How to care for a monstera (Swiss cheese plant)

Monstera is the most photographed houseplant of the last decade and one of the easiest. Almost every problem it has comes down to two things: not enough light or too much water.

The basics

• Light: plenty, indirect. Near a window but without direct midday sun, which scorches the leaves.
• Water: when the top three or four centimeters (1 to 1.5 in) of soil are dry. Every 7 to 10 days in summer, every 15 or 20 in winter.
• Humidity: it's tropical and appreciates having its leaves misted, especially in winter with the heating on.
• Cleaning: wipe the leaves with a damp cloth once a month. With leaves that big, dust covers the surface it uses for photosynthesis.

Why the holes don't appear

It's question number one, and the answer is almost always not enough light.

The fenestrations — the splits and holes in the leaf — are an adaptation: in the jungle the plant climbs, and the perforated leaves let light through to the ones below and offer less resistance to wind and rain. A young monstera, or one living in dim light, makes whole leaves because it doesn't need the mechanism.

Three things push it to make large, split leaves:

1. More light. It's the deciding factor.
2. A moss pole. Climbing is what triggers the change: each new leaf comes in bigger than the last.
3. Time. The first leaves of a young plant are whole and there's nothing to be done about it.

The roots growing out the side

They're aerial roots and they're looking for something to hold on to. Don't cut them: they're part of the support system. You have two options — guide them toward the moss pole (ideal) or tuck them back into the pot. Cutting them won't kill the plant, but it weakens it.

Common problems

Symptom	Usual cause
Yellow leaves starting from the bottom	Overwatering
Brown, dry tips and edges	Dry air or lack of water
Brown spots with a yellow halo	Root rot. Check the drainage
Small new leaves with no splits	Not enough light
Long, bare stems	Not enough light. Prune it and give it more

Warning

Like all aroids, it's toxic if ingested. The ripe fruit is edible in its native habitat, but unripe it's a strong irritant. If there are pets or children around, keep it out of reach.