The tropical climbing vine Monstera Adansonii is a popular indoor houseplant. The Monstera adansonii has large ovate leaves with oval holes in them and is commonly known as a Swiss cheese vine, Five-Holes Plant, or Monkey Mask plant. The circular holes don’t develop into splits in the leaves, unlike the Monstera deliciosa. At home, these tropical houseplants are simple to take care of.
How to care for Monstera adansonii: When the potting mix is partially dry, plant it in a suitable container with rich soil that drains well. Indirect sunlight and temperatures between 70°F and 75°F (21°C and 24°C) are ideal for Swiss cheese houseplants in indoor settings. To get the best results, fertilize your Swiss cheese vine every month and mist it weekly.
Monstera adansonii is a low-maintenance houseplant that grows at a leisurely pace. Being smaller, it is simpler to look after than the big Monstera deliciosa (split-leaf philodendron). When supported or in a hanging basket with fascinating trailing “holey” foliage, the Monkey Face plant thrives as a climbing tropical plant.
You’ll discover everything you need to know about taking care of your ‘small Swiss Monstera, or “Monstera adansonii” in this article.
What is Monstera Adansonii (Swiss Cheese Plant)?
Monstera adansonii is a tropical flowering plant that belongs to the Araceae family of flowering plants. Central and Southern America are home to the climbing vines. Rainforest floors or climb up trees are covered by the trailing stems.
The adansonii variety of Monstera has aerial roots that cling to surfaces and absorb nutrients and moisture from the air, just like other Monstera varieties. The Swiss climbing vines are an epiphytic plant due to their aerial roots.
The name of the monstera adansonii plant comes from its ovate leaves with multiple circular holes, which grow to 8″ to 16″ (21 – 42 cm) long and 5″ (12 cm) wide. Long vines can grow up to 65 feet (20 meters) long in their native environment. Proper pruning and support can help you control growth when growing indoors in containers.
Monstera adansonii blooms yellowish-white in its natural habitat. A broad petal-like spadix surrounds a white spathe on these arum-flowers. The blossoms develop into pineapple-banana edibles. These flowers come from the same family as Monstera plants and are similar to calla lily blossoms.
Fruit of Monstera adansonii
How to Care for Monstera Adansonii (Swiss Cheese Plant)
It’s simple to grow Monstera adansonii as a houseplant. Growing monkeys in bright areas and properly watering them are the most important care guidelines. Let’s explore how to assist your M in depth. Intensive growth indoors is possible with Datasonii.
Monstera Adansonii Light Requirements
Tropical rainforests provide the perfect environment for Swiss cheese vines. In the shade of an east- or west-facing window, the finest location for a Monstera adansonii plant. The plant receives a little amount of daily sunlight at these sites, although not too much direct light.
Keep it away from the window in a south-facing room. Although bright spots are preferred by Monstera plants such as the adansonii, they may nevertheless flourish in dimly-lit spaces. These are ideal plants for work spaces, north-facing rooms, and areas with little natural light. When there isn’t enough light, holes in the leaves might not form, which is the only thing you may notice.
Outside, you may train your Monstera adansonii as a trailing hanging basket. Monstera plants like to grow in zones 10 and 11. You may move a potted Monstera plant outside in the summer if you live in temperate zones. These green leafy houseplants need a minimum temperature of 50°F (10°C). When the weather gets colder in the fall, return them to your house.
How to Water a Swiss Cheese Vine Plant
You must water Swiss cheese vines properly in order for them to thrive. Only when the top 1″ (2.5 cm) of soil is completely dry should water be applied. Pour enough water into the container until it is completely drained from the bottom. Before repeating, wait until the soil is mostly dry.
Watering problems are usually blamed for the most prevalent Monstera diseases, including root rot, yellow leaves, and brown leaf spots. Houseplants in wet, soggy potting soil develop a variety of ailments. As a result, before watering, always allow the upper part of the potting medium to dry. Water your Monstera less than more, since that is the safer bet.
Four watering tips for Monstera plants:
- To avoid excessive soil dampness, make sure that your pot or container has sufficient drainage holes.
- Opt for a well-draining soil that doesn’t retain too much moisture.
- To encourage healthy plant development, deep watering nourishes the roots.
- Only when the soil has dried out to a certain extent should you water your plant.
