If you’re a fan of stunning foliage and unique houseplants, you may have already heard of the Monstera deliciosa. This tropical plant has been making waves in the design world with its eye-catching appearance. With glossy, split leaves that resemble Swiss cheese, it’s hard not to be drawn to this climbing evergreen. Not only is it visually stunning, but it’s also easy to care for and grows relatively quickly. If you’re considering adding the Monstera deliciosa to your plant collection, read on for some tips on how to care for this popular houseplant.
Features of Monstera Deliciosa
With its lush, glossy, heart-shaped split leaves, this climbing evergreen is a head-turner that’s sure to make a statement in any space. But it’s not just about looks: the Monstera deliciosa is also easy to care for, making it a popular choice among plant enthusiasts and interior designers alike.
The Monstera deliciosa is native to the rainforests of Central and South America, where it’s often found growing on the forest floor or climbing up trees. As a houseplant, it’s relatively easy to grow and can reach impressive heights of up to 10 feet or more if given the proper care.
One of the reasons the Monstera deliciosa is such a popular houseplant is because of its ease of growth. It’s a fast grower, adding about 1 to 2 feet of new growth each year. However, it takes about three years to reach its full potential, so some patience is required. The plant’s heart-shaped split leaves grow even larger and more impressive as it ages, making it an excellent investment for the long term.
Bloom
Monstera Deliciosa is difficult to make bloom indoors. You have to make sure the plant is at least two to three years old and has the right conditions to bloom. Warm temperatures, high humidity, appropriate light, plenty of water, and adequate nutrients must all be provided to the plant to make it bloom. The Monstera deliciosa usually blooms for about two to three weeks.
The Monstera Deliciosa or hurricane plant, bloom has a spadix, which is a flowering cylinder in the middle, and a spathe, which is a cup enveloping it. The whole flower is about 8 to 10 inches long. When pollinated, it produces fruit with a pineapple and banana flavor that smells light and pleasant. However, this fruit is produced only when grown outdoors or in a greenhouse.
| Scientific Name | Monstera deliciosa |
| Common Name | Monstera, split leaf Philodendron, Swiss cheese plant, hurricane plant, Mexican breadfruit, cut leaf Philodendron, fruit salad plant, ceriman, windowleaf, Monstera deliciosa |
| Family | Araceae |
| Origin | Central America |
| Height | 3 to 15 feet tall, 3to8 feet wide |
| Soil | Well drain soil |
| Water | When the soil dries deep two inches |
| Sunlight | Diffused bright light |
| Temperature | 65-85°F (18-29°C) |
| Humidity | 0 to 80% |
| Toxic to Cats & Dogs | Yes |
| Hardiness zone | 10-12 |
| Pests | Aphids, mealybugs, scale, spider mites |
| Diseases | Root rot |
How to care for Split leaf Philodendron
Monstera deliciosa cere requires, to replicate its native environment as much as possible. The plant thrives in warm and humid conditions and benefits from bright, indirect light. It loves well-draining peat-based soil that’s either neutral or acidic and watered sparingly, as it doesn’t like to sit in soggy soil.
Light requirement for Swiss cheese plant
This plant grows every year. It likes to have a lot of light but don’t let the sunlight hit it too hard during warm months or it can harm the leaves. It’s best to grow it in temperatures between 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. You should take indoor plants outside sometimes to help them grow well. If it’s outside, the Swiss cheese plant can grow in places with heavy shade inside dense forests, or partially shaded areas of light forests.
Temperature
Monstera deliciosa, or Swiss cheese plant, thrives in temperatures ranging from 65 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. However, it can endure temperatures as low as 50 F or as high as 90 F, but growth will stall at these temperature extremes.
Position for
Monstera deliciosa, or cut leaf Philodendron, For placement, a north-facing window or a spot near an east or west-facing window is ideal for this houseplant. while outdoors is suitable for planting in USDA zones 10 through 12.
Watering requirement
To help your plant grow well, make sure to water it often during the growing season, around every one or two weeks. When you water, pour enough so that the water drains out of the bottom of the pot. Don’t give it any extra water because the plant has already taken what it needs. It’s important to let the soil dry out a bit between waterings. In fall and winter, you only need to water your plant sometimes. To make the air around your plant more humid if it’s inside, use a spray bottle with demineralized water or rainwater to mist the leaves.
Repotting Monstera deliciosa, or Swiss cheese plant
To keep your Monstera Deliciosa healthy, you’ll need to pot or repot it every two years or so. Use a pot that is a few inches wider and deeper than the previous one and choose a well-draining container. The best options are terra-cotta or ceramic pots since they allow for airflow and drainage, but any container with drainage holes will do. Here are the steps to pot your plant:
Humidity requirement
This plant requires humidity levels of around 60% and benefits from being misted but it would be better if it is a bit humid. You can use a mist maker or humidifier to increase the humidity inside.
