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It doesn't get more iconic than the swiss cheese plant. Also known as Monstera Deliciosa, they are famous in interior design circles for their notched leaves. This large one will instantly bring on-trend jungle vibes to your home. They love to spread out, so give them plenty of space and use a coir pole to keep them upright. They are easy to care for and make an ideal first houseplant.
Monstera Plant (Deliciosa) Care Guide & Presentation
Medium to bright indirect light. Never direct sunlight.
Enjoys being on the moist, but not soggy side.
Enjoys high humidity. Spritz occasionally.
The Swiss Cheese Plant likes warmth and to stay above 50°F with high humidity.
Outside: Grow in morning light, partial shade (4-6 hours) where nights are above 50°F.
Indoors: This plant prefers bright, to medium indirect light for at least six hours in a southern, eastern and western windows.
Fertilize during their growing period in the spring and summer months between February and October every 2-3 weeks. Use a balanced liquid fertilizer at 1/2 strength. Reduce fertilizing during the fall and winter to once a month while the plant is in their dormant phase. Raise the humidity around them and never use chlorine or fluoride in the water.
When receiving the plant, do not repot immediately but wait at least 6-12 months or if the roots are beginning to get crowded and growing through the drainage holes.
Repot in the spring, using a 2" bigger pot to keep the roots drier. (Too big of a pot could cause the soil to dry slower, which is not helpful.) Use a well-draining indoor potting mix with perlite to help with drainage.
Water your plant in the old pot before transferring over and let sit an hour. Place a piece of screening at the bottom of the container over the drainage hole to secure the soil and allow to drain. Add soil to the bottom to elevate the root ball. Lift the plant and release the roots against the existing planter. Use a clean knife or garden trowel to wedge between the pot and the soil to loosen.
Inspect the root ball. Notice if there are any dead or rotting roots and trim off with sterile pruners. If the plant is rootbound, cut through the roots to alleviate continued encircling.
Ensure the plant is sitting about 1" below the edge of the pot to avoid water spillage. Add more soil and backfill around the sides by tamping down. Fill up to the soil line but not over.
Water thoroughly, leaving the soil damp but not soggy. If settling occurs, add more soil.
Wear gloves while working with this plant, as they have a sap that causes skin irritation. Trim off any yellowing bottom leaves down to the base of the stem using a sharp knife. Remove any debris off the soil surface. Train your plant to grow up a moss pole and tie them up to promote upward growth. Wipe the leaves with a clean, damp cloth using filtered or rain water. Support the leaf by wiping them from the stem to the tip of the leaf on both sides. Spritzing the leaves is another way to wet them and wipe them clean.
Take cuttings just below an aerial root.
Remove the bottom leaves on the stem with sterile scissors or a knife. Place the cutting in a container tall enough to hold the leaf upright. Add about an inch of water at the bottom and change the water weekly.
Keep the leaf in medium indirect sunlight while they are beginning to form roots.
Once roots are at least 1-2 inches long, plant them with rooting hormone mixed into the well-draining potting mix.
Water and place in bright to medium, indirect light.
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Monstera Plant: Overview
The Split Leaf Philodendron (Monstera deliciosa) is a striking tropical plant with vibrant, large leaves that sport distinctive splits and holes known as fenestrations. Adaptation to wind and jungle rainfall probably gave the Monstera plant its split leaf structure. This beauty comes from the tropical rainforests of Central America and Mexico. A popular indoor houseplant worldwide, the Monstera deliciosa can grow as a porch plant in hardiness zones 8-11 as long as night temperatures stay above 50°F. When grown outdoors, it can flower and even occasionally produce edible fruit.
The Monstera deliciosa plant belongs to the Araceae family, including distant relatives like the Peace Lily, ZZ plant, and different types of Syngonium. The oxalate crystals contained in Monstera’s leaves and stems make it toxic to pets when ingested. Monsteras have a preference for bright, filtered light, resembling their growing conditions under the canopy of their native rainforests.
These large, beautiful plants require extra care, but they’re worth the effort! Not only do these stunning plants have great aesthetic appeal, but they are also known for their powerful air-purifying properties, cleansing your home from air-borne toxins. These plants symbolize honor and endurance. They can also bring harmony to your home, according to Feng Shui.
