Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma Care Guide – How to Grow a Mini Monstera

The Rhaphidophora tetrasperma is a trendy houseplant with fenestrated leaves that resemble the larger Monstera deliciosa, bringing a touch of tropical vibes to your home.

The Rhaphidophora tetrasperma is great if you don’t have enough space to grow a large Monstera deliciosa, because it stays smaller, grows faster, and forms holes in its leaves quicker.

This plant care guide has all the practical tips on watering, light, humidity, propagation, and more!

Need a plant care refresher? Check out the Beginners Guide to Basic Houseplant Care. Filled with all you need to know to take care of your indoor plants.   

Indoor Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma

Because of their resemblance, retailers often sell the Rhaphidophora tetrasperma as a mini monstera, monstera minima, or dwarf monstera. Although this plant looks like a small Monstera deliciosa, it is not the same.

Both of them are so-called aroids coming from the same Araceae plant family and require similar care. Just like the Monstera adansonii, another Deliciosa lookalike.

Want to buy a Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma? Find it for sale on Amazon! 

Light Requirements

The fast-growing Rhaphidophora tetrasperma originally comes from tropical Thailand and Malaysia where it grows in dappled or shaded light under the canopies of tall trees.

Indoors, your dwarf Monstera likes bright, indirect sunlight. A good spot is near an east-facing or north-facing window. 

It can tolerate lower light situations. But too much shade may cause the leaves to stay smaller and might not form the distinctive perforations. Vines may also grow leggy with more space between the leaves reaching for the light. Consider getting a LED grow light if your home doesn’t receive enough natural light.   

Dust can collect on the leaves. The leaf pores get clogged making it harder to take in light. Occasionally wipe down the leaves with a damp cloth, or bring your plant to the bathroom and treat it to a gentle room temperature shower. 

Watering

In its natural habitat, the Rhaphidophora tetrasperma plant is used to grow in a humid environment, on moist soil.  

In your home, water your plant regularly to keep the soil slightly damp, but never soggy. The soil should feel like a wrung-out sponge.   

If the soil feels moist, don’t water but wait one or two days and check again. If the soil is dry, go ahead and water thoroughly to saturate all of the soil. Then allow the top layer of the soil to dry out before watering again. 

Watering too often can lead to yellow leaves and root rot, while underwatering can cause the leaves to droop, wilt, and dry out. Leaves should feel firm. If in doubt, don’t water yet. An underwatered plant is easier to revive than an overwatered plant. 

If you’re uncertain, you can use a moisture meter to help you with when to water. And read up on the basics of watering your indoor plants. 

Fertilize

You can fertilize your mini Monstera to supplement poor soil or give your plant a boost during the growing season. Use a diluted liquid fertilizer about once a month in spring and summer.  

Be sure the soil is damp before fertilizing to prevent burning the plant’s roots, and avoid fertilizing in the winter when the plant’s growth naturally slows down. 

Newly bought or recently repotted plants don’t need to be fertilized for at least the first 4 to 6 months. The potting mix usually already has slow-release fertilizer in it.   

Also never fertilize if your plant is having problems. Fertilizer is not plant medicine. It gives your plant a boost of nutrients when it is actively growing. It’s important not to over-fertilize, as this can lead to a buildup of salts in the soil that can damage the plant’s roots. 

Humidity

The Rhaphidophora tetrasperma can grow and adapt to average household humidity levels. However, it will do better if you raise the humidity. 

A good place for a dwarf Monstera is a bathroom or kitchen with a bright window. The steam from the shower or cooking will provide your plant with the humidity it loves.  

The best way to raise the humidity is to place a small humidifier near your plant. 

Moss Pole Climbing Support

In its natural habitat, the Rhaphidophora tetrasperma uses aerial roots to climb up trees and large branches. When your plant grows larger, you can give it something to climb on. A moss pole is a great option.

Place the pole in such a way that leaf nodes are touching it, or at least are very near to it. Aerial roots will grow from these nodes, grabbing onto the stake. Mist frequently so the roots can attach themselves more easily.

Read more: How to attach a Rhaphidophora tetrasperma to a moss pole!

Soil and Repotting

Repot in spring in a pot one size up when roots have filled the pot, and or when you see roots growing from the bottom of the pot.  

Even if your plant still has room to grow, you want to refresh the soil every two to three years. The soil will have lost all its nutrients and will need to be replaced with fresh soil.  

A well-draining special aroid potting mix is a good choice for your Rhaphidophora tetrasperma.

Gently remove your plant from the pot. If needed tap the pot to loosen the soil and roots. Support the plant in one hand, and use your other hand to carefully take the pot off.   

Make sure the new pot has drainage holes on the bottom. This is a must. You want any excess water to have a way out.   

Read more: How to repot your houseplants. 

Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma Propagation

The easiest way to propagate is by taking stem cuttings and rooting them in water or soil.   

Cut a stem cutting with a few leaves. Remove the leaves from the lower part of the cuttings. To water propagate, let the cuttings dry and callous over before placing in water. Keep in bright, indirect light. Change the water regularly and after a week or so roots will start to grow. Transplant to soil when roots are about 1 – 2 inches.  

To propagate in soil, plant the calloused cuttings in a small pot with well-draining soil. Keep in bright, indirect light. Mist or water very sparingly until you see new growth. 

To speed up the propagation process, you can apply a rooting hormone powder to the cutting before planting it. This powder stimulates the formation of roots and results in stronger, better-rooted plants. If you don’t have any, you can skip it. It might just take a little longer. 

Want to learn more about plant propagation? Read the complete guide explaining the 6 different ways to propagate all your plants. 

Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma Yellow leaves

The leaves of an indoor Rhaphidophora tetrasperma can turn yellow for a few reasons.

Most often it is because the plant has been overwatered. Give the soil more time to dry out, and adjust your watering schedule going forward.

If overwatering isn’t the cause of the yellow leaves, it could be that your plant is getting too much direct sunlight. If the plant is too close to a window, it can be chlorophyll loss turning the leaves yellow.

But there’s more. Over- or under-fertilizing can also lead to yellowing leaves. Too much fertilizer can burn the roots and make the leaves go yellow. Not enough fertilizer can cause iron or nitrogen deficiencies which also cause yellowing leaves.

On the other hand, if you over-fertilized your plant, you want to carefully remove the plant from the pot and clear the soil away from the roots. Gently rinse the roots with lukewarm water. Repot in fresh well-draining soil.

Leaf spot shows up as brown or black water-soaked spots on the foliage, sometimes with a yellow halo around them. These dead tissue spots can spread really quickly. Prune off all leaves that have any spots as soon as you notice them.

Plant Pests

Like many houseplants, the Rhaphidophora tetrasperma can be susceptible to pests such as spider mites, mealybugs, aphids, and fungus gnats.

However, with proper care and regular inspection, you can prevent and manage pest infestations. Keep the leaves clean and inspect your plant for any signs of pests, such as webbing, sticky residue, or tiny insects on the leaves to catch a possible infestation before it becomes severe. 

Thoroughly check under the leaves and in axils where insects tend to hide. 

Remove the pests manually if possible, and isolate the plant from any others to prevent the pests from spreading. Treat the plant with an appropriate pest control method.  

Learn more about common houseplant pests and what you can do to get rid of them. 

Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma Toxic to Cats?

The Rhaphidophora tetrasperma plant is considered mildly toxic when ingested. It may cause stomach pain, irritation of the mouth, tongue, and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing.

Although it is uncommon for pets to get seriously hurt from eating plants, keep this one out of reach of children and pets. 

Read more: Keeping Your Pets Safe: Identifying Toxic Plants in Your Home.