Fertilizing Swiss cheese plant
To help your plant grow well, use a balanced liquid fertilizer that has the ratio of 20-20-20. Feed your plant with this fertilizer every few weeks during the growing season. Take half a teaspoon of the fertilizer and mix it with a gallon of water. Use the diluted fertilizer instead of plain water to water your plant. Pour the mixture into the soil until it starts coming out of the drainage holes. Get rid of the additional diluted fertilizer as your plant cannot use it.
Perfect Soil for Split leaf philodendron
When planting it in a container, use potting soil made from peat. When planted outdoors, it grows best in soil that is sandy, loamy, or clay and has either acidic or neutral pH levels. The plant prefers well-drained soil that is moderately moist. You may notice aerial roots growing out of the soil, which help support the stems that hold leaves that can grow up to 3 feet long.
Pruning Monstera deliciosa mature plant
You can neatly cut any aerial roots that grow too long for the pot. Instead of cutting them, you can also tuck them back into the pot. These roots won’t damage any surfaces in your home. If you trim the stems and leaves of the plant, they will grow back nicely. You can even use these cuttings to start new plants.
Propagation Split leaf Philodendron
Do you want to learn how to propagate your Monstera Deliciosa plant? It’s easy! You can propagate it by stem cuttings or air layering.
For stem cuttings:
For air layering:
Is Monstera deliciosa Toxic to Pets and kids?
If cats, dogs, birds, or humans eat Monsteras leaves, it can cause discomfort. To avoid this, it’s best to keep the plants away from small children and pets.
Common Issues with Monstera deliciosa
There are pests that might come and harm your plant. These pests include mealybugs, thrips, scale insects, spider mites, and aphids. But you can stop them by wiping the leaves with a damp sponge or paper towel. However, if you see pests on the plant, you can spray it with water or use insecticide soap to wash the leaves. This will keep the pests away and help the plant stay healthy.
Monstera Deliciosa is generally an easy plant to care for, but it too can have its problems. Here are some common issues with the plant and how to deal with them.
Browning Tips
If the edges of the leaves are turning brown, the soil may be too dry or it could mean you need to water the plant more often. Remove the affected leaves. If there is a yellow ring around the brown areas, it could be due to a fungus. Remove the affected leaves and let the plant dry out before watering it again. Overwatering or keeping the soil too damp may have caused the fungus.
Yellow Leaves or Light Brown Spots
Yellow leaves may mean the soil is dry. The oldest leaves on the plant are affected first. Remove the affected leaves. Check the soil and if it’s bone dry, give the plant a good watering. If you spot dry, crispy spots on the leaves, again, check the soil.
Wilting, Curling, or Drooping Leaves
Wilting leaves may result from an issue with watering. The plant could be underwatered or overwatered. If the first few inches of the soil are dry, it’s likely underwatered. Curling leaves are caused by low humidity. Place the plant near a humidifier and away from air conditioning or heat vents. Assessment of the roots may be necessary. If the plant is overwatered, it could suffer from root rot. Clean up the roots, prune out the rotten parts, and repot the plant with fresh soil.
Types of Monstera plants
There are almost 50 kinds of Monstera plants. These plants are from the rainforests of Central America. Some of them have variegated leaves or exaggerated fenestrations, which means they have holes and splits on the leaves. These varieties are more challenging to grow and, as a result, cost more to buy. Here are a few common Monstera plants that are closely related:- Monstera albo is a rare and expensive variant of Monstera deliciosa. It has white, speckled leaves.
FAQ
Is it easy to take care of Monstera deliciosa as a houseplant?
Monstera deliciosa is an easy-to-grow and maintains houseplant. However, living in the right warm and humid environment is necessary for it to thrive when grown outdoors.Why do some Monstera deliciosa
Why do my Plants have more split leaves compared to others?
Fenestrated leaves require a lot of energy to split. The more light Monstera deliciosa receives, the more it will split. Smaller and less showy leaves grow when there is less light.
Where is the best place to keep Monstera deliciosa?
Monstera deliciosa plants love bright, indirect light. A few feet away spot from a southern, western, or eastern-facing window is best. It can tolerate some shade, but excess shade can make it leggy.
What distinguishes Monstera deliciosa from Monstera adansonii?
Both Monstera plants are Swiss cheese plants, but their leaf size differs significantly. The petite leaves of Monstera adansonii are much smaller than Monstera deliciosa’s leaves.
