Monstera adansonii with holes in its leaves, in a dark stone pot — Photo by feey on Unsplash

Monstera adansonii care

Monstera adansonii · Araceae

Also called Swiss cheese vine, Adanson's monstera, Five-hole plant.

By the Greenie team · Fact-checked October 5, 2026

A climbing aroid from the rainforests of Central and South America and the Caribbean, smaller than the classic Monstera deliciosa. Its heart-shaped leaves are full of oval holes rather than deep splits. Indoors it climbs a moss pole or trails from a shelf, usually reaching 1 to 2.5 m.

Easy care Fast growing

Light

Bright Indirect

Watering

Weekly

Difficulty

Easy

Pets

Not confirmed

Height indoors

1-2.5 m

Growth

Fast

Temperature

18-25 °C

Not below 10 °C

HumidityUnconfirmed

50% - 70%

Likes humid air

Soil pHUnconfirmed

5.0-6.0

Slightly acidic soil

Native to

Aruba
Anguilla
Antigua & Barbuda
Caribbean Netherlands
St. Barthélemy
Bolivia
Brazil
Barbados
Colombia
Costa Rica
Curaçao
Dominica
Ecuador
Guadeloupe
Grenada
French Guiana
Guyana
St. Kitts & Nevis
St. Lucia
St. Martin
Montserrat
Martinique
Nicaragua
Panama
Peru
Suriname
Sint Maarten
Trinidad & Tobago
St. Vincent & Grenadines
Venezuela
British Virgin Islands
U.S. Virgin Islands

Through the year

Let the top of the mix get almost dry, then water thoroughly and empty the saucer. Water less in winter. Rainwater or filtered water at room temperature is best in hard-water areas.

Spring
Weekly
Repot if roots fill the pot, start feeding and tie new stems to the pole.
Summer
Weekly
Water freely, keep the humidity up and watch for spider mites.
Autumn
Every 2 weeks
Stop feeding and let the mix dry a little more between waterings.
Winter
Every 2 weeks
Water sparingly and keep it warm, away from cold drafts and heaters.

Feeding

Every 4 weeks in spring and summer. Balanced liquid fertilizer during the growing season. Do not feed in winter.

Care tips

Give it something to climb
On a moss pole it roots into the support and makes bigger leaves with more holes.
Keep it out of direct sun
Hot sun scorches the thin leaves; an east- or west-facing window works well.
Use an airy, slightly acidic mix
A blend of peat-free ericaceous compost and orchid bark drains fast and stops the roots rotting.
Root cuttings in water
Cut a piece with a node and an aerial root between spring and late summer and stand it in water until roots form.
Wear gloves when pruning
The sap can irritate skin and eyes.

Common problems

Root rot

What you seeLeaves yellow and droop while the mix stays soggy.

What to doRepot into an open, fast-draining mix and never leave the pot standing in water.
Spider mites

What you seeFine webbing and pale speckling on the leaves.

What to doRinse the leaves, raise the humidity and treat with insecticidal soap if they come back.
Brown, crispy edges

What you seeLeaf margins dry out and turn brown.

What to doThe air is too dry; group plants together or stand the pot on a tray of wet pebbles, away from radiators.

Pets

Is monstera adansonii safe for cats and dogs?

Not confirmed. Not on the ASPCA lists. The ASPCA lists its close relative Monstera deliciosa as toxic to cats and dogs because of insoluble calcium oxalate crystals, which irritate the mouth and cause drooling and vomiting; NC State notes the same crystals in this species.

Houseplants the ASPCA lists as safe for cats and dogs

Good to know

One explanation for the holes is that they let sunlight slip through to the lower leaves while the vine climbs.
In the wild its leaves can reach about 45 cm across, much bigger than on a houseplant.
Houseplants almost never flower; outdoors it produces a creamy white spathe in spring.