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Check these first
- Examine the undersides of the leaves for tiny pests.
- Check if the leaves have been staying wet after watering.
- Look for webbing between the stems.
Likely causes
Spider mites
Most likelyHow to tell: You will see tiny brown or yellow speckles on the leaves and fine webbing between the stems. The leaves may eventually look dusty or dull.
What to do: Wipe the leaves down with a damp cloth to remove the mites. Spray the plant with neem oil or insecticidal soap once a week for three weeks. Increase the humidity around the plant to discourage them.
Fungal leaf spot
PossibleHow to tell: These appear as dark brown or black spots with a yellow halo around them. They often occur when the leaves stay wet for too long after misting.
What to do: Stop misting the leaves and ensure good air circulation around the plant. Trim off the most heavily affected leaves to prevent the fungus from spreading. Keep the foliage dry when you water.
Find out what's wrong with your swiss cheese plant
The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.
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When to worry
Small, isolated spots are usually manageable, but you should worry if the spots are spreading rapidly across the whole plant. A few tiny brown marks on older leaves are often just cosmetic damage.
Stopping it coming back
Keep the leaves clean and dry, and maintain good airflow. Regularly inspect your plant for pests so you can catch them early.
Swiss Cheese Plant: spots? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your swiss cheese plant and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.
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Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
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Questions people ask
- Can I cut the brown spots off?
- Yes, you can trim the brown parts with clean scissors. Just try to avoid cutting into the healthy green tissue.
- Are these spots contagious to my other plants?
- If the spots are caused by pests like spider mites, yes. Move the affected plant away from your other houseplants until it is clear.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Swiss Cheese Plant
- Why is my Swiss Cheese Plant getting root rot?
- How do I get rid of pests on my Swiss Cheese Plant?
- Why are my Swiss Cheese Plant leaves turning yellow?
- Why are my monstera's leaf tips turning brown?
- Why is my monstera growing so leggy?
- Why is my monstera drooping?
- Why is my monstera losing leaves?
- Why are my monstera leaves curling?
Back to the Swiss Cheese Plant guide
This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.