The Swiss Cheese Plant is one of the most popular indoor plants around - and for good reason. Obviously they look great, with their large eye-catching leaves, which are a beautiful shade of green - a pleasing addition to any room.
But the benefits of owning a Swiss Cheese Plant go much deeper than that. Like so many indoor plants, they help to purify the air we breathe, and can help reduce stress. Some studies have shown that they can even help to increase productivity and improve our mood. Their huge, waxy leaves can help to trap dust, meaning a cleaner environment for us to live and work in.
One of the other big attractions of these wonderful plants is that they are quite low maintenance plants - but there are a few things you should know about Swiss Cheese Plant care that will help it not just survive, but thrive. Read the rest of this blog and you'll know everything you'll ever need about growing Swiss Cheese Plants.
Are Swiss Cheese Plants easy to care for?
As we alluded to in the introduction, Swiss Cheese Plants have a reputation for being quite straightforward to care for. In terms of watering, the light exposure that they require, the amount of pruning they need - there isn't a huge amount that you need to know about how to care for a Swiss Cheese Plant - and everything you do need to know is in this blog!
This is what makes these plants such good gifts. When you give someone a Swiss Cheese Plant, you're not giving them a burden or a huge responsibility - you're giving them all the benefits that we listed above. Imagine that - all the perks, and very little maintenance. Sounds too good to be true, doesn't it?! Well it's not!
What are Swiss Cheese Plants?
The Swiss Cheese Plant is a tropical plant, originally from the jungle climate of Central and South America. This is where their leaves evolved to have their distinctive holes - light was at a premium on the ground in those jungles, but the shoots at the bottom required light, so it was the plants that had developed holes that grew tall and strong.
It's those holes that give them their unmistakable name, but that's just one of many that these plants have acquired over the years. Its scientific name is Monstera deliciosa, but it has also been known as fruit salad plants, Indian ivy, five holes plant, cheese plant, Swiss Cheese Vine and custard plants. For us, though, Swiss Cheese Plant is the best name. Everyone knows what you're talking about when you use that name.
They're climbing plants, and while the different variations all differ, they can range in height - some can grow to up to 10ft (even the Lil' Swiss Cheese Plant!). In the wild, they can grow up to 65ft! (Don't worry, the ones we sell won't get that big!).
How to care for a Swiss cheese plant
So by now you know that looking after an indoor Swiss Cheese Plant is pretty easy, so let's fill in the gaps. Here is everything you need to know:
We'll start with how to water a Swiss Cheese Plant. This should be done when the top soil is dry, which will happen roughly a week after you last gave it some water. It can survive for longer without water, but a little bit of water once a week would really help it to thrive - then just let the soil dry out before you give it some more. Don't overwater - if water pools in the soil it can cause root rot, which is very bad for the plant. Make sure you have sufficient drainage holes in your pot so the water passes through.
Now let's talk light. The Swiss Cheese Plant prefers to have bright, indirect light. It can cope with some shade, but the beautiful foliage can burn if left in too much direct sunlight for too long. A couple of hours of direct sun a day is as much as it can cope with.
A little mist, to recreate that jungle climate, would go down very well as well! A quick spray every now and then will help bring out the best.
Finally, as it is a natural born climber, your Swiss Cheese Plant would love a moss pole to help it climb big and strong. Make sure it has plenty of room to grow if you would like to really fulfil its potential.
Here's a rundown of the key facts:
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Origins: South and Central America
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How much light: Bright indirect light
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Water requirements: About once a week, when the top soil is dry
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Humidity requirements: A quick spritz with a water mist would go down very nicely!
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Soil requirements: Well-draining potting mix or cactus compost
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Temperature requirements: 18°C to 27°C, minimum 13°C
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Pruning requirements: It will develop aerial roots as it grows - you can trim those back if you don't like the look of them!
Propagating Swiss Cheese Plants
There's an easy way to propagate a Swiss Cheese Plant - all you need is a stem cutting. Just cut around 6 inches just after the leaf node, and then place it in water (in a clear container so that it still receives light. Freshen up the water every couple of days, and in a couple of weeks, you should start to see some roots. Once the roots grow to about two inches long transfer it to soil (this will be after a couple of months). Water regularly, and then your new Swiss Cheese Plant will grow!
Getting the perfect setup with Prickle
We love Swiss Cheese Plants (if you hadn't already guessed!). They compliment other indoor plants so well - they're vibrant foliage draws the eye, and can act as a centre-piece in a large collection of plants in your home. Have a look through some of our incredible house plant bundles for some inspiration - you'll find plenty of lil pricks that no house can do without!
If you have any questions about our houseplant range, we'd love to hear from you. You can get us on social media @prickplantsuk or email contact@prickleplants.co.uk - throw any questions at us and our expert team will be on to it in a flash!