How to Grow and Care for Swiss Cheese Plant

The Swiss cheese plant (Monstera adansonii) gets its common name from its large, heart-shaped leaves that develop holes as the plant ages, making the leaves resemble Swiss cheese. It can be trained to grow up a moss poll, but it looks great when left on its own to grow long vines.

Like its cousin Monstera deliciosa (also sometimes referred to as the Swiss cheese plant), monstera adansonii grows quickly, with an average growth rate of one to two feet per year in ideal growing conditions. Kept as a houseplant, it'll grow to between 3 and 8 feet long; in its native habitat, it can grow up to 13 feet.

It's important to note that all parts of Monstera plants are toxic to pets, so be careful when growing them indoors.

Swiss Cheese Plant Care

• Provide well-draining soil for your cheese plant.
• Water your cheese plant regularly; let the soil dry out and them moisten thoroughly.
• Add a stake or moss pole to the center of the pot to give your Swiss cheese plant a structure to climb on
• Fertilize your cheese plant with a balanced houseplant fertilizer, after it is well-established.
• Prune your cheese plant lightly and regularly as needed.

Light

Monstera adansonii needs bright but indirect light to grow. The foliage can burn if it's exposed to too much direct sun. If direct sunlight is unavoidable, limit its exposure to just two or three hours of morning sun.

Leaves Not Splitting

If the new leaves on your monstera adansonii are not splitting (do not have fenestration), this is a sign that your plant is not getting enough light. Happy, healthy monstera adansonii should have lots of splitting on the leaves. Make sure your plant is in a location with bright, indirect light.

Soil

Swiss cheese plants grow best in peat-based potting mix, which will help to trap moisture in the soil without causing it to become waterlogged. For strong growth, aim for a soil pH between 5.5 and 7.

Water

Water your Swiss cheese plant when the top inch of soil is dry. Soil should be be kept moist, but not soaked. A well-draining terracotta container will help to regulate moisture.

Temperature and Humidity

Swiss cheese plant thrives in high humidity (above 50%) and warm temperatures of 60°F to 85°F. A warm, well-lit bathroom (free of drafts) is a good spot for this tropical plant. If you need to increase humidity, add a pebble tray or use a humidifier in its space.

Fertilizer

A balanced fertilizer made for houseplants with an N-P-K of 5-2-3 should be applied monthly during the growing season (May to September). However, wait until the plant is well established after potting it, as potting mix typically already has slow-release fertilizer in it, and the sensitive roots need time to settle after the stress of being moved.

Get the Right Fertilizer

To help your Swiss cheese plant be its healthiest and happiest, we've rounded up the best fertilizers so you can give your houseplant what it needs.

Staking and Support

Swiss cheese plants are vigorous climbers, with aerial roots growing downward from the stem, which brace against the ground or any available support. In the wild, it will use these roots to push itself up onto an adjoining tree or woody vine. Providing stake support is crucial to keep it from escaping too far from its container: the most straightforward method is to insert a wooden, metal or plastic stake in the center of the pot.

Pests to Watch For

With increased watering during growing season, watch out for fungus gnats on your swiss cheese plant. They lay eggs in wet soil, and tend to live in the top layer of soil in the pot. Put out sticky traps and let the soil dry out fully to kill the larva, then adjust your watering schedule.

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Types of Swiss Cheese Plant

There are several types of monstera related to the Swiss cheese plant, including:

• Monstera deliciosa: This species features leaves that are larger than those of Monstera adansonii.
• Monstera borsigiana: This is a smaller and faster-growing form of Monstera deliciosa, with the most popular variety being the Monstera albo.
• Monstera obliqua: This is a rare species that looks similar toMonstera adansonii, but its leaves are thinner with more holes.
• Monstera dubia: The Monstera dubia cultivar has beautiful variegated leaves.
• Monstera siltepecana: This cultivar also known as 'El Salvador' has lovely lance-shaped leaves with silvery variegation.
• Monstera standleayana: Also known as Monstera standleyana albo, or 'Albo Variegata', this plant has dramatic coloring on its long, slender, dark green and creamy white variegated leaves.
• Monstera pinnatipartita: This variety is fast growing and has thick, textured leaves. As the leaves mature and grow larger, they also develop stunning fenestration.

Pruning

The Swiss cheese plant is a climber, so it might need to be pruned if it begins to outgrow your space. The best time to prune a Swiss cheese plant is in spring (you can propagate anything you cut). Use sterile pruning shears to cut back stems by no more than 25 percent. Cut just the stem right above a leaf node so it stays in place. Remove any dead or damaged leaves as needed.

Pruning Tip

No pruners? No problem! We've tested over 10 top-rated pruners to help you choose the right one for your comfort and personal needs—there's an option for everyone.

Propagating Swiss Cheese Plant

The easiest method to propagate a Swiss cheese plant is by stem cuttings. Not only is this an inexpensive way to acquire new plants, but it allows you to put any stems you remove while pruning to good use. The best time to propagate is in the spring. Here's how:

1. Trim off a 4- to 6-inch piece of stem, cutting just after a leaf node (the node stays intact). Remove any leaves on the bottom third to half of the cutting.
2. Apply a rooting hormone to the cut end.
3. Plant the cutting in moistened soilless potting mix in a small container with drainage holes. Place it in a warm spot with bright, indirect light.
4. Continue to keep the growing medium lightly moist. You should have well-formed roots in a few months, after which you can transfer the cutting to a larger pot.
   

