Swiss cheese plants (Monstera deliciosa) are grown for their lush, glossy foliage. They bring a modern jungle vibe to a room and are great air purifiers.
The leaves are heart-shaped when young and perforated (or like Swiss cheese) when mature. This process is called “fenestration” and is thought to be done by wild plants to let as much light as possible pass through the lower leaves.
Cheese plants are actually vines—they originated in South America, where they grow trees and attach themselves to them with roots. The Latin name Monstera deliciosa means “delicious monster”. Monsters refer to their size – in the wild they can be up to 20 m in height and width. Cheese plants grow fast and take up a lot of space even in an average household – they can reach at least 2m in height and 2.5m in width. Over time, they will need to be planted with moss poles or sticks for support.
Learn How to grow Swiss cheese plants
Cheese factories are low maintenance plants. The most important thing to remember is to provide them with the right amount of light – highlights out of direct sunlight are ideal. And don’t overwater—it’s better when the soil is dry.
Where to Grow Swiss Cheese Plants
Finding the right site for your Swiss cheese factory is very important. Too much bright sun and the leaves will burn. Too much shade will cause the leaves not to sink. A brightly lit location a few feet from a window is ideal. Do not place it near heaters or air conditioners. Give him plenty of room, as he will grow quite large.
Swiss cheese plants can only grow in temperatures above 18°C, but can survive temperatures as low as 10°C.
How to Grow a Swiss Cheese Factory
Plant plants in deep pots with drainage holes filled with peat-free all-purpose compost or houseplant compost. There should be at least an inch of compost around the root ball.
Caring for a Swiss cheese plant
Swiss cheese plants are easy to care for. How often you need to water your Swiss cheese plant depends on the time of year and the conditions in your room. Instead of watering on a schedule, water whenever the top inch or two of compost is dry — stick your finger in the soil and watch. Be sure to drain the water completely afterward. Plants need less watering in winter, especially in a cool room. Fertilize plants with a houseplant fertilizer once a month in spring and summer.
As the plant grows, it will soften, so you’ll need to tie the stems to a support such as moss or coir poles. You can find these at garden centers or online.
The plant also forms aerial roots – long, white roots that grow from the plant’s stem. In the wild, they help plants attach to trees. Your plants get their nutrients from the roots in the compost. Therefore, if aerial roots are found to be unsightly, it is not a problem to cut them off. Alternatively you can tuck them into the compost, or let them grow up the moss pole to help support the plant.
In spring, when roots start to emerge from the pot, replant into a slightly larger pot—use potting soil or all-purpose compost. If the plant has grown too large for you to do this easily, dig out as much compost as possible from the top of the pot and replace it with fresh compost.
Large leaves attract dust. So, wipe it down with a damp cloth every now and then to keep its shine and allow the plant to breathe. If your plant is growing in a warm room, it will love spraying the leaves.
How to Propagate Swiss Cheese Plant
There are two methods of propagating monstera or Swiss cheese plants: stem cuttings or air layering.
If you want to try stem cuttings, follow these steps:
1. Using sharp (and clean) pruners, remove any stems with so-called knots or bumps from which roots grow, along with at least two leaves and an aerial root.
2. Pour some ground cinnamon (bought from the supermarket) over the cut mother plants.
3.Put the cuttings in a glass of water. Be sure to clean the glass every three to five days, and use filtered or rainwater instead of tap water.
4.After a few months, roots will begin to sprout. Once this happens, you can move the plant to a new pot of moist soil.
