Ralph

Rhaphidophora tetrasperma

• 
  Easy care
• 
  Bright light

• Ralph likes...
  • 
    Medium light

    He loves to be somewhere bright but not in direct sun. He’ll also be ok in light shade but he’ll grow more slowly.

  • 
    Regular watering

    He likes his soil lightly moist. Water him when the top two inches of soil feel dry. He’ll need less in winter.

  • 
    Feeding

    Give him a feed once per month in spring and summer to keep him growing healthily. He won’t need it in winter.

• Quick facts

  Botanical name

  Rhaphidophora tetrasperma

  Nickname

  Mini monstera; Philodendron ‘Piccolo’

  Plant type

  Indoor evergreen

  Plant height (including pot)

  30-40cm; 140-150cm

  Pet/baby safe

  Toxic if ingested

  Nursery pot size

  12cm; 27cm

• About rhaphidophora tetrasperma

  This plant is often known as the mini monstera, but it’s not actually related tomonstera deliciosa. Even so, they’re similar in lots of ways. They both have those distinctive hole-y leaves; they’re both climbers; they both need relatively little care. This one just fits in smaller spaces.

  Like monstera deliciosa, rhaphidophora tetrasperma likes conditions from quite bright to moderately shady. In the wild it grows in moist forests in Thailand and Malaysia, so try to give it conditions as similar as possible. It doesn’t like direct sun or deep shade. It loves slightly moist soil and a good squirt with amisterto keep the air humid.

  This plant grows as a vine with very long stems. That gives you several options for how to grow it. Put it on a shelf or in a hanging pot and let the stems dangle. Give it something to climb up, like a moss pole. Or keep it compact by trimming its stems to keep them short. It won’t hurt it at all. However you grow it, this plant is guaranteed to become one of your favourites.

  Did you know?

  The rare variegated variety of rhaphidophora tetrasperma is one of the most expensive plants in the world. In 2021, one sold for over £14,000.