Monstera deliciosa
Monstera deliciosa
Monstera deliciosa
❦ ❧ ❦
Difficulty — BeginnerThe grand old dame of the houseplant world, the Swiss Cheese Plant needs little introduction. I have watched her clamber up jungle trunks taller than a house, her enormous fenestrated leaves catching the light like green stained glass. Indoors she is surprisingly easygoing — bold, fast, and forgiving, the perfect specimen for the grower ready to think big.
Notes on Cultivation
☀Light
She wants bright, indirect light to develop her famous holes and splits; in shade she grows but stays stubbornly solid-leaved. A few hours of gentle morning sun she will happily take, but spare her the harsh afternoon glare.
❦Water
Water when the top inch or two of soil dries out. She likes a thorough soak followed by a chance to drain — consistent but never constant moisture is the rhythm she prefers.
☁Humidity
Average household humidity suffices, though she grows lusher with a little extra. She is far less demanding on this score than her rarer cousins.
✵Temperature
Keep her between 65 and 85 Fahrenheit. She dislikes the cold and will not abide temperatures below 55, so keep her clear of winter draughts.
❧Soil
A rich, well-draining aroid mix with bark and perlite gives her roots room to breathe. She is a vigorous grower and appreciates a soil that holds some nutrition without staying waterlogged.
❀Fertilizing
Feed monthly through spring and summer with a balanced fertiliser to fuel her considerable appetite for growth. Ease off in winter when she slows.
✿Propagation
Cut just below a node bearing an aerial root and place it in water or moist mix. She roots with great willingness — one of the most rewarding plants to multiply.
Field Observations
Give her a sturdy moss pole; left to her own devices she will sprawl sideways and grow smaller, less-fenestrated leaves. Supported and climbing, she becomes the magnificent monster of her name.
Those aerial roots are not untidy — they are her climbing apparatus. Tuck them into the pole or the pot rather than cutting them away, and she will thank you with vigour.
— faithfully recorded by Mr. Phileas Plant
