Commonly known as the “Swiss cheese plant,” Monstera adansonii is treasured by experienced and novice plant owners alike. Admired for its rapid growth and vivid, heart-shaped leaves, which fill with delicate holes as the plant matures, this plant can be a beautiful addition to any home.
If you’re eager to help your Monstera Adanosnii grow faster, taller, and healthier, we have plenty of advice to help. It’s easier than you think! With proper attention to growing conditions, including water, light, temperature, and fertilization, your Monstera will grow beautifully for years to come.
While Monstera adansonii is hardy, some important tips and tricks can help you maximize the life, and health, of your Swiss cheese plant. Ready to get started? Keep reading to learn how to create the best conditions for a vibrant Monstera adansonii. You’ll feel like an expert in no time.
Monstera Adansonii in the Wild
Wild Monstera adansonii are found climbing the trunks of trees in Mexico and Panama, seeking light through the rainforest canopy. These plants climb by using structures called “aerial roots,” which develop from the plant’s stems and can be trained to climb along moss poles, trellises, or even bookcases, allowing the plant to expand throughout your home or office.
When grown indoors, Monstera plants can climb to heights of 10 feet. As a vine, they can develop trails of 13 feet. However, this growth potential is only achieved with proper and consistent care.
It’s commonly believed that Swiss cheese plants developed their distinctive holes to allow sunlight to pass through their top leaves to reach the leaves below. These holes, called “fenestrations,” also allow wind to pass through the plant’s large leaves, reducing damage and leaf loss during heavy storms.
Part I: Basic Care for a Monstera Adansonii
The section that follows will cover the essential steps required to treat your Monstera adansonii with care. There is no unique talent or “green thumb” required. Just keep reading to help your Monstera live its best life and possibly correct some health issues along the way.
Watering Monstera Adansonii
If you’ve developed the habit of just pouring a weekly glass of water into your plant’s pot, there are much better ways to go about watering your Monstera adansonii. Improper watering can do a lot of damage to an otherwise healthy plant, so watering is always the first thing I like to cover with any houseplant.
Several factors can influence a Monstera’s need for water, including dormancy, indoor temperature, soil type, and light exposure. And with the potential root rot that can result from oversaturation, it’s better to be smart about your watering strategies.
Generally, it’s best to water your plant only when the top 1-2″ of soil is dry. You can determine this by inserting a finger into the Monstera’s soil and feeling for any dampness in the soil. If you feel residual moisture, wait until the soil is dry before watering. If you don’t want to have to check by touch, consider purchasing a moisture meter to tell you when it’s time to add more water.
Using either technique, you may notice that the frequency with which you water your Swiss cheese plant varies – that means you’re doing it right!
When you water your plant, make sure to use enough that some flows from the holes at the bottom of the pot. This may seem like a lot of water, but it’s important to hydrate the soil thoroughly. To read more about watering a Monstera adansonii, click here.
But What About Water Quality?
If your water is safe to drink, it’s likely safe for your Monstera adansonii. However, if you have very hard or soft water or high concentrations of chlorine or minerals that can build up in the soil and alter its pH balance, you may need a different water source to keep your plant happy.
Distilled or filtered water can help address these issues, as can rainwater, which helps release nutrients in the soil. However, regardless of the type of water you use, make sure that it’s at room temperature. Using water that is too hot or too cold can harm your plant’s roots and stems.
The Best Lighting for Your Monstera Adansonii
The more sun the better, right? Not necessarily. Making sure that your plant gets the right amount of light is critical to its overall health. As plants absorb light, they engage in photosynthesis – the process through which they create energy for survival. But this does not mean that every plant needs the maximum amount of light possible.
While every plant is a little different, most Monstera adansonii need bright, indirect sunlight for a minimum of six hours each day. Just like the sun’s UV rays can damage your skin, it can damage the leaves of many plants – especially those that don’t receive unfiltered sun in the wild. These plants often develop more delicate leaves than the thicker, sometimes waxy leaves of full sun plants.
Your plant can obtain indirect light through a curtained window, or when placed 3-4′ back from an uncurtained window. This exposure to filtered sun does not produce the same degree of heat or UV exposure, so it is safe for the leaves of fragile plants.
