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Monstera
Monstera deliciosa
Plantae›Tracheophyta›Liliopsida›Alismatales›Araceae
Grown emersed with foliage in the air and roots in the tank water, where it absorbs nitrates as a biofilter. Prefers bright indirect light; a large, moderate-paced grower whose thick roots establish well in aquarium water.
Grown with its roots in the tank water and its leaves in the air: a living nitrate filter, not a submerged aquarium plant. Give it bright indirect light; no aquarium CO₂ or substrate needed.
Leaves and sap contain calcium oxalate — toxic if eaten and irritating to mouth and gut; keep the foliage away from plant-grazing fish, while the submerged roots stay safe.
Where it's from
Native to Guatemala, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Southeast and Mexico Southwest
Recorded as introduced in Ascension, Azores, Baleares, Bangladesh and 9 more places
At a glance
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Growth
- Moderate
- Placement
- Emersed — roots in water, leaves in air
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Legality
No state or federal restrictions on record.
Not legal advice, and possibly incomplete or out of date. Rules vary by state and change over time; check with your state wildlife or agriculture agency before buying, keeping or shipping it.
The care information here is written with AI help, so it can contain mistakes. Spot one? Tell us and we'll fix it. Native range: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) (CC BY 4.0).
At a glance
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Growth
- Moderate
- Placement
- Emersed — roots in water, leaves in air
Keepers’ experiences
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