Monstera Adansonii Soil
The best environment for this plant is a rich potting soil that allows water to drain well. A combination of potting soil, peat, and perlite is required for Monstera adansonii’s ideal potting mix. The natural environment in which Monstera plants grow is simulated by plenty of organic matter.
Seeing what occurs when you water your plant is one technique to assess if your earth is appropriate for it. Your potting soil is too heavy if water tends to gather or pool on the top. To lighten the soil and increase drainage, work in some organic matter and perlite. Without the mix becoming too wet, organic matter helps to retain just the right quantity of moisture.
Best Temperature for Monstera Adansonii (Money Mask Plant)
Monkey Masks or Swiss cheese plants flourish in typical room temperatures because they are tropical rainforest plants. Temperatures of 70°F and 75°F (21°C and 24°C) are ideal. In the winter, keep your distance from drafts and radiators. Temperatures below 55°F (12°C) kill Monstera plants.
The upkeep of Monstera adansonii indoors in the summer and during the winter is difficult. Sudden temperature changes can be caused by air-conditioning and household heating. Heating or cooling your house also dries the air. As a result, pay attention to the right humidity to keep your indoor plant thriving all year.
Humidity Requirements to Grow Monstera Adansonii (Five-Holes Plant)
Like they get in the forest, your Monkey Mask plant needs a lot of moisture. Mist the leaves on a regular basis, use a room humidifier, or place your Swiss cheese vine on a pebble humidifying tray to keep humidity levels high. One of the easiest ways to care for your “Swiss cheese philodendron” is to mist it with water every three or four days. To determine if you must water the soil, examine it every so often for dryness.
Add some decorative pebbles in a shallow dish to use a pebble tray to increase humidity levels. Fill halfway up the stones with water. Make sure the pebbles are level and place the Monstera pot on them. The leaves are humidified by evaporation. When necessary, top the tray with water.
You can also keep your Monstera pot plant in a humidified environment, in addition to using a humidifier. Your bathroom, if there is enough light, and your kitchen are the nicest rooms in your home.
Fertilizer to Feed a Swiss Cheese Plant
Throughout the growing seasons of spring and summer, you’ll want to give your Swiss cheese vine plant monthly feedings. Use a general houseplant fertilizer that is water soluble. Regular monthly feeding keeps the leaves healthy and promotes healthy development. During the autumn and winter, don’t feed. To avoid mineral salts from accumulating, it’s a good idea to flush the soil every so often. Prior to feeding, flushing the plant pot with soil is recommended every three months or so.
Pour slowly running water through the earth, allowing it to run out at the bottom. When watering, use roughly four times the amount of water as soil and allow it to drain completely. Remember that new potting soil contains plenty of nutrients as a precaution. As a result, after repotting, you won’t have to feed your Monstera for a few months.
Repotting Monstera Adansonii Indoor Plant
Every two to three years, you should repot your Monstera plant. Always choose a large enough pot for the size of your plant. Roots protruding from drainage holes, stunted growth, or insufficient drainage are all symptoms that you should repot your Monstera.
Choose a bigger container if you want to promote growth. Repot in the same container if you want to keep the plant the same size but need to replace the potting soil.
Here’s a simple repotting procedure for your Monstera adansonii Swiss cheese vine:
- Remove the plant from its original pot with care.
- Remove as much soil from the roots as possible, and check for signs of root rot or damage.
- Remove any dead or diseased roots you find. To prevent the plant from becoming rootbound, cut the roots back when replanting in the same container.
- Make sure the plant is planted at the same height as before by placing some fresh, moist potting soil in the new container.
- Fill in the remaining area with potting soil, peat, perlite mix, and gently press the stems for support.
Pruning Monstera Adansonii
If you desire to limit the growth of your Monstera Swiss cheese plant, prune it in the spring. These climbing vines can be prolific bloomers under the correct circumstances. Trim off any dead, yellow, or damaged leaves from the top growth. You can also use cuttings for propagation by cutting healthy stems as close to the main stem as possible.
To keep your Monstera looking neat and leggy, regular pruning is a good idea. Air roots shouldn’t be pruned, unless they’re too long. You may, however, if necessary. You can alternatively put the aerial roots in the soil to neaten up the plant’s appearance.