How to Tell if Your Monstera is Getting The Right Amount of Light
The appearance of black or dark brown spots on the leaves of your plant, along with rapidly drying soil, suggests that your plant may be getting direct sun exposure. If you observe that the plant is in the path of direct sunlight, or its leaves feel hot to the touch, move your plant farther back from the window or consider a thicker curtain to help protect your Monstera.
On the other hand, if you notice that your plant is growing tall and thin but has few leaves, or if your mature Monstera is developing leaves with no fenestrations, your plant may be receiving too little light. Slowed growth and soil that remains damp longer than expected are also signs of insufficient light. These plants lack the energy required to digest the water and nutrients within their container properly.
If you see these signs and suspect insufficient light exposure to be the issue, you may consider using a grow light. These lights are designed to offer bright light with low heat, so they don’t need to be diffused with curtains or screens. There are many affordable options for grow lights, and they can be found at many garden centers and online retailers.
However, your Swiss cheese plant also needs time to rest. Do not try to force a plant to grow by leaving grow lights on continuously. This will overwhelm your plant and jeopardize its health in the long run. For more information about grow lights, check out our article here.
The Best Location for Your Monstera Adansonii
If the use of grow lights isn’t appealing, you should consider moving your plant to a different location in your home. Choosing the best location can help provide adequate light while insulating your plant from dangers that can jeopardize its health.
Some windows in your home will receive more sunlight than others, which means that different rooms offer different amounts of brightness and heat. For example, windows facing the East will get direct sunlight every morning. However, since the sun will soon pass beyond an East window, the room may be in shade for most of the day. This can leave your Monstera unhealthy and starved for energy.
South facing windows often receive a favorable balance of indirect light and warmth, which means that rooms with South windows can be a wise location for your Monstera. That said, don’t forget to move your plant a few feet back from the window, or use sheer curtains to make sure that UV rays cannot reach the leaves of your Swiss cheese plant.
It’s also wise to consider temperature, humidity, and insulation from drafts when choosing your plant’s location. Avoid placing your Swiss cheese plant in rooms that is excessively hot, cold, or dry as the seasons change. Also, locations with furnaces, space heaters, poorly insulated windows, or potential pet interference can create an unreliable environment for your plant. Monstera adansonii enjoys stability, so choose a location with consistent conditions to see your Monstera thrive.
Ideal Conditions for Monstera Adansonii
Although Monstera adansonii is a hardy plant, temperatures between 65 – 75 degrees Fahrenheit help maximize its health and growth. While some plants can thrive with lower moisture, humidity between 50% – 60% is best for your Monstera. Humidity will help protect its delicate leaves and aerial roots and encourage it to produce additional height. Dry leaf tips, yellowing, leaf drop, slow growth, and dry soil can signify that the environment needs more humidity.
What should you do if your plant needs more humidity? First, put down the watering can. More humidity does not mean more water. The best way to diagnose what your Monstera Adansonii needs is to check your home’s humidity by using a humidity gauge. You can find these inexpensive devices in retail stores and online.
If you want to avoid buying a gauge, you can also use your own body to help you determine humidity. Dry and itchy skin, dry hair, cold rooms, and dry sinuses are a sign that you, and your plant, are suffering from low humidity. Adding a simple home humidifier or even trays of fresh water in your home can do wonders for your health and that of your Monstera.
Part II: Next Level Monstera Adansonii Care
Now that we’ve covered some of the basics of caring for your Monstera, let’s look at the steps you can take to launch your plant care to the next level. Following these tips will help you keep your Swiss cheese plant in peak shape for years to come.
Fertilizing Your Adansonii: Why, When, and How
In nature, plants usually find it easy to get the vitamins they need. Rainwater, insects, and other vegetation continually replenish the soil. Indoor plants don’t have this natural influx of nutrients and eventually deplete their potting mix, growing sickly with time. Thankfully, fertilizers can help restore the nutrients your plant needs.
Generally, your plant will only need to be fertilized 3-4 times a year and should not be fertilized in the winter. You should also not need to fertilize your Monstera for a few months after repotting your plant since many commercial potting mixes already have fertilizer included.
If you would like to level up your plant care, you can create your own fertilizer mix, aiming for a “20-20-20” blend of 20% nitrogen, 20% phosphorous, and 20% potassium. However, there are also many pre-packaged fertilizers on the market that are safe and easy to use.
