Pest identification
What's eating my swiss cheese vine?
Spider mites
Signs: Pale, dusty stippling across leaf surfaces; fine webbing around the leaf perforations and undersides
Control: Shower plant, increase humidity above 50%, and spray neem oil or insecticidal soap every 5–7 days
Mealybugs
Signs: White fluffy clusters at stem nodes and in the axils of leaf petioles; sticky honeydew below
Control: Dab with 70% isopropyl alcohol swab; apply diluted neem oil spray to the whole plant weekly
Scale insects
Signs: Hard brown shells on stems; honeydew and sooty mold on leaves; stunted new growth
Control: Scrape off with a soft brush in soapy water; treat with horticultural oil, repeating after 10–14 days
Keep swiss cheese vine pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Swiss cheese vine pests — FAQ
What is eating my swiss cheese vine?
Swiss cheese vine (Monstera adansonii) is most commonly troubled by spider mites, which thrive in dry indoor air and distort or dull the distinctive fenestrated leaves. Mealybugs hide along stems and at leaf nodes, and scale can colonize older woody sections. Wipe the leaf surface and undersides regularly and boost humidity to deter mites.
How do I get rid of spider mites on swiss cheese vine?
Pale, dusty stippling across leaf surfaces; fine webbing around the leaf perforations and undersides Shower plant, increase humidity above 50%, and spray neem oil or insecticidal soap every 5–7 days
How do I get rid of mealybugs on swiss cheese vine?
White fluffy clusters at stem nodes and in the axils of leaf petioles; sticky honeydew below Dab with 70% isopropyl alcohol swab; apply diluted neem oil spray to the whole plant weekly
How do I get rid of scale insects on swiss cheese vine?
Hard brown shells on stems; honeydew and sooty mold on leaves; stunted new growth Scrape off with a soft brush in soapy water; treat with horticultural oil, repeating after 10–14 days