I've heard that monstera borsigiana has smaller leaves but I just don't know if my leaves are smaller due to it being less mature and also me perhaps not meeting certain requirements. How do I tell the difference between the two and how do I get my monsteras leaves to grow larger, the 3 new leaves it pushed out all have perforations but are just not as big as expected.

Monstera borsigiana is a SYNONYM for Monstera deliciosa. Monstera deliciosa is the only scientifically ACCEPTED name for the plant. Monstera deliciosa has 7 synonyms, including borsigiana. This is an old argument that just will not die off unfortunately.

Monstera leaves tend to get bigger the higher they climb. But that being said, there is a high degree of variability among them, just like there is among many plants. These leaves are from a plant that is only about 5 feet tall in total














But that being said, the plant is between 12-15 years old. It was neglected for a bit and had to be nursed back to health.

Many people who are trying to grow Monstera indoors have trouble attaining the leaf size they desire, so they think they must have a different 'type', (i.e. a 'smaller leaved' borsigiana). The truth is, the plant just has to attain age, and height.

Toby, can you upload a photo of your plant, showing the growth habit and leaves?

As Gina mentioned, the name Monstera borsigiana is a synonym for Split-Leaf Philodendron (Monstera deliciosa)


Mini Monstera (Rhaphidophora tetrasperma) is often called "Dwarf Monstera" because of it's similarity in leaf shape and form. Although it is in the same family of plants (Araceae) as Monstera, it's in a different genus. Rhaphidophora tetrasperma has smaller leaves than Monstera deliciosa.


Another similar one is the Swiss Cheese Plant or Swiss Cheese Philodendron (Monstera adansonii)


Although I don't know if there is a "registry" for Monstera deliciosa cultivar names, we do have listings in our database for eight different cultivars. I'm not sure where these names originated, whether they are actually registered cultivars of M. deliciosa or if growers just stuck these names on plants they propagated. https://garden.org/plants/sear...
'Albovariegata'
'Borsigiana'
'Borsigiana Albovariegata'
'Borsigiana Albovariegata Contorta'
'Borsigiana Aurea Variegata'
'Cheesecake'
'Marmorata'
'Thai Constellation'

(It looks so much smaller on pictures)

Here's my monstera, I think it could use some more light, but I'm worried about burning it's leaves, and I'm currently working on increasing humidity.
I've had it for 9 months now and don't know how old it is.
I've had 3 new leaves this winter however had none during the summer time, the three new leaves are from each plant (theres 3 in the pot in total) and are a bit smaller than I expected them to be.
Here are the newest leaves:









I've accidentally neglected It a few times by forgetting to water it but I now water it more often and the roots were beginning to come out of the pot, I think it needs repotting but I've heard they like to be root bound, I just don't know to what extent.

Your Monstera deliciosa is a juvenile plant and it looks very healthy but from the looks of those happy roots, I think a larger pot may be in order very soon! If you use a terra cotta pot, it will dry out quite a lot faster than a plastic nursery pot, which means that you will have to adjust your watering routine and water more often. I would not advise a full sun location because direct sun will definitely burn the foliage. Keep it as close to a bright window as possible but at a distance where direct suns rays don't hit the leaves.

I hate finding the right lighting requirements for plants, I never know what counts as indirect etc. If I provide it a bit more light will leaves get slightly bigger and obviously much bigger as it matures? Will humidity also affect the size of leaves?

Juvenile leaves take time to mature. But more light is needed, and i would repot that now

You know the term that Madison used in 1977 in his Revision of the Genus Monstera probably addressed you initial question the best. Monstera are POLYMORPHIC. There is only ONE acknowledged species (with no subspecies) of Monstera delicious, but within the species there are individuals that exhibit polymorphism. The original designations made of some of the smaller leaved smaller growing plants were Monstera borsigiana and Monstera sierrana. Both of these names have been declared obsolete and invalid, but their use persists. The polymorphism in these plants can be measured by different ways....the internodal spaces, for example, are shorter. But all are considered just Monstera deliciosa, period. You can go online now and find people trying to sell regular M. deliciosa as M. sierrana, as though it is something special. Don't fall for that ploy.

there are two scientifically real descriptors of any organism. a genotype.. which means it's genetic code. then there is a phenotype- which means theway the genes express themselves- i.e. what we see- the physical expression

A genotype is a fact.
a genetic code will likely have multiple potential outcomes as genes activate or go silent depending on unknown environmental conditions, or maybe just a roll of the dice as DNA combines in ways we don't understand.
A phenotype is the visual outcome of that roll of the dice .

Monstera borsigiana have smaller leaves probably because they've only been grown indoors and/or disadvantaged by their variegation.

Hi, Could anyone tell me what this is on my cheese plant and if there is anything I need to do? I'm at a loss

Welshgirl said: Hi, Could anyone tell me what this is on my cheese plant and if there is anything I need to do? I'm at a loss

So are we:) Can you post a picture?

Ah, just saw the image in your other thread.