Monstera adansonii, also known as a Swiss cheese plant, is a unique flowering plant with beautiful heart-shaped leaves. Because of the oval holes or windows in the leaf, it is sometimes referred to as Swiss cheese Monstera adansonii or simply as a Swiss cheese plant. This beautiful Monstera has glossy green leaf surfaces and is incredibly easy to grow.
The following is a thorough investigation of Adanson's monsters. We give you an insight into the best care methods to have a beautiful, vibrant tropical plant all year round!
Good products for growing monkey mask plants:
quick start Guide
Monstera adansonii, sometimes called the monkey mask plant, is a beautiful tropical tree. Source: Spurekar
| Common Name (s): | Swiss cheese factory, Adansons Monstera, five-hole facility |
| Scientific name | Monstera adansonii |
| Family: | Araceae |
| Zone: | 10-11 |
| Height & spread: | 3-5 "tall as a houseplant, up to 13" tall as a vine |
| light | Indirect bright lighting |
| ground | Lumpy peat-based potting soil with good drainage |
| Water: | When the top 1 inch of the floor dries completely |
| Pests & diseases: | Scale insects, spider mites, leaf spot |
All about Monstera Adansonii
Monstera adansonii is native to Central and South America, parts of southern Mexico and the West Indies and belongs to the family of the Araceae plants. These jungle plants are similar to their cousin Monstera deliciosa – but they don't grow nearly as big. Instead of the large indentations in their leaves, when they mature they form large oval holes that give them the appearance of Swiss cheese.
The leaf is heart-shaped or oval and is designed to efficiently catch sunlight despite all these holes. They usually live deep in the tropical rainforest and only need indirect bright light to thrive. As the plant matures, its leaves gradually develop their characteristic holes.
These holes serve a purpose other than filtering sunlight to the plant. The five-hole plant can withstand strong winds simply by letting the breeze pass! And unlike its relative M. deliciosa, M. adansonii always retains the full edges of its leaf so that the holes remain holes and not deep depressions.
In the spring months they develop a cream-colored flower with a hint of purple. It doesn't always appear to home growers, but it's a common sight in the wild.
A popular variety of this plant is Monstera adansonii ‘Archipelago’. This beautiful specimen has a colorful leaf color, which makes it visually even more attractive.
The habit of the plant is as a climbing plant. It produces aerial roots from the trunk that can grip the bark of trees or other leaves. However, it also makes a beautiful cascade plant in a hanging basket. Swiss cheese vines are notoriously quick and easy to grow, no matter how.
Plant care with five holes
An immature leaf from Monstera adansonii Schott. Note the lack of holes in the young leaf. Source: Alex Popovkin
Five Holes Plant is a houseplant stunner. Let us go through all the tips you need to give your jungle beauty the best possible care!
Light & temperature
Monstera adansonii grows in its natural habitat in rainforests and jungle-like areas. Then it works best with lighting that mimics this environment. Indirect bright light or partial sun is optimal. It can grow in the shade, but tends to slow down in its growth.
Avoid full sun exposure. Too much light leads to sunburn on the beautiful leaves. Stick to indirect light to avoid damage.
The temperatures should usually be warm. This plant grows best between 65-85 degrees Fahrenheit, but can be with minimal impact at temperatures up to the 50s. As soon as the cold subsides evenly in the 1940s, it is best to bring your plant indoors to make it warmer.
This plant is not frost hardy or frost hardy at all. Lower temperatures cause severe damage and can cause plants to die.
Water & humidity
The soaking and drying method is a good option for Swiss cheese plants from adansonii. Wait for the floor to appear dry and test the top inch. If it feels dry, dampen the soil briefly and wait a few minutes before watering it until excess water comes out of the drain holes on the bottom of the pot. Wait for the soil to dry before watering again.
If possible, the humidity of this plant should be over 50%. Although it only tolerates 40% humidity, it is used to damp forest conditions. Placing a humidifier nearby is a great way to increase humidity. If you don't have a humidifier, place a tray of pebbles or stones under the plant. Add enough water to keep the level halfway up the rocks. When it evaporates, it directly increases the humidity around your plant.
ground
A well-drained soil is important for your Swiss cheese plant Monstera adansonii. However, since the plant needs some moisture retention, opting for peat-rich potting soil is a good choice. The peat moss absorbs its own weight of water and slowly releases it to the plants, but allows the excess to flow away freely. Orchid bark or other lumpy material like perlite is a good addition to drainage.
