Have you been hearing a lot about this popular houseplant? If so, then you are probably wondering what is a Monstera plant? 

The Monstera plant hails from the arum family. Its name comes from the Latin word meaning “abnormal” because of its unusual looking, hole filled leaves. As such it’s also known as the “Swiss cheese plant”.

Having its origins in the rainforests of Central America, the Monstera deliciosa plant is also referred to as “the tropical split-leaf philodendron”. Although they are not classified as philodendron any longer. The name is fitting because of the large splits that form in the leaves. Actually, sometimes new leaves will grow with the splits already in them, but normally the leaves will develop splits as they mature.

If kept indoors, the plant will grow to about 2 ft in height. Its shiny, leathery leaves with their trademark split and heart-shape extend forth from the plant with intricate aerial roots, which can be utilized for the purpose of making ropes and baskets. 

Monstera deliciosa is a beautiful plant that flourishes in high humidity, bringing a bit of the tropical jungle into your home.

Is Monstera deliciosa a Good Indoor Plant?

With the plant being native to tropical rainforests from southern Mexico to Panama, Monstera deliciosa prefers a warm, humid habitat, which makes it perfect for growing indoors. While other plants struggle with too much humidity, this one can’t seem to get enough of it. 

Give it plenty of direct sunlight along with some shade, humidity and moisture, and you will have a happy plant. 

It is recommended that you avoid allowing this plant to be in the direct rays of the hot afternoon sun, so you can either move it to a shady place for a time, or place it somewhere where it will automatically receive the sunlight it needs. And, not have to endure the sometimes extremely hot afternoon sun.

When you have houseplants, sometimes you don’t realize just how intense the heat of the afternoon sun, magnified by the glass of the window pane can actually be. You don’t want your Monstera to start turning to toast, so be careful of this!

Is the Monstera a Succulent?

Although in general, all of the Monstera plants are referred to as “succulents”, a Monstera is not, in fact, a succulent. Succulents are plants that are able to store water in their leaves, and their leaves are generally thick and fleshy. Monstera leaves are thin and heart-shaped, rather than thick, water-filled stems and leaves.

How Do You Look After a Monstera?

If you plan to keep your Monstera plant as a houseplant, then you need to select a deep pot to put it in. Ideally, one with lots of drainage holes.  Fill the bottom one third with peat-based potting soil or peat moss and provide a stake for the stem to climb on.

Carefully set the roots into the pot and fill the pot with soil pressing it around the roots. Surround the stake with soil, making sure to pack it down firmly, then use plant ties to affix the stem to the stake. 

If all goes well, you can expect the plant to outgrow its pot every 2 years. Then you need to transplant it into a pot that is a few inches deeper and wider. This is a plant known for its rapid growth, so you could find yourself having to change pots more often than what’s mentioned. Take it as a sign that you are doing everything right and that your plant is content and healthy.

Light

The Monstera deliciosa favors bright, but indirect sunlight and temperatures that remain steadily at between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit (18 and 23 degrees Celsius). 

If it receives too much direct sunlight during the warmer months it can burn the foliage. 

Furthermore, be sure to set your indoor plants outside at least once a year in a place where they will receive indirect sunlight in order to encourage them to develop thick growth.

Soil

When settled in a container, the Monstera deliciosa needs either a peat-based potting soil or peat moss. If it is grown outdoors, then it will do well in sandy, loamy, and heavy clay soils that are acidic or neutral. However, it flourishes the most in soil that is well-drained or moderately moist.

Water

During the growing season this plant should be given water on a regular basis. You will need to allow the soil to dry out a bit in between watering. In the fall and winter, water only occasionally. If you want to increase humidity for your plant when it’s indoors, mist the leaves with a spray bottle of demineralized water or you can use plain old rainwater.

This is a plant that likes to remain damp, but never soggy. If you happen to see small water droplets at the tips of the leaves, this is an indication that you have over-watered your plant and it is releasing excess water.  Let the soil dry out as it normally would and cut back on your watering a bit.  Too much water will inevitably lead to root rot.

If you see that the edges of your leaves are turning brown and becoming crispy, you are under watering your plant. Don’t worry. Merely increase how often you water or the amount of water you give, and you might want to consider misting your plant to improve the humidity.

Why Is the Monstera Deliciosa Called the Swiss Cheese Plant?

As previously mentioned, although its common name, is the Monstera deliciosa plant, it is also called the Swiss cheese plant. This is due to its perforated leaves, which can grow as long as 3 ft, and are a great deal larger than the related petite variety known as Monstera adansonii. 

