Monstera plants are very beautiful and increasingly popular houseplants, and if you’re thinking of getting one, you might be wondering how much you should be looking to pay for it. Large plants can be surprisingly expensive, so we’re going to look at how much do Monstera plants cost.
The price of these plants can vary massively depending on the size and type. You might pay anywhere between $10 all the way up to $5000 for a rare and large specimen. Few cost as much as $5000 (they have to be very rare plants), but you could easily be looking at something close to $100 for a large or non-standard kind.
What Do Monstera Plants Usually Cost?
It is very difficult to estimate what you might expect to pay for a Monstera because there are several different kinds, and of course, you can buy baby plants for much less than you would pay for an adult plant.
As a very approximate average, you should expect to pay somewhere between $25-$60 for a standard Monstera deliciosa that is healthy and not either a new cutting or a full-grown plant. Monsteras around two feet tall usually go for this sort of money.
That isn’t cheap for a new plant, but it isn’t bank-breaking either! Most people will be happy to pay this to get a beautiful plant that brings life to their home. So, why are some Monsteras so much more? What hikes the price up?
The biggest determiners in price are what type of Monstera the plant is and how big it is. The larger a plant has been grown to, the more work, time, and resources the grower has invested into it, so you tend to pay a lot for a large Monstera plant.
It is important to think about the variety, too. The rarer the plant, the more you will pay for one, and competition can be fierce. Monsteras with variegated leaves are very popular and in high demand, so you will certainly pay more for one of these.
For a large or rare specimen, you may be looking at anything between $100 and $150 or slightly more. However, if you want a really rare or really large plant, you should expect to pay hundreds or even thousands of dollars. That might seem crazy, but that’s the standard rate.
How Do I Find A Cheap Monstera?
If you’re not looking to pay a fortune for your new plant, how can you find a cheap one?
Firstly, look for the more standard kinds of Monstera. These tend to be much cheaper, as they are more common and therefore there is less competition when it comes to purchasing one.
Standard green-leaf Monstera deliciosa, for example, is the commonest variety and you should be able to get these for less money than something like a variegated leaf Monstera deliciosa. While the variegated leaves are particularly beautiful and unusual, they will cost a good bit more!
The Monstera deliciosa albo variegata, for example, has white variations on its leaves and costs significantly more than the standard deliciosa because it is harder to get hold of and also very slow growing due to the reduced chlorophyll in its leaves.
That means that a grower will have to put considerably more time and energy into rearing one of these than the standard deliciosa, and you will consequently pay considerably more for it.
So, looking for a cheap variety is the first step. If you don’t want to spend a lot, the standard Monstera deliciosa with green leaves is probably your best bet for keeping the price down.
The second strategy involves buying a smaller plant. This might be disappointing in a way, but the bigger the plant, the more you are going to pay for it – it’s as simple as that. You cannot buy a large, healthy plant for a small amount of money.
This is because whoever has grown the plant has spent a long time nurturing it. It takes up space, time, and resources, and, therefore, costs more because you are paying for having had somebody else look after it for years.
Large plants are tempting, because they will make an instant difference to the room you place them in, and they are very attractive. You also take fewer risks because they will usually be more resistant to problems than a baby plant, which is less resilient. Of course, either plant can die if improperly handled, but large ones tend to be less fragile.
If you don’t want to pay a lot for your Monstera plant, choosing a little one and “bringing it up” yourself is the best option you have. You might pay as little as $10 for a small, standard Monstera, or as much as $80-$100 for a large specimen.
Overall, the best ways to keep the price down involve finding a standard, small Monstera, rather than a large, rare one.
How Can I Get A Free Monstera Plant?
You might not want to pay anything at all for your Monstera, and there are a few ways to get plants for free if you are very lucky. However, you will not get a large plant unless somebody gifts you one – they are simply too expensive and valuable for people to give away.
Let’s look at how you might be able to get one for free (or extremely cheaply).
Tip One: Ask For A Cutting
If you know a friend who has a Monstera, this is your best bet. These plants produce babies very readily, and if you know someone who has a plant, they probably won’t mind giving you a cutting for nothing.
Of course, some friends will be less keen, especially if they propagate and sell their Monstera cuttings, but it is worth asking – you never know!
Monsteras propagate easily, so if you want a Monstera plant, getting a cutting is probably the cheapest way to get one. You are bound to know at least one person who has one of these plants; they are so popular, they seem to be everywhere!
Tip Two: Try Preloved Sites
You may not get a plant totally for free on a preloved site, but you might score a large and overgrown Monstera for very little money. Often, people who are decluttering realize they have let their plant get out of hand. Rather than trying to tame it, they gift it to a new home.
Often, there will be a small cost involved here, but it can be substantially less than trying to buy a new plant from a commercial store, especially if you want a large specimen. Few people give away small versions, but if they find that their plant has outgrown their space, they may decide that they no longer want it.
You could be the lucky recipient of a huge Monstera this way for very little cost!
What Are The Most Expensive Monstera Plants?
You may be curious about the priciest of the Monsteras. Which plants cost the most in this family?
It will depend a bit on the size and current market rates, but here are a few of the commonly expensive Monsteras:
- Monstera albo borsigiana
- Monstera adansonii
- Monstera albo variegata
In general, Monsteras with variegated leaves are the most expensive. Because of the lower chlorophyll levels, they are slow to grow, and they have enjoyed an explosion of popularity during the pandemic. They are featured in many home decor magazines and appear all over social media, with Instagram flooded with images of their striking leaf colors.
If you’re happy to pay a lot for your plant, you may be able to snag one of these varieties, but be aware that competition is fierce, and you may find yourself struggling to get one. The standard varieties are easy to buy, but variegated leaf ones are harder.
If you are desperate to get a variegated leaf Monstera but you can’t afford the sky high prices, try looking for the Thai Constellation type. These are considerably cheaper than many of the other alternatives.
You also don’t sacrifice much in terms of beauty; these plants can be just as striking and attractive as the more expensive varieties, so this is a great way to bring that amazing patterning into your home without paying a huge amount.
Depending on your area, you may be able to buy a Monstera Thai Constellation for as little as $150. Obviously, that’s a big jump up from $10 or free, but it is much cheaper than many of the variegated Monsteras, so it may work for you.
Conclusion
Monstera plants fall into a very broad price range and can cost you thousands or just a two-digit number, depending on what you want. It will always be cheaper to buy a small plant and rear it yourself than to purchase a large, established plant, but remember that Monsteras are slow-growing.
If you want a “feature” for your home, bear in mind that you will wait years for a small Monstera to reach a decent size!