsteras but shouldnt be hard to get a few variegated.

[@jessinhere94]

My monvar growing eye is at the full green, so it will be never variegated ?

[@onlyplants]

All of them? Check the main stem for variegation, if its all green leaf unfortunately you wont have any variegation when you propagate it

[@kendravoracek3636]

💚💚

[@yonokzeller5402]

👏🏾🙏

[@selinaruiz9395]

What is the tallest plant on the right??!! It is beautiful!!

[@onlyplants]

Anthurium pedatoradiatum 😀

[@selinaruiz9395]

@@onlyplants it's going on my list!! 😍😍😍

[@hjkhkjgjhk5710]

😊

[@onlyplants]

😀

[@GicaBitencourt]

What to do when you are getting too much variegation?? The leaves are going to die.. 😔

[@onlyplants]

Yes they will die if its fully white… you wanna move them to lower light to promote variegation in the next leaf

[@christinaleong8083]

DM me with questions but DON’T ask me this question - hilarious!! 🤣🤣🤣

[@onlyplants]

Haha Ill just forward this video next time. Its difficult to explain without visuals right haha

[@raphaelnonato3756]

Hi out of topic, but u really look like the main character of Squid game hehe 😁

[@onlyplants]

Haha I love that show

[@jessinhere94]

Firssttt

[@onlyplants]

🙈