Monstera deliciosa commonly is called "Swiss cheese vine" because of the holes that perforate the plant's large, leathery, heart-shaped leaves. A durable, low-maintenance plant, Swiss cheese vine loves bright light but tolerates low-light conditions. Allow plenty of space for the plant, also known as split leaf philodendron, because it can grow to heights of 16 feet or more at maturity with leaves that span up to 18 inches. Propagating Swiss cheese vine involves taking stem cuttings in springtime.
Preparation
A 4-inch pot filled with a well-drained potting medium works well for rooting a Swiss cheese plant. Rooting plants successfully requires use of a pot with a drainage hole, because lack of drainage causes stem cuttings to rot rapidly. Make your own potting medium by combining equal parts of sand and peat moss, or use a quality commercial potting mix. Moisten the potting medium ahead of time either by misting the medium with a spray bottle or by placing the pot in a tray of water so water wicks through the drainage hole. The potting medium must be moist but not soggy.
Cutting Procedure
A healthy, actively growing stem with at least two or three leaves is ideal for a cutting, and a young stem with relatively small leaves is best. Cut the tip of a stem measuring 3 to 6 inches, and then pull one or two leaves from the bottom one-half of the stem. Although most plants root successfully without rooting hormone, use of the hormone speeds rooting. To use rooting hormone, place a small amount of powdered hormone on a piece of waxed paper, and then dip the bottom 1 inch of the stem in the powder.
Planting Technique
Planting the Swiss cheese cutting begins with making a hole in the potting medium with your finger or the eraser end of a pencil. That task ensures that the rooting hormone powder won't be lost when you plant the cutting. Place the bare, bottom one-third to one-half of the stem in the hole with at least one leaf node -- the bump that remains from where you pulled a leaf from the stem -- under the soil. Doing that is critical because new roots emerge from the node. Pat the potting mixture gently but firmly around the stem.
Greenhouse Environment
A Swiss cheese vine stem cutting requires a warm, humid environment to root successfully. You can create those conditions by sliding the cutting's pot into a clear plastic bag and then tying the top of the bag or closing it with a rubber band. Place the bag in moderate light and normal room temperatures.The atmosphere in the bag usually remains moist until the cutting roots in one to two weeks; if the soil dries, however, it must be misted immediately. Leave the plastic in place until new growth appears, which indicates the stem rooted.
Plant Care
A newly rooted Swiss cheese vine is ready to exist outside of a warm, humid environment, but it benefits from a slow transition to its new environment in order to prevent shock. Begin by poking a few holes in the bag, and then two or three days later open the top of the bag. After two or three more days, you may remove the pot from the bag and place the plant in brighter light. Water the plant until water trickles from the bottom of the pot, and then allow the top of the potting mix to dry between each watering. Never let the pot sit in water, and never let the soil become soggy. A Swiss cheese plant is fertilized regularly during spring and summer with a liquid houseplant fertilizer applied according to the directions on its label.
Tags: Swiss cheese, cheese vine, potting medium, Swiss cheese vine, rooting hormone, cheese plant, drainage hole