Why are my leaves not splitting?

The plant likely needs more bright, indirect light to develop its signature fenestrations.

How often should I water it?

Water when the top 5 centimeters of soil feel dry to the touch.

Plant guide

Swiss cheese plant.

Monstera deliciosa

Pronounced mon-STAIR-uh de-lis-ee-OH-suh

Also known as Ceriman, Cut-leaf-philodendron, Delicious Monster, Fruit salad plant, Fruit-salad-plant, Mexican Breadfruit, Mexican-breadfruit, Monstera

Monstera deliciosa — Photo by Carlos Domínguez-Rodríguez (CC BY) via gbif

The Swiss cheese plant is a popular tropical climber known for its iconic, fenestrated leaves. It brings a bold, jungle feel to any indoor space. These plants are quite adaptable and grow quickly when given enough room.

Another photo of Swiss cheese plant — Photo by Robert Taylor (CC BY) via iNaturalist

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Tropical evergreen climber
Light: Bright, indirect light is best, though it can tolerate some morning sun.
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 7 to 10 days
Mature size: Up to 3 meters tall indoors
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 10 to 12
Bloom time: Rarely in home settings, usually late spring to summer.

Care

Keep the soil consistently moist but never soggy, and wipe the leaves occasionally to remove dust. Watch for yellowing leaves, which often signal overwatering or poor drainage. Provide a moss pole or trellis early on to support its climbing nature.

Watering: Water when the top 5 centimeters of soil feel dry to the touch.
Feeding: Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer monthly during the active growing season.
Pruning: Trim back leggy stems or remove damaged leaves to maintain shape.
Repotting: Repot when the roots begin to circle the bottom of the container.
Soil: Well draining, peat based potting mix
Soil pH: 5.5 to 7.0
Temperature: 15 to 30°C
Humidity: 60 to 90%
Drought tolerance: Low
Lifespan: Perennial, can live for decades with proper care.
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of the drainage holes
Water running straight through the pot
Stunted growth during the growing season

Safety

People: All parts of the plant are toxic to humans if ingested due to insoluble calcium oxalate crystals.
Pets: This plant is toxic to cats and dogs if ingested, as it contains insoluble calcium oxalates.
Children: Keep this plant out of reach of children, as chewing on leaves or stems causes immediate oral pain and swelling.
Contact allergens: The sap can cause skin irritation or dermatitis in sensitive individuals.
Airborne allergens: There is no significant risk of respiratory allergy from this plant.
Edibility: Unripe fruit contains calcium oxalate crystals that cause severe irritation to the mouth and throat.

How to identify it

Large, heart shaped glossy leaves
Distinctive natural leaf holes or splits
Thick, aerial roots emerge from stems
Vining growth habit requires support

Height: 2 to 9m
Spread: 1 to 3m
Leaves: dark green, evergreen
Flowers: white, cream, 10 to 25cm
Fruit: green, white, Late summer to autumn

Problems to watch for

Brown Leaf EdgesCommon
Root RotCommon
ThripsCommon
Fungus GnatsUncommon
MealybugsUncommon
Scale InsectsUncommon
Spider MitesUncommon

By symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: cuttings, layering
When to plant: spring, summer
Overwintering: Move indoors before temperatures drop below 15 degrees Celsius and reduce watering frequency.
In containers: It grows well in containers, but ensure the pot has drainage holes and a sturdy moss pole for support.

Stem Cuttings

1. Identify a stem with at least one node and a leaf.
2. Cut just below the node using a clean, sharp blade.
3. Place the cutting in water or moist potting mix.
4. Keep in bright, indirect light until roots form.

Group tropical plants together to create a microclimate that naturally boosts ambient humidity.

Grows well with

Peace Lily — They share similar requirements for humidity and indirect light.
Philodendron — Both thrive in the same tropical indoor conditions.

Similar species

Swiss Cheese Plant — It has smaller leaves with fully enclosed holes.
Split Leaf Philodendron — It has deeply lobed leaves but lacks the characteristic holes.

Science

Family: Araceae
Genus: Monstera
Order: Alismatales
Class: Liliopsida
Native range: Tropical rainforests of southern Mexico and Central America.
Conservation: Not of conservation concern as it is widely cultivated and invasive in some tropical regions.

It uses aerial roots to anchor itself to host trees while climbing toward the forest canopy.

Value to wildlife: nectar source
Pollinators: bees, beetles
Uses: ornamental houseplant, tropical landscaping

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Soil reaction: 6/9
Moisture: 6/9
Nutrients: 5/9
Temperature: 8/9
Salinity: 2/9
Light: 6/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Why are my leaves not splitting?: The plant likely needs more bright, indirect light to develop its signature fenestrations.
How often should I water it?: Water when the top 5 centimeters of soil feel dry to the touch.

Where the name comes from

Monstera comes from the Latin word for monstrous, referring to the large, unusual leaves, while deliciosa highlights the edible fruit.

Good to know

The name deliciosa refers to the sweet, pineapple like flavor of the ripe fruit.
Monstera leaves can grow up to 90 centimeters wide in the wild.
It is a hemiepiphyte, meaning it starts life on the ground and climbs trees to reach light.

Also in

Plants toxic to cats and dogs

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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.