Kamil Perry
The Swiss cheese plant, or Monstera, is a climbing plant that grows in the tropical forests of southern Mexico and South America. It is a popular houseplant that can grow up to eight feet tall indoors, but in the wild, it can climb up to 70 feet. The plant gets its name from the holes in its leaves, which develop as the plant ages. To encourage the Swiss cheese plant to grow upwards, it is recommended to use a support pole, such as a moss pole, which the plant will root into and climb. The plant can also be left to grow on its own as a vine, but it may sprawl towards a light source, creating a trip hazard.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Light | Bright, indirect light |
| Sunlight | Avoid direct sunlight; limit to 2-3 hours of morning sun |
| Temperature | 60°F to 85°F (18°C to 25°C) |
| Humidity | Above 50% |
| Soil | Peat-based potting mix with a pH between 5.5 and 7 |
| Watering | Water when the top inch of soil is dry; keep soil moist, but not soaked |
| Fertilizer | Balanced liquid fertilizer with an N-P-K of 5-2-3, applied monthly during the growing season |
| Support | Moss pole, trellis, or U-cane supports |
| Pruning | Light and regular pruning as needed |
| Propagation | Take stem cuttings from spring to late summer |
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What You'll Learn
Use a moss pole or trellis
Swiss cheese plants are climbers and can be trained to grow upwards with the help of a trellis or moss pole. In the wild, they grow like vines, scrambling up trees to reach more light. You can replicate this in your home by providing a moss-covered pole for the stems to root into.
To make your own moss pole, get a layer of mesh big enough to wrap around a broom handle and cover it with a fine layer of sphagnum moss. You can also buy a moss pole from specialty plant nurseries. To figure out the height, add the height of the pot and the current height of the plant, plus a few inches to allow for future growth. Insert the moss pole into the potting soil to stabilise it and prevent it from toppling over.
If you don't like the look of moss poles, or can't find or make one, you can use a large untreated wooden stick or slab, which mimics the way monsteras grow up tree trunks in their natural environment. While a metal or bamboo trellis can also serve as a support, it won't encourage the same type of vigorous growth as a moss pole because it won't provide moisture or nutrients to the plant's aerial roots.
To train your Swiss cheese plant to climb a moss pole, attach it with a soft plant tie, yarn, or cotton string. Gently move the stem so it's lined up vertically along the moss pole and tie it to the stem to secure it in a few places. Make sure the tie isn't so tight that it cuts into the plant tissue. Over time, the plant will latch onto the moss pole by itself.
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Keep the moss moist
Swiss cheese plants, or Monstera, are climbing plants that grow natively in the tropical forests of southern Mexico and South America. They can be trained to grow up a moss pole, but they can also be left to grow on their own as long, trailing vines.
If you want to train your Swiss cheese plant to grow upwards, you'll need to keep the moss moist. Here's how to do it:
First, you'll need to create a moss pole for your plant to climb. You can make your own by wrapping a layer of mesh around a broom handle and covering it with a fine layer of sphagnum moss. Alternatively, you can purchase a wooden support pole from your local hardware store or garden nursery. These poles come in a range of sizes that can be interlocked as your plant grows.
Once you have your moss pole, it's important to keep the moss moist. Use a spray bottle to regularly mist the moss pole, ensuring that it doesn't dry out completely. This will provide good levels of moisture for any aerial roots that are likely to grow from your Swiss cheese plant.
In addition to keeping the moss moist, it's important to maintain the right environmental conditions for your plant. Swiss cheese plants thrive in high humidity (above 50%) and warm temperatures of 60°F to 85°F (or 18°C to 25°C). They prefer bright, indirect light and can be placed near a window to receive natural sunlight. Just be sure to avoid direct or hot sunlight, as this can burn the foliage.
By providing a moist moss pole and the right environmental conditions, you can successfully train your Swiss cheese plant to grow upwards, creating a stunning, architectural focal point in your home.
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Provide bright, indirect light
Bright, indirect light is essential for the healthy growth of Swiss cheese plants. This type of light is filtered or partially shaded, meaning it passes through a medium like a sheer curtain, blinds, or leaves on a tree before reaching the plant.
To provide bright, indirect light for your Swiss cheese plant, consider the direction and intensity of natural light in your home. In the northern hemisphere, south-facing windows receive the brightest light, while in the southern hemisphere, north-facing windows offer the brightest exposure. East-facing windows receive less intense morning light, which is suitable for plants requiring low to medium light. If you have a west-facing window, the strong direct light in the afternoon and early evening can be made indirect by using sheer curtains to diffuse the light.
