Monstera adansonii (Swiss cheese vine) (Swiss cheese vine) care

Light

Bright but filtered. Monstera adansonii (Swiss cheese vine) burns within days in unfiltered south-facing summer sun, and stops growing within months in deep shade. Bright, indirect light produces the largest leaves and the most fenestration. NC State Extension classes it as a part-shade plant and warns that direct sun scorches the foliage, so keep it back from a hot south or west window. In low light it survives but turns leggy, with long internodes and smaller, less-holey leaves. If you only have a south window, set the plant back 1.5 m or hang a sheer curtain — both knock the intensity down into the right range.

Watering

Watering monstera adansonii (swiss cheese vine): when the top 2-3 cm is dry, roughly every 7-10 days in growth. The number that matters isn't the day of the week — it's how dry the top 2-3 cm of the pot feels. A finger in the soil tells you more than a watering app. After every watering, tip the saucer. Water thoroughly until it runs from the drainage holes, then let the top 2-3 cm dry before watering again, easing off in winter. It likes consistent moisture but loathes wet feet, so never let the pot stand in water. Persistent sogginess is the fastest route to root rot in this species.

Soil and pot

Monstera adansonii (Swiss cheese vine) grows best in chunky, well-draining aroid mix. Use a loose, free-draining mix that still holds some moisture, around a slightly acidic to neutral pH. A blend of peat-free potting compost with added orchid bark, perlite and a little coir works well; the bark and perlite create the air pockets these climbing aroids need around their roots. Always pot into a container with drainage holes. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Monstera adansonii (Swiss cheese vine) sits happiest at around 60-80% humidity and 18-27°C (65-80°F). As a tropical understorey climber it thrives in high humidity, ideally 60% or more, which keeps the thin leaves supple and encourages aerial roots. In dry rooms a humidifier or a pebble tray helps far more than misting. It tolerates average household humidity but may show crispy leaf edges when the air is very dry. If you keep the room above 18 year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed monstera adansonii (swiss cheese vine) sparingly. Feed monthly through spring and summer with a balanced liquid houseplant fertiliser diluted to label strength; it is a moderate but not heavy feeder. Pause or greatly reduce feeding in autumn and winter when growth slows. Flush the pot with plain water occasionally to clear any salt build-up from the chunky mix. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on monstera adansonii (swiss cheese vine) in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

• Few or no holes / leggy growth — Sparse fenestration and long, bare stems usually mean too little light. Move it brighter (still indirect) and give it a moss pole to climb; mature, well-lit, supported growth fenestrates far more reliably.
• Yellowing leaves and root rot — Overwatering or a pot without drainage is the usual cause. Let the top 2-3 cm dry between waterings, use a chunky aroid mix, and ensure the pot drains freely so roots never sit wet.
• Sap-sucking pests — Watch for spider mites, mealybugs, aphids, whiteflies and scale, especially in dry indoor air. Inspect leaf undersides regularly and treat early with insecticidal soap or a horticultural oil; raising humidity discourages spider mites.
• Crispy brown leaf edges — Thin leaves brown at the margins when air is too dry or watering is erratic. Raise humidity with a humidifier or pebble tray and keep watering consistent rather than letting the mix bone-dry between drinks.

Companion plants

Monstera adansonii (Swiss cheese vine) pairs well with Pothos (Epipremnum aureum), Heartleaf philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum), Scindapsus pictus, and Other moss-pole-climbing aroids. These are species with similar light and water needs, so you can group them in the same room or on the same shelf and water as a batch.

Propagation

Easily propagated from stem cuttings: take a cutting with at least one node (the bump where leaf and aerial root meet), cutting just below the node, and root it in water or, better, in damp sphagnum moss for sturdier roots that transplant with less shock. Change water every 5-7 days if rooting in water. Pot on once roots are a few centimetres long. Division is also possible where each section keeps a node. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Monstera adansonii (Swiss cheese vine) is toxic to pets. Toxic to cats and dogs. Like all Monstera and other aroids (family Araceae), it contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals; when chewed, these needle-like raphides cause oral irritation, intense burning of the mouth, tongue and lips, drooling, vomiting and difficulty swallowing. ASPCA does not list M. adansonii by name but lists its close relative Monstera deliciosa (Swiss Cheese Plant) as toxic to both cats and dogs on the same insoluble-calcium-oxalate basis, and NC State Extension states M. adansonii is toxic to humans and pets if ingested. Treated conservatively as toxic; keep out of reach of pets and children. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Monstera adansonii (Swiss cheese vine) deep-dive guides

Every aspect of monstera adansonii (swiss cheese vine) care, each with its own calibrated guide:

• Monstera adansonii (Swiss cheese vine) watering schedule
• Monstera adansonii (Swiss cheese vine) light requirements
• Best soil mix for monstera adansonii (swiss cheese vine)
• Monstera adansonii (Swiss cheese vine) fertilizing guide
• When to repot monstera adansonii (swiss cheese vine)
• How to propagate monstera adansonii (swiss cheese vine)
• Monstera adansonii (Swiss cheese vine) growth rate & size
• Monstera adansonii (Swiss cheese vine) cold hardiness
• Monstera adansonii (Swiss cheese vine) temperature & humidity
• Is monstera adansonii (swiss cheese vine) toxic to cats & dogs?

Related guides

Monstera adansonii (Swiss cheese vine) is also known as Swiss cheese vine, Adanson's monstera, Swiss cheese plant, Five-hole plant, and Monkey mask.

• Types of monstera — varieties identified, with care and pet-safety
• Monstera care — light, water and common problems
• Pothos care — light, water and common problems
• Fiddle leaf fig care — light, water and common problems
• All 271 plant care guides in the Growli library