How To Propagate Swiss Cheese Plant

A lovely fenestrated plant that is becoming more and more well-liked by houseplant enthusiasts is the Swiss cheese plant (Monstera adansonii). There are a few tips to know when reproducing this plant, even though it’s quite simple to maintain. Instead of purchasing new plants, you can save money by using propagation to grow more plants to share with friends or add to your collection.

Here’s our guide to four various ways of propagating a Swiss cheese plant.

Three Methods for Swiss Cheese Plant Propagation

Cuttings are the most popular method of Swiss cheese plant propagation. Cuttings can be grown in soil, water, or by using the air layering technique.

The simplest and least complicated method is to use water. Although a little more difficult, air layering—wrapping the cutting in moss, tying it in place with twine, and then placing it in a plastic bag—works well. It takes several months as well. It is quite easy and quick to treat the cutting with root hormone and put it in potting medium.

Types of Swiss Cheese Plant

Monstera is connected to the Swiss cheese plant in a number of ways, including:

• Monstera deliciosa: Compared to Monstera adansonii, this species has bigger leaves.
• Monstera borsigiana: The most common type of Monstera deliciosa is Monstera albo, which is a smaller and faster-growing variant.
• Monstera obliqua: This uncommon species resembles Monstera adansonii in appearance, but its leaves have more holes and are thinner.
• Monstera dubia: The cultivar of Monstera dubia boasts stunning variegated foliage.
• ‘El Salvador’ is another name for Monstera siltepecana, a cultivar with beautiful lance-shaped leaves that have silvery variegation.
• Monstera standleayana: This plant—also called Monstera standleyana albo or ‘Albo Variegata’—has long, slender, dark green, and creamy white variegated leaves that are incredibly colorful.
• Monstera pinnatipartita: This kind has thick, textured leaves and grows quickly. Beautiful fenestration also develops as the leaves mature and get bigger.

How to Propagate a Swiss Cheese Plant in Water

Until the cutting is large enough for the seedling to take root in potting soil, this technique allows it to establish roots in water. Propagation in water first eliminates the requirement for rooting hormone.

• Take a slice of the stem. Just below a healthy leaf node, trim the stem. Although it is not on the leaf itself, the node is typically located fairly close to where a leaf begins. Verify that at least one leaf is affixed. To give the stem’s nodes more space in the water, you can cut off the lowest leaf if the stem has multiple leaves.
• Submerge the cutting in water. Put the stem’s cut end in a clear glass container with water that is at room temperature.
• positioned with adequate lighting. The container should be placed in an area with dappled or indirect sunlight.
• Use fresh water to rehydrate. Every few days, change the water. Within two weeks, roots should begin to take shape.
• Plant in the ground. Plant the cutting in a wet potting media once the roots appear thick or are approximately two inches long, which should happen in two months. It can be placed in the parent plant’s pot or in a separate pot.
• Water often. As the roots adjust to their new surroundings, take extra care to keep them consistently moist for about a week.

Propagating Swiss Cheese Plant in Soil

When growing stem cuttings in soil, combine regular potting soil with perlite, rice hulls, or orchid bark to enhance air flow. Place the medium in a tiny 4-inch pot with a drainage hole after moistening it. Take a cutting of the stem directly beneath a leaf node that is healthy. After dipping the cutting’s end into rooting hormone, plant it in the ground. Keep wet and expose to bright, indirect light.

Propagating a Swiss Cheese Plant With Air Layering

Due to its extremely minimal danger, some gardeners favor the air layering approach for propagation. Sphagnum moss and plastic wrap or a tiny transparent plastic bag are needed for this technique.

