If you love plants then you know this species. Swiss cheese plant is a very spectacular and luxurious plant that you know under another name - Monstera. Its large leaves have a heart- shaped perforated shape, and the trunk curls beautifully around the base. In the wild, a tree usually serves as a support for the growth of this plant. At home, flower growers install a high stick so that the plant grows its trunk. Some restaurant or cafe owners decorate their premises with Monstera in beautiful planter for indoors to create a warmer and more welcoming atmosphere.
This unique plant can grow quite large so make sure you give it plenty of space. It is not too picky, so you can choose Swiss cheese plant for decorating a commercial space, such as a hotel or office. Let's find out in more detail about how to care for such a plant so that it is comfortable and it delights you with its stunning beauty all year round.
Growing conditions
- Give the plant bright, indirect light so that its leaves have these slits that make it stand out fr om many indoor types. Monstera is unpretentious, so you can place the pot in partial shade, it will be quite comfortable, but its growth will be slower. Placing the plant in full shade will not do it any good. Such a plant can grow quite huge, so a place on a window or table is not suitable for it; it needs enough free space, so place the pot on the floor (for example, in the corner of the room).
- In summer, the Swiss cheese plant loves warmth so it will like the usual temperature for this period. But in winter the plant needs rest. This is important for its intensive growth, so provide it with the necessary coolness. It is best if the temperature is 12-14 degrees. Like any other tropical plant, Monstera does not like drafts or sudden changes in temperature, so it is better to keep it away from doors, windows, heating or cooling appliances.
- Monstera will die if its roots are dry, so provide it with regular watering but not too much, you don’t want the roots of your plant to rot. In winter, this plant is warm and comfortable at normal room temperature, but place the pot away from heating devices. Touch the soil, if it is dry, add a little water. But if you place the pot with the plant in a cool room, watering can be reduced.
- Let’s remember again that the plant prefers a tropical atmosphere, so the level of humidity is important to it. During the warm season, do not forget to regularly spray your Monstera and wash its leaves. But regularly look at the floor under the pot; if puddles appear there, then you have overdone the watering. Reduce it briefly until the soil dries to normal levels. An interesting feature of Swiss cheese plant is that it will show you about excess moisture in an unusual way - by removing excess moisture through the leaves. Some plant growers call this plant a crybaby due to this unique ability. In winter, it does not need spraying, but you can sometimes wipe its leaves from dust.
- There are certain requirements for replanting this plant. If you have a young plant, it is better to replant it every year. If your Monstera is about 4 years old, then you can perform this procedure approximately once every 2-3 years. Mature plants are rarely replanted (about once every 5 years), but you will need to change the top layer of soil. Take fresh substrate and replace it in the pot (about 2.5 cm). You can buy ready-made soil mixture at a flower shop. Ask for Monstera soil or another type, such as violets. This is not a very exigent plant in soil, but it also has its own preferences in its composition and nutrients.
May I grow this plant indoors?
You may have heard that some gardeners claim that this plant is not suitable for home cultivation. And the reason here is not even its huge size. There is an opinion that Monstera is toxic, so it is harmful to place it in a room wh ere people and pets live. But there is no official confirmation of such information; this plant is perfect for the home. If you have little space, it won’t be huge, but if you give it a restaurant lobby, it will turn into a luxurious decorative element. If you are lucky enough to live in a warm climate and have a large outdoor area, then plant Monstera there, it will be comfortable.
What support should I choose for this plant?
You can find any tall stick if you have no other solution. You can also visit a flower shop and buy a bamboo stick. But experienced gardeners suggest giving the plant maximum comfort for healthy growth with the help of special support. Roll up a regular metal mesh into a tube and put peat inside. You can lightly water the peat from above so that the plant receives additional moisture from there. If you decide to install such a support, carefully examine your pot so that the structure does not fall.
Can I propagate Monstera?
You can do this at home by dividing the stem into parts, that is, cuttings. Make sure that each stem you take for division has 2-3 buds. When rooting, it is desirable that the temperature be 22-25°C. Be sure to monitor the purity of the water - do not allow it to rot, change the water if necessary, you can put activated carbon in a container for this purpose.
What doesn't the Monstera like?
Lighting is very important for this plant. The wrong place with direct sunlight has a very negative effect on Monstera leaves. When you choose a place to put a pot with this plant, it is best to exclude the south side. But the north side will also not suit him because there will not be enough lighting for him. Make sure your Swiss cheese plant receives proper lighting and watering. In the summer, do not leave the plant without spraying; it is a resident of a tropical climate and loves high humidity.
How can I make this plant grow as a bush?
If you want your plant not to curl upward but to be a lush bush, then this is done by trimming the longest shoots. Then the procedure of cutting them and subsequent replanting next to the mother plant is performed. This helps to grow several trunks in one pot that will not twist the stems upward but will grow sideways to form a lush bush.
