We met Kunzo at Plantcon in NYC and bought his new hybrid which he calls the White Fairy. I shook his hand, he told me it's a hyrbid of albo and deliciosa. Another purchaser heard the same thing, and said Kunzo told them that the deliciosa in question is an ocean mint.
Somebody who I consider to be an expert in monsteras (I will not name names because I am not an expert and they very well could be right) claims this is just a small form albo. I basically asked "why would Kunzo lie about this and risk his rep?"
This is where they said something that I am struggling with, because I am nowhere near the plant master that they are so who the fuck am I to keep questioning it? Basically, the claim is "what rep? he [Kunzo] must not know what he is selling. I’ve never seen him give an explanation of any Monstera, ever"
I was hoping to get some more clarity from the rare plant community. I am clearly biased, I think Kunzo is amazing, his plants are amazing… but are there any records of him selling fake hybrids? This accusation has shaken me up a little bit, seeing as this plant was $540 and I was pretty starstruck meeting what I believe is a plant legend.
by Suspiggus
5 Comments
I mean it looks just like a regular albo to me.
There’s a debate about whether or not Borsigiana is its own thing or just small form / large form.
So depending what you believe, ie if you don’t believe there is Borg’s and they’re all just deliciosa then it wouldn’t be a hybrid its just two variegated parents.
Personally, I haven’t seen sufficient proof that Borgs are their own thing, so to me this is just a variegated monstera albo with nice patterning, I don’t really see enough evidence of it being anything special.
Seems a rip off for a potentially special plant. Because to me, that’s not a hybrid.
The thing with hybrids is that every seed will develop differently displaying different characterists from both parents. It may well be a hybrid but to me this just *looks* like an Albo.
It is a white fairy. And it is a cross between an ocean Mint and a monstera albo small form. Some highly variegated monstera albos give off ocean mint looks. What do you want to look for is the pattern of an oceana.
Where are you going to see if a difference is in the nodes. Since it is crossed with a large form (ocean mint) and a small form Monstera albo you get an intermediate form. That is what makes these plants special. The cool thing about intermediate forms is they will reach maturity, faster than small form. You can also see that your notes are not that far apart.
Either way Congratulations! You’re really lucky to be able to get one of those. It’s a wishlist plant for me!
Buy plants that you like, for the reasons you like and from who you like.
If you’re happy that’s all that matters. But, in all honesty kunzo or not, they’re salesman in the community. Their name adds 0s to the end of the price and they know it.
While i can’t say it looks different from an Albo, you did buy a plant kunzo recognizes and has a story on. That’s badass in and of itself.
I am confused why being a hybrid of albo matters? I thought albo doesn’t get passed on to seeds? Unless something changed.