A word of caution – avoid getting any fertilizer directly on your plant’s stem or roots since the chemicals can damage the fragile stems. How much fertilizer your plant needs will depend on its size, so it’s best to start with a small amount and see how your plant responds. Don’t exceed the dosage listed on the container. When it comes to fertilizer, you can have too much of a good thing.
Repotting Monstera Adansonii
Typically, Monstera adansonii should be repotted every one to two years to encourage growth. Spring is the best time to repot Monstera adansonii since this is the start of the growing season.
A few days before repotting your plant, give your Monstera a thorough drink of water. Watering softens the soil making it easier to extract the plant without damaging the roots. If you are repotting your Monstera indoors, make sure to cover your workspace with plastic trash bags or other coverings that will keep dirt and water from damaging surfaces in your home. Also, grab a pair of garden gloves and disinfected pruning scissors.
Now it’s time to remove your plant. If your plant is heavy, gently lay the planter on its side. Once the container is on its side, run your finger around the inner rim of the pot and gently wiggle the planter back and forth to loosen it. You can also tap on the bottom of the pot to help loosen the soil. Don’t yank the plant from the pot or jostle its stems.
Once your Monstera is free from its planter, look carefully at the roots for signs of root rot. Healthy roots should be light in color and firm. Use your pruning scissors to trim away any slimy, mushy, and dark brown or black roots, discarding rotten roots immediately.
The best container for repotting will have at least one drainage hole and should be an appropriate size for your plant. Excessively large planters can allow water to accumulate in the bottom of the pot beyond the reach of your Monstera. This extra water can lead to waterlogged soil and root rot.
The material of the container also plays a role in your plant’s health. For example, clay and terra cotta are more absorbent materials, which can help wick extra moisture in the soil away from the roots of your Swiss cheese plant. This may provide a bit of additional protection if you are concerned that you may accidentally overwater. For more information about the best planters for Monsteras, check out our complete guide to repotting here.
Keep in mind that your choice of soil can influence the health of your plant. Make sure to select a soil mix that is labeled as well-draining. Look for soils that contain ingredients like peat, orchid bark, and perlite. These will help retain the right amount of moisture for your Monstera.
When ready, fill your planter with fresh potting soil, creating space in the center to lower in your Monstera. Pressing gently on the top of your Swiss Cheese plant’s roots, make sure that your Monstera is planted far enough down that none of its subterranean roots are exposed.
After repotting, your Monstera will likely experience shock, looking limp or dropping some leaves. During this time of healing, avoid fertilizer and be especially careful about overwatering. Place your Monstera in a humid space, away from direct light, and protect it from any extreme conditions. Within a few weeks, you will see signs of new growth as your plant acclimates to its new home.
Pruning and Shaping Monstera Adansonii
It may be hard to believe that cutting a plant is good for it, but often it is. Pruning is a way to remove dead or dying leaves, which conserves your plant’s energy and triggers a surge of new, healthy growth. This will result in a fuller and healthier plant in the long run.
It’s understandable to be a bit nervous about pruning since no plant owner wants to harm their plant. But following our tips below will help you make the best pruning choices to keep your plant lush and full. While it is acceptable to remove dead or dying leaves anytime, it is a good idea to prune your Swiss Cheese plant in the spring, at the start of the growth period.
Before you begin to prune, grab a pair of clean, disinfected pruning scissors and some garden gloves. You will also want to identify any leaves that are yellow or brown. An unhealthy leaf will not recover, so prune away these leaves right away.
Look for any stems that are “leggy,” or spindly, with few leaves. Trimming these away will encourage more robust growth, as will trimming away any wayward stems that might pull your plant in a direction other than the one in which you wish it to grow.
Once you know the leaves and stems you wish to prune, make a clean cut. Set aside any healthy stems you trimmed since these can be used for propagation.
While your plant may enter a brief period of shock after pruning, your Monstera’s roots will experience a surge of energy with fewer leaves and stems to support. Within a few weeks, this should result in a noticeable increase in new shoots as your plant enters a period of rapid growth and increased fullness. For more info on pruning these plants, click here.
Propagating Monstera Adansonii
How much fun would it be to have even more beautiful Swiss cheese plants for your home without a trip to the greenhouse? You can! Monstera adansonii can be propagated through healthy stem sections, which will eventually produce roots of their own.
