Monstera Deliciosa, or Swiss cheese vine, is a tropical climbing vine with enormous glossy green leaves. The heart-shaped leaves with deep splits or perforations are the most distinguishable characteristic of the Swiss cheese plant. Little holes that resemble Swiss cheese holes develop as a result of these splits. This huge tropical plant is simple to take care of at home.
How to care for Monstera deliciosa: When the soil is partly dry, you should plant a Swiss cheese plant in rich, well-draining soil and water it. Indoors, place your Monstera deliciosa in bright, indirect light and temperatures of 70°F to 75°F (21°C to 24°C). Fertilize monthly and mist the leaves weekly to encourage healthy growth.
The plant family Araceae contains approximately 50 species of this exotic-looking plant. Other species include Monstera obliqua, Monstera adansonii, and Monstera pinnatipartite, in addition to the Monstera deliciosa.
For M., there are a few popular names. Swiss Cheese Plant, Split-Leaf Philodendron, Mexican Breadfruit Plant, Hurricane Plant, and Window Leaf Plant are all deliciosa plants. Whatever you choose to name your Monstera, the huge glossy split leaves will add elegance to any contemporary setting.
You’ll learn how to take care of this easy-to-care-for tropical plant in this article. You may learn about additional Monstera species, including the unusual variegated Monstera, at the conclusion of this article.
What is a Swiss Cheese Plant (Monstera Deliciosa)?
Southern Mexico and Central America are home to the Monstera deliciosa. These popular houseplants prefer tropical rainforest settings. Yet, to look after these plants indoors, you don’t have to transform your residence into a wet jungle. Swiss cheese plants can be maintained with the help of a room temperature of around 70 degrees and frequent misting.
A flowering tropical plant called Monstera deliciosa. Unfortunately, indoor flowering is uncommon with Monstera plants. The plants produce startling yellowish or pure white waxy blooms in their native habitat. Like other arum flowers in the Araceae family, such as calla lilies, this flower form is comparable to others. The blossom spathe develops into a delectable banana-flavored fruit.
The flower of Monstera deliciosa
In the wild, Monstera deliciosa climbs to heights of up to 66 feet (20 meters). The thick stems will need support while growing indoors in containers, and aerial roots will attach to the pots. Monstera deliciosa, a gigantic plant that grows to 8 feet (2.4 meters) indoors, requires a lot of room for its huge leaves.
How to Care for Monstera Deliciosa (Swiss Cheese Plant)
Monstera deliciosa plants need some care, even though they are low-maintenance. Watering a Swiss cheese plant properly and keeping it in a bright environment indoors are the two most essential factors to consider. Now, let’s take a closer look at how to make it. As a tropical houseplant, Deliciosa thrives.
Monstera Deliciosa Light Requirements
Swiss cheese plants thrive in bright areas but not directly near sunlight, indoors. Make sure your Monstera pot is protected from the sun if it’s close to a south-facing window. In low-light situations, Monstera plants grow at a slower pace as compared to other plants.
In offices and dimly-lit rooms, Monstera deliciosa plants may thrive. However, in the glossy leaves, you may notice that they don’t form splits or perforations. To help leaves look their best, put them in a bright location.
During the summer, you may cultivate your monstera outdoors. When the temperature doesn’t drop below 50°F (10°C) at night, gradually acclimatize your plant outside. For optimal growth, daytime temperatures should be at least 68°F (20°C). Cover your jar with a lid and keep it out of the direct rays of the sun on your patio or balcony.
How to Water a Swiss Cheese Plant
Only when the top part of the potting mix is dry should water be applied to a Swiss cheese plant. When the top 1″ to 2″ (2.5 – 5 cm) of your Monstera is dry, it’s time for water. Water your houseplant thoroughly until the drain holes in the container are clear. The roots are adequately hydrated due to long watering.
Wait until the potting soil is completely dry before watering a Monstera deliciosa. It doesn’t matter if you forget to water your plant from time to time. Root rot and poor development may be caused by over watering. In the spring and summer, you’ll need to water more often than in the winter.
Best Temperature for Monstera Plants
The optimal room conditions for Monstera plant cultivation are between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep the room temperature between 70°F and 75°F (21°C and 24°C) to ensure that the leaves are healthy and glossy. Your Swiss cheese plant will suffer from the cold if you feel chilly.