Split Leaf Philodendron Alternative Names
- Ceriman
- Cutleaf Philodendron
- Hurricane Plant
- Mexican Breadfruit
- Swiss Cheese Plant
Monstera Deliciosa Benefits
- Improves indoor air quality
- Its popularity and aesthetic appeal make it a great gift plant
- Attracts positive energy into your home
- An eye-catching, statement plant, due to its vibrant large foliage
- Acts as a natural air humidifier
Split Leaf Philodendron (Monstera Deliciosa): Care Guide
This large and visually impressive plant requires extra care to thrive in your home. By following our Split Leaf Philodendron care tips, your plant will get all it needs to flourish.
Watering and Humidity
The Monstera Philodendron appreciates slightly moist soil. Just make sure it doesn’t get soggy. In addition, ensure that your Split Leaf Philodendron gets sufficient humidity, as dry air can cause its leaves to go crisp and brown at the tips.
Light and Temperature
The Monstera Split Leaf Philodendron grows best when it receives six hours of medium to bright, indirect light daily. As a tropical plant, it prefers warm temperatures, ranging from 65℉ to 90℉.
Soil, Repotting, and Fertilizing
When you get a Monstera deliciosa for sale, don’t repot it immediately. It’s best to transplant it in spring, using a pot about 2 inches larger than the old one. Use a well-draining potting soil mixed in with perlite to improve drainage. Feed your Monstera with a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted at half strength every 2-3 weeks during the growing season.
Propagation
If you decide to propagate your Monstera plant, use cuttings trimmed just below an aerial root. You can easily root the cuttings in both water and soil. More seasoned gardeners also use air-layering. Remember to wear gardening gloves when handling your Monstera deliciosa Split Leaf Philodendron, as its sap can cause skin irritation.
Pruning, Cleaning, and Common Issues
A large Split Leaf Philodendron requires support to prevent the stems from breaking. You can train your Monstera to grow up a moss pole, for instance. If you notice any damaged leaves on your plant, prune them off. For the best Monstera deliciosa care, wipe the plant’s leaves with a damp soft cloth once in a while to remove accumulated dust, which can hinder photosynthesis. Other common issues to watch out for are yellowing or browning leaves. There’s a variety of reasons behind this, including pests, overwatering, or exposure to low light conditions.
Monstera Deliciosa: Placement, Companion & Alternative Plants
The Split-leaf Philodendron is a beautiful plant to have in your home. Whether you want it to be the centerpiece of your living room or to grow it as part of your home jungle, here are some tips to consider:
Best Locations & Uses
- Perfect for humid regions
- A wonderful choice for plant lovers with no pets
- Ideal for experienced indoor gardeners
- A perfect bathroom plant that can grow in spaces with medium light and high humidity
- Spectacular porch plant for warmer climates
- Great for greening up vertical spaces if you support your Monstera with a moss pole
Companion Plants
You can group your Split Leaf Monstera with other large plants to create an impressive green oasis at home. And why not add some flowering plants to your green display for a colorful and lush effect?
- Giant Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia nicolai): The stunning Giant Bird of Paradise has a commanding presence, showing off its huge leaves and intriguing white-blue flowers.
- Burgundy Rubber Tree (Ficus robusta 'Burgundy'): The gorgeous Burgundy Rubber Tree has leathery, thick leaves that are at first Burgundy red and unfurl into a deep, dark green color.
- Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree (Ficus lyrata): Trendy in interior design, the Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree is an easy-to-recognize ficus variety because of its unusual, violin-shaped leaves.
Alternative Plants
The gorgeous Philodendron Monstera contains toxic sap, making it unsuitable for pet owners. Here’s a selection of similar pet-friendly plants if you want to choose a pet-safe alternative:
- Money Tree Plant (Pachira aquatica): Famous as a lucky Feng Shui plant, the Money Tree Plant is both pet-safe and easy-going.
- Lady Palm (Rhapis excelsa): A lovely plant with an unmistakable tropical flair, the Lady Palm is pet-friendly and has remarkable air-purifying properties.
- Coconut Palm (Cocos nucifera): The slow-growing Coconut Palm is an exceptional pet-safe palm tree that not only fills your home with a tropical vibrancy but also produces edible nuts.
Get Monstera Deliciosa From LivelyRoot Today
Embrace the mystery of the tropics by choosing a stunning Split Leaf Philodendron for sale from Lively Root!