If you just pruned your Monstera, the process likely resulted in several cuttings.. However, you can also prune your Monstera deliberately to collect these cuttings for propagation. Either way, you will want to use mature stems with at least one healthy leaf, as stems with leaves tend to propagate more quickly.
Also, you will want to use cuttings that were snipped below the “node,” the bump where the leaf meets the stem. It’s out of these nodes that new roots will form. Choosing to propagate more than one stem can provide the best chance of successful propagation, so select at least two stems to grow.
A Monstera plant can be rooted in either soil or water. To root your plant cuttings in water, place your cuttings into individual glasses or vases filled with clean water. If possible, position the rim beneath the healthy leaf to keep the nodes submerged, but most of the cutting dry.
Place these cuttings in a location with bright, indirect light, and change the water at least once a week. Carefully rinse away any sliminess from the bottom of the stem and avoid using fertilizer at this time. Within a few weeks, you should see new roots beginning to develop. Once these roots are about 2″ long, you may wish to transfer your plant to a container with soil for ideal growth.
You can also root Monstera cuttings directly in soil. Simply bury the base of your cutting until the node is covered by a well-draining potting mix. Gently press down to hold your plant firmly in place. Do not plant your cutting too deep, as it can lead to stem rot. Then, provide your cutting with a small drink of water and place it in a bright location, avoiding direct sunlight.
You may see a bit of limpness or yellowing in your cutting at first, but in a few weeks, your plant should begin to look healthy and will be growing roots beneath the soil.
For more information on taking good cuttings, read this article.
The Most Common Issues with a Monstera Adansonii
There are three common mistakes Monstera owners make that can compromise the health of their plant. Being mindful of these issues can ensure that your plant stays healthy and will save you stress in the long run.
Overreacting
As we mentioned before, consistency is key. However, it’s easy to panic at the sight of a couple of yellow leaves and add additional water, fertilizer, humidifiers, and a new location all at once. When you respond with drastic measures, it’s harder to diagnose the underlying issue.
Examine your plant and its environment, considering one possible problem at a time. Be patient with your plant, and don’t attempt multiple solutions at once. Often, the best strategy is to aim for consistency and let nature take its course.
Overwatering
Many plant owners make the mistake of watering their plant on a weekly schedule, believing that this is the responsible approach. But changes in temperature, lighting, and growing season impact how much water your Monstera adansonii needs.
Instead, check your plant’s moisture level once or twice a week by inserting a finger into the soil. If the soil is dry 1-2″ down, water your plant thoroughly, and don’t water again until the soil feels dry.
Remember that there is a difference between watering your plant and adding humidity to the air. Even with adequate water, dry winter air can result in dry leaves and dehydrated aerial roots.
Consider adding a humidifier to the room where you have your plant and misting the air around the plant with clean water once a week. These strategies will help your plant retain moisture without the danger of overwatering.
Overfertilizing
With products on the market that promise massive growth and vibrant health, it is easy to assume that fertilizer is the answer for a sick plant. Instead of looking for environmental concerns, such as humidity, or lighting issues, plant owners may simply look to Miracle-Gro to cure a lack of fenestration or legginess.
Plants can’t escape what we introduce to their environments, and your plant will absorb anything added to its container. You may accidentally overdose your Monstera with excessive minerals and nutrients, which in high quantities will make your plant look and feel worse.
While occasional fertilization is beneficial, it should be part of a plan to maintain your Monstera’s health – not a quick fix for yellowing leaves. If you see health issues in your plant, first troubleshoot the environment and implement gradual adjustments. Then, when your plant is looking healthy and well, consider adding a little fertilizer to keep your plant looking great.
Final Thoughts
While there is no quick fix to keep your Monstera healthy, you don’t need to be a master gardener to have a flourishing plant. Ongoing attention and a consistent mix of good habits and a healthy environment will result in a successful plant.
Monstera adansonii are hardy, living years with the proper treatment. Paying attention to warning signs, such as yellowing leaves, and avoiding any extremes in plant care, will go a long way to producing a happy Swiss cheese plant.
But don’t worry, if you need more help, we are here for you. Check out our other articles on Monstera care. You’ll be feeling like a pro in no time!
