There are at least 40 varieties of plants that are grouped under the name Monstera and I assure you that you will want to have them all. From those giant beauties so popular in interior decoration that are known as Monstera Deliciosa or Adam's Rib, to the little Monstera Adansonii or Swiss Cheese Plant that concerns us today.
Although they are family and have similar care and characteristics, they must be recognized as unique individuals, with their particularities and preferences. Don't worry, you'll learn everything you need to know with this Monstera Adansonii care guide.
Unique and different: meet the Monstera Adansonii
Look at the leaves
The main difference between monsteras is in the leaves. Monstera adansonii has heart-shaped, more elongated and rounded leaves. Holes form naturally on its surface, which is why it is known as the "Swiss cheese plant". In fact, the leaf is born without holes and they form as it grows. If the holes don't form, it may be a sign that you lack water, light, or heat. Pay attention to it, which is the greatest sign of happiness.
It's smaller
Monstera adansonii is perfect for those who want to enjoy the lushness, beauty and exotic touch of monsteras but don't have the space for the popular Adam's rib. Indeed, this plant grows slowly and will remain contained in its pot and although it can get somewhat tall and abundant, it will never reach gargantuan dimensions like Adam's Rib.
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You'll want to go up and up
The monstera Adansonii is also a climbing plant, it will develop aerial roots and will seek to climb. You can take advantage of this feature to put a guide wand or tutor on it and help it grow in the space and height you consider appropriate. To propagate it, you can make a cut right after these climbing roots, put it in a glass of water and let it develop roots before planting it in its new pot.
Needs a little more moisture
Adansonii is a rainforest plant, so it requires a high degree of humidity, especially when compared to its larger cousin. You can spray it with a little water a couple of times a week. This will also help remove dust that can accumulate on the leaves.
Care of Monstera Adansonii
Substrate:
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With monstera adansonii you have to be very careful, because as it needs a little more humidity, it must be complemented with a substrate that has efficient drainage. In addition, being a climbing plant, it requires an aerated, loose substrate in which there is good oxygen circulation. You can use a universal substrate, enriched with a little perlite. It is advisable to put pebbles or similar at the bottom, to facilitate drainage.
irrigation:
This is a plant that requires quite a bit of humidity, perhaps a little more than its direct cousins. The recommendation is to wait for it to have dried out by 75% before watering again. To make it easy for you to keep it simple, put your finger inside the substrate, up to the first knuckle. If you feel like it's almost dry, put water on it. If the dirt sticks to your fingers, it feels a little damp and cold, better to wait a day or two. Avoid drying out the substrate too much between waterings, but never puddle the roots, because they are susceptible to rot.
Temperature & Humidity
This is a plant that grows in South American rainforests, protected from direct sun but with high levels of humidity and temperature. It should be in warm environments, where temperatures never drop below 15°C. There are those who place them in the bathroom or kitchen, where they can water them frequently. Another trick is to put them with other plants so that they can keep each other company and create their own bubbles of moisture. Is it still too dry? You can invest in a small humidifier for those dry seasons.
lighting
Native to the Central American jungles, they grow in the shelter of the tallest trees. This is why it should avoid direct sun, although it likes places where it can receive a lot of indirect light. If you have it in a place where it gets direct sun for a little while in the morning, you shouldn't have a problem, but no more than that because it will burn.
fertilizer
You can use a balanced fertilizer during the summer and spring months, which are the growing months. Avoid fertilizing it in winter or if you've just done a pot transplant. Speaking of changes and moves, it is slow growing so you can change its pot once a year and if it is tall, you can use stakes or wands to guide its climbing branches.
Monstera Adansonii is a perfect houseplant, but you should know that it is moderately toxic to your pets, so we recommend putting it in a high place where they will not reach it. It is very resistant to almost any type of pests and insects, so it is uncommon for them to get sick. As long as you take care of its humidity and light levels, it will continue to grow and develop with its little holes of happiness.