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Okay, first off, even pronouncing the term Rhaphidophora tetrasperma is quite a mouthful. Still, it remains part of the indoor plant’s collection that is reasonably easy to care for. This tropical climbing plant grows well in the living space and is closely related to Mini monstera plant.
So, please stay longer to learn more about Rhaphidophora tetrasperma plant care and how to propagate them.
Plant Name: Rhaphidophora tetrasperma
Other Name: Mini monstera, Monstera minima, Philodendron Piccolo, Philodendron Ginny
Plant Type: Tropical vining plants
Native Areas: Malaysia and Southern Thailand
Light Requirement: Bright indirect light
Watering: Thrives in moist but not waterlogged soil
Fertilizer: Balanced Diluted Organic Fertilizer
Toxicity: Toxic to Humans and Pets
Temperature: 55°F to 85°F
Propagation: Stem cutting
Growth: 12 feet in height
Soil Type: Well-drained soil
USDA Hardiness Zones: 9-12
More About Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma Plant
Rhaphidophora tetrasperma is often mistaken for the Monstera deliciosa and the Philodendron ginny. The reason is that the mini Monstera and Monstera deliciosa’s leaves look similar. While all of them belong to the Araceae family known as aroids, all are from different genera to species.
The Rhaphidophora tetrasperma plants do not produce any fruit. The plant comes from Malaysia and Thailand and is a viney plant with a split leaf to help aid in airflow to keep the plant cool.
The tropical plant does well indoors and outside to bring ambiance to a living place, with the fenestrated leaves growing up to six inches in diameter and can reach up to 12 feet tall. You can grow it as indoor plants to climb or trail.
So, you can grow them in hanging baskets or allow them to trail along a moss pole to the trellis. For outdoor growing, it can vine along trees with aerial roots. Still, it is a rare plant to find in nurseries or your local garden center.
Rhaphidophora tetrasperma plant is considered to be one of the most beautiful vining plants you can grow at home due to its monstera look-alike leaves with fenestration.
Mini Monstera Care Guide
Caring for the Rhaphidophora tetrasperma plants is not too difficult. Please provide them with a moss pole to vine with the aerial roots, but most importantly, their growing needs, as explained here.
No Low Light For Rhaphidiphora Tetrasperma Plant
indoor rhaphidophora tetrasperma @flickr
No Direct sunlight!
For the best growth place, your plant should be in bright indirect light. So, pick a sunny south-facing window that does not receive too much sunlight. Having your Rhaphidophora plant standing in direct sunlight will burn those gorgeous leaves.
In addition, please do not keep your tropical plants like the mini Monstera in too little light, as they will develop in leggy growth. So, for indoor growing, it helps to place your plant in front of a window with some sheer curtains to provide dappled sunlight.
Alternatively, if you have no choice, it helps to use grow lights in low-light areas. You may find summer, your plant will stand in one spot and needs to move to another as the seasons change. Low light can cause leggy growth for your r tetrasperma.
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Ideal Potting Mix For Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma
The best potting mix for most aroids is light-aerated soil that drains well. Hence, it helps to choose a fertile peat-based one mixed with pine bark, perlite, and sphagnum moss. It goes well with orchid potting mix with organic matter for the plant’s additional nutrients for a healthy growth.
Furthermore, the potting soil will help retain moisture and allow air circulation to water drainage. These tropical houseplants have aerial roots, and even using orchid bark is suitable for them to grow. If you don’t have orchid mix available, over the counter potting mix for aroid plants is okay.
The important factor is that the potting soil must not become soggy or waterlogged. For container growing, ensure that the pot has more than one drainage hole.
How to Water Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma to Prevent Root Rot
A critical requirement when watering Rhaphidophora tetrasperma is to prevent root rot. So, the right time to water is when the soil is dry, about one inch from the soil’s surface. Doing this keeps the soil moist for the roots and prevents soggy soil.
We recommend checking the top inch of the soil to see if it is dry and water until it runs through the bottom. Then wait for a while until the water stops dripping and place your mini Monstera in bright light, and avoid direct sunlight.
