Proper Care Of A Swiss Cheese Plant

The Swiss cheese plant (Monstera) is a tropical ornamental that has aerial roots growing downwards from the stem. These roots easily reach the ground, giving this plant a vine-like tendency. The Swiss cheese plant gets its name from its large, heart-shaped leaves, which as it ages, become covered with holes that resemble Swiss cheese.

Swiss Cheese Vine Plant Info

The Swiss cheese vine plant prefers full sun but will adapt to partial shade. It enjoys moist, well-drained soil. This plant grows best in warm conditions and requires high humidity. The Swiss cheese vine plant does not tolerate frost, so this should be considered before planting. Most often the plant can be grown as a container plant indoors and performs well when grown on poles or in baskets. Allow the soil to dry out some between waterings.

How to Repot and Cut Back a Swiss Cheese Plant

The question of how to repot and cut back a Swiss cheese plant is not too difficult to answer. Repot the Swiss cheese plant, moving it up a size, using a rich potting soil made up of compost and peat to help with aeration and drainage. Also, when repotting, make sure you loosen the roots up some before placing them into a new pot. These plants are top-heavy and require support. 

If you desire to grow the Swiss cheese plant on a moss pole, this is a good time to do so. Place the moss pole into the pot with the plant. Lightly tie the stems to the pole with string or pantyhose. Be sure to mist the moss pole regularly. 

After repotting the Swiss cheese vine plant, water it thoroughly. Since the Swiss cheese vine plant can become uncontrollable, it should be managed by pruning it back. Pruning can be done any time the plant appears too tall, or whenever aerial roots become difficult to control, especially when growing Swiss cheese plant on a moss pole.

Swiss Cheese Plant Propagation

The Swiss cheese vine plant can be propagated through seeds, stem cuttings, or suckers, with cuttings or suckers more common. If you are wondering how to take Swiss cheese plant cuttings, it is easy. For this Swiss cheese plant propagation, just take stem cuttings, with a section of the stem remaining, by cutting just after a leaf node. 

Remove the first leaf near the base of the cutting and plant the node within the soil. You can use rooting hormone if desired, but this isn't necessary. Water well, allowing it to drain out. Ideally, you may want to root the cutting in water beforehand, moving it to a pot once rooting has adequately begun taking place. Root the cutting of Swiss cheese vine plant in water for about two to three weeks, then transfer to a pot filled with rich potting soil. 

You can also do Swiss cheese plant propagation by wrapping damp moss around the stem at a small aerial root and leaf axil, holding it in place with string. Enclose this section in a clear bag, tied off at the top (adding a few small air vents). Within a few months, new roots should begin to develop on the Swiss cheese vine plant.