Monstera adansonii Schott

Swiss Cheese Vine, Adanson's Monstera, Five Holes Plant, Monkey Mask Plant

Easy careSemi-epiphyteModerately toxic90–400 cm

Native to the tropical forests of Central and South America, Monstera adansonii climbs trees as a hemi-epiphyte — rooting in the soil but sending stems upward in search of light, clinging to bark with aerial roots as it goes. Its heart-shaped leaves are perforated with distinctive oval holes called fenestrations, which develop even on relatively young plants; in low light or in a terrarium without a tall climbing surface, leaves tend to stay smaller with fewer holes. It grows vigorously and does well in the steady warmth and high humidity of a large enclosed setup, though it will need regular pruning to stay contained. Like all aroids, its tissues contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals — confirmed toxic to cats and dogs by the ASPCA.

Build a terrarium with this plant
Swiss Cheese Vine image

Photo by Kevin Faccenda·CC BY 4.0

Care

Light

Bright indirect(preferred)Indirect lightShade tolerant

Humidity

High (60–80%)(preferred)Medium (40–60%)

Temperature

10°C25°C40°C
10°C – 29°C

Soil

Well draining(preferred)Peat mossOrchid mix

Moisture

Moist(preferred)Dry

Soil pH

5.5 – 7

Appearance

Growth habit

ClimbingTrailing

Leaf shape

HeartLobed

Leaf texture

GlossyWaxy

Distribution

Propagation

Take a stem cutting 10–15 cm long with at least one node — an aerial root on the cutting gives it a head start. Root it in water with the node submerged, or press it into damp sphagnum moss. Roots typically appear within 2–4 weeks at 18–24 °C; a warm, humid environment noticeably speeds the process. Once roots reach 2–3 cm, the cutting can be transferred to a well-draining potting mix.

References

  1. 1

    POWO (Kew) — Monstera adansonii Schott (accepted name; first published in Wiener Z. Kunst 4: 1028 (1830); family Araceae; native range: Bolivia, Brazil North, Brazil Northeast, Brazil South, Brazil Southeast, Brazil West-Central, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Leeward Islands, Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad-Tobago, Venezuela, Windward Islands; climbing plant in wet tropical biome; four recognised subspecies: adansonii, blanchetii, klotzschiana, laniata; synonyms include Monstera pertusa (L.) de Vriese, Dracontium pertusum L., Calla dracontium G.Mey., Calla pertusa (L.) Kunth)

    https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:87464-1
  2. 2

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — Monstera adansonii (common names: Adanson's Monstera, Cheese Plant, Five Hole Plant, Swiss Cheese Plant, Swiss Cheese Vine; family Araceae; native origin: Southern Mexico to Tropical America including Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad-Tobago, Venezuela, Windward Islands; USDA zones 10a–12b; light: partial shade 2–6 hours direct; soil: loam/silt, acid to neutral pH, good drainage, moist; toxicity: low severity — calcium oxalate crystals; symptoms: mouth/throat inflammation, vomiting, drooling, loss of appetite; propagation: stem cutting; height 3–8 ft indoors, 10–13 ft outdoors; width 1–3 ft; medium to dark green glossy heart-shaped perforated leaves)

    https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/monstera-adansonii/
  3. 3

    PlantCareToday — Monstera adansonii care guide (light: bright indirect, avoid prolonged direct sun; humidity: high, use humidifier in winter; temperature: 18–24 °C ideal, minimum 10 °C; soil: peat-based with orchid bark, well-draining; pH 5.5–7.0; water when top inch dry, approx. weekly indoors; care level: easy; toxicity: toxic to cats and dogs — swallowing issues, vomiting, mouth irritation; propagation: stem cuttings 4–8 inches with two nodes in water, also air-layering; leaves: heart-shaped with oval fenestrations, glossy; vine length up to 13 ft trellised, mature leaves 20–30 inches)

    https://plantcaretoday.com/monstera-adansonii.html
  4. 4

    ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants — Swiss Cheese Plant / Monstera (toxic to dogs and cats; toxic principle: insoluble calcium oxalates; clinical signs: oral irritation, intense burning and irritation of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing)

    https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/swiss-cheese-plant
  5. 5

    Terrarium Tribe — Which Monstera Actually Work in a Terrarium? (Monstera adansonii suitable for tall tropical terrariums with vertical space; climbing behaviour requires cork bark or wood for support; fast growth — regular pruning needed; best in larger, looser setups; fenestrations develop with maturity; not ideal for small terrariums due to size)

    https://terrariumtribe.com/terrarium-plants/monstera-adansonii-swiss-cheese-plant/
  6. 6

    Wikipedia — Monstera adansonii (scientific name Monstera adansonii Schott; family Araceae; native to South and Central America and West Indies; hemi-epiphyte vine; heart-shaped leaves with somewhat thick waxy texture and large oval perforations; grows 3–5 ft as houseplant, up to 13 ft as vine; four subspecies recognised)

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monstera_adansonii