Have you ever wondered about the bundles of bamboo stems you see for sale just about everywhere, from novelty stores to warehouse clubs?They’re called “lucky bamboo,” and despite their ubiquitous presen
06.06.2023 - 19:48 / gardenerspath.com / Kristine Lofgren
How to Grow and Care for Swiss Cheese Plants Monstera adansonii, deliciosa, pinnatipartitaThere are certain houseplants out there that shall remain unnamed (including one in particular that rhymes with middleleaf jig…) that have gained massive popularity despite being royal pains in the you-know-what to grow. But the Swiss cheese plant deserves its moment in the spotlight.
Those big, holey leaves are show-stopping, without a doubt, but this is also a plant that is easy to care for. It won’t start tossing its leaves to the ground in a huff if it doesn’t get the exact perfect amount of sun, humidity, or water.
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Add to that the fact that you can make dozens of little baby monsteras (as they’re also known) with very little effort, and it’s clear to see why this beauty has popped up in stylish spaces practically everywhere.
We’re going to go over everything a Swiss cheese plant lover needs to know to raise, propagate, and care for these distinctive houseplants.
Here’s what we’ll cover:
If you are as excited as I am about this iconic green wonder, then let’s start our journey!
Cultivation and HistoryThe scientific name of this popular houseplant is Monstera deliciosa. Huh? Delicious monster?
Basically, yes. Deliciosa refers to the edible fruit (which rarely shows up on those grown indoors), whileMonstera probably means monster or monstrous in reference to the massive leaves, each one of which can potentially grow three feet long.
So why “Swiss cheese plant”? That’s because of the holes that form in the leaves. The technical term for this growth is fenestration.
The Latin word “fenestrare” means an opening for light, so you
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