Monstera Rhaphidophora Korthalsii, Celatocaulis – Rare

Selling size: Single plant pot Included |(Approximately 7 leaves) | Free shipping

Rhaphidophora korthalsii, also known by the synonym Rhaphidophora celatocaulis is a rare, slow growing but beautiful Rhaphidophora from Southeast Asia.

As a young plant, it has ovate, bullate leaves in a dark green hue, which can also turn bluish. It grows as a tendril up trees and appresses its leaves very closely onto its support. This type of growth is called “shingling”, in reference to the shingles of a roof.

As it gets bigger, its leaf shape changes completely. The leaves become impressively large and pinnately lobed. It will look similar to a mature Epipremnum pinnatum.

This plant grows as a so-called hemi-epiphytic vine in the understory of rainforests.

As a young plant, it grows along the ground until it finds something to climb, usually a tree. Once it has found a tree, it grows up the tree, clinging to it with aerial roots. Only then it develops the typical for the adult plant, and much larger leaves.

This rather special way of life should be imitated in order to ideally maintain it. It sounds a bit complicated, but it’s really not.

• Location/Light: The plant likes a bright location in the terrarium, but should not be so brightly lit that the leaves burn. Most plant lamps at a distance of 40-60 cm provide a good amount of light.

This species will only form its adult leaves if it has both enough light and a support to climb on. This can be, close to nature, a tree trunk, but also any other reasonably rough surface, e.g. a wooden board, brick or even wallpaper (be careful: the roots cling very tightly and leave traces!). If the aerial roots dry out before they reach the support, you can also use a so-called “moss pole”, which holds more moisture. In any case, the location should be chosen so that you have enough space upwards for such a climbing aid.

• Temperature/Humidity: This plant comes from a tropical climate and naturally grows best in tropical temperatures and humidity.

It should not be below 18° C at night and at least 20° C during the day. It should not be exposed to temperatures above 32° C for prolonged periods.

The relative humidity of the air should be 70% or higher.

• Water/Fertilizer: This plant likes it less wet than one would assume for a rainforest species. The substrate should never dry out completely, but it should definitely not be really wet for a long time, this can damage the roots! So better to water a little less, and in between let at least the surface dry. How long this takes varies depending on the location, pot size and also season! Therefore, watering should never be strictly on schedule, but when it is necessary.
  Watering both from above and from below (through a saucer or similar) is possible and equally effective. Watering can be with moderately hard tap water, rainwater or distilled water.

• Substrate/Pot: Pot this plant in a very loose, acidic (pH below 7), air-permeable and nutrient-poor mix that mimics rainforest soil. For this purpose, you can use a special substrate made of pieces of bark, sphagnum moss, perlite, coco coir and wood fiber. Either mix it yourself, or buy our ready-made Aroid Mix in a practica