Last updated on March 31st, 2023 at 06:59 am
Monstera is a popular genus from the Araceae Family that is notable for its large, glossy foliage and unique foliage patterns. While there are varieties of monstera with milky white or lime green colors, which can cost you a lot, there is a hot debate within the plant community about the existence of a true pink monstera. Is a pink monstera already available to purchase? If not, will we have the chance to see a pink monstera plant in the future?
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Is pink Monstera a real plant?
As of today, there is no known naturally occurring pink Monstera plant. Monstera plants typically have green leaves with distinctive patterns of holes or splits. However, there are some variations of Monstera plants that have been selectively bred or modified to produce pink or variegated leaves.
These variations are often the result of genetic mutations or hybridization with other plant species. It’s possible that in the future, a naturally occurring pink Monstera plant may be discovered or developed through further breeding and experimentation.
The only pink ‘part’ of the Monstera plant.
The Monstera plant is known for its leaves with holes in them, but what is not well known is that different species of Monstera have a wide range of colors on their protective coverings, called spathes. Most of the other plants in the same subfamily as Monstera usually have similar colors for their spathes.
The colors on the outside of the spathes can be yellow, white, green, orange, pink, or salmon pink. The inside of the spathes can be white, light yellow, light pink, or salmon pink. Most Monstera plants have yellowish or white spathes, but some have different colors. Some colors are more common in certain geographic areas. For example, orange spathes are common in South America, but only one species in Central America has them. Light pink and salmon pink spathes are known in only four Monstera species.
The spathes of a plant are protective coverings that surround the flowers. In the case of Monstera plants, the spathes have both an inside and an outside. The outside of the spathes is the part that is visible from the outside of the plant, and it can have a range of colors from yellow to salmon pink. The inside of the spathes is the part that surrounds the flowers, and it can be white, light yellow, light pink, or salmon pink. The colors of the spathes can vary between different species of Monstera, and some species have more colorful spathes than others.
According to the Systematics and evolution of Monstera Research Project, there are four known species of Monstera that have pink or light pink spathes. These are:
- Monstera siltepecana: This species has light pink spathes on the inside and is found in Mexico to Nicaragua.
- Monstera dubia: This species has pink spathes on the outside and is found from Mexico to Brazil.
- Monstera filamentosa: This species has pink spathes on the outside and light pink spathes on the inside. It is found from Costa Rica to northwest Colombia.
- Monstera oreophila: This species has light pink or pink spathes on the outside and salmon pink spathes on the inside. It is found in Costa Rica and Panama.
So the closest we get to the pink monstera occurring in nature today is their flower color which most of the time resembles pink.
How Close Are We to Get A Pink Monstera?
As of today, there is no current active research focusing on producing this new plant variant.
Although the pink variegated plants are possible to make and are currently in high demand among plant enthusiasts, unfortunately, scientists haven’t got a chance to grow a successful pink monstera as this plant simply doesn’t exist yet.
In the world of aroids, pink hues can be found only in numerous variations, like the phenomenal philodendron pink princess and the eye-catching pink caladiums. The other aroids like alocasia pink dragon, however, produce this stunning pink color in their stems and not in their foliage.
At this point, the only way possible to get a pink monstera is through a complex and time-consuming lab genetic mutation or hybridization, without putting aside the importance of ethical and sustainable plant cultivation practices to ensure the health and preservation of the beloved monsters.
In the meantime, gardeners and plant collectors could still enjoy the beauty of monstera varieties that produce marvelous white color, which is not less beautiful than the pink one. As the science and technology of plants keep evolving, it’s also crucial to always keep an eye on future updates about the pink monstera plant.
Is It Possible To Propagate Your Own Pink Monstera Plant?
Propagating monstera is not guaranteed to be an easy process, especially if it’s a variegated one–like the outstanding Monstera Thai Constellation. The purpose of propagation is to reproduce new plants from existing plant parents, and as pink monstera does not exist yet, so it’s possible to propagate, let’s say, a Monstera Thai Constellation in the hope of a pink monstera.
