Monstera Deliciosa
Nickname : Swiss Cheese Plant
Monstera Deliciosa is one of the trendiest tropical plants in recent years, with its large, glossy and dark green leaves. It is also known by its common name “Swiss cheese plant,” is a beautiful add-on to any room.
It’s a vine that grows in the tropics of North and South America, where it can reach up to 60-70 feet tall.
Its gorgeous leaves, which develop holes that give its quirky nickname, may grow up to 3 feet wide.
This is a plant parent-favorite for either a beginner or a plant veteran.
How to take care of Monsteras
Temperature-wise, a Monstera loves being kept around 60-85 degrees Fahrenheit. Since it is a tropical plant, it does like its humidity but will be fine if the indoors is a bit drier than normal.
If you really want it to thrive, try putting a bed of lava rocks in a tray below it and set some water on the rocks, so that the water will evaporate upwards and increase the humidity for its spot. You can also mist the leaves regularly to keep the humidity up.
Let the soil dry 2-3 inches deep before watering again. Avoid overwatering for this plant as it is a common mistake. Don't overwater—that's a common mistake with this plant. Monstera Deliciosa likes its soil a little on the dry side. If you like, feed with a balanced liquid fertilizer in the summer, then stop over the winter when it’s not actively growing.
If taking it outside, place it in an area with filtered shade, never direct sunlight, so the leaves won’t fry. Bring it back indoors before temperatures drop into the 40s.
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Humidity |
50-70% These plants will do fine in an average humidity setting but will thrive especially if you increase it a little with regular spraying of water. |
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Light |
Bright Without Direct Sun |
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Water |
Between watering times allow the soil to become dry to touch within the top couple of inches or so of soil. |
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Temperature |
60-85°F |
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Plant Food |
During Spring and Summer when Monstera is growing, fertilize the plant monthly with a general purpose water-soluble fertilizer such as 20-20-20 applied at the rate of 1 tablespoon of water per 2 quarts of water for indoor plants. |
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Pests |
Your Swiss Cheese Plant (Monstera) has a chance of being infested with sucking pests that are most probably scaled insects. Use a soft toothbrush to remove them, then spray an organic pesticide solution made from summer oil or neem oil on the plant. |
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Pet Toxicity |
Non-Toxic |
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Repotting |
Re-pot once every two years approximately, during spring. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Monstera need a lot of sun?
Bright Without Direct Sun
Unlike a lot of houseplants, Monstera actually prefer growing indoors and not in heavy direct sun. They like the room to be lit bright.
Are Monstera toxic to pets?
No
Monsteras are not toxic! Your pets are good to go.
What do you do if you over water?
The best thing to do when you've overwatered a Monstera is to stop watering and relocate it to a place with a lot of suns so that you can dry out the soil. After that, you probably will want to inspect the roots for root rot and repot the plant.
Do Monsteras like to be misted?
Yes
Since Monteras are tropical plants, they love to be misted and they love humidity.
You can find more houseplant info in our simple and easy-to-digest houseplant care guide: Declutterd Plant Guide