Monstera Burle Marx Flame
Monstera Burle Marx Flame
Monstera sp. 'Burle Marx Flame'
❦ ❧ ❦
Difficulty — IntermediateNamed for the great Brazilian landscape designer, the Burle Marx Flame unfurls leaves that twist and curl with a flame-like motion, their fenestrations dancing rather than sitting still. She is a lively, sculptural climber, and once she takes hold of a pole she will reward you with leaves of considerable theatrical flair.
Notes on Cultivation
☀Light
Bright, indirect light brings out her best form and fullest fenestration. She tolerates medium light but grows leggy and reluctant in it, so give her a luminous spot shielded from direct burning sun.
❦Water
Allow the top couple of inches to dry before watering. She enjoys even moisture during active growth, but a soggy pot will rot her roots faster than any pest could harm her.
☁Humidity
As a true tropical aroid she prefers humidity of 60 percent or higher. In drier rooms her leaf edges may crisp, so a humidifier or pebble tray earns its keep.
✵Temperature
She is happiest between 65 and 85 Fahrenheit and must be kept above 55. Cold is her enemy — protect her from winter glass and draughty doorways.
❧Soil
A well-aerated aroid mix of bark, perlite, and coco coir mimics her native footing. Sharp drainage keeps her climbing roots healthy and her crown free of rot.
❀Fertilizing
A balanced, diluted feed every four to six weeks in spring and summer keeps her vigorous. I withhold fertiliser in the dormant winter months while she rests.
✿Propagation
Stem cuttings with a node root reliably in a clear cup of moist Fluval Stratum — the method we favour in our greenhouse. An attached aerial root hastens establishment considerably, so choose your cutting with that in mind. Read the full field method.
Field Observations
Mount her on a moss pole and the difference is remarkable — the support coaxes larger, more fenestrated, more dramatically curling leaves than she would ever produce sprawling across a shelf.
Her curled, flame-like leaf habit is most pronounced on mature growth, so do not judge a young plant too harshly. Her finest theatre comes with age.
— faithfully recorded by Mr. Phileas Plant
