Swiss Cheese Plant Likes Indoor Shade [Monstera deliciosa, Monstera adansonii, Monstera borsigiana, Monstera obliqua]

There are several cultivars of the Monstera species called Swiss Cheese Plants. These plants are common house plants because they thrive in shade.

They are fantastic indoor plants because of their high shade tolerance, low maintenance and undemanding.

The Swiss Cheese Plants (Monstera spp) have holes in the leaves that resemble Swiss Cheese, hence the name.

Here are some shade-loving plants that grow well in the UK. 

Monstera deliciosa Swiss Cheese Plant

Common name/s: Sweet Cheese Plant, Sweet Cheese Vine,  Five-Holes Plant, Monkey Mask Plant

Swiss Cheese Plants family: Monstera deliciosa, Monstera adansoni, Monstera borsigiana, Monstera obliqua

Native to: South-east Asia, South America and New Guinea

4 Types of Swiss Cheese Plant

There are several species of Swiss Cheese Plant. 

The four commonly plants are:

• Monstera deliciosa: This species has the largest leaves compared to the other Monstera plants, has broad perforated leaves. It produces white flowers that look like an arrowhead as seen in the image above.
• Monstera adansonii: This is a marginally large Monstera with ovate leaves and slightly bigger oval holes in them than Monstera deliciosa.
• Monstera borsigiana: This is a smaller form of Monstera deliciosa.
• Monstera obliqua: This Monstera resembles Monstera adansonii, but has thinner leaves with lots of holes in them.

Soil for growing Swiss Cheese Plant

Swiss cheese plants grow best in peat-based potting soil, which will help trap moisture in the soil without allowing it to become waterlogged.

How to propagate Swiss Cheese Plant

The Swiss Cheese Plant grows well by vine cuttings. Cut at least two or three nodes from the tip of the vine.

Propagate the cutting in water until rooting before potting. Ensure that the water does not go stale as this may kill the new plant. 

You may see signs of root and leaf growth after a few days. Transplant the cutting into a pot or hanging container. 

You can also plant the new cutting straight into a holding pot of moist, well-drained soil.

How to Care for Swiss Cheese Plant

The Swiss Cheese Plant is a tropical plant, native to Southeast Asia, New Guinea and South America, where temperature and humidity are high, yet the forest undergrowth receives little indirect light from the sun. And that is where Monstera species thrive.

They are great bathroom and windowsill plants. They are also fantastic hanging plants because warm air tends to circulate to the top making it conducive for them to thrive there.

The Swiss Cheese Plant is not winterhardy and does not really like cold.

They generally require very little care. The most crucial thing is to make sure they are warm and there is some light, but not direct light.

They love to climb, so get some bamboo-stick stakes for the plants to climb onto.