Monstera Adansonii – How to Grow and Care | Swiss Cheese Plant

The Monstera Adansonii or the Swiss cheese plant is a tall, beautiful dark green plant with its roots tied to the thick forests of southern Mexico.

It has become popular as it is used in modern houses today as a decorative plant.

This is all thanks to its beautiful heart-shaped leaves that are quite pleasing to look at. Another thing that is remarkable about the indoor plant is its leaf structure.

The Monstera Adansonii has a peculiar leaf structure that produces holes as the plant matures. This is where it gets its name “swiss cheese plant”.

Although the Monstera Adansonii plant makes a great house plant, it is, however, toxic to house pets, so I recommend you be careful when choosing to grow the holey plant indoors.

The Swiss Cheese Plant Types 

Not a lot of people know that there are various species of Swiss Cheese plants. 3 species each with a different leaf structure than the other:

• Monstera deliciosa: The leaves of the Monstera deliciosa are a lot bigger than those of the Adansonii, another distinguishing fact would be that the holes on the deliciosa would be longer and narrower.

• Monstera obliqua: The obliqua, is a rare variant of the Adansonii. Its leaves are thinner and you can tell them apart by the excess holes found on the leaves of the obliqua as it is much more than the holes found on the Adansonii.

• Monstera borsigiana: When looking at the Monstera borsigiana, think of the deliciosa, but a version that grows faster and looks smaller. 

Taking Proper Care of The Swiss Cheese Plant

The Swiss Cheese plant is a climbing plant. And as such requires enough food (sunlight) and water to stay healthy and alive. It also has a tendency to overgrow so you might need to prune it often just to stay the proper size.  

When providing sunlight for your Swiss Cheese plant, ensure that it is indirect. You could block the rays of the sun with a light curtain. And even if it does take direct sunlight, you should limit it to only a few hours a day. This is because the leaves of the adansonii plant can get scorched within a short period of time.

Water and Soil Requirements

Swiss cheese monstera does require that you keep it moist. But be careful not to overdo it, as the  Monstera adansonii vine could soak up a lot of water. 

You could consider using a potting mix. The potting mix does help to store enough water in the soil to keep it moist while keeping the soil from being waterlogged.

A great tip that you can try to regulate just how much water is in the soil would be to stick your finger into the pot. If it feels sorta dry, you know it is time to water the plant.

Required Temperature for the Monstera Adansonii

Southern Mexico is known for its warm temperature and high humidity, and these are the conditions that are most favorable for the proper growth of the Swiss cheese plant. Try as much as possible to simulate that experience for the plant.

That would mean keeping a temperature that is above 4.44 degrees celsius or 40 degrees in Fahrenheit. A  great spot to store your swiss cheese plant would be a bathroom with access to enough light. 

If for some reason the conditions of the bathroom are unsuitable for your Monstera, ensure you get a good working humidifier.   

What Sort of Fertilizer should be used?

Well, I recommend using a semi-diluted liquid all-purpose fertilizer every month. This is best for the Monstera Adansonii.

However, after potting your swiss cheese plant, leave it for a period of 6 months without applying fertilizer. In fact, use the fertilizer after the 6 months has elapsed.

Repotting/Potting Your Monstera Adansonii

Ensure that whatever pot or container you intend to use should have enough holes for proper drainage. Remember, the goal is to leave the plant soil moist, not water logged. A basket would be a perfect example. 

Also, ensure that whatever container you intend to use should be just a little larger than the swiss cheese plant’s root ball.

When you report your cheese plant, ensure it is done within a 2 years interval. It helps to do this in the spring, as it’s the best season for the Monstera plant. 

Monstera Adansonii Common Problems

By understanding and following the requirements and guidelines listed above, you could ensure that the plants with holes in leaves grow in a proper way. If for some reason you can’t seem to meet such requirements, it could lead to some health problems.

Leaves Could Become Black

We already established that the Swiss cheese plant doesn’t require direct sunlight. Well if for some reason, it gets exposed to excess sunlight, it would suffer from “leaf burn”. To keep from leaf burn, ensure you monitor your plant at all times, or keep away from direct sunlight.

Leaves Could Turn Yellow 

Overwatering your swiss cheese plant could lead to this problem, a waterlogged soil is terrible for your Monstera adansonii, so do ensure you double-check the soil before watering the plant. It also helps to ensure the soil dries up a little before your next watering.

Common Diseases And Pests

There are a few pests that could trouble your plant, however, they aren’t fatal to the plant life. What you should be on the lookout for should be plant diseases like blight, rust, and root rot. If you do notice these diseases, ensure you get professional help. 

Frequently Asked Questions