With a perfect look, Swiss Cheese Vine is the focal point of most indoors. Due to being a creeping plant, it displays its real beauty when reaching its mature state. Taking its name from the Swiss Cheese, this plant has common names more such as the five holes plant, delicious monster, fruit salad plant, and so on. Also, its scientific name is Monstera Adansonii. Besides, it is native to South America’s rainforests. For example, this houseplant is found in countries such as Columbia, Mexico, Panama, and locations with similar climate conditions.
General Information
Swiss Cheese Vine is typically recognized by its emerald-green foliage with round holes, creeping thin stems, and bushy appearance. Also, it has aerial roots just like Spider Plant. In nature, it co-exists with amazon trees due to an epiphytic plant, for instance, Arrowhead. It has a unique cream-white spathe that barely blooms indoors. When it comes to its length, Swiss Cheese Vine could reach up to 10 ft (3 m). As for its life-cycle, it is a perennial. Besides, This houseplant is fairly toxic to pets. In case of ingestion, they have to be rushed to the vet clinic immediately.
How to Care for Monstera adansonii
Sunlight: Direct sunlight scorches leaves. For that reason, any location getting filtered sunlight helps Swiss Cheese Vine thrive. Ivy-type plants develop the direction of the sunlight. To prevent it, rotate the planter to a certain degree once a week.
Watering: This houseplant needs watering when the topsoil is dry. The soil should be moist, not soggy between waterings. For that reason, weekly watering will be enough. In winter, it needs sparingly watering. Because it goes dormancy in these times.
Humidity: What’s most important for this houseplant is mimicking its natural conditions. This way, this plant can develop properly. Due to being a tropic plant, it likes humidity. Meanwhile, there are a few ways of producing humidity. Here are electronic humidifiers, wet pebble trays, and water sprays (for misting). On the other hand, moss poles are completely suitable for this kind of plant.
Temperature: The range 65℉ – 85℉ (18.5°C – 29.5°C) will be the optimal temperature for this houseplant. This houseplant can resist down to 55℉ (12.5°C). But beyond that could kill it. According to the USDA plant hardiness map, it grows much better in zones 10-12.
Soil Type: This houseplant does not demand special soil. But peat-based potting mixes are fairly useful. Also, the soil should be well-draining and well-ventilated.
Fertilizer: Liquid fertilizers are fairly effective in plant development. Particularly, applying fertilizers monthly in its growing season encourage it to thrive faster.
Propagation: There are three common ways to propagate it. Starting from seeds is the first way which is a little long. It can require a bit of patience. Another way is cutting stems. Having started rooting, it must need to be potted.
Repotting: Swiss Cheese Vine needs repotting once in two years. Before repotting it, water the existing pot the night before. Otherwise, the transplant shock could happen.
Common Problems
Yellowing leaves: It is a clear sign of either overwatering or underwatering. But in general, it stems from overwatering.
Brown leaf tips and edges: Direct sunlight usually causes this problem.
Pest infestation: Mealybugs, scales, aphids, mites, and so forth lead to Swiss Cheese Plant rotting. Generally, dry indoor conditions and long-neglecting are the main reason for this problem.
Suggestions for problems: To prevent yellowing leaves, you should avoid overwatering and underwatering. Too much water drowns the plant’s roots. Likewise, insufficient water dehydrates the plant and it cannot live much longer. For that reason, keep the soil moist. Also, mind the watering regime. Another problem is brown leaf tips and edges. To prevent it, keep away the plant from the direct sunlight. Find a good location and don’t skip misting the plant. On the other hand, pest infestation is serious. First of all, you should clean the leaves with a damp cloth. Besides this, you can also use alcohol-based wipes, pesticidal soaps, and neem oils.
