Pocket BotanistPlant guide
Swiss cheese plant.
Monstera adansonii var. adansonii
Pronounced mon-STAIR-uh a-dan-SO-nee-eye
Also known as Monstera adansonii var. adansonii
The Swiss cheese plant is a charming tropical vine known for its heart shaped leaves filled with unique holes. It loves to climb and makes a fantastic statement piece in any bright room. You will find it is quite easy to keep happy if you provide it with a bit of support.
At a glance
- Care level
- Easy
- Plant type
- Epiphytic vine
- Light
- Bright indirect light
- Indoor light
- bright-indirect
- Water
- Every 7 to 10 days
- Mature size
- 2 to 4 meters
- Growth rate
- fast
- Hardiness
- USDA 10 to 12
- Bloom time
- Rarely indoors, usually late spring
Care
Provide a moss pole or trellis to encourage larger leaf development. Watch for yellowing leaves which often signal overwatering or poor drainage. Keep the leaves clean by wiping them with a damp cloth to help the plant breathe.
- Watering
- Water when the top few centimeters of soil feel dry to the touch.
- Feeding
- Feed with a balanced liquid fertilizer during the active growing season.
- Pruning
- Trim back long stems to maintain shape and encourage bushier growth.
- Repotting
- Repot when the roots begin to circle the bottom of the container.
- Soil
- Well draining peat based mix
- Soil pH
- 5.5 to 7.0
- Temperature
- 15 to 27°C
- Humidity
- 50 to 80%
- Drought tolerance
- low
- Lifespan
- Perennial, typically 5 to 10 years with proper care.
- Deer and rabbits
- moderate
Signs it needs repotting
- Roots growing out of the drainage holes.
- Water running straight through the pot without soaking in.
- The plant stops growing despite good light and care.
Safety
- People
- The plant contains calcium oxalate crystals that cause immediate irritation, burning, and swelling of the mouth and throat if chewed or swallowed.
- Pets
- This plant is toxic to cats and dogs if ingested.
- Children
- Keep this plant out of reach of small children, as the leaves are highly irritating if bitten or chewed.
- Contact allergens
- The sap can cause skin irritation or contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals.
- Airborne allergens
- There are no notable airborne allergens associated with this plant.
- Edibility
- This plant is toxic to humans and pets if ingested, so keep it away from curious mouths.
How to identify it
- Heart shaped leaves with holes
- Fenestrations do not reach leaf edges
- Vining growth habit
- Glossy green foliage
- Height
- 0.6 to 4m
- Spread
- 0.3 to 1m
- Leaves
- green, evergreen
- Flowers
- white, cream, 5 to 10cm
- Fruit
- green, yellow, Rarely produced indoors
Common problems
- Spider mites — Tiny pests that suck sap and leave fine webbing on the undersides of leaves.
- Root rot — A fungal issue caused by overwatering or poorly draining soil that turns roots mushy.
- Yellowing leaves — Often a sign of inconsistent watering or low light levels.
Growing it
- Propagation
- cuttings, division
- When to plant
- spring, summer
- Overwintering
- Bring the plant indoors if you keep it outside during summer. Keep it away from cold drafts and reduce watering slightly as growth slows in winter.
- In containers
- It grows very well in pots and looks excellent in hanging baskets, provided the container has drainage holes.
Stem Cuttings
- 1. Identify a stem with at least one node and a healthy leaf.
- 2. Use clean shears to cut just below the node.
- 3. Place the cutting in a jar of water or directly into moist potting mix.
- 4. Keep in bright, indirect light until roots develop.
Group plants with similar water needs to make maintenance easier and create a humid environment.
Grows well with
- Peace Lily — They share similar requirements for indirect light and consistent moisture.
- Philodendron — These vining plants create a lush, tropical look when grouped together.
- Ferns — Ferns help create a microclimate of higher humidity that benefits the Monstera.
Keep away from
- Succulents — Succulents require much drier soil and higher light than this tropical vine.
Similar species
- Monstera deliciosa — It is a much larger relative with broader, split leaves.
- Rhaphidophora tetrasperma — Often mistaken for a Monstera, it has smaller leaves with deep, distinct splits.
Science
- Family
- Araceae
- Genus
- Monstera
- Order
- Alismatales
- Class
- Liliopsida
- Native range
- Tropical regions of Central and South America.
- Conservation
- This species is not currently listed as endangered, but wild collection should be avoided to protect native populations.
This plant thrives as an understory climber in humid tropical forests, using its aerial roots to anchor itself to trees.
- Uses
- Indoor ornamental, Hanging basket specimen, Terrarium accent
Through the year
Ecological indicators
- Salinity
- 2/9
- Soil reaction
- 6/9
- Light
- 5/9
- Temperature
- 7/9
- Moisture
- 6/9
- Nutrients
- 5/9
Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.
Questions people ask
- How often should I water it?
- Water when the top 1 to 2 inches of soil feel dry to the touch.
- Does it need direct sunlight?
- No, it prefers bright, indirect light to keep its leaves healthy and vibrant.
- Why are the leaves turning brown?
- Brown edges often indicate low humidity or underwatering.
Where the name comes from
The genus name Monstera refers to the unusual, monstrous size and appearance of the leaves, while adansonii honors the French botanist Michel Adanson.
Good to know
- It is often called the Swiss Cheese Vine because of its unique, holey leaves.
- In the wild, it is an epiphyte that climbs trees to reach better light.
- The leaves can grow significantly larger when the plant is allowed to climb a moss pole.
- It is a relatively fast grower compared to the larger Monstera deliciosa.
Is your swiss cheese plant looking unwell?
This page is a general guide. Pocket Botanist diagnoses problems from a photo of your actual plant, works out watering for your light and conditions, and reminds you when care is due.
This guide was generated with AI and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.