Keep them away from drafts or hot surfaces when caring for any tropical houseplant, including Monstera deliciosa. Locations with ventilation systems or air flow from air-conditioning units would be unsuitable. Also, to avoid stressing your plant, avoid drastic temperature fluctuations.
If you’re in zones 10 or 11, you may cultivate a Monstera deliciosa outdoors. Remember that your tropical rainforest plant will perish if you expose it to temperatures below 50°F (10°C).
Humidity Requirements to Grow Monstera Deliciosa
Swiss cheese plants are easier to maintain than other tropical indoor flora since they need humid conditions to thrive. Misting the leaves once a week or using a moist cloth to remove dust are two ways to keep humidity levels in check. The morning is the best time to spray the split-leaf blades. Another way to ensure that your Monstera deliciosa gets enough moisture is to grow alongside other houseplants.
Creating a pebble tray is the simplest way to increase humidity levels in a room with dry air. Put a tray of pebbles under your Monstera plant pot. Fill the try halfway up the stones until it is half-way full. Without having to mist the leaves every day, the water assists create a humid environment for a Swiss cheese plant.
Monstera Deliciosa Soil
A well-draining peat-based medium with perlite added to the soil is the finest potting mix for a Swiss cheese plant. This kind of aerated potting soil doesn’t hold a lot of moisture, which might harm the roots. A vibrant tropical plant also benefits from the peat foundation’s nutrients. Water a Monstera deliciosa quickly after watering. You’ll need to add peat or perlite if water tends to collect on top of the soil.
Choosing the proper sort of pot for your plant is also important. Monstera plants need a large container for stability, and they can grow between 3 and 6.5 feet (1 to 2 meters). Yet, don’t get lured into buying a pot that’s too big for your plant right away. It may be difficult to achieve the right moisture level with an oversized pot.
Fertilizer to Feed a Swiss Cheese Plant
Fertilize your Monstera deliciosa once a month throughout the growing season, which runs from spring to late summer. Use a water-soluble houseplant fertilizer that’s suitable for all plants. Healthy growth and glossy green leaves are ensured by getting the right balance of nutrients. In the fall and winter, don’t feed your Swiss cheese plant. During these months, the plant produces relatively little foliage, and overfertilizing the soil may damage it.
Every three months or so, flush the soil to ensure that it is being treated properly. Excess mineral salts in the potting mix can build up, and Flushing helps to get rid of them. Slowly pour water into the pot until it drains out through the soil. Before returning the plant to a sunny area, allow all water to drain.
Repotting Monstera Indoor Plant
You’ll need to repot your Swiss cheese plant as it develops. Slow development, poor drainage, or roots protruding from the drainage holes are all indications that it’s time to repot. Wait until spring to repot, and choose a container that is 1″ to 2″ larger than the current one.
Repot in a comparable-sized pot if you don’t want your Monstera plant to grow taller. Helping to revive your houseplants is a simple process of refreshing the potting soil.
Repotting a Monstera deliciosa is as follows:
- Shake excess soil from the roots of the plant before gently removing it from its container.
- Inspect the roots for signs of wear and trim as needed. Trim the roots if you’re planting in a comparable-sized pot.
- Plant your Monstera at the same height in the pot as it was growing before, then fill it with fresh potting soil.
For your Monstera deliciosa, here are a few suggestions for choosing the right pot:
- Since clay or terracotta pots hold less moisture, you’ll need to water them more frequently than plastic pots.
- To avoid the plant becoming too wet, always choose pots with drainage holes.
- Due to their extensive root system, monstera plants need deep pots.
Pruning Monstera Deliciosa
Cutting the leaf and stem from the main stem of a Swiss cheese plant is simple way to prune it. When it grows too tall or has dead or damaged blades, you’ll have to prune a Monstera deliciosa only once. Pruning information for Some Monstera deliciosa:
- Pruning huge leaves does not promote good growth control and is instead a poor technique to restrict it.
- To avoid illness spreading, always use sterilized pruning sheers.
Because Monstera plants produce poisonous sap, wear protective gloves if you have sensitive skin and avoid touching the plant.
Propagating Monstera Deliciosa
By stem cuttings, propagate your split-leaf Philodendron. Cut off at least two aerial roots from a section of your Monstera plant. In a new Monstera potting soil, put the severed stems. In four weeks, your tropical plant should begin rooting. You can cut the main stem into one-foot (30 cm) sections if your Monstera deliciosa is growing too large for your room. Cheese plant cuttings may be propagated in the same way.
