Bushra Griffith
The Swiss Cheese Vine, or Monstera adansonii, is a trendy, low-maintenance houseplant with distinctive holes in its leaves that resemble Swiss cheese. It is a fast-growing, tropical climbing plant with aerial roots that can be trained to grow up fixtures like shelves or mirrors, or left to hang and trail. This article will provide a guide on how to train your Swiss Cheese Vine to climb using a trellis or moss pole, and how to care for your plant.
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What You'll Learn
Climbing vs trailing: Swiss cheese vines can be trained to climb or trail
The Swiss cheese vine, or Monstera adansonii, is a tropical climbing houseplant with distinctive holes and notches on its leaves. It can be grown as a climbing plant or a trailing plant.
If you want your Swiss cheese vine to climb, you will need to provide a support system in the pot that mimics the tree trunks the plant would naturally climb in its native rainforest environment of Central and South America. You can use a moss pole, a wooden stake, or branches of other plants or trees as support by inserting and anchoring them into the center of the pot. At first, you will need to fasten the growing vines to the support using plant ties or jute twine to encourage upward growth. After this initial "training phase," the plant will naturally find its way to the support and grow upwards, although you will still need to tie the vines to the pole from time to time, especially if they become too heavy to support themselves.
If you prefer a trailing look, you can leave your Swiss cheese vine to hang and trail more like a vine. In this case, you won't need to provide a support system, but you will need to ensure that the plant has enough space to trail. Trailing vines of Monstera adansonii need adequate light to perform photosynthesis and produce leaves. If the vine doesn't receive enough light, it may produce smaller leaves or even no leaves at all, and the overall health of the plant may suffer. Therefore, it is important to provide bright, indirect light for your Swiss cheese vine, placing it a few feet away from a sunny window.
Whether you choose to train your Swiss cheese vine to climb or trail, it is important to provide consistent care. Swiss cheese vines prefer consistently moist soil, but be careful not to overwater, as this can lead to root rot. Water deeply and consistently, allowing the water to run out of the bottom of the pot, and adjust your watering schedule according to the season and your plant's specific needs. Maintain good humidity levels, especially if your home has dry air, and provide bright, indirect light to encourage healthy growth and splitting of the leaves.
You can also train your Swiss cheese vine to grow along fixtures like shelves or mirrors, creating a unique visual accent for your home decor. The choice between climbing and trailing depends on your space and personal preference, and with proper care, your Swiss cheese vine will thrive and add a stylish touch to your home.
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Light: Bright, indirect light is best
The Swiss Cheese Vine, or Monstera adansonii, is a tropical climbing houseplant with distinctive holes and notches on its leaves. It is a trendy plant that can be trained to grow up along fixtures like shelves or mirrors, creating a stylish accent for your home decor.
Light is one of the most important factors in caring for your Swiss Cheese Vine. The ideal lighting condition for this plant is bright, indirect light. Direct sunlight can scorch the leaves, causing foliage burn. Place your plant a few feet away from a sunny window, avoiding direct beams of light. If you cannot avoid direct sunlight, limit exposure to two to three hours of morning sun.
If your Swiss Cheese Vine is not getting enough light, it may produce smaller leaves or even no leaves at all. This is because the plant will prioritise directing its energy towards the parts that receive more light to ensure its survival. In response to insufficient light, the plant may also grow longer vines in search of better light conditions, resulting in a leggier growth pattern with sparse foliage.
To ensure your Swiss Cheese Vine thrives, provide it with bright, indirect light. If you notice your plant developing brown tips, this could be a sign of insufficient humidity, indicating that your plant is not getting enough indirect light. Move your plant further away from direct sunlight and consider increasing the humidity around it.
By providing your Swiss Cheese Vine with the ideal lighting conditions, you can promote healthy growth and showcase its unique foliage to its full potential.
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Watering: Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged
Watering your Swiss cheese vine is a delicate balance. The plant prefers consistently moist soil, but not too much water, as this could result in root rot. Water deeply and consistently, but don't overdo it. If you're unsure, there's a simple test to help you determine if your plant needs watering: place your finger in the soil up to the first knuckle, and if it's dry, it's time to water again.
