Vivarium Plant Spotlight: Monstera siltepecana

Written By Nathan Hall

Monstera siltepecana is a beautiful vining tropical aroid that is native to Mexico and Central America.  It is an excellent choice for vivaria as the immature leaves are a striking silvery-green color with dark green veins.  It thrives in vivarium conditions.  I use it as a background plant and train it to climb the hardscape.  I usually remove it once it starts producing mature, fenestrated leaves, but if you have a large enough enclosure, you won’t have to remove it.  It is readily available and inexpensive.  It is absolutely one of my favorite vivarium aroids, and I have it in at least two of my enclosures.

Family: Araceae

Origin: Mexico and Central America

Growth: Climbing vine (epiphytic)

Leaf Characteristics:

  • Juvenile: small, narrow leaves with silver mottling and dark green veins

  • Mature: larger, greener leaves that can develop fenestrations   

Light: prefers bright, indirect light

Water: Likes evenly moist soil but not waterlogged

Humidity: 70%+

Temperature: 65-82F

Soil: prefers well-draining soil

Propagation: node cuttings that can root in water, sphagnum moss, or soil with high humidity

Nathan Hall
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