Swiss Cheese Plant Care

The Swiss cheese plant (Monstera adansonii) has heart-shaped leaves that develop holes as the plant ages (in a process called fenestration).

Its care is relatively easy:

Light

Because of the Swiss cheese plant’s tropical origin, it grows best in bright, indirect light. It’s used to thriving under the cover of large trees in the jungle, and the foliage can easily burn if it’s exposed to too much direct sun. If direct sunlight is unavoidable, limit exposure to just two or three hours of morning sun.

Soil

Swiss cheese plants grow best in rich well drainage potting mix, which will help to trap moisture in the soil without causing it to become waterlogged.

Water

These plants like to be consistently moist but not soaked. Before watering your Swiss cheese plant, stick your finger into the soil about an inch deep. If the soil feels nearly dry to the touch, it’s time to water the plant. Irrigate until a little water runs out of the container’s drainage holes. It will encourage healthy root growth.

Temperature and Humidity

These jungle plants thrive in very high humidity in wild and warm temperatures. The closer you can mimic the plant’s natural conditions, the better. Make sure your plant always remains in a spot that’s above 40 degrees Fahrenheit, and protect it from drafts. A humidity level above 50% is ideal. A warm, well-lit bathroom is a good spot for this plant. If you need to increase humidity, mist the plant or use a humidifier near it.

Fertilizer

After potting (or repotting) the plant, wait at least four to fertilize it, as potting mix already has slow-release vermicompost in it. After that, fertilize your Swiss cheese plant monthly, using vermicompost.

Swiss Cheese Plant loves to climb. The plant has 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. When growing it as a houseplant, you can simulate this by using coco pole on the pot.