Adanson's Monstera

Other common names: Swiss Cheese Plant, Swiss Cheese Vine

The Adanson’s monstera is an attractive plant with interesting leaves that sport holes on each side of the midrib, like a slice of swiss cheese.

A perennial climber, the Adanson’s monstera is a great plant for the indoor garden, and is often planted in a hanging pot or as a trellis plant.

Sun and soil needs:

This plant thrives in 4-6 hours of indirect sunlight, and up to 4 hours of direct sunlight. Plants do best in pots with loamy soil at least 10cm deep. These plants are vulnerable to root rot, so ensure that your pots drain well, and that your soil has plenty of organic matter to let the roots breathe.

Growing:

Adanson’s monstera is a low maintenance plant that does best in consistently moist soil and environments with high humidity. Regular pruning will encourage a bushier look.

For consistent and rapid growth, this plant can be fertilised once a month with a high nitrogen fertiliser.

Wipe down the leaves with a soft rag to remove dust deposited to prevent pests such as spider mites.

As with all potted plants, regular repotting once a year will prevent it from becoming root bound.

This plant can be trained to climb up a trellis or a wall. Take note that the roots used for climbing may leave marks on surfaces.

Propagation:

Adanson’s Monstera can be propagated by stem cuttings rooted in soil or water.

Common problems & solutions:

This plant is relatively resistant to pests and disease if kept healthy.

Aphids, mealy bugs, and spider mites often infest the plant if it has underlying problems like repeated wilting from heat stress. Mechanical pest control methods like pruning the infested parts are the best methods for managing these pests in the short term, but resolving the underlying problem will prevent them in the long term.