Propagating Monstera Adansonii
The best way to grow Monkey Mask plants is through stem cuttings. Remove a healthy stem with two or more nodes to prevent blossom rot. Let the stem sit in water for a few weeks until the roots develop. Plant in a pot with fresh Monstera potting soil. Because they are low-maintenance and have unusual foliage, propagated Monkey Mask plants make excellent gifts.
Is Monstera Adansonii (Swiss Cheese Plant) Toxic?
Dogs, cats, and other pets are poisonous to Monstera plants. Vomiting, skin irritation, swelling, and drooling can all result from ingesting the leaves or other parts of the plants.
Common Monstera Adansonii Diseases
Plants from the Monstera genus are known for their toughness and disease tolerance. Over-watering is the most common problem that afflicts Monstera plants. By watering your tropical plants only when the soil is dry and ensuring that the potting material drains well, you may avoid these diseases.
Pests that Affect Monstera Adansonii Growth
With Monstera adansonii plants, pests are not a common occurrence. Spider mites and mealybugs, respectively, may be seen on the leaves or at the stem joints; check for thin webs or white fluff. These bug infestations may harm your prized Monstera plants and other houseplants if they are ignored for too long. To get rid of houseplant bugs naturally, use a natural neem oil solution or insecticidal soap. For further information, visit the source link below.
Common Question About Growing Monstera Adansonii Plant
While caring for a Monstera adansonii is straightforward, there are a few more things to consider. The following are some of the most common questions about this Swiss cheese plant.
What is the difference between Monstera obliqua and Monstera adansonii?
Monstera obliqua is a rare species of monstera plant with papery-thin leaves and broad openings. It can be seen in the photograph. There appear to be more holes than leaf in the leaves of Monstera obliqua, with up to 90% of the leaf consisting of holes.
The obliqua species has smaller, thinner leaves than Monstera adansonii. The Monstera adansonii is also known as Philodendron or Monstera obliqua by some. The leaf of a real oblique plant, on the other hand, is mostly holes and not very appealing.
How do Monstera plants get holes?
The holes or splits in the leaves are an unusual feature of all Swiss cheese plants. The glossy green leaves with holes develop scientists are still unsure why. Some botanists believe that to obtain more light and moisture, this climbing vine possesses split leaf blades.
Why doesn’t my Monstera have holes?
Monstera plants that are young and immature lack holes or splits in their leaves. Slits and holes form in the leaves of the tree as it grows. Low light may be the reason your Monstera doesn’t develop slits. These tropical plants need bright, indirect light for the leaves to split, despite their ability to flourish in dim light. Therefore, try to direct your plant to a more sunnier spot.
Why are my Monstera adansonii leaves turning brown?
Over-watering or soggy soil are common causes of brown or yellowing leaves on a Monstera plant. To determine if the potting soil is moist, touch it. If the soil is drying out, wait until it is mostly dry before watering. If that doesn’t work, you’ll have to reroot your Swiss cheese vine to revive it.
My Swiss cheese plant leaves are drooping, what should I do?
Check the soil on your Monstera if it appears to be wilting and dying. Drying foliage is a frequent cause of drooping leaves. Mist the leaves after thoroughly watering your plant to ensure that the roots are well hydrated.
Other Types of Monstera Plants
The distinctive qualities of each of the 50 types of Monstera plants are different. Take a look at some of the most common plants as well as a few uncommon ones.
Rare Monstera adansonii variegated plant
The Monstera adansonii variegata is one of the rarest species of variegated Monstera plants. The bright white variegation on the split glossy green leaves gives them a one-of-a-kind look.
Monstera pinnatipartita
The primary characteristics of the Monstera pinnatipartita are long thick stems and glossy green, ovate split leaves.
Monstera obliqua
Some of the rarest and most unusual foliage on any plant comes from this species of Monstera. Because of the many large holes, the papery-thin leaves appear to be disheveled. The leaf surface accounts for only 10% of the leaf surface on most Monstera obliqua species.
Monstera siltepecana
As it grows up, Monstera siltepecana will develop little slits in its leaves. The leaves of these tropical climbing plants are smaller than those of the adansonii or deliciosa Monstera species.
Monstera deliciosa
The Monstera deliciosa is one of the most popular Monstera plants. Large green leaves with deep, wide splits characterize the typical Swiss cheese plant. The mature leaves of this climbing vine house plant may reach up to 3 ft. (90 cm) long and may reach a height of 8 ft. (2.4 m) indoors.