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Swiss Cheese Vine

4.8 out of 5 (216 experiences)

Fast grower

Easy to propagate

About Swiss Cheese Vine

The Swiss Cheese Plant is named for its characteristic leaves with holes resembling swiss cheese! 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 ☀️.

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Monstera adansonii

Genus

Monstera

Family

Araceae

Order

Alismatales

Also known as

Adanson's Monstera, Swiss Cheese Plant, Five Holes Plant, Monkey Mask Plant and Monkey Mask

How to care for Swiss Cheese Vine

💦 Water

How often to water your Swiss Cheese Vine

Swiss Cheese Vine 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

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Swiss Cheese Vine in your home

Swiss Cheese Vine 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 Vine in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Swiss Cheese Vine

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Swiss Cheese Vine: repot after 2X growth

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 Vine after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Browse #Monstera

💡 FAQs

⭐ Difficulty Level

Swiss Cheese Vine 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!

Benefits of Growing Swiss Cheese Vine →

Common Swiss Cheese Vine Problems →

💦 Water Needs

Swiss Cheese Vine 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.

Swiss Cheese Vine Water Frequency →

Swiss Cheese Vine Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Swiss Cheese Vine 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 🏡.

Swiss Cheese Vine Light Requirements →

Swiss Cheese Vine Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Swiss Cheese Vine 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.

Swiss Cheese Vine Toxicity to Cats →

Swiss Cheese Vine Toxicity to Dogs →

Swiss Cheese Vine Toxicity to Humans →

💨 Humidity

Swiss Cheese Vine prefers dry environments. Providing extra humidity or misting your plant allows water to linger on leaves, which can create the perfect environment for harmful types of fungi.

Swiss Cheese Vine Humidity Needs →

🪴 Soil

Swiss Cheese Vine 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!

Best Soil Mix for Swiss Cheese Vine →

When and How to Successfully Repot Swiss Cheese Vine →

💩 Fertilizer

Swiss Cheese Vine 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!

How Much and When to Fertilize Swiss Cheese Vine →

❄️ Dormancy

It’s common for Swiss Cheese Vine 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 Vine is native to Central America.

🌸 Flowers

Yes, you may see your Swiss Cheese Vine bloom with the right amount of sunlight and water.

Swiss Cheese Vine Flowers →

⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Swiss Cheese Vine 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.

How and When to Prune Swiss Cheese Vine →

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Swiss Cheese Vine can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 10a-12a. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Swiss Cheese Vine Temperature Tolerance →

🌱 Propagation

Swiss Cheese Vine 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.

How to Propagate Swiss Cheese Vine →

🍂 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 Vine, 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!

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.

Care Summary for Swiss Cheese Vine

Swiss Cheese Vine

Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 9 days

Placement

< 3ft from a window

Nutrients

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

Fast grower 164

Easy to propagate 107

Large, lush leaves 96

Survivor 88

Browns easily 35

Pest magnet 7

Blooms easily 7

@@pjavier

0 Plants

5,221 XP

03/19/2022

Very cool

Fast grower

Large, lush leaves

Easy to propagate

Swiss Cheese Vine plant photo by @pjavier named Arch Nemeswiss on Greg, the plant care app.

@@Stefunibee

57 Plants

3,892 XP

Columbus, TX

03/02/2022

Propagation is as simple as pothos props… have at least 1 node and a leaf and put it in water.. it takes a little time but it’s gorgeous

Easy to propagate

Swiss Cheese Vine plant photo by @Stefunibee named holey moley on Greg, the plant care app.

@@Veriveri

1 Plants

173 XP

Melbourne, Victoria

02/11/2022

This is a fantastic starter plant! So easy to maintain and so beautiful to watch grow. Mine can put out 4 leaves in a week under high humidity, warmth and the right light. I feed her once a fortnight for bigger foliage growth (size and amount) with a watered down all rounder synthetic mix.
Careful with grow lights! These plants are climbers coming off the Forrest floor and are able to thrive on the lower end of the spectrum. Grow lights will speed up leaf output, however they are prone to crispy leaves and brown spots under too much light. Humidity is definitely your friend with this cheesy wonder.

Fast grower

Large, lush leaves

Survivor

Swiss Cheese Vine plant photo by @Veriveri named Chucky on Greg, the plant care app.

@@YveO

106 Plants

4,999 XP

02/05/2022

Almost killed this plant with love when I first got her ! (Too much overwatering). However she stayed strong and since I figured out a routine for her that worked - she practically sprouts a new every week.

Fast grower

Easy to propagate

Survivor

Large, lush leaves

Swiss Cheese Vine plant photo by @YveO named Mia on Greg, the plant care app.

@@lividjellyfish

4 Plants

391 XP

01/19/2022

Cranky, overly dramatic, whiny. But it’s pretty.

Browns easily

Fast grower

Swiss Cheese Vine plant photo by @lividjellyfish named Kathy on Greg, the plant care app.

@@fruityloops

11 Plants

735 XP

Richardson, TX

01/19/2022

sensitive to over/underwatering but hardy. Gorgeous tropical look, I recommend misting a couple times a week and watering less than you think you need to.

