Meaning of the Adam’s Rib plant: benefits, cultivation and more!

One of the plants most used in decoration, the Rib of Adam, gives any environment an air of elegance and tropicality. Its exuberant, dark green, uniquely shaped leaves are the hallmark of this ornamental plant, which, in addition to being very beautiful, symbolizes longevity, hope and good luck according to Feng Shui.

Because it is a plant that is easy to grow and adapts well, the Rib of Adam is a great choice for places with little sunlight or for those people who do not have much time or knack for plants. In this article, we will learn more about this plant that is so used around the world and understand its symbology and cultivation method. Check out!

The Adam’s Rib already begins its exuberance by the scientific name: delicious Monstera. With intense green leaves and striking shape – reminiscent of a heart, wide, rounded and with unique cutouts, the Costela de Adão is present in decorations and gives a tropical air to the environment. Let’s get to know her more deeply, her origin and family. See below!

Its scientific name Monstera Delicious comes from Latin and means “monstrous”, a reference to its unusual shape, and delicious because of its edible fruits. It is a plant native to Mexico, from the tropical climate of the Americas. It became known as Costela de Adão due to the cuttings in its leaves that resemble ribs.

Due to its tropical climate, Costela de Adão transforms any monotonous environment into a place full of life, elegance and personality. It can reach up to 20 meters in height in nature, but if grown indoors, it is usually between 2 to 3 meters.

The Adam’s Rib belongs to the Araceae family, of which the Anthurium, the Calla Lily, the Imbé and the Peace Lily stand out. What characterizes the family are the generally wide leaves, which can be terrestrial or aquatic, with inflorescences that form a spike, usually surrounded by a petal.

In the case of Costela de Adão, its fruits are surrounded by a white petal, very aromatic. They are edible and their flavor and aroma are compared to a mixture of banana and pineapple. However, the fruits take more than a year to mature, and indoors this plant may not flower.

In addition to decorating the environment with its beauty and elegance and purifying the air, the Adam’s Rib is highly recommended by Feng Shui to attract good energies, being a great choice in places with little incidence of sun, where other plants might not have a good adaptation. Let’s see what this plant can attract to your home next!

According to ancient Chinese philosophy, the Adam’s Rib symbolizes long life and honor to the elderly. It’s a great choice to balance denser energies among family members, as it is believed to have the ability to improve relationships and strengthen affective bonds.

In addition, its rounded and dark green leaves inspire relaxation, and can be placed in the living room, dining room or where the family gathers.

Despite being a tropical plant, the Adam’s Rib is much appreciated by the Orientals. They are very suitable for attracting good luck and prosperity in business. To achieve this benefit, it is ideal to have the plant in the entryway of the house, next to the door.

Due to its accelerated growth and its search for the high – since it is a climbing plant, the Adam’s Rib symbolizes the expansion of ideas and the realization of dreams, as well as the pursuit of happiness.

In Hawaii, Adam’s Rib is said to lead to a ray of hope, as the sun sets in the South Island. Through its hollow leaves, light passes through, thus symbolizing hope in the midst of chaos.

In its natural habitat, the Rib of Adam is born in the darkest side of the forest, as there are the most robust trees capable of providing firm stems through which it can climb until it reaches the light at the top. This movement makes its symbology one of determination and the search for light in times of shadows.

Adam’s Rib is a plant highly recommended by Feng Shui due to its unique characteristics – the round leaves, which resemble hearts, transmit peace, union and balance, added to its crevices that allow the passage of the sun, symbolizing hope, and its rapid upward growth, indicates determination, courage, and good fortune.

In addition, they are easy to grow and can be placed in environments with little sunlight, ideal to have indoors or at work, always close to the front door.

Despite being a medium to large-sized plant, Adam’s Rib has an enormous ability to adapt, and can be grown even by those who do not have great gardening skills, or by those who do not have much space or sunny places at home.

Let’s understand below what are the main tips for taking care of an Adam’s Rib and keeping it healthy and beautiful. Look!

One of the great reasons why Adam’s Rib is very suitable for interiors is because it doesn’t like full sun, so an illuminated area for it is enough. In addition, it does not support very low temperatures, so the ideal is to keep it in a climate above 13 degrees. Only in winter does it tolerate direct sun for a couple of hours.

If grown in gardens, choose to place it under bushes or trees that project shade and protect it from intense sun and cold.

Nothing prevents it from being cultivated in all seasons, but because it is a tropical plant, Adam’s Rib develops better in spring and summer. Avoid leaving it in environments where it takes cold or intense winds, prefer to keep it indoors in winter.

It’s a great choice for winter gardens, those green spaces indoors, as they adapt very well to low light, convey joy and life and prefer places protected from the cold.

The ideal season for pruning the Adam’s Rib is spring, as it will grow most strongly during that season. It is important to prune carefully to maintain the shoots, removing the leaves from a straight cut at the base, close to the branches. If any sheet is damaged, it is possible to cut it partially.

Special care should be taken when disposing of the leaves, as their sap is toxic and can cause skin irritation and be very dangerous if ingested.

The Adam’s Rib needs to be with the soil always humid, but never soaked. The ideal is to check the soil and water when it is getting dry. In summer, watering can vary from two to three times a day, depending on the size of the vase, and less in winter.

In addition, it is important to fertilize at least once a year with organic fertilizer such as compost or humus. Cleaning the leaves regularly with a damp sponge is also a good habit to remove dust and prevent them from drying out.

As the Adam’s Rib has roots on the stalks, making seedlings is very simple – just cut a few centimeters below these roots and prepare the soil to be placed with organic fertilizer. The seedling can be kept in water until it has a few centimeters of root and then placed in the ground.

As it is a poisonous plant, it is best to handle it with gloves as the sap can irritate the skin. It is very dangerous if ingested, so it is important to keep it away from small children and pets.

Due to its wide and cut leaves, the Monstera plant is known in Brazil as Costela de Adão, as its shape resembles human ribs with the definition of the vertebrae. Due to its beauty and exuberance, it is widespread around the world as an ornamental plant and has strong symbolism of good luck, prosperity and longevity.

Adam’s Rib can still be linked to the beauty of Paradise mentioned in the Bible, where Adam lived with Eve according to the Hebrew myth. Large tropical vegetation and exuberant fruits illustrate our imagination of paradise, so not only can its shape be linked to Adão but, risking a guess, let’s say that it also has a paradisiacal origin.