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I grew up in Southern California. We had a huge Monstera in the backyard in the 60s which had long since broken the pot, taken root, and started up a tree. When we moved my Dad took cuttings and I have cuttings of those plants growing today. We know the original plant was at our grandparents house in the 40s in Los Angeles on Meridian St.--we have a photo to prove it. Here's where it gets interesting: my Grandfather claimed the original plant was a cutting that our congressman relative got from the Washington Botanical Garden. That plant was apparently a gift from the King of Siam (at the time) in the late 1800s.. I did send a letter to the DCBG about this but got no response. My Grandfather could embellish at times so we're not sure of the original beginnings as yet, lol.

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Oh, this is a fascinating story! Maybe not ever finding out the truth about the origins of the monstera keeps the magic around this plant alive :) Thank you for sharing this!

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This was really great. If you ever decide to write about fungus gnats, I’ll be rapt with attention! 🪰

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Jan 18, 2023
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Well, I have been in a two-year battle with them and have tried just about everything, though not yet nematodes. Just today I put up a new UV light trap that is supposed to draw them in (the second such device I've tried; the first was a total failure).

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