With their broad, heart shaped leaves and glossy green foliage, Monstera deliciosa plants are incredibly trendy right now.
Due to the holes (fenestrations) they develop in their leaves as they age, they also go by names like Swiss Cheese Plant or Split Leaf Philodendron.
Unfortunately, their popularity means they can end up being a little pricey. If you’re thinking about adding a Monstera plant to your home or garden, it’s helpful to learn a little about costs before you begin shopping.
How Much Does a Monstera Deliciosa Cost?
A Monstera deliciosa plant can sell for anywhere from $5 to $5,000. There are several factors that affect costs, including a plant’s age, size, and color patterns. If you want to estimate the cost for a plant, you need to consider what type of Monstera deliciosa you want to get.
Typical Costs for a Monstera Deliciosa Plant
With the huge range of potential prices, you might be wondering how much you can expect to pay. It’s important to keep in mind that there are a lot of outliers.
Only really rare variants sell for as much as $5,000, and you’d have to do a lot of bargain shopping to find one for as cheap as $5. The majority of monstera deliciosa plants go for somewhere from $30 to $60.
Keep in mind that this is the price for an average, green plant of around two to three feet high. Any time you shop for plants that are not in this category, expect to end up paying slightly different costs.
Among higher-end plants, the average cost is around $100 to $150. This is usually the price for a larger plant or a variegated Monstera deliciosa.
Pretty much the only plants that will cost more than a few hundred dollars are massive plants with super rare coloration patterns.
Factors That Affect Monstera Deliciosa Costs
The reason there is so much difference in Monstera deliciosa costs is because there are so many different types of plant.
Some are common and cheap to produce, while others are rare and highly sought after.When shopping for Monstera deliciosa plants, there are the main things that will affect your plant’s overall price tag.
Plant Size Is an Important Factor
When shopping among the “average” Monstera deliciosa plants, the plant’s size is the key factor in price. Plant nurseries charge more for bigger plants because it takes them more time and energy to grow these plants.
Some people sell plants based on height, while others categorize them based on the size of the plant’s pot. In general, smaller plants of less than a foot high are around $25.
For a medium sized plant, which is usually around 2 feet high or a 1 gallon pot, expect to pay around $40 to $50.
Large monsters of around three or four feet usually go for over $100. Once you start shopping for true monsters, which can be up to 10 feet high, the price tag can be hundreds of dollars.
Age of the Plant Matters Too
Though size is a big factor, age of the plant matters too. Age is important because Monstera plants only get their signature lobed leaves with age.
A very young plant will have flat, small, heart shaped leaves. These are typically much cheaper, sometimes costing as little as $10.
Once the plant gets older and starts developing bigger leaves with lobes, price goes up even if the plant is still short. A mature plant with a lot of larger, more developed leaves can end up costing around $20 to $50 more than its younger counterpart.
Plant Coloration Causes Big Changes in Price Tag
So if most Monstera deliciosas are only a couple hundred dollars, why are some selling for insanely high costs? The answer to that is variegation.
One of the things that makes Monstera deliciosas so sought-after is the fact that they can have some extremely unusual color patterns. Any plant that does not have solid green leaves will cost more, and if it’s got a very rare pattern, expect to pay a lot.
Monsteras can have all sorts of variegations, including ones with white or yellow coloration. The variegated areas can be speckles along part of the leaf, or they can be color changes along the leaf’s veins.
For a popular yet fairly commonplace variation, like the Thai Constellation, expect to pay around $90 for a medium plant. If the plant is an extremely rare variation, like the Half Moon Monstera with its stunning, half-white leaves, you may have to pay thousands of dollars.
Don’t Forget About Shipping
If you want one of the rarer varieties like a half-moon Monstera plant, you may find that no local sellers have the plant available. In these cases, you’ll need to remember to add shipping to the cost of your plant.
Sadly, these prices can add up really quickly. Shipping plants is a tricky business, since they need a lot of careful packaging to stay in good shape.
If you’ve picked out a bigger Monstera deliciosa plant, the large root ball can be quite heavy. Depending on how much the plant weighs, you could end up needing to pay around an extra $30 to $50 for shipping.
The location
Probably the biggest factor is where you live. A Variegated Monstera Deliciosa can cost anywhere from $50 – $500 dollars.
It is a big difference if you live in Florida USA where the availability of Monstera plants is abundant compared to Australia where strict regulations limit the number of rare plants available.
How to Get Cheap Monstera Deliciosa Plants
So if you love the look of a Monstera plant but don’t like the idea of paying over $100, what can you do? There are a few ways you can go about finding a much cheaper plant.
First of all, skip shopping at big box gardening stores. Instead, look at small, local plant nurseries to find better deals.
Next, pay close attention to the container the plant comes in. Often, pricier plants are expensive because they are in a fancy pot, so you can save money by getting an unpotted plant.
Finally, be willing to put in the work and grow a Monstera deliciosa yourself. Getting a small cutting is the absolute cheapest option, and it can be really rewarding to watch your plant grow into a giant.
Daniel has been a plant enthusiast for over 20 years. He owns hundreds of houseplants and prepares for the chili growing seasons yearly with great anticipation. His favorite plants are plant species in the Araceae family, such as Monstera, Philodendron, and Anthurium. He also loves gardening and is growing hot peppers, tomatoes, and many more vegetables.