Family: Araceae
Common name: Adanson’s monstera, Swiss cheese plant, Five holes plant, Swiss cheese vine, Cheese plant, Monkey mask plant, Broken Heart Philodendron
Adanson’s Monstera is a collector’s item, a beautiful ornamental climber that can become the highlight of your garden very quickly. These plants grow well in tropical and subtropical weather, and are now sold in nurseries across the world loved for their beautiful cheese-like foliage.
Plant Characteristics
Adanson’s Monstera plants are good, climbers, reaching a height of 2-3 m when they are provided with good supporting structures to climb on. These plants have underground roots as well as aerial roots, which help them to climb and also absorb moisture and nutrients from the air.
The stems of Adanson’s Monstera plants are long, green, flexible, and capable of growing quickly by climbing on supporting structures, or the surrounding vegetation. They remain dark or pale green, and do not turn woody over time.
Leaves are the defining feature of the plant, characterized by oval or rounded holes, called fenestrations or funky little windows.
The size and nature of these holes might vary in different Monstera plants, some of them complete, and some of them incomplete making a slit on the whole leaf. This is characteristic of Monstera deliciosa, another popular ornamental plant that shares the name ‘Swiss cheese plant’ with Monstera adansonii.
Leaves of Adanson’s Monstera plants are deep glossy green with a leathery texture, because they have a waxy coating to prevent water loss. These plants are capable of producing flowers, which are typical to the Araceae family, with a long central spike called spadix, and a petal-like bract called spathe.
Flowers are not very attractive or noticeable compared to the leaves. Flowering and fruiting are not very common in house plants, and hence propagation is done through vegetative methods.
Gardening tips
Adanson’s Monstera plants love bright indirect sunlight, as direct sunlight can burn the edges of the leaves, turning them, yellow or brown. Grow them in a location with sufficient light since they do not like to grow in complete shade.
Regular watering is needed, but make sure you measure the moisture in the soil and water only when the soil is completely dry. For new plants, it might take a few days to establish a good watering frequency.
These tropical plants love high humidity and need to be misted during peak summer. You could also place the pot in a tray filled with water so that the plant can maintain the humidity level levels it needs.
Adanson’s Monstera plants need well-draining, aerated soil that has peat, perlite, and orchid bark to improve the aeration. They are not heavy feeders and hence, fertilization can be done once in 2 to 3 months, especially during spring and summer when the plant grows well.
Pruning can be done to prevent the plant from becoming tall and leggy. Adanson’s Monstera plants can be grown in the soil or in pots provided they have good supporting structures to climb upwards.
Uses of Adanson’s Monstera
These plants are grown as leafy ornamentals to give the garden a tropical vibe, because of their beautiful perforated leaves. Leaves contain calcium oxalate crystals, which are toxic and can cause adverse reactions on consumption. So keep the plants away from children and pets.
These plants are said to have air-purifying properties, removing harmful toxins from the air, improving indoor air quality. Since Adanson’s Monstera plants grow reasonably quick, they can be allowed to spread on screens or separating fences to give privacy to certain areas of the garden.
Propagation
Propagation is through stem cuttings.
10 to 15-centimeter longstem cuttings taken from the parent plant can root in water or in moist soil in a few days. These can be planted in the location that you want the plant established in, so that there is no need for replanting.
Photographed at: Nurseries and homes in Thrissur, Kerala, and Bangalore.