The wider the view of the sky from the plant's position, the stronger the indirect light it will receive. You can measure the light intensity using a light meter, taking multiple readings throughout the day and on different days with varying cloud cover. If the light intensity is below the minimum requirement for your plant, move it closer to the window or consider using grow lights.
To ensure your Swiss cheese plant receives adequate light without exposing it to extreme temperatures, keep the leaves away from the windowpane. Avoid placing the plant near heating vents or exterior doors, where it may be subjected to cold drafts.
By providing bright, indirect light, you can create optimal conditions for your Swiss cheese plant to thrive and develop its distinctive features.
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Repot annually when young
Repotting a young Swiss cheese plant annually is important to encourage growth and refresh the soil. Each time you repot, increase the container size until you reach the largest desired pot. After that, the plant will be content for several years, even if it is root-bound, but it will need a fresh top dressing of rich soil annually. Early spring, before new leaves occur, is the best time to repot a Swiss cheese plant.
Swiss cheese plants are native to the tropical forests of southern Mexico and South America, where they grow like vines, climbing up trees to reach more light. They can be grown as houseplants and will grow into a spectacular, architectural focal point, eventually reaching several metres tall. They are easy to care for and are generally pest- and disease-free. They can live for years in the right conditions and are very forgiving when it comes to watering.
Swiss cheese plants are climbers, so they benefit from being trained or tied onto a support, such as a moss pole, into which they will eventually root if the moss is kept moist. This will also provide support to keep these top-heavy plants upright. In the wild, they use their aerial roots to push themselves up onto adjoining trees or woody vines. A wooden support can be purchased from a local hardware store or garden nursery. The support can also be created at home by wrapping a layer of mesh around a broom handle and covering it with a fine layer of sphagnum moss.
Swiss cheese plants thrive in high humidity (above 50%) and warm temperatures of 60°F to 85°F. They need bright, indirect light to keep growing and for their leaves to develop holes, known as fenestration. They grow best in peat-based potting mix, which will help to trap moisture in the soil without causing it to become waterlogged. For strong growth, aim for a soil pH between 5.5 and 7.
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Prune lightly and regularly
Pruning your cheese plant regularly is essential to its growth. You should prune your cheese plant lightly and regularly as needed. This will ensure that your plant grows upward in a healthy manner.
Monstera adansonii, also known as the Swiss cheese plant, grows quickly, with an average growth rate of one to two feet per year in ideal conditions. It is a tropical plant that thrives in high humidity (above 50%) and warm temperatures of 60°F to 85°F. A warm, well-lit bathroom free of drafts is an ideal spot for this plant.
To help your cheese plant grow upward, you can provide it with a support system such as a trellis or a moss pole. In the wild, Swiss cheese plants grow by climbing up trees and using their roots to attach themselves for support. Similarly, in your home, you can provide a moss-covered pole for the plant to climb and root into. The moss pole should be kept moist to encourage the plant to root into it.
Pruning your cheese plant regularly will help maintain its shape and encourage upward growth. Pruning also allows you to remove any dead or damaged leaves, promoting healthy growth. When pruning, make sure to use sharp and clean pruning shears to make precise cuts, reducing the risk of damage to the plant.
It is important to note that each plant has its own unique growth habit, and you should work with your plant to provide the best support for its upward growth. The frequency of pruning may vary depending on the growth rate and the environment. Regular pruning will help keep your cheese plant healthy and encourage it to grow upward instead of sprawling outward.
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Frequently asked questions
Swiss cheese plants are climbers and can be trained to grow up a moss pole, which they will eventually root into. This will also provide support to keep these top-heavy plants upright. You can also use a trellis or a wooden support.
Swiss cheese plants need bright, indirect light to keep growing and for its leaves to develop holes (a process known as "fenestration"). They thrive in high humidity (above 50%) and warm temperatures of 60°F to 85°F. They can be placed in a warm, well-lit bathroom, free of drafts.
Feed your cheese plant with a balanced liquid fertiliser during the growing season, from April to September. Prune your cheese plant lightly and regularly as needed. Swiss cheese plants are very forgiving when it comes to watering, but make sure the soil is allowed to mostly dry out in between waters.
You can use a sphagnum moss pole, which provides good levels of moisture for any aerial roots that are likely to be growing from your cheese plant. You can also use a U-shaped cane support or a trellis.
