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The Pierced Vine Atlas

Swiss Cheese Vine

Monstera adansonii

Glossy green leaves with oval openings follow a slender climbing or trailing vine. Give Swiss Cheese Vine bright indirect light, warmth and a freely draining root zone.

Explore the care guide
Botanical illustration

Care at a glance

Know your plant

Monstera adansonii is a climbing plant in the Araceae family. [8][9]

Its glossy leaves have oval openings between the main veins. Grow the vine on a support or let it trail from its container. [9][12]

Light

Choose bright indirect light, with foliage shielded from strong direct sun. [10][9]

Watering

  1. Feel the potting mix before watering. Allow some drying between thorough waterings. [12]

  2. Let excess water escape through the drainage holes, then empty the saucer or cover pot. [1]

  3. Check moisture as the mix dries; light, warmth, pot size and root growth change the watering interval. [1]

Soil and pot choice

Use a peat-free, loam-based compost in a pot with drainage holes. [10]

Choose a stable container and a modest increase in pot size when repotting. [11]

Temperature and humidity

Keep the vine in a warm, humid indoor setting. [9]

Moderate to high humidity suits this tropical climber. [10]

Feeding

During active growth, apply a balanced liquid fertilizer monthly, following its label directions. [10]

Repotting

  1. Repot a root-crowded plant into a slightly larger, stable container. Avoid a large jump in pot size, which keeps unused mix wet longer. [11]

  2. Use fresh medium, keep the plant at its existing depth and water it in. Let excess drain. [2]

Propagation

  1. Use clean, sharp pruners to take a healthy stem cutting just below a node. [14]

  2. Insert the prepared stem into pre-moistened rooting medium, keeping its node in contact with the mix. Place it in filtered light and keep the medium moist. [14]

  3. Pot the cutting into fresh houseplant mix after it develops a healthy root system. [14]

Pruning and climbing care

Guide climbing stems onto a moss pole or other support. Tie them gently as they extend. [11]

Shorten long vines with clean pruners. Use healthy removed stems for cuttings. [14]

Problems and checks

Yellowing, wilt or leaf drop

Possible causes
  • Watering stress or damaged roots.
Checks to distinguish them
  • Feel the mix and check for standing water.
Low-risk next step
Water dry roots; restore drainage before watering persistently wet mix.
When to seek expert help
Seek horticultural advice for soft roots or continued decline.
Sources for these checks

Check moisture and drainage before changing the routine. [3]

Cottony clusters, bumps or fine webbing

Possible causes
  • Mealybugs, scale or mites.
Checks to distinguish them
  • Inspect leaf undersides and stem joints.
Low-risk next step
Separate the plant and identify the pest before treatment.
When to seek expert help
Seek advice for a spreading infestation or damaged new growth.
Sources for these checks

Inspect pest signs before choosing a treatment. [4]

Seasonal indoor care

As growth slows in winter, reduce watering while continuing to check the mix. [10]

Concentrate feeding during active growth. [10]

Children and pets

Safety

Swiss Cheese Vine is toxic to cats and dogs. Keep plants, fallen leaves and cuttings away from pets that chew them. [13]

Wear gloves when pruning; the sap can irritate skin. [9][10]

For suspected poisoning or signs of illness, contact your veterinarian or ASPCA Poison Control at 888-426-4435. Provide the botanical name. [5]

Keep plants, cuttings and loose potting material beyond young children’s reach. Keep the botanical name with the pot. [6]

For human plant ingestion in the United States, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Elsewhere, contact your local poison service. Call emergency services for breathing difficulty, seizures, collapse or inability to awaken. [7]

Similar plants

Swiss Cheese Vine, Monstera adansonii, has smaller leaves with oval openings. Green Monstera, Monstera deliciosa, develops broader leaves with deep edge divisions and internal openings as it matures. [9][15]

Sources

  1. Watering Indoor Plants

    University of Maryland Extension

    Accessed October 5, 2026 · Updated: 2023-03-10

  2. Repotting houseplants

    University of Illinois Extension

    Accessed October 5, 2026

  3. Diagnosing Houseplant Problems from Improper Environmental Conditions

    Iowa State University Extension and Outreach

    Accessed October 5, 2026 · Updated: Last reviewed January 2024

  4. Diagnosing Houseplant Problems Caused by Insect Pests

    Iowa State University Extension and Outreach

    Accessed October 5, 2026 · Updated: Last reviewed January 2024

  5. ASPCA Poison Control

    ASPCA Poison Control

    Accessed October 5, 2026

  6. Poisonous and non-poisonous plants: An illustrated list

    National Capital Poison Center

    Accessed October 5, 2026

  7. Get help online or by phone

    National Capital Poison Center

    Accessed October 5, 2026

  8. Monstera adansonii - Plants of the World Online

    Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

    Accessed October 5, 2026

  9. Monstera adansonii - Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension

    Accessed October 5, 2026

  10. Monstera adansonii - RHS Plant Profile

    Royal Horticultural Society

    Accessed October 5, 2026

  11. How to grow Swiss cheese plants

    Royal Horticultural Society

    Accessed October 5, 2026

  12. Holey leaves - when holes in leaves are a good thing

    UF/IFAS Extension, Charlotte County - Ralph Mitchell

    Accessed October 5, 2026 · Publisher date: 2021-12-20 · Updated: 2021-12-20

  13. Common Poisonous Houseplant Species in Florida

    UF/IFAS Extension - Yuvraj Khamare and Chris Marble

    Accessed October 5, 2026 · Publisher date: October 2023

  14. How to Prune and Propagate Vining Houseplants

    New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill - Matthew Tetreault

    Accessed October 5, 2026 · Publisher date: 2020-03-25 · Updated: 2023-02-28

  15. Swiss-Cheese Plant, Monstera deliciosa

    University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension - Susan Mahr

    Accessed October 5, 2026