Tips for Buying a Swiss Cheese Plant

• Check leaves for pests, specifically white fuzzies (mealybugs), red bugs with webbing (spider mites), and flying bugs (fungus gnats).
• Look for new leaf growth. New leaves are a sign of a healthy plant.
• Feel the stems for mushiness. Mushy stems are a strong indicator of root rot.

Potting and Repotting Swiss Cheese Plant

Best Kind of Pot

Any container with drainage holes will do for a Swiss cheese plant. These plants look especially nice in hanging baskets. When potting a nursery plant, select a container that's just slightly larger than the plant's root ball. Situate it at the same depth as it was in its nursery container, using a peat-based potting mix.

When to Repot

Plan to repot your Swiss cheese plant every two years in a slightly larger container with fresh potting mix. You will know it's time to repot if roots start to poke through the drainage holes, or start to poke up through the soil line. If soils dries out quickly, this may also be a sign that it needs repotting. The best time for potting and repotting is in the spring.

Planters for Swiss Cheese Plants

When repotting a swiss cheese plant, you made need to size-up the pot. Here are our favorite indoor planters to consider. You can also take the work out of watering with one of these self-watering planters.

Common Pests & Plant Diseases

The Swiss cheese plant might have to contend with a variety of common houseplant pests, including mealybugs, spider mites, scale, and whitefly. Luckily, these pests are rarely fatal and can be treated with a nontoxic insecticide or neem oil. Additionally, keep an eye out for common diseases, such as root rot, rust, powdery mildew, and blight.

Common Problems With Swiss Cheese Plant

When grown in the conditions it likes, the Swiss cheese plant typically doesn't have any serious problems. However, if you can't meet its environmental needs indoors, it is prone to some common issues.

Leaves Turning Yellow

Yellowing of the leaves is commonly the result of overwatering. Make sure your plant is never sitting in soggy soil, and allow it to slightly dry out between waterings.

Leaves Wrinkled or Curling

If the leaves are curled or wrinkled, this may be a sign of the soil being too dry or underwatering. Make sure you have well-draining potting soil and water thoroughly when the top one-two inches of soil becomes dry; water until water begins to run out of the drainage holes.

Leaves Turning Black

Black marks on the leaves can be a sign of leaf burn from direct sunlight. Watch your plant throughout the day to make sure direct sun isn't hitting it for very long. Especially make sure to protect it from strong afternoon sun.

Leaves Drooping

This can be a sign of either over or underwatering. Water when top two inches of soil is dry, and water thoroughly until soil is moist and water begins to run out the drainage holes of the container.

Leaves Falling Off or Not Putting on Size

If your Swiss cheese plant's leaves start to drop off, or are not putting on size at a normal rate, this may be a sign of too little light exposure. This plant likes bright but indirect sunlight. If indirect light is not an option, then bright morning sunlight is preferable to bright afternoon sunlight.

Leaves Not Splitting

The fenestration (splitting) habit of monstera is what gives it the distinctive look loved by growers. The cause of your monstera's leaves not splitting is too little light. Try increasing the light exposure slowly and gradually, to make not to harm the plant with too much bright light all at once.

Swiss Cheese Plant vs. Monstera: Is There a Difference?

Monstera is the common name for monstera deliciosa, a large and big-leafed plant, while Swiss cheese plant is the common name for monstera adansonii, a small plant with narrow and oblong leaves. The confusion comes from the fact that some people call monstera deliciosa "Swiss cheese plant." Many plants can share the same common name, so it's always a good idea to ask about or check a plant tag for the botanic name.

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  How to Grow and Care for Swiss Cheese Plant

• Do Swiss cheese plants like sun or shade?

  Swiss cheese plants need bright, indirect light to keep growing and for its leaves to fenestrate (get holes). Put it in or near a south-facing window, or near a west-facing window. You can put it right in a west-facing window if you do something to make the harsh afternoon light indirect, such as adding a sheer curtain.

• Do Swiss cheese plants climb or hang?

  Swiss cheese plants can either climb, with the help of a trellis or moss pole, or can be left to hang and trail more like a vine. Choose the best option for your space.
  

• Can I put my Swiss cheese plant outside in summer?

  Swiss cheese plants make great houseplants and do well inside, but if you like to move your houseplants outside in summer, you can do that with Swiss cheese plant. Just be sure not to put it in direct or hot sunlight.

• Do coffee grounds help Monstera?

  There is some debate around whether coffee grounds are good for houseplants, but those that prefer an acidic soil can benefit from adding coffee grounds to the soil. Monstera, including Swiss cheese plant, is one of those plants.

• What does an overwatered Monstera look like?

  An overwatered Monstera will typically start to develop yellow leaves, wilting or drooping leaves, may have dark spots on the leaves, and the roots will start to rot and turn mushy.

Is This Plant Right for You?

A swiss cheese plant may the right plant for you if you want a relatively low-maintenance plant that requires watering perhaps weekly, depending on the light; you like the appearance of (and have space for) long vines; and you have the space in or near a window where it can live.

From: thespruce