Getting a pink color involves a variety of mechanisms that can form naturally or man-made. Chemical compounds called anthocyanins are responsible for the red, pink, purple, and blue colors in many plants. Although the production of anthocyanins can be influenced by external factors like light, temperature, and the soil’s pH, not all monsteras naturally have anthocyanins.
To add, external factors like the difference in light and temperature are more responsible for the plant’s overall growth rather than changing its foliage color. Unlike hydrangeas, it’s also impossible to change a monstera’s color by adjusting its soil’s pH level.
How Much Would a Pink Variegated Monstera Cost?
It’s a natural phenomenon that the more scarce and popular a plant is, the higher its price will be. This is especially true for slow-growing plants that are in high demand but are not easy to propagate, such as the Monstera Albo Variegata and the Monstera Albo Borsigiana. The most expensive monstera ever recorded is the Monstera Obliqua, which cost a fantastic price of $23,000, prized not only for its scarcity but also for its striking and unusual foliage shape.
If a pink monstera does exist, a cost prediction would fall on $3,000 or more, since this plant will be one of the newest monstera varieties, thus the demand will be soaring high. For a single pink monstera stem or more, we predict one must spend as little as $300 to be able to propagate the plant. To illustrate, the lowest price for a single Monstera Albo stem will cost you $100. As something difficult to find and not can be easily replicated in large quantities, it’s very reasonable why the pink monstera plant price will be soaring up once it’s available publicly.
Scammy Sellers: Is It a Pink Monstera or Philodendrons?
It’s a general rule of thumb that one must always be cautious when buying a new plant, especially if it took place in online markets. Please keep in mind that monstera pink is not available to thrive yet, so be aware of these potential scams that are lurking and targeting many plant enthusiasts out there.
First, the classic scamming case of mislabeling plants.
For this case, the most used plant scammers use to trap their target is marketing philodendron pink princess as the pink monstera, even though generally these two are nothing alike. To be more convincing, most of the time these scammers also advertise the fake pink monstera plant as something very rare and premium, when in reality, this species does not even exist yet.
The next potential scam you should be aware of is misleading photos.
Scammers may use philodendron pink princess photos to advertise them as pink monstera, or even change the usual green foliage of monstera into pink color through photoshop. The advance in technology makes these scammers more sophisticated in their technique, so as buyers, one must have enough knowledge and ability to tell which one is fake and which one is not.
Last but not least, a potential scam about the pink monstera plant is fake pre-ordering.
Numerous sellers do this kind of pre-order, where the plant will be ready e.g. in June when usually it’s a growing phase. Although there’s nothing wrong with pre-ordering plants, especially if you purchase the plant overseas, pre-ordering plants that simply don’t exist will cause you a loss of money.
Why Are People Still in the Hunt for a Pink Monstera?
Despite the fact that pink monstera is not available to purchase, yet many plant enthusiasts are still on the hunt for some. This is likely due to a combination of factors, such as the plant’s appearance itself. Let’s face it, how cool would a pink monstera be? A color contrast of green and pink, combined with the lush, massive split foliage of monstera would make any plant lover crazy over this variety. The interest in pink monstera is also fueled by the availability of other pink aroids, making the desire for a pink monstera plant also seen as a natural and achievable trend.
A Highly Sought-after Plant That’s Still in the Progress
To wrap things up, pink monstera plants are not currently available on the market, and whoever tries to sell a plant marketed as pink monstera may be a scammer. However, if you’re a fan of pink foliage plants, the commercially available philodendron pink princess or pink caladiums are one of the best variety options to choose from. With the advance of science and technology, it’s no doubt we will be able to see a pink monstera plant in the near future.
New author in the hood. Loves gardening and flowers are my spirit animals (yes I know they are not animals but I insist). I will be covering most of the flowers’ topics here and occasionally random though as well.
