Introduction
You might be an expert gardener or entering into the indoor gardening field. But a Swiss Cheese plant can be an excellent addition to your plant haven. This tropical plant has gained popularity among the plant-lover community for its striking green leaves that develop holes with growing age. Today we will take a detailed look at cheese plant care which can help you make the most of this low-maintenance houseplant that can take a dramatic shape and attain a maximum height of 8 feet indoors.
What Is A Cheese Plant
Swiss Cheese plants are native to South America where their unique leaves allow sunlight to reach their lower shoots. The best thing about this plant is that it doesn’t require regular watering and can thrive under indirect light. This makes it the best choice for plant parents who might not be able to designate regular time for cheese plant care. Their unique appearance makesthem the best choice for infusing an exotic touch into your offices and homes.If you are a proud owner of this tropical beauty then keep reading to learn about its maintenance aspects.
Temperature
For optimum cheese plant care, you need to maintain an indoor temperature between 60 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Sudden temperature changes might stress out the plant. Since the plant is native to tropical regions, it exhibits maximum vitality on being positioned in a warm environment.
Humidity
Despite nurturing a soft spot for humidity, a Swiss Cheese plant can beautifully adapt to a dry outdoor climate. If you live in a dry region, inculcate a humidifier into your cheese plant care routine. Alternatively, you can occasionally mist the leaves or grow them alongside other houseplants so that they can benefit from their transpiration. You should aim for 60-80% humidity levels to foster rapid growth.
Water
While starting with cheese plant care it’s important to use a pot having drainage holes. You should ensure the top inches of the plant have dried out before adding water to the pot again. Watering once a week can keep the soil consistently moist. It might have higher water requirements during spring and summer or while it grows. Always water the plant from the top to imitate natural rain and wash away salt accumulations in the soil.
Fertilizer
Fertilizer isn’t mandatory for your cheese plant. However, you can add a liquid fertilizer to your Cheese plant potting mix. You can also go the DIY route by mixing perlite, peat, and pine barks which assists with moisture retention and soil aeration. For optimum cheese plant care, you need to add fertilizers during the spring and summer seasons between February and October every 2-3 weeks. It’s advisable to dilute the fertilizer to half its strength. Doing this helps reduce salt buildup and root rot.
Sunlight
In a native South American environment, the Swiss Cheese plant can thrive under a canopy of trees. This makes it the perfect choice for homeowners who can grow this plant under 8-10 hours of indirect sunlight. If you like taking your indoor plants to the balcony for their daily dose of sunlight then stick to the early morning hours. Taking it outdoors during the afternoon might scorch the leaves. Your Cheese plant might not develop its characteristic leaf holes if it doesn’t get adequate indirect sunlight.
Repotting Cheese Plant
Swiss cheese plants grow pretty fast. But if your plant’s growth is not up to the mark or if the soil is slowly pulling out from the sides of the pot, then you need to consider repotting the same. Choose pots with a drainable hole one size higher. Simply place the entire plant in the new pot and add a stake so that it can climb. Plant ties can come in handy for attaching the Cheese plant stem to the stake until it starts climbing itself. You can use fresh potting soil to fill in around the root ball and eliminate air pockets by tamping it down. Ideally, you should re-pot your Swiss Cheese plant every two years whenever you spot a decline in the plant health or the roots get too big for the current container. This also offers the perfect opportunity to inspect the roots and refresh the soil to promote healthy plant growth.
Propagating Swiss Cheese Plant
Do you want to add new members to your indoor plant haven? Propagating a Swiss Cheese Plant can be the best way out. In case of soil or water propagation, you will see new roots within 2-4 weeks. The time taken is longer with air layering which is between 4-6 weeks. Below we have mentioned the different ways of propagation that you can inculcate in your cheese plant care.
- Water Propagation: Cut a healthy Cheese plant stem having a few nodes. This should have a minimum of one aerial root. Next place it in a jar filled with water wherein the node stays submerged. If you regularly change the water then you will spot roots in a month. This is the time to transfer the stem to a new pot.
- Soil Propagation: Start with the water propagation technique and plant the stem in a potting mix. On keeping the soil moist, you will find new roots within a few weeks.
- Air Layering: This process starts when the stem is still attached to the parent plant. You will have to make a small cut on the stem and cover it with moist sphagnum moss followed by plastic wrap. Roots will develop soon and you can cut the part of the stem below the moss for being planted into the soil.
Pruning A Swiss Cheese Plant
Prune your Cheese Plant regularly to keep it looking tidy. Make sure to use clean and sharp pruning equipment to remove yellowing leaves, leggy vines, and more.
Cleaning A Swiss Cheese Plant
Use a damp sponge to wipe off dust accumulating on your Cheese plant. You can make a mixture using neem oil or mild dishwashing liquid mixed with water to deal with stubborn spots.
FAQ
What are some common pests that might attack a Swiss Cheese Plant?
It’s rare for a Cheese plant to have plant infestations. However, you can occasionally spot spider mites, mealybugs, and scale insects.
What are some common Cheese plant problems?
Despite being a low-maintenance plant, the following problems can affect a Swiss Cheese plant:
- Brown leaf edges are a common problem which denotes low humidity level. You can counter this problem with proper cheese plant care involving a humidifier.
- Your Monstera leaves might start sweating in case of excess moisture level whether in the potting mix or the surrounding environment. If you spot such signs then you can stop watering temporarily and move it to a brighter location.
- Is your fast-growing Cheese plant finding it difficult to keep its normal growth pace? Chances are high that it will need a bigger pot.
- Root rot is caused due to excessive watering which triggers a fungal disease that cannot be treated. This is why you need to be cautious with how much water you offer in your cheese plant care.
- Swiss Cheese plant need hours of indirect light for its growth. Otherwise, it can result in leggy growth.
Can Swiss Cheese plants harm pets?
Yes, Swiss Cheese plants can be toxic to plants if they nibble on them.
