Monstera deliciosa has one of the most distinctive and enduringly popular leaves in the houseplant world. A darling of interior designers and the urban jungle movement alike, one need only check out #MonsteraMonday on Instagram to understand the massive appeal of this tropical plant.
Nicknamed "Swiss Cheese Plant" for the splits and holes that characterize its leaves, this dense vine can grow to immense proportions, with leaves becoming ever more perforated as the plant matures. While it's not known exactly why the leaves develop their holes (called fenestrations), the leading theory is that by producing splits, the leaves have the greater surface area and thus capture more light as they climb up trees in the understories of their native Central American jungles.
PLANT CARE
• Light: Bright, indirect light
• Water: Water when the top few centimeters of soil dries out
• Considerations: Giving your Monstera deliciosa a moss pole or trellis to climb will encourage the plant to produce larger leaves with splits
WHAT TO EXPECT
You'll get a healthy Monstera deliciosa that meets our rigorous quality standards in a 15cm nursery pot, other planters are sold separately. No two plants are alike, and yours will have its own unique shape, size, and personality; expect this natural variation from the photos.
