Monstera 'Thai Constellation': Dramatic Looks, But Not a Drama Queen

Monstera plants are perfect for adding drama to an indoor environment. Their large leaves are impressive as can be. But while they have dramatic looks, they themselves create no drama in the bad sense… “drama queens”, no way. Instead, they are very easy to tend.

If you purchase a Monstera plant that is on the small side, fear not: It will grow to an impressive but not overwhelming overall size, and better than that, its large-sized foliage will make any part of your home seem fresh and green. Still, I venture to guess that most plant lovers who purchase Monstera plants really desire the Swiss cheese effect that makes Monsteras’ foliage so unusual. But like other good things, achieving that effect takes time.

That is where Monstera deliciosa ‘Thai Constellation’ comes in. Its leaves have blotchy, starlike creamy markings atop a green base… very pretty, even before any cut-work, or fenestration, appears. Monstera deliciosa ‘Thai Constellation’ requires no more work than do other Monsteras. It must be kept away from pets. It needs regular watering, not wanting to dry out but needing excellent drainage. It likes good feedings with liquid fertilizer, summer through fall. But the dramatic looking Monstera deliciosa ‘Thai Constellation’ is actually a cool character, not requiring much effort from the plant-loving homeowner, the interior decorator, or the gardener who lives in a region that is warm enough to support this plant outdoors.

Decorating with Monstera Deliciosa 'Thai Constellation'

In home magazines and interior decorating blogs, houseplants with impressive foliage are all the rage. Adding life-filled green to whitewashed rooms, adding nice contrast to rooms that are decorated with small curios and need something large to anchor things, or adding tropical charm to spaces that already have a bit of tropical flair, Monstera plants work well. Monstera deliciosa ‘Thai Constellation’, in particular, offers everything just mentioned, and then some. The variegation of its leaves is its stellar (pun intended) selling point. 

Now, in addition to the plant’s many merits, its name, Monstera deliciosa ‘Thai Constellation’, really draws me in. I have seen the constellations in a country situated quite close to Thailand: I lived in Indonesia for a time, loving the sights and sounds of what is now a faraway land. I remember the night sky in Indonesia well. There, as I assume is the same in many parts of nearby Thailand, the night sky seems extremely dark. Venture outside the major cities with so much electrified illumination and you will find that the sky is an expanse of rich darkness, decorated only by Nature’s lights, the moon and the stars. But even in that vast darkness, those stars somehow offer plenty of illumination… plenty. The constellations can clearly be seen without the pollution of an endless array of man-made lights. And although I know I am talking of different countries and a memory from the past, I cannot help but associate the decoration on the leaves of Monstera deliciosa ‘Thai Constellation’ with the Southeast Asian night skies that I remember from long ago.

Dramatic Looks

So, drama in the form of a plant…? Well, if you are doing some interior decorating, start by thinking of a few houseplants you would like to add. They can be moved in with far greater ease than, say, an entryway table or heavy sideboard. They can be repositioned at your whim, making a room look different in no time flat. And although some of the rarer houseplants come with a bit of a price tag, they generally will not break the bank.

Dramatic looks, but no drama: Monstera deliciosa ‘Thai Constellation’ just may be the key to the success of your decorating efforts.