Monstera Thai Constellation Water Needs: Avoiding Over and Under Watering

Monsteras are among the trendiest houseplants available today. And variegated Monsteras, like the beautiful Monstera Thai Constellation are especially sought after by plant enthusiasts. These plants are more rare and expensive than the classic Monstera Deliciosa, and have slightly different care needs. One key difference centers around Monstera Thai Constellation water needs.

What is a Monstera Thai Constellation

The Thai Constellation Monstera is a rarer houseplant that’s incredibly popular with serious plant collectors. Like the common Monstera Deliciosa, the Thai Constellation is a gorgeous vining member of the Monstera family that features signature speckles and creamy variegation throughout its leaves and stems.

Genetically identical to the Monstera Deliciosa, the Thai Constellation needs to be propagated by tissue propagation to keep it’s beautiful variegation, making it more challenging to mass produce, and a major reason why it’s so hard to find today.

How much water does a Thai Constellation Monstera need?

Thai Constellation Monsteras are hardy tropical plants that need a moderate amount of water. What does this mean? Keep your plant hydrated with a generous watering every 1-2 weeks when the top inch of soil is dry.

Your Monstera pot should have drainage holes in the bottom to let excess water run through safely so your plant isn’t sitting in standing water for prolonged periods. Watering in the sink will allow extra water to pass through and down the drain.

🌱Why drainage matters: Read our Monstera repotting guide >

I enjoy watering in the kitchen sink since it allows me to water from the faucet. This not only provides hydration, but a good soaking also encourages stronger root growth helping the plant stay strong. For plants too large to move, make sure they have a plastic or stone saucer below to catch any runoff water.

Despite common myths about tropical plants, Monsteras do not want to be kept overly moist. Constantly wet soil invites pests and fungus which can feed from your plant’s root system and stems, which leads to infection and root rot.

To avoid this, pay careful attention to your plant’s soil and only water when the top layer feels especially dry. Your plant would much rather be kept slightly dry than slightly wet, so if you’re on the fence about watering, it’s probably okay to wait an extra day or two.

There really is no perfect guide or schedule for Monstera Thai Constellation watering. The unique characteristics of your home – the lighting, humidity and temperature – all play a role in the water needs of your plant. Instead, pay careful attention to your plant and its soil condition to understand when it’s the perfect time to water.

Water requirements: Monstera Thai Constellation vs. Monstera Deliciosa

Monstera Thai Constellation in pot
The variegated leaves mean the plant needs to work harder to convert light into energy.

Now that we’ve established that your Monstera Thai Constellation should only be watered when the top layer of soil is dry, the next lesson is to compare the Thai Constellation water needs with the more common Monstera Deliciosa.

If you own or are considering a Thai Constellation, the odds are that you’re already familiar with a Monstera Deliciosa. And while these plants have very similar care needs, the Thai Constellation actually requires less water than its all-green cousin. Why is this?

While the Thai Constellation is genetically identical to the Deliciosa, the beautiful creamy variegation sets the plants apart in significant ways. These splotches on the Thai Constellation are sections of the leaf completely void of chlorophyll, meaning these colorful areas cannot covert light into energy for the plant.

Depending on the variation, this means that Thai Constellation leaves can photosynthesize 20% – 40% less energy than all-green Deliciosa leaves.

🔦Get the full picture of Thai Constellation lighting >

How does this impact watering? Water needs and plant energy are directly related. Since Thai Constellations generate less energy, they also require less water. This means if you water a Thai Constellation Monstera to meet the needs of a Deliciosa, you’ll likely end up with extra water run off.

In containers with perfect drainage, this isn’t an issue. However, excess moisture can linger in the soil, which is why Thai Constellation Monsteras are much more susceptible to root rot compared to the Deliciosa. You can avoid this by paying attention to the specific watering needs of each individual plant. Your Thai Constellation plant should be kept dryer than the all-green Monstera Deliciosa since it requires less water thanks to its unique variegation patterns that synthesize less solar energy.