• Locate a leaf node on a robust stem. The rough area of the stem close to where a leaf appears is called a node.
• Cut through the stem. Just above the node, make a tiny, perpendicular cut in the stem that is an eighth of an inch deep.
• Wrap the stem with damp sphagnum moss. Gently wrap a clump of sphagnum moss over the leaf node and the stem cut after dampening it with water.
• Put plastic wrap over the moss. To keep the moss secure, wrap it in plastic wrap or place it in a plastic bag. To keep the plastic loosely secured around the cutting, gently wrap it with twine after pulling the sides together at the top.
• Keep the moss wet. To keep the cutting inside the bag moist, mist it with water every few days. Thick roots will start to emerge in around two months.
• Trim the new roots and plant from the stem. Cut the stem containing the new root from the plant when the roots are two inches long, then place it in moist potting soil. Take care of it as normal.

Tips for Propagating a Swiss Cheese Plant

When taking cuttings, use a clean, sharp instrument (such bypass pruners).
To prevent any touch with microorganisms, use a fresh, clean plastic bag for air layering and a clean glass jar for water propagation.
Before refilling the glass with tap water to spread your cutting, allow it to sit for an hour to allow any chlorine to evaporate.
To encourage root growth, immerse the cut end in rooting hormone if you plan to plant straight into the ground after cutting. Although this expedient technique eliminates the waiting period associated with water or air layering, rooting still requires time.

Common Problems With Swiss Cheese Plant

The Swiss cheese plant usually has no major issues when cultivated in the circumstances it prefers. It is susceptible to certain frequent problems, though, if its environmental requirements cannot be met indoors.

Leaves Turning Yellow

Overwatering is frequently the cause of leaf yellowing. Never let your plant linger in moist soil, and let it air dry a little bit in between waterings.

Leaves Wrinkled or Curling

It could indicate that the soil is excessively dry or sinking if the leaves are wrinkled or curled. When the top one to two inches of soil dries out, make sure your potting soil drains effectively and water it thoroughly until water starts to pour out of the drainage holes.

Leaves Turning Black

Leaf burn from direct sunlight may be shown by black markings on the leaves. Throughout the day, keep an eye on your plant to make sure it doesn’t have prolonged exposure to direct sunlight. Take extra care to shield it from the intense afternoon sun.

Leaves Drooping

This may indicate overfishing or underwatering. When the top two inches of soil are dry, water the soil thoroughly until it becomes moist and water starts to flow out of the container’s drainage holes.

Leaves Falling Off or Not Putting on Size

Too little light exposure may be the cause of your Swiss cheese plant’s leaves dropping off or not growing larger as they should. Bright yet indirect sunshine is ideal for this plant. Bright morning sunshine is better than bright afternoon sunlight if indirect light is not an option.

Leaves Not Splitting

Growers adore the unique appearance of monstera due to its fenestration (splitting) behavior. Too little light is the reason your monstera’s leaves aren’t separating. To avoid damaging the plant with too much intense light at once, try increasing the light exposure gradually.

Swiss Cheese Plant vs. Monstera: Is There a Difference?

The common name for the enormous, big-leafed monstera deliciosa is monstera, and the common name for the little, narrow, oblong-leafed monstera adansonii is Swiss cheese plant. The reason for the misunderstanding is that some people refer to Monstera deliciosa as the “Swiss cheese plant.” Asking about or looking up the botanic name on a plant tag is always a good idea because several plants can have the same popular name.

FAQ

Can you cut a piece of Swiss cheese plant and put it directly in soil?

As long as the cutting has an unbroken leaf node, you can cut a Swiss chese plant and plant it straight in soil. To encourage the production of roots, dip the cut end with root hormone powder prior to planting.

How do you get a swiss cheese plant to thrive?

Indirect light, frequent watering, airy, somewhat acidic soil, and a sturdy structure, such a stake to climb on, are all favorable to Swiss cheese plants.

Where do you cut a Swiss cheese plant to get cuttings to propagate?

Swiss cheese plant cuttings are available for propagation from your own plant, a friend’s plant, or an internet vendor. Additionally, check social media for your neighborhood gardening clubs to see if anyone has cuttings to trade or give away for free.