Adam’s Rib: Everything You Need to Know About This Easy-to-Maintain Plant. Photo: Pexels
Looking for a plant for your interior decoration? The Monstera deliciosa, commonly known as Adam’s Rib and present in the emotional memory of Brazilians, is one of the most sought after when it comes to having an urban jungle indoors or for those who want to start cultivating plants, as it requires easy maintenance and is adaptable.
With beautiful cut leaves resembling the image of a rib, Adam’s Rib adds delicate aesthetics to the décor.
Being native to Central America, Adam’s Rib is suitable for cultivation in tropical climates and can be integrated into décor in different ways. “The most common form is planting in pots, preferably in some corner on the ground, as it grows quite a bit,” explains landscape designer Luciano Zanardo. However, there’s also the possibility of using just one or two leaves in a solitary glass vase with water.
Next, the landscape designer will discuss the ideal care for cultivating Adam’s Rib. Check it out!
General Care:
1) Ideal Planting Location
Adam’s Rib is an adaptable plant, meaning it can be grown in different spaces. However, it’s necessary to evaluate the light incidence in the chosen location, as it’s a species that enjoys light, but not excessively. For example, it can survive well in places with partial shade and indirect light. When exposed to strong sunlight, the leaves start to yellow, and holes may even appear in the leaf, affecting its lifespan and growth.
Regarding soil, the plant needs something fresh and well-drained to grow. “I recommend changing the pot every year to prolong the species’ life,” explains Zanardo. “The ideal is that the chosen pot size is slightly larger than the plant,” he adds. When planting, it’s good to avoid planting Adam’s Rib with another species in the same pot, as it may release chemicals through the roots, inhibiting the development of others.
In the balcony of this suite, Adam’s Rib (the second from right to left) is composed with three other species of plants that have similar cultivation characteristics. The landscaping project was signed by Luciano Zanardo | Photo: JP Image
2) Watering
Watering Adam’s Rib can be done twice a week, as the broader leaves allow for more water evaporation. However, in winter, the frequency can decrease to once a week or every 15 days. “A tip to know if the plant needs water or not is to check the soil: put your finger in the soil: if it comes out dirty, it’s a sign that it doesn’t need watering yet,” suggests Luciano.
3) Cleaning
A valuable tip that helps with development is cleaning the leaves with a damp sponge. A damp cloth can also be used for cleaning. “Besides removing the dust from the leaves, we can prevent them from drying out completely,” says the landscaper.
