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Monstera Adansonii

Monstera adansonii

Vining & TrailingEasy–ModerateFasttoxic to pets
Good to know: Nicknamed the Swiss cheese vine for its perforated leaves. The holes (fenestrations) let wind and rain pass through in its native canopy.

Through the year 🗓️

☀️ Summer now

Water and feed generously through the growth surge; train new vines up their support.

🍂 Fall

Ease off fertilizer and prune leggy runners while the plant is still active.

❄️ Winter

Let it rest: water less, hold the feed, and boost humidity against dry indoor heat.

🌱 Spring

Repot if roots poke from the drainage holes and restart monthly feeding.

The details

Light & placement

Light
Bright indirect; tolerates medium light but holes shrink; no harsh direct sun
Ideal PPFD
150–350 µmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹
Grow-light distance
18–24 in below LED

Water & feed

Watering method
Water thoroughly when the top 1–2 in dry, until it drains. It likes to stay lightly moist, never wet; a chunky mix makes that easy.
Fertilizer
Balanced liquid feed at ½ strength, monthly in spring–summer.

Home & habit

Soil
Chunky aroid mix (bark + perlite + coco/peat); pH 5.5–6.5
Humidity
High (60%+); tolerates average but grows slower
Temperature
65–85 °F
Mature size
Vines 6–12 ft indoors; larger leaves when climbing
Repotting
Every 1–2 yrs; it roots fast and gets root-bound quickly
Propagation
Stem cuttings with a node root readily in water, moss, or soil.

When something looks wrong

Overwatering signs
Yellowing leaves, black stem patches, wilting in wet soil
Underwatering signs
Crispy brown edges, curling, drooping vines
Common pests
Spider mites, thrips, mealybugs, scale
Care notes: Give it a moss pole or trellis. Climbing plants produce dramatically bigger, holier leaves than trailing ones. Thin, hole-free new leaves mean it wants more light.

Common problems 🩺

The usual suspects when Monstera Adansonii looks unhappy. Most houseplant trouble is watering or light, not disease — see all plant problems if you are not sure which plant is the culprit.

Crispy edges and tips

Likely cause
Low humidity — the thin leaves dry out faster than a big Monstera deliciosa.

What to do
Raise humidity above 50% and keep watering consistent.

Yellowing leaves

Likely cause
Overwatering in a dense mix.

What to do
Let the top inch dry and repot into a chunky aroid mix if the soil stays wet.

Long vines with small leaves

Likely cause
Not enough light, and nothing to climb.

What to do
Brighter indirect light plus a pole — leaves get bigger as it climbs.

More like this 🌿

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