How to avoid under-watering your Thai Constellation Monstera?

While Thai Constellation Monsteras prefer to stay on the dry side, like all tropicals, they do require regular waterings to stay healthy. Paying attention to the dryness of your plant’s soil is the best indicator of when to water. While these plants can tolerate some drought, going too long between Thai Constellation Monstera water sessions may result in the browning of leaves and slower growth. Check in on your plant regularly to ensure the conditions stay perfect to encourage growth and health.

How to avoid over-watering your Thai Constellation Monstera?

The biggest Thai Constellation Monstera water issue is root rot. Avoid over watering by observing the physical conditions of the soil and plant, and paying attention to your watering schedule. Have you recently watered and notice the soil is damp? If so, wait a few more days before watering again. Prolonged over watering will lead to plant decline. This usually starts as yellowing leaf edges. If you notice this, immediately step back on your watering schedule.

Additionally, over watering attracts a wealth of Monstera issues, like gnats, fungus and plant pests which may also spread to nearby plants. The easiest way to avoid this is to always lean on the side of keeping your soil dry and watering well once every week or two, instead of providing smaller amounts of water every few days.

What are the water drops on Monstera leaves?

Monstera Thai Constellation leaf detail
Following a healthy watering, droplets may form on the leaf tips of your plant.

The morning after a good watering, you may notice water drops at the tips of your Monstera leaves, especially on the newest leaves of your plant. Some call this behavior “crying” “weeping” or “sweating” and it’s a completely natural process. The actual term for this process is Guttation and is your plants natural way to flush excess hydration from the plant.

Typically, this occurs as an invisible vapor, but when the plant has significant water, droplets form on the leaf edges.

Does guttation mean I’m overwatering my Monstera?

Don’t be alarmed if you first notice guttation drops on the edges of your Monstera. While it means the plant has plenty of moisture and does not need to be watered for several days, this is a common biological occurrence. However, if you frequently notice your Monstera crying or weeping after waterings, your schedule is likely too frequent and simply waiting a few more days between waterings should bring you plant to a better watering schedule.

The best soil for Monstera watering

Repotting a Thai Constellation Monstera into a new pot
Loose soil debris from orchid soil mix helps water drain away from roots quickly.

Soil plays one of the most important parts to keeping your plant hydrated in healthy. While some plant enthusiasts grow their Monstera plants soil-free using LECA balls, a well-draining soil mixture can be just as successful. Many growers recommend a combination of potting soil, succulent mix and orchid mix.

I’ve had success growing Monsteras with equal parts succulent mix and orchid mix. This ensures your Thai Constellation Monstera water can easily pass through the soil medium and out of the container and drying faster, avoiding the issues that come with standing water in your plant container.

The best pots for Monstera watering

Because of their easy-going nature, Monsteras of all varieties can thrive in a variety of pots. Whether you want a plastic container, terracotta, or glazed pot, your plant will likely be happy as long as there is proper drainage at the bottom of the container to allow extra water to drain from the pot.

🪴Go in-depth with our Monstera container guide >

The best lighting for Monstera Thai Constellation plants

Monstera under grow light
Sunlight and LED lighting encourage growth and leaf development.

Lighting and watering go hand in hand for all-around plant health. While the rule of thumb is to provide as much indirect light as possible for your Monstera Thai Constellation, our dedicated guide to Thai Constellation lighting will walk through the best lighting to encourage growth and leaf fenestrations.

Key Takeaways: Monstera Thai Constellation Water Needs

Perfecting the mix of watering, lighting and humidity will help your Monstera grow quickly and produce beautiful foliage. Despite common beliefs, Monsteras like to stay on the dry side. Too much water can lead to root rot and pests, which may lead to decline. Proper drainage and the right soil will go a long way to ensuring your plant stays hydrated and develops healthy roots for long-term plant health.

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