Is Monstera Deliciosa (Swiss Cheese Plant) Toxic?
Yes, I agree. Swiss cheese plants are toxic to cats, dogs, and other animals, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). Ingesting pieces of the plant, or coming into touch with the sap, may cause irritation, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing.
Common Monstera Deliciosa Diseases
Few diseases affect Monstera deliciosa, since it is a low-maintenance, hardy tropical plant. Root rot is the most prevalent problem, caused by over watering. Your plant’s roots may be damaged or killed if you sit in damp, soggy soil. The glossy blades might turn black and mushy if the root rot is extensive. The Monstera can be repotted in fresh potting soil, and only watered when the top two inches (5 cm) is dry. There is no hope of reviving a dead Monstera if root damage is severe.
Pests that Affect Monstera Deliciosa Growth
Mealybugs and spider mites are the two types of insects that can attack Swiss cheese plants. The Monstera is fairly pest resistant, however bug and mite infestations are not typical. You’ll see tiny spider webs on your Monstera if spider mites from other houseplants have infected it.
Monstera spider mites must be eliminated since they may lead to your plant’s eventual death. Where the leaves join the stem, mealybugs appear as little white fluff. Read this article to learn how to get rid of houseplants naturally using neem oil or insecticidal soap.
Common Question About Growing a Swiss Cheese Plant
Why are my Monstera leaves yellow and drooping?
Yellow, drooping leaves are often caused by watering problems. The most common cause of why Monstera plants seem to be dying is lack of water. Then, thoroughly water your plant if the green leaves start to turn yellow and droop. Over-watering might be to blame if you notice that the soil is already moist.
So, before watering, wait until the top 1″ (2.5 cm) of soil is dry. Make sure the pot isn’t too big for your tropical plant, as excess moisture is held in bigger pots.
What are brown spots on Swiss cheese plant leaves?
Leaf burn, which resembles brown spots, occurs when there is too much direct sunlight. Move the Monstera plant pot to a location with filtered sunlight. A lack of humidity could also cause brown leaf spots. To keep your Monstera alive, mist the leaves on a regular basis.
Do Monstera leaves grow back?
The natural tendency of a Swiss cheese plant is for older leaves to fall off. On bare stems, new leaves seldom develop. Propagating Monsteras and planting it in the same pot is, however, simple. The towering climbing vine gets a fuller look when smaller cut stems are planted.
How big does a Monstera grow?
Even if you cut the top stems off Swiss cheese plants, they continue to grow vigorously. A Monstera plant may reach a height of 6 to 8 feet (2.4 to 2.4 meters) and have a broad growth in the indoors. The 10 to 35 inch (25 to 90 cm) long, up to 30 inch (75 cm) broad heart-shaped split leaves are available.
How fast does Monstera deliciosa grow?
Monstera plants can grow quickly under the right circumstances. In the fall and winter, growth will be slower as well. Additionally, the growth rate is influenced by soil type, temperature, and humidity.
Other Types of Monstera Plants
Let’s take a look at some of the best tropical houseplants for various kinds of split-leaf Monstera plants:
Monstera deliciosa albo variegata plant
The big dark green with creamy-white variegation of the uncommon variegated Swiss cheese plant. Variegated leaves with no divides on one side and deep divides on the other side of some unusual Monstera deliciosa variegated plants.
Monstera obliqua
With thin papery leaves and large holes in mature leaves, the Monstera obliqua is a rare cultivated plant. The leaves of certain species appear to be dishevelled due to numerous huge holes.
Monstera adansonii
The Monstera adansonii has thick, leathery leaves that are smaller than the deliciosa species, and is also known as the ‘5 Holes Plant’ or ‘Monkey Mask.’ In comparison to a big Swiss cheese plant, this little houseplant is easier to control.
Monstera pinnatipartita
Ovate leaves with considerable large splits characterize the pinnatipartita.
Monstera siltepecana
This cultivar features leaves with holes that resemble Swiss cheese, similar to the Monstera adansonii. Unlike the M., this one isn’t as easy to mistake with. The delicious M. deliciosa Many of the leaves have holes in the centre of them, although siltepecana does not produce split blades.