Check to see if any excess water is still running through the drainage holes and collecting in the tray. Then empty the tray to prevent your tropical houseplants from standing in water. If your
Another note is that your plant will need less watering in winter than during the growing season. If your Rhaphidophora tetrasperma develops yellow leaves, it is a sign of overwatering.
Rhaphidiphora Tetrasperma Plant Temperature and Humidity
Rhaphidiphora Tetrasperma @flickr
The mini split-leaf plant is one of our favorite plants and thrives in warm temperatures. The ideal temperature is 68°F to 80°F (16°C – 27°C). Still, most importantly, please try to avoid extreme temperatures for your lovely plant.
Things like air conditioning to heaters can place stress on those glossy split leaves. We recommend keeping your plant away from hot radiators and cold drafts. During summer, you can place your potted plant outdoors.
But ensure the temperature at night does not drop below 50°F (10°C). The same applies to humidity levels; the ideal moisture level for your tropical climber is 30% to 40%. You can use a humidifier or pebble tray to improve the humidity or group them with other houseplants.
So it helps to try your best to mimic the natural habitat of your plant.
Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma Care and Fertilizing
For your plant to thrive indoors, you will need to provide them with regular feeds. This unique plant can feed every four months with a slow-release fertilizer or use a liquid fertilizer during active growth.
The best is not to use too much fertilizer as it can cause root burn, and for potted plants, it can result in mineral salts building up in the soil. Instead, we recommend flushing the soil out with water every four months.
You can do this by placing your plant in a sink and slowly pouring the water through for about three minutes. Then, allow the excess water to drain and place it on the drip tray. Once the soil is partly dried, you can resume watering.
You can then apply some fertilizer a month after flushing the soil.
Potting and Pruning These Beautiful Plants
Rhaphidophora plants are vigorous growers that can develop thick stems and need repotting once a year. The best way to tell your plant needs a bigger pot is when the roots poke out the drainage holes.
You can provide fresh potting soil and check the root ball for diseases when repotting. Transferring your plant helps to check for root rot and encourages new growth. You can repot by gently extracting your Rhaphidophora tetrasperma from the pot.
Then remove the soil around the roots and trim any decaying or dead ones. Then fill the new container to half-fill with the potting mix. Finally, place your plant in its new home and ensure it grows at the same height as in the previous container.
Fill the container up with the remaining potting mix and water. Place in bright indirect light and avoid too much direct sun. If you want to control the height of your plant, you can prune it in spring using sterile shears to cut the leaf stems that join the main stem.
How to Propagate Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma Plant
Stem cuttings!
When you transplant your Rhaphidophora tetrasperma, you can snip off a piece of the stem with one node or four leaves. Next, remove the leaves at the bottom to have a bare stem. Take a jar of water and place your stem cutting in it.
When you notice new roots about two inches long, you can plant them in a small container with fresh soil.
Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma Common Diseases and Pests
Some of the most common pests are spider mites that can become annoying with infestations. These pests cause damage to the foliage and stem. While they are hard to see, they can lead to yellow leaves with speckled leaf surfaces and scarring.
You can use neem oil to help combat spider mites and insects like aphids, mealybugs, and more. While your plant is a stubborn species, it can become infected with diseases. It is prone to get root rot and is devastating to your plant.
Hence prevention is better than cure. We recommend keeping the soil moist but not waterlogged. Remove any standing water to allow the root ball to dry out before watering.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while the Rhaphidophora tetrasperma plant belongs to the same family as Monstera, it is not the same. The leaves look similar, but it is from a different genus.
The interesting name is because the plant looks like a Monstera with split leaves, but it is smaller and belongs to another genus.
Like most other plants belonging to the Araceae family, it is toxic to humans and animals. The foliage has calcium oxalates found in the sap. Consumption causes different problems, from drooling, burning, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing.
The fantastic news is even if it is a rare plant not found at local garden centers, you can find it available with Plantly.
Rhaphidophora tetrasperma grows at a moderate pace without fertilizer. If you’d like your mini monstera to grow faster than usual, fertilize during the growing season.
Whether you want to buy, sell, or simply reach out to other plant enthusiasts, Plantly is the right place to be!
