Swiss Cheese Plants

Swiss Cheese Plants (Monstera deliciosa) are currently one of the trendiest indoor plants. Their big, bold, and holey leaves have made them superstars among plant lovers and home decorators. No matter your home plant level, novice, or master gardener, these beauties would be a wonderful addition to any collection.

Today, we’ll explore everything you must learn about Swiss Cheese Plants—from their backstory and care advice to common troubleshooting posts. Ultimately, you’ll enjoy fully-grown Swiss Cheese Plants growing in your home!

What Are Swiss Cheese Plants?

Swiss Cheese Plants are tropical vines native to Central and South America’s humid rainforests. They get their easy-to-remember nickname from the distinctive holes or “fenestrations” in their sizeable leaves, which make the foliage look like Swiss cheese slices. These plants can become quite large; the fleshy leaves alone may grow to well over a foot in diameter when grown in optimal conditions. Swiss Cheese Plants are vining plants that can reach more than 30 feet tall in the wild, where they climb trees.

The plant’s scientific name, Monstera deliciosa, also reveals its peculiar qualities. However, deliciosa refers to its edible fruit, uncommon in indoor specimens but rumored to be sweet and pineapple-like when fully ripe.

Swiss Cheese Plants Benefits for Growing Indoors

Aside from looking great, the Swiss Cheese Plants has several upsides that make it an attractive option for indoor gardening:

Air Purification: Monstera deliciosas also purify the air indoors by removing chemicals like formaldehyde and benzene.

Very Low Maintenance: For how exotic it looks, Swiss Cheese Plants are shockingly straightforward to care for—and they will bounce back from most simple transgressions.

Aesthetic Appeal: Swiss cheese plants’ bold, glossy leaves and distinctive holes can provide any room with a subtly kitschy-folksy tropical vibe.

Care for Swiss Cheese Plants

Swiss Cheese Plants are not that difficult to care for. Follow the following care tips to keep your plant looking healthy.

Light Requirements: They prefer bright oblique light because they belong to the genus of cheddar plants. Though they can tolerate lower light environments, growth may arrest, and the iconic leaf cuttings may not develop as noticeably. Set the plant in a window with filtered light. Avoid exposing the plant to prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, as it can lead to leaf burn.

Watering Swiss Cheese Plants: Keep them only moderately moist. Wait for the top inch of the soil to dry out before watering your Swiss Cheese Plants. You must avoid overwatering because the Swiss Cheese Plants are susceptible to root rot if they remain submerged in water-saturated soil. Plant in a well-draining potting mix and place drainage holes in the pot bottom to prevent water buildup.

Humidity Levels: Swiss Cheese Plants are from tropical regions, so growing these in high-humidity environments works wonders. If you have particularly dry air in your home—especially during the winter months—mist the plant regularly or place a humidifier nearby. Instead, you can set the pot on a tray with water and pebbles, which will naturally boost humidity levels in your growing environment.

Temperature Preferences: The plants are native to warm, steamy jungles. Ideally, they thrive in the temperature range of 65°F to 85°F (18°C to 29°C). Avoid placing your plant near drafts or near an air conditioner or heating vent, as sudden temperature changes can stress the plant.

Fertilize Swiss Cheese Plants: Feed your Swiss Cheese Plants with a balanced liquid fertilizer during the growing season (spring and summer) once a month. The plant’s growth slows in the fall and winter, so you can cut back on fertilization or stop altogether. You can read more about indoor plant fertilizers here.

Pruning and Training: Due to their large growth, mature Swiss Cheese Plants may require regular pruning to maintain their manageable size and aesthetic shape. Use a sharp pair of clean scissors or pruning shears to prune back leggy or unwanted stems. If you want your plant to climb, offer a moss pole or trellis to hang on to.

Repot Swiss Cheese Plants: They are quick growers and will likely need repotting in a year or two. As soon as you see roots coming out of the drainage holes, or if your plant looks a bit too crowded, repot. Choose a pot with a larger diameter—1/2 inches bigger than the current pot with draining holes. Place in a well-draining potting mix replicating the plant’s natural rainforest habitat, including peat, perlite, and orchid bark.

You should conduct a hands-on rooting inspection as part of the repotting process. If you notice any signs of disease or root rot, snip off any affected roots before replanting. You can read more about its care and growth here.

Problems and Solutions

While Swiss Cheese Plants are quite hardy, they may still encounter a few trouble spots. We will answer your most common problems.

Yellowing Leaves: If the leaves turn yellow, you overwater the plant. Don’t let the plant sit in water; you can allow the soil to dry out a little between waterings. In this case, look for evidence of root rot, and if necessary, repot the plant in fresh, well-draining soil.

Brown leaf edges: Leaves with brown, crispy edges indicate a lack of humidity. Mist or use a humidifier to ensure high humidity around the plant. And if there are drafts or direct sunlight, your little rainbow is going to look like a wrinkly old man.

Lack of Leaf Fenestrations: If your monstera leaves are not displaying those big fat holes they are renowned for, it could be a lack of light. You can move your plant to a sunnier spot, indoors or outdoors, provided the sunlight is indirect (direct light can burn the leaves). Another option is to occasionally give your plant a quarter turn to ensure all sides are getting the necessary light.

Propagate the Swiss Cheese Plants

Propagating Swiss Cheese Plants is relatively easy and rewarding. The easiest way to propagate them is by cutting stems. Using a sharp blade, cut a section of stem that includes at least one node (the fuzzier area where the leaf meets the stem) and, if possible, an aerial root. Set the cutting times in water or soil!

If in water, wait for roots to grow and transfer to soil when they are an inch long. Water the plant and keep the soil damp but not overly wet until the new life has had time to establish itself in its surroundings. After a few weeks, you will have new growth, and your Swiss Cheese Plants prop will be on its way to thriving.

Swiss Cheese Plants are attractive and simple to care for in any home. Our recommendations for indoor plants are Australian House & Garden. They make the list because they have beautiful, perforated leaves and can cope with a range of light conditions. This is just a general guide you can use if you are new to the world of Monstera deliciosa and want to grow a perfect, healthy Swiss Cheese plant.

Little plant beginners will love Monstera whether you want to cleanse your air, decorate your house, or benefit from the delightful sensation of elevating a one-of-a-kind and engaging creature. With a little TLC, you will grow your Swiss Cheese Plants to thrive for many years and enjoy a slice of the tropics in your indoor garden.