Monstera Velvet Peru Care

Monstera Velvet Peru is a stunning tropical foliage plant that has captured the hearts of many plant lovers. Although generally easy to maintain, caring for this beautiful plant requires some specific attention to keep its lush foliage thriving. In this section, we’ll explore all you need to know about the stunning Monstera Velvet Peru. Let’s check them out!

Plant Info

Common Name(s): Velvet shingle plant, velvet philodendron, velvet aroid

Scientific Name: Monstera sp. ‘Velvet Peru’

Family: Arums (Araceae)

Country of Origin: Peru, Colombia, Ecuador

Natural Habitat: Tropical rainforests of South America

Size: Approximately 1 to 3 feet tall (30 to 90 centimeters) indoors, 6 to 8 feet tall ( centimeters) outdoors

Toxicity Level: This plant is toxic for humans and pets

Color(s): Deep dark green, bright green, to lime green

Flower Shape: Pale yellow or white spathe with a greenish yellow spadix

Basic Plant Requirements

Zones: 10 to 12

Light: Bright, indirect

Watering: Keep regular watering with moist, well-drained soil

Soil pH: Slightly acidic to neutral (ranging from 5.5 to 7.0)

Humidity: High, 60% to 80%

Temperature: 65 to 85 Fahrenheit (18 to 29 Celsius)

Fertilizing: About once or twice a month during the growing season

Recommended Propagation Method(s): Stem cutting

Repotting: About twice a year

Pruning: As necessary

What’s Unique About Monstera Velvet Peru?

Unlike most monstera varieties, Velvet Peru Monstera is notable for its pointed and elongated-shaped, soft, velvety foliage that ranges in shades of green and with contrasting darker veins. Monstera Velvet Peru has no splits or holes and stays relatively compact, making them a great choice for gardeners with limited indoor spaces.

Foliage and Blooms Appearance

Monstera Velvet Peru produces mainly deep dark green foliage with a velvety texture that is soft to the touch. The leaves are more elongated and pointed, with no holes or splits, giving them an unusual appearance that makes them stand out from other monstera varieties. Velvet Peru Monstera rarely blooms indoors, however, if grown outdoors they produce small, anthurium-like blossoms and small fruits.

Size and Growth

In comparison to the famous Monstera Albo-Variegata and Monstera Thai Constellation, Monstera Velvet Peru is relatively small and compact, growing to only about 3 feet (90 centimeters) tall indoors and outdoors. Their velvety foliage typically grows to about 6 inches (15 centimeters) long and 3 inches (8 centimeters) wide. They’re typically fast-growing, although, in certain conditions e.g. lack of light, the growth rate can be slower or even stopped.

Do Velvet Peru Monstera Have Fragrance?

No, Monstera Velvet Peru does not have any significant fragrance other than a fresh, earthy scent which is common for any indoor houseplants.

Do Velvet Peru Monstera the Same as Monstera Hangplant?

Both Monstera Velvet Peru and Monstera Hangplant are vining or climbing aroids that range from small to medium size, but they are not the same in terms of appearance. The easiest way to tell them apart is by looking at the foliage shape. Monstera Hangplant has holes all over its foliage while Velvet Peru Monstera does not.

How To Avoid the Toxicity of Monstera Velvet Peru?

In general, all aroids, including Monstera Velvet Peru, are considered toxic since they contain calcium oxalate crystals all over the roots, foliage, and stems–especially their sap. Before deciding to bring home one, it’s crucial to educate yourself and your family about the potential risk of this gorgeous plant. Some precautions that you can do includes but are not limited to:

• Always wear gloves before touching the Monstera Velvet Peru plant. Avoid touching the sap with bare hands and wash your hands (including the gloves) directly after any contact.
• Keep the plant out of reach of children and pets to avoid accidental ingestion.
• Provide some first aid if an accident occurs. Symptoms like irritation, vomiting, nausea, and burning sensation are common in aroid toxification. Contact medical support if necessary.
• Use precaution labels to help inform any visitors to carefully handle and avoid ingesting the Monstera Velvet Peru plant.

What Can You Do With Monstera Velvet Peru?

