

















Swiss Cheese Philodendron
Kiersten lives in New Orleans, LA and graduated with her masters degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Tulane University in 2019.
She has conducted or assisted on research studies covering trees such as the bald cypress, swamp maple, and water tupelo, as well as important marsh grasses including Juncus, Spartina, and Phragmites.
Kiersten is a certified Louisiana Master Naturalist and regularly volunteers with local community gardens and nonprofits to help restore critical ecosystems along the Gulf Coast.

4.7 out of 5 (192 experiences)


About Swiss Cheese Philodendron
This species of Monstera is relatively rare in cultivation and is known for its enormous fenestrations 🪟. The holes in Monstera leaves let water drip close to the roots, and they absorb the scattered beams of sunlight that make it down through the forest canopy. Cuttings of this sought-after plant have sold for over $20,000 and and there have even been instances of cuttings being stolen from botanic gardens and institutions .
Taxonomy
Monstera obliqua
Monstera
Araceae
Alismatales
Also known as
Window Leaf

How to care for Swiss Cheese Philodendron

How often to water your Swiss Cheese Philodendron

every 9
Swiss Cheese Philodendron needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.
Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.
Water 0.5 cups every
9

Check the growing potential in your area
A plant's growing potential is determined from its location, the time of year, and current local weather.

Select a city to check sunlight intensity

Finding light for Window Leaf in your home

a window
Swiss Cheese Philodendron may have difficulty thriving, and will drop leaves 🍃, without ample sunlight.
Place it less than 3 feet from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.
Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Swiss Cheese Philodendron in your home 🏡.

How to fertilize Swiss Cheese Philodendron

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.
By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.
To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Swiss Cheese Philodendron after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Swiss Cheese Philodendron is generally easy to care for, though some plant parents report facing challenges with growing it. Check out the reviews down below to read more about their experiences!
Water Needs
Swiss Cheese Philodendron prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.
Sunlight Needs
Swiss Cheese Philodendron may have difficulty thriving and will drop leaves 🍃 without ample sunlight. Place it less than 3 feet from a window to maximize the potential for growth. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.
Toxicity
Swiss Cheese Philodendron is not safe to consume. If you, a family member, or a pet has ingested any amount of plant material contact Poison Control, US (800) 222-1222, or your veterinarian. If you have children, cats, or dogs in the home, we suggest keeping this plant out of reach.
Humidity
Swiss Cheese Philodendron doesn’t require additional humidity. Plants absorb most water through their root system rather than their leaves, so the best way to provide humidity for your plants is through watering the soil.
Soil
Swiss Cheese Philodendron does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!
Fertilizer
Swiss Cheese Philodendron should be repotted after it doubles in size or once a year, whichever comes first. Fresh potting soil has all the nutrients your plant needs, so as long as it’s refreshed yearly, you shouldn’t need to use fertilizer. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!
Dormancy
It’s common for Swiss Cheese Philodendron to go dormant in the wintertime and you may notice their growth slow down. Waterings should be spaced out more during this time.
Native Region
Swiss Cheese Philodendron is native to Central America.
Flowers
Yes, you may see your Swiss Cheese Philodendron bloom with the right amount of sunlight and water.
Growth Pattern
Swiss Cheese Philodendron is a naturally climbing plant and can be trained to climb indoors if you provide a moss pole or trellis. The newest growth will emerge from the end of the stems.
Growing Outdoors
USDA Hardiness Zone
Swiss Cheese Philodendron can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 10a-12a. Find your local hardiness zone here.
Propagation
Swiss Cheese Philodendron can be propagated by the stem method. To propagate:
- Make a cut just above the node. The node is the break in the stem where the leaf emerges.
- To get the cutting to root, you can either:
- Place the cutting in water until roots emerge and are ~2” long and then transplant into well-draining soil, or
- Place the cutting directly into well-draining soil and water when dry.
Yellow Leaves
Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.
Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Swiss Cheese Philodendron, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.
Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!
Care Summary for Swiss Cheese Philodendron
Swiss Cheese Philodendron
Greg recommends:

0.5 cups every 9 days

< 3ft from a window

Repot after 2x growth
Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.

What other plant parents say












This guy is super fun to watch grow. He puts out new leaves constantly. It’s a very decorative plant and you can twirl the vines up pipes and bookcases. He thrives in my west facing window. He gets about 1-3 hours of direct sunlight/day when the sun is setting.



Trending in your area
Similar to Swiss Cheese Philodendron
Alocasia Corazon
Ace of Spades
Alocasia Green Shield
Alocasia 'Regal Shiel…
Alocasia Purple Cloak
Alocasia Golden Bone
Aglaonema 'Silver Bay'
African Fantasy Thaum…
Alocasia 'Imperial Re…
Alocasia brancifolia
Alocasia Mirror Face
Alocasia Polly Plant
Alocasia Odora Varieg…
Aglaonema 'Favonian'
Adelonema palidinervi…
Aglaonema
✨ Discover rare plants
Maroon Pitcher Plant
Aloe 'Lavender Star'
Marquise de Sevigne
Skeleton Key Pothos
Hoya crassipetiolata
Stomatium acutifolium
Hylotelephium siebold…
Black Monkey Thorn Tr…
Sedum 'White Diamond'
Ceropegia simoneae
Rhipsalis clavata
Philodendron 'Glorius'
Lavandula Pedunculata
Cigar Plant
Munstead Lavender
Begonia lubbersii
Parrot Pitcher Plant
Variegated Arrowhead …
This plant is popular in
Greg’s plant care information is derived from first-principles biology and physics and supported by peer-reviewed research, academic institutions, and industry experts. We are committed to providing the highest-quality plant care information available, so if you have any concerns about our content, feel free to reach out to our support.
- Plants for a Future. “Plant Database.” pfaf.org. N.p., n.d. Web.
- Encyclopedia of Life. “Encyclopedia of Life.” eol.org. N.p., n.d. Web.