Other names for this plant are the 

• Swiss cheese plant
• Tropical split-leaf philodendron
• Fruit Salad Plant
• Mexican Breadfruit Plant
• Hurricane plant

How to Care For a Monstera Plant

First time owners of this plant are delighted to learn that this isn’t a high maintenance plant. Caring for the Monstera plant is a simple matter. Here’s what you need to do to keep it healthy and beautiful.

Pruning

If the aerial roots become too wildly overgrown for the space they have, trim them, then put them back into the pot. You should know that unlike certain other house plants, the roots of this plant do not harm the surfaces they touch.

Propagation

Because the stems and leaves of this plant react well to being trimmed, you can easily make cuttings. These can then be used for the purpose of starting new plants. The most commonly used method of propagating Monstera deliciosa is air-layering. If you choose to go this way, then you will require sharp and clean pruning shears, sphagnum moss, a plastic bag, and some twist ties.

When air layering, begin by locating a leaf that is growing out of a stem and has a short aerial root beneath it. Cut a small notch around one third of the stem’s width, right below that root. Enclose the area where the leaf joins the stem in a one inch layer of sphagnum moss. Now spray the moss with water in order to have greater moisture, and wrap it in plastic. Take the twist ties and wrap around the plastic to be certain the moss stays moist until roots develop. The last thing you need to do is to cut the stem and place the young plant in soil.

The following video shows one technique for air layering plants.

Pests and Diseases

Using a damp paper towel or cloth to wipe dust or debris from the leaves will not only keep the plant clean, but will help eliminate pests as well. 

Common pests for this plant include aphids, thrips, mealy bugs, scale insects and spider mites. If you should find any of these on the foliage, just spray the plant with a direct stream of water. You can further wash the leaves with an insecticidal soap.

Why Do the Leaves Have Holes?

Scientists have examined the various types of monstera to determine why they have holes or splits in the leaves. This has caused them to determine that they are dealing with a very intelligent plant.

In the rainforest where the canopy is thick, it is vital to utilize whatever sunlight that manages to get through. The holes are more effective and reliable for making optimal use of what are called sun flecks for photosynthesis in comparison to leaves that lack them.

Furthermore, the leaves tend to spread out, instead of uncurling right above each other. It is believed that this helps to keep the lower leaves from being placed in constant shade by the upper ones.

And there’s more. If there’s a downpour or strong winds, the raindrops and forceful winds will pass right through the holes in the leaves, permitting the plant to survive in the harsh environment of the rainforest. This is the cause for one of Monstera’s other names, the Hurricane Plant.

Flowering

The split leaf monstera will only flower if conditions are perfect for it to do so, but be cautioned that even so, this rarely occurs when it is kept as a houseplant. 

Toxicity

It is not recommended that you consume the leaves and other parts of the plant, as doing so may cause acute mouth burning, difficulty swallowing, nausea and vomiting. Furthermore, minor skin irritation can occur from merely handling the plant, although this reaction is very rare.

It should be noted, however, that this plant is extremely toxic to dogs and cats. If you have these furry friends living with you, consider getting a more animal-friendly houseplant.

Dropping Leaves

Don’t be alarmed if your Monstera plant starts dropping leaves. Usually, there is nothing wrong and this is completely natural. Monstera drop their old leaves when they start putting out new ones. 

The reason the plant does this is because by dropping the old leaves, it is able to supply the new stems and leaves with the nutrients to grow in a healthy way. And grow they will! This is one plant that absolutely can’t seem to stop growing.

Summary

The Monstera plant is thought of as being beginner friendly because it will tell you exactly what it needs. No, it won’t suddenly start speaking one day, but it will give you clear indications in other ways if something is the matter. 

If it has been getting too much water, the tips of the leaves will develop little droplets on them and that is a sign that you need to cut back on your watering. If it isn’t getting enough water, the leaves will begin to turn brown and curl up at the edges and you will know that you have to remedy that situation.

It’s like a peculiar form of sign language that only plants use. By paying attention and learning to recognize the signs that this remarkable plant shows you, you will be able to care for it without any serious problems.

As you have now learned, the Monstera is a relatively easy plant to care for. By taking proper care of it, you will be able to have the pleasure of this plant for many years to come, and you can grow it as large as you want. It has amazing endurance and adaptability, and if you provide it with the support it needs to climb as high as it can, you will be truly astonished at just how big this plant can get.