Swiss cheese vines need nutrient-rich soil, and you should aim for a soil pH between 5.5 and 7. The plant thrives in high humidity (above 50%) and warm temperatures of 60°F to 85°F. A warm, well-lit bathroom (free of drafts) is a good spot for this tropical plant. If you need to increase humidity, add a pebble tray or use a humidifier in its space.
A well-draining terracotta container will help to regulate moisture. If you're overwatering your plant, water less and wait a bit longer before topping up, or use a pot with drainage holes and water it over the sink to avoid moisture buildup. If you suspect you may be underwatering, give your Swiss cheese vine a more thorough soak without completely flooding the pot.
During the growing season, increase watering and watch out for fungus gnats. They lay eggs in wet soil and tend to live in the top layer of soil in the pot. Put out sticky traps and let the soil dry out fully to kill the larva, then adjust your watering schedule.
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Support: Use stakes, trellises, or moss poles to support the plant
Swiss cheese plants are vigorous climbers that can be trained to grow in a variety of ways. They can be left to hang and trail like a vine, or they can be trained to climb with the help of stakes, trellises, or moss poles.
If you want to train your Swiss cheese vine to climb, you can use a stake, which is the most straightforward method of support. Simply insert a wooden, metal, or plastic stake into the center of the pot. This will provide the support the plant needs to climb and will keep it from spreading too far from its container.
Another option for training your Swiss cheese vine is to use a trellis. A trellis will provide a structure for the plant to climb on, allowing it to grow vertically. You can place the trellis near the plant and train the vine to grow onto it.
You can also train your Swiss cheese vine to grow up a moss pole. Moss poles mimic the texture of rainforest tree bark, providing a natural surface for the plant to climb. The aerial roots of the Swiss cheese vine will penetrate the moss and attach to it, allowing the plant to climb easily. To use a moss pole, insert the bottom third of the pole into the soil of the pot, close to the vine. Then, attach the stem of the vine to the moss pole with gardener's twine and water it thoroughly. Be sure to spray the moss pole with water daily to keep it moist and soft, so the aerial roots can attach easily.
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Pruning: Prune regularly to maintain the desired shape
Pruning is an important part of maintaining the desired shape of your Swiss cheese vine. It is not just about maintenance; it is about sculpting a plant that is a visual treat. Regular pruning encourages a fuller, bushier plant and helps prevent diseases by improving air circulation around the leaves.
The best time to prune a Swiss cheese vine is in the spring. Aim to prune your vine once a year, twice at most if you notice rapid growth. If your plant is a slow grower, less frequent pruning is necessary. If it's on a growth tear, you might need to prune more often. Remember, seasonal changes can affect your plant's growth. Winter can be a dormant period for many houseplants, so hold off on pruning during the colder months.
When pruning, strategic snips are important. Aim for a trim of about 25% of the plant. Cut just the stem right above a leaf node so that it stays in place. Remove any dead or damaged leaves, as these are just dead weight. You can use a good pair of long-lasting pruners, such as Falco number twos, for pruning your Swiss cheese vine.
Swiss cheese vines can be tip-pruned as often as needed to maintain their size and encourage fuller growth. If you start doing this early on, tip pruning will keep your plant bushy. If your plant is too leggy, you can propagate it by the stem-cutting method in water or a light soil mix and replant.
It is a good idea to untangle the vines of your Swiss cheese vine before pruning to make the process easier and ensure clean cuts.
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Frequently asked questions
Swiss Cheese Vine is a fast-growing plant that can be trained to climb by providing a support structure like a trellis, moss pole, or stake. You can use twine, string, or some kind of tie to attach the stems to the support.
The ideal lighting for a Swiss Cheese Vine is bright, indirect light. Place the plant a few feet away from a sunny window, away from any direct beams of light. Direct sunlight can scorch the leaves.
Water your Swiss Cheese Vine when the top inch of soil is dry. The soil should be kept moist but not soaked. Water deeply and consistently, but don't overwater as this can lead to root rot.
Pruning can be done any time the plant appears too tall or when the aerial roots become difficult to control. Tip pruning will keep your plant bushy, while more extensive pruning can be done if the plant is getting leggy and out of control.