The pH of the soil can be slightly acidic to slightly alkaline. However, your system works best with a pH range between 5.5 and 7.0.
fertilizer
The flower of M. adansonii is not particularly beautiful and does not bear fruit like that of M. deliciosa. Source: Alex Popovkin
Monstera plants as a species feed little to moderately, but their requirements really depend on their size. An immature Swiss cheese vine that has poorer lighting conditions does not grow as quickly and does not need as much fertilizer. Larger plants with higher lighting conditions may need considerably more.
As a rule of thumb, a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer is diluted to half strength every two weeks. Replace one of your normal watering sessions with this feeding, and your monsters should be perfectly happy. Feed only once a month in the late autumn or winter months as your plants will not actively grow during this time.
If your potting soil initially contained fertilizer, wait a few months before you start fertilizing. This gives the monster time to eat the food that is already in its soil.
repotting
As a rule, Monstera Adansonii may be very cramped in its pot. You should make sure that there is no oversized pot as this can be an environment where root rot can arise.
When the roots become visible from the bottom of the pot, you know it's time. A very large and thicker pot may also need to be repotted to make room for further growth. If you enlarge the pot, you can hardly go bigger. Make sure your pot has good drainage.
Use a fresh amount of potting soil when transplanting, as the roots will appreciate this. Take your time to examine the roots as well. Use a sterile hair clipper or a sharp, sterilized knife to remove any parts that show visible signs of rotting.
Re-plant at the same depth as before and press lightly on the ground to tighten it on the roots and stems.
proliferation
Monstera adansonii is easily propagated through cuttings and is most often produced in this way. Each of the stems develops aerial roots at nodes. If you remove a cut just below some visible aerial roots, you can plant it and all of the roots.
If no aerial roots are visible, choose a cut with at least 2-3 knots along the stem. Remove all but one of the leaves at the top of the cut and place it in damp soil with at least 1 knot under the surface. Keep the cut moist and the soil moist until new growth develops. We have more tips for taking care of your cuttings when you need them!
Pruning & training
As it grows quickly, it is necessary to prune your monsters. Cut off damaged, brown or dead leaves. You can cut tips off the stems if they are too long, and this encourages bushy growth habits.
Make sure you have a sturdy grid or stanchion to train your Swiss cheese vine for climbing. Use fabric remnants or pieces of wide but soft plastic to loosely tie parts of the handle to your support. Leave space around the stem so that it can move.
Over time, the monster will develop aerial roots from its stems and snap into place on its support. At this point, you can remove all of the safety straps so that they can carry their own weight.
Troubleshoot monkey mask systems
Ripe M. adansonii leaf. When the leaves mature, they develop their characteristic holes. Source: Abbynormie
The monkey mask has limited problems, but that doesn't mean it is easy. Let us consider what could happen and how to fix this if it occurs!
Growing problems
over-watering can cause leaf yellowing. However, discoloration can be caused by more than one source. Too much sunlight can also cause yellowing or browning of the leaves.
If you discover a lot of yellowed leaf surfaces, make sure that your plant is not exposed to direct sunlight. Indirect light is best. If this is not the case, reduce your watering frequency to that previously described. Let the soil dry out between castings.
Plants that are in the way of an air conditioner or a heater vent can be affected reduced humidity, Remember, moisture is preferred by these plants! Take them to a place where they are not exposed to direct air flow.
pests
Two sucking pests are common in monstera adansonii – spider mites and scale-insects, Small populations of dandruff insects can be removed with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol. For spider mites or larger populations of dandruff, neem oil is recommended. Brush all leaf surfaces and stems with a fine spray of neem oil.
If conditions don't improve, you should use a pyrethrin-based organic pesticide to get rid of these annoying little insects.
Diseases
A number of Leaf spot diseases can appear on your monster. This can cause yellow or brown spots that sometimes spread slowly and cover a large part of the leaf surface. As a rule, these are caused by fungi that have colonized your leaves. Both Alternaria leaf spot and Septoria leaf spot are possible variations.
A copper-based fungicidal spray is a good organic solution to remove most types of leaf spots.
frequently asked Questions
Q: How fast is Monstera Adansonii growing?
A: From spring to early autumn, monstera adansonii grows fairly quickly. You may be trimming it regularly to keep it in check. If you train it to grow upwards, it only continues until the space for climbing becomes scarce. But as soon as the cool late autumn and winter weather sets in, it becomes calmer. You will grow many meters in the warm season, but almost none in the cool months.
Q: What is the difference between Monstera obliqua and Monstera adansonii?
A: M. obliqua is extremely rare and has holes so large that there are more holes than leaves. A Monstera obliqua leaf looks almost more like a tip than a leaf! In contrast, Monstera adansonii has many holes, but it is about half a hole, half a leaf above the leaves.
The green thumbs behind this article:
Lorin Nielsen
Lifetime gardener
