Monstera adansonii: Swiss cheese vine care

Monstera adansonii, the Swiss cheese vine, is a fast-growing tropical climber whose heart-shaped leaves are full of oval holes enclosed inside the blade. Give it bright indirect light, water when the top 1-2 in of a chunky mix are dry, and a pole to climb or a shelf to trail from, and it will put out a new leaf every week or two in summer.

Identification: adansonii, deliciosa or obliqua?

Three plants get mixed up in stores. Here is how to sort them in under a minute.

If a big-box plant tagged "obliqua" costs about the same as a pothos, it is adansonii.

The species is native to Central and South America and the West Indies, typically in lowland river valleys, and four subspecies are recognized: adansonii, blanchetii, klotzschiana and laniata. A variegated cultivar, 'Archipelago', exists but is uncommon and pricey. For every other name in the genus see types of monstera.

Light

Bright indirect light grows the best plant: within 3-6 ft of an east or west window, or a few feet back from a south window. The RHS lists it for partial shade, and it tolerates medium light in a US apartment, but with less light you get:

• longer gaps between leaves (stretched stems),
• smaller leaves with fewer holes,
• slower drying soil and more risk of rot.

Direct summer afternoon sun through a window bleaches and crisps the thin leaves. In winter a grow light helps a lot; see grow lights.

Watering

Water when the top 1-2 in of mix are dry. Typical rhythm:

• Spring-summer, bright room: every 5-7 days.
• Fall-winter or medium light: every 10-14 days.

Soak until water drains, then empty the saucer. Adansonii's thin leaves show thirst fast: they curl inward and feel soft. That is easy to fix with water. The reverse problem is harder: yellowing leaves while the soil is still damp point to overwatering and, if stems go black at the soil line, root rot.

Soil and pot

Use an airy aroid mix: equal parts potting mix, fine orchid bark and perlite. The RHS recommends a loam-based mix kept moderately moist with good humidity; in US terms, any quality houseplant mix opened up with bark and perlite works. Pot with drainage holes, 1-2 in wider than the root ball. Plastic or glazed pots hold moisture longer than terracotta; choose based on how often you can water. See monstera soil for recipes.

Repot every 1-2 years in spring when roots circle the pot or poke from the drainage holes.

Climbing or trailing

Adansonii is a natural climber that grips with aerial roots. The RHS gives its size as 5-8 ft (1.5-2.5 m) over 5-10 years, climbing with support or trailing.

• Climbing: a moss or coir pole, or a flat trellis, gives the biggest leaves and most holes. Tie stems on loosely and keep the pole damp so aerial roots grab on. See moss pole for monstera.
• Trailing: in a hanging basket or high shelf it makes a curtain of smaller leaves, similar to a pothos. Pinch the tips to make it bushier.

Humidity, temperature and feeding

• Humidity: moderate to high. Average homes (40-50%) are fine; winter heating that drops it under 35% causes brown crispy edges. A humidifier helps; see humidity.
• Temperature: 65-80°F. Keep it above 55°F and away from drafts, heating vents and cold windows.
• Fertilizer: monthly during the growing season, as the RHS advises, with a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer at half strength. Skip feeding in winter.

Propagation

Adansonii is one of the easiest monsteras to propagate. Cut a vine segment with 1-3 nodes (the bumps where leaves and aerial roots emerge), remove the lowest leaf, and place the node in water or damp sphagnum moss. Roots appear in 1-3 weeks at 70-80°F. Pot when roots are 2-3 in long. Several cuttings in one pot fill it out quickly. Full method: how to propagate monstera.

Common problems

Fungus gnats in damp mix are a sign it's staying wet too long; see our sister site's guide to fungus gnats.

Is Monstera adansonii toxic?

Yes, if chewed. The RHS classes it as harmful if eaten and a skin and eye irritant, so wear gloves when pruning. Like Monstera deliciosa, which the ASPCA lists as toxic to dogs and cats, it contains insoluble calcium oxalates that cause mouth pain, drooling and vomiting. Call your vet or ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 if a pet chews it; for a child, Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.