Plant care guide
Monstera Adansonii Care: Light, Water, Humidity, Support
Updated
How do you care for a Monstera adansonii?
Monstera adansonii is a fast-growing climbing vine. It does best in bright, indirect light, moist but well-drained mix, warmth, high humidity, and something to climb. It is toxic to people and pets if eaten, and its sap can irritate skin.
What to do first
Place it near a bright window out of direct sun, water when the mix has dried, keep it above 10 °C (50 °F), give it a moss pole or trellis, and keep it away from pets and children.
Monstera adansonii, the Swiss cheese vine or five-hole plant, is a smaller relative of Monstera deliciosa. NC State Extension’s Monstera adansonii profile describes it as a tender, evergreen climber from the rainforests of Mexico, Central America and South America. In the wild it uses aerial roots to climb trees toward light.
Indoors, NC State says it can reach 0.9–2.4 m (3–8 ft) tall and 0.3–0.9 m (1–3 ft) wide on a trellis or moss pole. It grows fast, so most care questions come down to light, watering and support.
Care at a glance
| Need | What the sources say |
|---|---|
| Light | Bright, indirect light; direct sun can scorch leaves (NC State) |
| Water | Water when dry; never leave water in the saucer (UF/IFAS) |
| Mix | Moist, well-drained, slightly acidic (NC State); an orchid mix suits it (UF/IFAS) |
| Temperature | Avoid drafts and drops below 10 °C (50 °F) (NC State); 13 °C (55 °F) is the limit (UF/IFAS) |
| Humidity | High; use a humidifier or a pebble tray (NC State) |
| Support | Stake, trellis or moss pole in the center of the pot (NC State) |
| Toxicity | Toxic to people, cats and dogs if eaten; sap irritates skin (NC State) |
Light
NC State recommends bright, indirect sunlight. A spot near a bright window, where the sun does not hit the leaves directly, fits that. UF/IFAS Extension’s Swiss cheese plant article also advises keeping it out of direct sun in filtered light.
Watch the new growth. The University of Missouri’s indoor lighting guide lists long stems between leaves, smaller leaves, and yellowing lower leaves as signs of too little light. Pale, bleached or brown patches on the window side suggest too much direct sun.
Watering
Water thoroughly, then wait. UF/IFAS says to water when dry and not to leave water standing in the saucer, because root rot can follow. Virginia Cooperative Extension’s container watering guide adds that overwatering is about how often you water, not how much you pour at once.
How to water well:
- Push a finger 2.5–7.5 cm (1–3 in) into the mix, deeper in larger pots, as Virginia Cooperative Extension suggests.
- If it is dry, water until the whole root ball is wet and water runs from the drainage hole.
- Let it drain. Do not leave the pot sitting in water for more than 60 minutes.
Clemson Extension’s houseplant disorders fact sheet names overwatering as the most common cause of yellowing leaves. If leaves yellow while the mix is still wet, check the roots before watering again.
Potting mix and pots
NC State recommends moist, well-drained soil with a slightly acidic pH. UF/IFAS suggests an orchid mix would be ideal. Either way, the mix should drain quickly and hold some air after watering.
Use a pot with a drainage hole. Virginia Cooperative Extension warns that a pot that is too large keeps roots in mix that is too wet, so move up only modestly when the plant outgrows its pot.
Humidity and temperature
Monstera adansonii prefers warm, humid conditions. NC State suggests a humidifier or setting the pot on a tray of wet pebbles. UF/IFAS mentions occasional misting or a pebble tray kept just above the water line.
Keep the plant away from cold drafts. NC State gives 10 °C (50 °F) as the floor; UF/IFAS puts the limit at 13 °C (55 °F). Keep leaves off cold window glass in winter.
Support and pruning
NC State recommends a stake, trellis or moss pole in the center of the pot. UF/IFAS adds that the plant can also be grown in a hanging basket. On a sphagnum-wrapped pole, its aerial roots latch on as they would to a tree.
Tie stems loosely to the support. Trim long vines just above a node to keep the plant compact, and use the pieces as cuttings.
Toxicity
Monstera adansonii contains calcium oxalate crystals. NC State lists it as poisonous to humans and a problem for cats, dogs and children. If eaten, it can cause inflammation of the mouth, throat, eyes and digestive tract, plus vomiting, drooling and loss of appetite. NC State also recommends gloves when handling the plant because of contact dermatitis.
The ASPCA lists the larger Swiss cheese plant, Monstera deliciosa, as toxic to dogs and cats because of insoluble calcium oxalates. Signs include oral irritation, drooling, vomiting and difficulty swallowing. If a pet chews either plant, call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center.
Common problems
- Yellow leaves: usually wet or dry roots, sometimes low light or cold.
- Small leaves with few holes: often too little light or no support to climb.
- Brown, crisp edges: Virginia Cooperative Extension lists brown tips or edges and dry, brittle leaves among underwatering signs.
For more, see the Monstera adansonii hub and our comparison of Monstera deliciosa and Monstera adansonii.
Related guides
Other monstera adansonii problems we cover: yellow leaves, propagation, thrips, root rot.
References
- NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Monstera adansonii
- UF/IFAS Extension Charlotte County: Holey leaves, when holes in leaves are a good thing
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: Swiss Cheese Plant
- Virginia Cooperative Extension: Properly Watering Container Houseplants (SPES-804)
- Clemson Cooperative Extension HGIC: Houseplant Diseases & Disorders
- University of Missouri Extension: Lighting Indoor Houseplants (G6515)
How this guide was put together: NC State Extension, UF/IFAS Extension, ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Clemson Extension, and University of Missouri Extension guidance.