Thousands of species of plants are planted in households to enhance the house’s attractiveness. The Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma and Monstera Deliciosa are two of the most popular plants planted in households.
But they are so similar looking that people can identify one species with the other species. But these are not the same. When you compare Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma vs Monstera Deliciosa, you will be able to learn about certain aspects that differ from them.
Lots of differences are there. The leaves, fruit, flowers, and other parts are completely different from each other.
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Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma vs Monstera Deliciosa comparison chart
| Comparison points | Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma | Monstera Deliciosa |
| Who discovered | Joseph Dalton Hooker in 1893 | Charles Plumier in 1693 |
| Other names | Mini Monstera, Philodendron Ginny, Philodendron Piccolo | delicious monster, fruit salad plant, fruit salad tree, ceriman, monster fruit, monsterio delicio, monstereo, Mexican breadfruit, window leaf, balazo, Penglai banana, and split-leaf philodendron. |
| Size | They are often conserved at 6 feet. But they grow up to 12 feet in length and 1.5 to 2 feet flatten. | They can grow up to 20 meters long. But in the household, they can grow 10 to 15 feet long with a stretch of 8 feet. |
| Where to Found | Malaysia and Southern Thailand. | Tropical forests of southern Mexico, Panama, Hawaii, Seychelles, Ascension Island, Society Islands. |
| Flower | No | Yes |
| Edibility | No | Yes |
| Highest Price sold in an auction. | White-colored Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma is sold in 2021 for 19300 dollars. | The most expensive Monstera Deliciosa is sold for about 38000 dollars. |
Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma vs Monstera Deliciosa differences
Taxonomy:
The taxonomy indicates the exact biological difference between Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma and Monstera Deliciosa.
| Scientific classification | Rhaphidophora tetrasperma | Monstera deliciosa |
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plantae |
| Clade | Tracheophytes | Tracheophytes |
| Clade | Angiosperms | Angiosperms |
| Clade | Monocots | Monocots |
| Order | Alismatales | Alismatales |
| Family | Araceae | Araceae |
| Genus | Rhaphidophora | Monstera |
| Species | R. tetrasperma | M. deliciosa |
Leaf Description
The Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma has ornamental leaves. They look heart-shaped. The color of these leaves is light green. The leaves are small in size, which is less than one foot. They have split lobes that are 6 inches long. There is no hole near the midrib.
On the other hand, Monstera Deliciosa has much bigger leaves. The leaves are heart-shaped and usually 10-35.5 inches long. The width of the leaves is 25-75cm. The color of these leaves is glossy green and looks dark. There are elliptical or oblong holes on the leaves.
The young plants’ leaves look like Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma leaves, but when they are old enough, they produce lobes.
Fruit Description
The Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma doesn’t produce edible fruit, but Monstera Deliciosa does. The length of the Monstera Deliciosa fruit is about 25cm and can be 3 to 5cm in diameter. The fruits have hexagonal scales with a greenish color.
The ripened fruits have a sweet scent, and the fruits don’t have any scales as they fall off. These unripened fruits have needle-sized calcium oxalate, which helps them from cattle or other animals. It took about a year to ripen the fruits. Then they become yellowish in color.
Growth Style
The growth of Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma and Monstera Deliciosa requires some circumstances like how much sunlight, water, or nutrition they are getting.
Usually, the Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma is 5 feet long. But if they get a plant’s roots to climb, they can be 15 feet long. Though Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma is one of the fast-growing plants for its growth rate.
On the other hand, the Monstera Deliciosa can be 20m long if all the requirements are met. They shingle with a tree to reach the highest point of the tree to get proper sunlight.
Growing Requirements for Tetrasperma and Monstera Deliciosa
Let’s see the growing requirements for each plant.
Water
The Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma requires more water to survive. So if you don’t water them properly, or the soil will be barren out rapidly. Therefore, for at least 5 to 7 days, you need to water the Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma in the summer. But when it is winter, you need to water them one time per month.
But the Monstera Deliciosa doesn’t need much water. You can water them 5-7 days in summer, but they don’t need water in winter.
Fertilizer
As the Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma and the Monstera Deliciosa both are plants, they need enough fertilizer so that they can grow properly. But you should be careful choosing fertilizers for these plants.
The Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma suffer a lot if you provide chemical fertilizer to them. Their roots might get fertilizer burned. So choosing organic fertilizer is reasonable for these plants.
On the other hand, the Monstera Deliciosa can tolerate chemical fertilizer so fertilize them with suitable fertilizer once every two weeks. They will help these plants during their growth period.
Repotting
The Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma is a fast-growing plant. So you need to change them once every year. Their roots are compassionate, so you should take proper care and essential steps to re-potting them.
On the other hand, Monstera Deliciosa is a slow-growing plant. Their enormous size is also a problem for re-potting. So consider buying a larger pot for repotting them. You can change the pot once every 2-3 years.
Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma vs Monstera Deliciosa similarities
Along with the differences, a lot of similarities are there. Let’s see them now.
Sunlight
One of the most important similarities between these plants is sunlight. As they like warmer places, so in proper sunlight, they can grow faster. But you shouldn’t put them in a place where sunlight directly falls on them. Install a shade on an east-facing window to prevent much sunlight and by the side of the window, place these plants.
Pest of insects
Insects like scorpions, spiders, make their nests in these trees. They also cause damage to the leaves and fruits. If they cause a lot of damage to the plants, the plants might die. So take the necessary steps to save these plants from these invaders. Spray pesticides to the leaves or infected sections of the plants. You can also use neem oil. You should wash all the infected leaves so that they can not cause more difficulties.
Temperature.
The precise temperature for Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma and Monstera Deliciosa is 55 to 85-degree Fahrenheit, which is 12 to 29-degree Celsius. This temperature is pretty close to room temperature. So you can plant these trees in your house.
But when it is summer, you should place these plants in a place where there is not much heat. Also, consider that you shouldn’t plant them where direct sunlight can reach.
Humidity
Both the Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma and Monstera Deliciosa are very moisture-loving as they grow faster with water. So if there is proper humidity in the air, it is
incredibly beneficial for them. At least 40% to 60% humidity in the air helps these plants to dehydrate well. As in the winter, there is not much humidity in the air so consider watering them after a while.
FAQs
Still got some questions? Have a look at the section below.
Is a Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma a Monstera?
The Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma is not a Monstera. Though the Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma look like mini Monstera, they came from a different genus. They have a vast amount of differences like the Monstera are central and south American natives. On the other hand, Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma is from southern Thailand and Malaysia.
Is Monstera minima the same as Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma?
The Monstera minima and the Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma are the same plants. You can check their taxonomy to understand they are both the same plant. The name Monstera minima is used basically because its scientific name is tough to enunciate. But they both are aroids. So people use Monstera minima.
Is Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma rare?
The Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma is a pretty rare plant because they are only from Southeast Asia. Some rare variegated Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma is sold for an average of 5300 dollars. In 2021 a rare white-colored Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma plant was sold in New Zealand for a price of 19300 US dollars.
Conclusion
Knowing about the difference between two almost similar species is always crucial because we can access essential rangeland and field variables about them. So that we can manage them properly and produce them in good condition.
By acquiring knowledge about Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma vs Monstera Deliciosa, we will be able to know how to identify them perfectly. We will be able to understand which one is preferred to our lifestyle and if we buy them can they provide enough value for our money or not.