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 water or sphagnum moss. An attached aerial root hastens establishment considerably, so choose your cutting with that in mind.
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
