Why such a difference on these two Monesteras (I believe)

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MadsHilde Randers, Denmark Aug 14, 2013

Hey, I've got this high plant with lots of leafs and my parents got this lower one with few but LARGE leafs. What is the difference between those two?

Thumbnail by MadsHilde Thumbnail by MadsHilde
Post #9630533
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tlm1 Jacksonville, FL(Zone 9a) Aug 14, 2013

It could simply be different growing conditions such as amount of light, moisture, fertilizer, humidity levels, etc. They both do look very healthy. Click this link and look through the pictures. There does tend to be a difference in the size of many of them.

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/1204/

Post #9630549
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purpleinopp Opp, AL(Zone 8b) Aug 16, 2013

Look at the difference in stem size. The plant on the right is much older, with more mature leaf forms, a young adult. On the left is an adolescent.

Post #9632187
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MadsHilde Randers, Denmark Aug 19, 2013

So, does that mean the plants are the same, just different ages? Will mine be like my parents plant one day? Still don't understand why mine has got so many leafs and my parents only a few.

Post #9635445
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Diana_K Contra Costa County, CA(Zone 9b) Aug 20, 2013

More leaves:
A plant may start growing the leaves, but then they fall off (or get cut off). Something damages the leaves like too-dry air, pests or other.
A plant in less light tends to grow fewer leaves, wider spread out along the stem.

Different leaf shape:
Juvenile vs adult foliage. Some plants keep producing juvenile foliage for several years, and may revert to juvenile foliage if it is pruned hard.
Different varieties.
Different light levels.
Different fertilizer dosing.

Different leaf colors:
Different varieties.
Different light levels.
Different fertilizer dosing.

To truly test lighting you need a PAR meter.
To see if it is fertilizer you would need to start fertilizing both specimens the same way, and make sure they are in the same potting soil mix.
You could swap plants and see how each one does in the location the other was growing in.
Once every condition is the same, if the plants still grow differently you might have different varieties.

This message was edited Aug 20, 2013 8:39 AM

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Metrosideros Keaau, HI Aug 20, 2013

The larger leaved plant looks like the type species. The smaller leaved plant may be Monstera deliciosa var. borsigiana.

http://www.exoticrainforest.com/Monstera%20deliciosa%20large%20pc.html

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/1204/

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/96435/

Post #9636526
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