Oh, it’s CRAZY how much people will pay. I’m just not interested in paying a lot of money for something that might die! There are rumours (that I’m sure are true) that nurseries are only allowing a certain number of Albo Monstera into the market to keep prices up. Variegated Monstera are NOT rare – they grow so quickly that even a few mother plants can generate plenty of cuttings.

The Weekend Warrior effect is SO TRUE. I blame Pinterest! Weirdly though, a lot of plant people pass through the variegated plant stage, and then carry on to find plants that they prefer. I think trying to a get a variegated Monstera is a rite of passage!

I’ll do my due diligience, and pot it up and give it a plank to grow up. See what I think of it then.

I’m with you on the ‘houseplants for cash’ front. I love monstera albo, but would not pay more than $25 AUD/£14 for any plant, including that one. If I ever get my hands on these type of plants, I will grow on, propagate and all my friends get it for free.

Philodendron brasil was a recent auqisition at that price, $25. I paid because it’s hard to find here, but I acquired a big vining plant from this particular online nursery, and not the half dead plug babies, that others had for the same price. As soon as spring comes around in September, she’ll be propagated and passed around.

When I was a kid in the 70’s you couldn’t give a philodendron away… every dentist’s and doctor’s office had a dusty one in a corner somewhere, and same for everyone’s grandma. Now they’re fashionable and $$$$$$… unbelievable.

Hubby and I call that the ‘weekend warrior’ effect. They’re not really plant people like some of us, but their plants must be ‘fashionable-or-die’. I saw a recent post from one of these type raving about how good the variegated whatsamajig plant looked with her decor at a ridiculous $375. Nothing about the health or appearance of the plant. Nor interest in the habit of the plant itself. She’ll probably kill it inside a month.
Poor thing. (I was thinking of the plant, but now I think again, I have some compassion for her as well, lol)

Sure, you can email me: caroline@planethouseplant.com

Yeah, I think you need a microscope to see nematodes, so it sounds like you got something else. It might be something beneficial like springtails, which are white. Feel free to send me a picture on Instagram and I’ll have a look.