Swiss Cheese Vine

Swiss Cheese Vine (Monstera adansonii) is the trailing aroid with holes punched right through its leaves, and the one to choose when you want a plant that visibly does something within months. Given a pole or a shelf it runs to about 2m of stem and 1m across, and in warm weather a new leaf unfurls each fortnight. It comes from Central and South American rainforest, which explains how it wants to be treated.

Why you'll love it

• Leaves that look engineered. The oval holes, called fenestrations, open as each leaf matures and get larger as the plant gains height.
• It grows fast. Warm months bring a new leaf every week or two, which makes it satisfying for anyone short on patience.
• Trail it or climb it. Left in a hanging pot it cascades; given a moss pole it climbs and produces bigger leaves.
• Easy to make more of, and happy in humidity. Cuttings root within a few weeks, and bathrooms and humid coastal homes suit it better than most indoor plants.

Where it works best

Indoors, anywhere in the country. This is where most of them live, and inside your climate stops mattering. Bright indirect light near a window is the whole requirement.

Pots, balconies and courtyards. In tropical and subtropical gardens it lives outdoors year round in a shaded courtyard or covered balcony. Anywhere colder, keep it in a pot you can bring inside.

One caveat that matters: the leaves and stems are toxic to cats and dogs if chewed. Hang it high or choose a different plant if you have an animal that nibbles.

Growing Swiss Cheese Vine in Australia

Position and climate. Bright indirect light produces the best leaves and the most holes. Deep shade gives small solid leaves, while direct sun through glass scorches them. Outdoors it is strictly for frost free tropical and subtropical gardens.

Soil. A chunky aroid mix, or potting mix opened up with perlite and orchid bark. The roots need air as much as water, and a dense mix in a pot without drainage is the fastest way to lose one.

Water and feed. Water when the top third of the mix has dried, roughly weekly in summer and every two to three weeks in winter, then tip out the saucer. Feed a half strength liquid fertiliser monthly through spring and summer.

Pruning and support. Cut long bare stems back to a node and the plant branches from there. Add a moss pole early if you want large fenestrated leaves.

What to expect when it arrives

Three sizes are grown: a single tube, 200mm in a pack of 6 and 250mm in a pack of 3. Tubes are young rooted cuttings with a few small leaves and no holes yet, which is normal. The 200mm and 250mm plants arrive already trailing, the choice if you want a hanging pot to look finished straight away.

Aroids travel well packed upright, though a yellow lower leaf after transit is common and not a fault. Give it a week in bright indirect light before the first water. Delivered Australia wide, delivery from $29.95, and our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• How to keep your indoor plants alive
• Browse the indoor plant range
• Repotting an indoor plant properly
• Fruit Salad Plant for the large leaved monstera

Common questions

Why do my leaves have no holes?

Young leaves are usually solid and the holes develop as the plant matures. Low light and nothing to climb both delay them, so add a moss pole and move it to a brighter window.

How often should I water it?

When the top third of the mix is dry, roughly weekly in summer and every two to three weeks in winter. Yellow lower leaves and a sour smelling pot mean too much water, not too little.

Is it safe for cats and dogs?

No. The sap contains calcium oxalate crystals, which irritate the mouth and cause drooling and vomiting if chewed. Rarely serious, but keep it out of reach of pets.