Monstera adonsonii Care Guide
Common name: Swiss cheese vine
Family: Araceae
Genus: Monstera
Botanical Name: Monstera adansonii
Durability: Easy
Light
Monstera adansonii are native to tropical rainforests where they only receive partial sunlight, so it’s best to keep these guys in bright indirect sunlight and partial shade.
Water
Check to see if the top 1 inch of soil is completely dry. They really benefit from the “soak and dry” method of watering. Soak the top inch of soil and let it settle, and then water until you start to notice it coming out of the drainage hole. Then let it dry completely before watering again.
Climate
Keep them in warmer areas between 65 and 85°F that doesn’t fall below 50°F for them to grow the best, and they love for the humidity level to be around 50% if possible.
Soil
They like to be potted in a well-draining peaty soil that is kept lightly moist. The peat will allow the water to slowly be distributed to the roots while draining away excess water at the same time. On a biweekly basis, swap out water for a fertilizing session to feed your monstera.
Pests and Diseases
Scale, thrips, spider mites, and leaf spots love to bother swiss cheese plants.
Tips
Keep a humidifier nearby or place a tray filled with pebbles or rocks underneath it to increase humidity levels.
Don’t worry about repotting your monstera, they love tight spaces! Just watch for roots coming out of the bottom of the pot to know when to repot them.
Their aerial roots make them east to propagate!
Prune them by clipping away damaged or brown leaves.
Train them to climb by keeping a trellis nearby for the aerial roots to latch onto.
Signs your monstera is unhappy
Yellow leaves: over watering or too much sunlight
Crispy leaves: he’s scorched!
Brown or black leaves: too much water or poor drainage
How to propagate
It is so easy to propagate Monstera adonsonii in water. All you need to do is take a cutting from your mature plant. It should have at least 2 nodes on it. Set it in a glass of water and wait for the roots to grow at least 2 inches. Change the water out every few days to keep it nice and clean. Once the roots have reached 2 inches, you can transfer it to a pot of well-draining potting mix that has been dampened.
Fun Facts
The monstera adansonii is a cousin to the monstera deliciosa, but they do not get nearly as big.
They have large holes in their leaves that they develop as they mature.
They originally dwell in tropical rainforest.
The holes allow wind to pass through, which saves the plant some damage from wind!
Hardiness Zones
Before you move your plant outside, be sure to check the hardiness zone to save yourself some grief and the loss of a beloved plant.
The hardiness zone for monstera adonsonii is : 10
If you live in Tennessee, here’s a hardiness map to help you decide if your plant can survive outside!