In addition to adding a touch of tropical elegance to your indoor or outdoor garden, the compact size and velvety foliage of Monstera Velvet Peru can also be used as part of flower arrangements.

This plant can also be trained to thrive vertically, making them great to add texture to any vertical space, especially outdoor walls. Monstera Velvet Peru is a relatively rare variety of monstera, so sharing them as a gift must be special for your loved ones or fellow plant lovers. Propagate the plant or simply share the cuttings to spread the beauty of this tropical plant.

Monstera Velvet Peru Care Guide

Light

Like any other aroid, Monstera Velvet Peru is best thriving in shady areas with bright but indirect light. Too much direct sunlight can scorch their delicate velvety foliage, meanwhile, lack of sunlight can also affect the plant’s growth and health.

Watering

The predominant key to watering Monstera Velvet Peru is to keep their soil moist and to provide them with a good drainage system. This plant does not favor wet soil so avoid over-watering but don’t wait until the soil dries out. Give the Velvet Peru Monstera water when the first 2 inches (5 centimeters) of the topsoil feels dry. Make sure all the excess water drains away successfully from the pots or containers.

Temperature and Humidity

Before being cultivated to thrive as houseplants, Monstera Velvet Peru was once an inhabitant of warm and humid tropical rainforests, so it’s crucial to keep their environment that way. They grow best in warm areas and can tolerate temperatures as low as 60 Fahrenheit (15 Celsius) or as high as 95 Fahrenheit (35 Celsius) but only for a short amount of time. The plant may go completely dormant if it’s become too cold, and too warm temperature can harm their delicate foliage. 

Maintaining a high and proper humidity is also a must for a healthy, bushy Monstera Velvet Peru. Keep the humidity level around 60% to 80%. If you live in an area where humidity is low, try incorporating more humidity by taking advantage of commercially available humidifiers, regularly misting the foliage, or placing a tray of water nearby.

Soil

Monstera Velvet Peru loves well-draining soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH. Waterlogged soil can cause root rot and other problems that can be harmful to the gorgeous plant. Use only a good, high-quality aroid potting mix that contains an equal amount of coco peat, perlite, sand, and compost. 

Fertilizing

Monstera Velvet Peru loves being fed fertilizers during their growth phase, which can help promote new foliage and stems to sprout. Fertilizing should only be done once or twice a month in spring and summer. Decrease the number of fertilizers during winter, when the growth rate mostly slows down during this cold season. Before giving any fertilizers, make sure to follow the instructions thoroughly and avoid the fertilizer being spread to their foliage and stems.

Propagation

The most recommended way to propagate Monstera Velvet Peru is through stem cuttings.

• The first thing you have to do is to pick a mature, disease-free stem with a little foliage attached to it. Cut the stem below the node using a sterile scissor or gardening shears.
• Plant the stem in a pot with a well-draining aroid soil mix.
• Place the plant in bright, indirect light and cover the pot or container with a plastic bag to help increase humidity.
• Once the new roots are established with no concerns, it’s time to move the new Monstera Velvet Peru to its bigger growing space.

Repotting and Pruning

Repotting Monstera Velvet Peru is mainly done to make sure the plant has enough space to grow and to prevent root bound. This practice typically is done before or during their growing phase. Pruning is just as paramount as repotting, as pruning helps the Velvet Peru Monstera to keep in shape and promotes new and healthy growth. To prevent more infections, you can also prune the plant to remove all the diseased foliage and stems.

Common Pests and Diseases

Like any other houseplant, Monstera Velvet Peru is prone to some common pests and diseases, including spider mites, root rot, mealybugs, fungal infections, leaf spot, leggy growth, and burning foliage. To avoid or treat these problems, you can use the help of chemical or non-chemical insecticides, along with neem oil or plant-safe alcoholic rub. Most importantly, make sure that you carefully provide the plant with all the necessities they need to thrive.

Monstera Velvet Peru: Are They Worth to Grow?

To wrap things up, Monstera Velvet Peru is a worth-growing aroid with a stunning elongated oval shape and velvety foliage. When it comes to maintenance, the Velvet Peru Monstera is not that demanding and is similar to their aroid and Monstera counterparts. If you’re looking for a tropical vining or climbing foliage plant, Monstera Velvet Peru is your ultimate answer!