Browns easily

Pest magnet

Survivor

Large, lush leaves

Swiss Cheese Vine plant photo by @fruityloops named gru on Greg, the plant care app.

@@WellspokenDaisy

1 Plants

26 XP

Tambon Bun Than, Chang Wat Nong Bua Lam Phu

01/18/2022

Honestly this plant will just make you say “idk what I’m doing but it’s thriving!”

Fast grower

Survivor

Large, lush leaves

Swiss Cheese Vine plant photo by @WellspokenDaisy named Cheese on Greg, the plant care app.

@@ElderWildyam

5 Plants

98 XP

01/17/2022

If you are trying to get your Monstera Andansonii to grow to a longer length and aren’t getting the results you want yet, don’t stress. It can take some time for the plant to start trailing. If you want to encourage this water regularly and keep in the same place.

Fast grower

Swiss Cheese Vine plant photo by @ElderWildyam named Delilah on Greg, the plant care app.

@@plantina91

8 Plants

1,156 XP

Eugene, OR

01/15/2022

Just be sure it gets a lot of light and pay attention to watering it. I try to make sure, since I get water from the tap, to fill my jug that I use a few days before I water any of my plants..they seem to like it better.

Large, lush leaves

Survivor

Swiss Cheese Vine plant photo by @plantina91 named Your plant on Greg, the plant care app.

@@BoozyBillsBabe

46 Plants

9,015 XP

Baltimore, MD

01/14/2022

Beautiful fast growing plant but can be difficult to care for. Will brown if it doesn’t have enough humidity and is very sensitive to over watering, which causes yellow leaves.

Fast grower

Large, lush leaves

Browns easily

Swiss Cheese Vine plant photo by @BoozyBillsBabe named Demi on Greg, the plant care app.

@Cheryl

21 Plants

1,303 XP

01/14/2022

Very tolerant can’t wait till get really big

Fast grower

Blooms easily

Survivor

Swiss Cheese Vine plant photo by Cheryl named Prince on Greg, the plant care app.

@@KaylieS

36 Plants

9,104 XP

Leawood, KS

01/13/2022

No matter what I did, it was never happy. Probably won’t buy another.

Browns easily

Swiss Cheese Vine plant photo by @KaylieS named Swizz on Greg, the plant care app.

@@Mommy

22 Plants

1,274 XP

Buffalo, NY

01/09/2022

Love it :)

Fast grower

Easy to propagate

Swiss Cheese Vine plant photo by @Mommy named Parm on Greg, the plant care app.

@@mossycabbages

66 Plants

3,455 XP

12/28/2021

This plant and I have had our fair share of fights but she always comes around with a new leaf. This kind of plant definitely does better with a pole to grow up but does okay without one. I currently keep this one in high humidity ~80% and around 6” away from grow lights and it’s doing well. I also add a layer about an inch deep of spagnum moss on top of the soil to keep it a little more humid

Fast grower

Easy to propagate

Survivor

@@mossycabbages

66 Plants

3,455 XP

12/28/2021

I bought mine off Etsy in winter and it was delayed so it came with some cold damage. Despite below freezing temperatures, she’s made a wonderful comeback and has one brand new leaf with another starting to unfurl. Very easy to grow and propping just involves nodes and water.

Fast grower

Easy to propagate

Survivor

Swiss Cheese Vine plant photo by @mossycabbages named Terra on Greg, the plant care app.

@@Karah86

9 Plants

1,255 XP

Cincinnati, OH

11/28/2021

Got a propagated plant from a friend. When I got it, there were only two leaves, now has four with a new one unfurling. Be patient and give lots of humidity to leaves as they unfurl. This process is slow, but worth the wait. Have mine under a grow light.

Swiss Cheese Vine plant photo by @Karah86 named Monstera Addison Rae on Greg, the plant care app.

@@boki

107 Plants

3,626 XP

San Juan, Metro Manila

11/19/2021

Really dont know how to care for this plant. Thought it would be easier than the deliciosa but its not. This is my second plant. The first one died due to overwatering. Hope with the assistance of Greg the overwatering issue will be addressed. Will give it a 5 star rating if this one gives me big lush leaves.

Fast grower

Swiss Cheese Vine plant photo by @boki named Adam on Greg, the plant care app.

@@hkpierson

25 Plants

1,323 XP

Brattleboro, VT

11/11/2021

My favorite plant! Looks fancy with its windowpane leaves, but propagates from a cutting like a pothos.

Easy to propagate

Swiss Cheese Vine plant photo by @hkpierson named monstera adansonii on Greg, the plant care app.

@@MothGoblin

130 Plants

7,642 XP

Dorset, England

11/07/2021

Climbs up a moss pole easily & lets you know when it’s feeling ignored. Easy to propagate in water & delightful to look at. A foliage winner!

Fast grower

Easy to propagate

Survivor

Swiss Cheese Vine plant photo by @MothGoblin named Adonis on Greg, the plant care app.

@@thecre8ivgemini

31 Plants

512 XP

Richmond, VA

09/10/2021

By far my favorite plant. Is constantly pushing out new leaves, all my clippings seem to propagate in water just fine, and this plant is just multiplying. One of my easiest plants to care for as well!

Fast grower

Large, lush leaves

Easy to propagate