Swiss Cheese Plant at a Glance
- Flower Color: White
- Common Name: Swiss cheese plant
- Family: Araceae
- Plant Type: Perennial
- Botanical Name: Monstera adansonii
- Hardiness Zones: 10–12, USA
- Sun Exposure: Partial
- Soil Type: Moist, well-drained
- Mature Size: 10–13 ft. tall (outdoors), 3–8 ft. tall (indoors), 1–3 ft. wide
- Soil pH: Acidic, neutral
- Native Area: Central America, South America
- Bloom Time: Spring
- Toxicity: Toxic to pets
Swiss Cheese Plant Care
The Swiss cheese plant is easy to grow. However, if the care instructions are not followed, the leaves of this plant will look ugly and unattractive.
Here are some vital tips to make sure they can develop well:
Water
While overwatering may cause decay, letting the topsoil dry out will keep your plant neither too wet nor too dry. These plants like their soil slightly on the dry side.
Light
These plants will grow well if provided enough indirect light. Planting them near south-facing or west-facing windows will work well. If direct sunlight is unavoidable, you can limit your plant's exposure to the sun to just a few hours in the morning.
Humidity
Like other tropical plants, Swiss cheese plants will develop very well in high humidity, so you may have to depend on a humidifier or timetable chance to mist your plants with a sprayer every two or three days.
Temperature
Swiss cheese plants prefer indoor temperatures - around 60–85°F.
Types of Swiss Cheese Plant
Types of Swiss Cheese Plant
There are several types of Swiss cheese plants. A few includes:
- Monstera Deliciosa: Monstera Deliciosa is a well-recognized type of monster. It has those huge, beautiful holey leaves that are so famous in nurseries and printed home décor today. You can't turn out wrong with this one.
- Monstera Borsigiana: While comparative in appearance to Monstera deliciosa, Monstera borsigiana is smaller in size. It also develops and grows fast if it has the right growing conditions. There are many color varieties of this plant, like yellow and white.
- Monstera Obliqua: These fabulous plants still have the typical holes. The holes can take up to 90% of the paper-dainty leaves. So, these plants are very fragile, and you will not think that they are in nurseries. Anyhow, if you are lucky, you can get them in some botanic nurseries. This plant has been seen multiple times in the wild and is often studied for cross-reproducing with different varieties.
Pruning and Propagating of Swiss Cheese Plant
You can propagate the Swiss cheese plant via stem cuttings, seeds, or suckers. In case you are considering how to take Swiss cheese plant cuttings, it is simple. Eliminate the main leaf close to the base of the cutting, and plant the node within the soil. You can utilize rooting hormone whenever required; however, this is not required.
Water well, permitting it to drain out. Perfectly, you might want to root the cutting in the water ahead of time, moving it to a pot once rooting has sufficiently started occurring.
You can also do Swiss cheese plant propagation by folding damp moss around the stem at a little ethereal root and leaf axil, holding it in place with string. Within a couple of months, new roots will start to grow on the Swiss-cheese plant.
How to Grow Swiss Cheese Plant from Seed
To grow a Monstera Deliciosa plant, you would need to sprout its seeds first. Cover your container with plastic wrap. Monstera Deliciosa seeds need satisfactory dampness, backhanded light, and ample heat to sprout. The fledglings and leaves would show up within a month after that, moving them to a big pot would also be a good idea.
Potting and Repotting Swiss Cheese Plant
Potting: For the best ventilation, use an unglazed ceramic pot with big drainage holes. Swiss cheese plants will grow well in peat-based fertilized soil. Give your plant a moss pole or other help if you would like it to climb. Search for a dirt pH level around 5.5 and 7.0.
Repotting: Typically, you should change your plant’s position every year and revive the gardening soil every year. While repotting and moving the plant up in size, use a rich fertilized soil made of manure and peat, which will help in drainage and aeration. The best time for repotting is during the late spring.
Common Pests & Plant Diseases
Insect parasites can cause little yellow spots or patches on leaf surfaces. These tiny parasites absorb the dampness of the leaves. You can deal with the problem with a thin layer of neem oil. The framing azadirachtin formed will kill off vermin eggs and gradually poison adults.
Scale bugs, especially mealybugs also tend to appear to suck the nutrition out of your plant. Insecticidal cleansers can help wipe out these bugs. Neem oil is excellent protection.
Common Problems with Swiss Cheese Plant
Here are some potential issues you should know their causes.
The color of leaf tips and edges turns brown: Low dampness and dry air can be causes of this issue although a pot-bound plant can have a similar impact on the plant.
Yellow Leaves: If your plant has many leaves yellowing and they are wilting, you may have overwatered it. If you know that the plant has not been over-watered, it could mean the soil needs compost.
Leaves not framing holes or slits: This is typical because of lack of something that will be light, insufficient compost, or insufficient water. If the plant is tall, you should check whether the aeronautical roots are in compost and if they are not, place the roots on a clammy moss pole or in soil.
FAQs
1. How much warmth and light and Swiss cheese plants need?
These plants still grow well in low humidity. Keep them from direct sunshine.
2. How fast can you grow the Swiss cheese plant?
This plant has a fast growth rate. However, it will not reach its full size if grown indoors.
3. How do Swiss cheese plants get on with pets?
Unfortunately, the leaves of Swiss cheese plants are toxic to dogs and cats. So, it would be best to put them in a place where dogs and cats cannot reach them.
