Description
Monstera Deliciosa is often referred to as the Swiss Cheese Plant because of unusual holes (eyes) that appear on its leaves. The leaves of the Monstera Deliciosa plant can grow to 10 to 35 inches and have a leathery and glossy texture.
In the wild, Monstera Deliciosa plants can reach a height of over 60 feet. However, indoor Monstera Deliciosa plants grow to about six to nine feet tall and are much easier to take care of.
If grown in a garden, make sure to add a pole or trellis to keep the plant from growing horizontally.
Monstera Deliciosa prefers indirect light and grows best in the tropical and lowland areas of the deep south. It should be planted outside in USDA Zones 10 through 12.
Monstera Deliciosa Care
Caring for a Monstera Deliciosa plant requires little effort. Make sure you place it in a warm and humid location that doesn’t get much sun. This is also true if you’re growing the plant indoors.
These plants prefer warmer weather conditions even during the off-season, so make sure the temperature is around 55 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
When the growing season comes along (spring to fall), your Monstera Deliciosa plant will need to be watered regularly. Best practices suggest waiting for the soil to dry between watering sessions. In the off-season, however, you can reduce the watering frequency to just a couple per week.
Since this plant is accustomed to growing up a tree, make sure to place it near a moss pole or a trellis. This will allow the plant and its aerial roots to extend upward.
Fruit & Harvesting
The fruit of the Monstera Deliciosa plant is safe for humans to consume. It has a sweet and exotic taste, often described as a combination of pineapples and bananas or a fruit salad.
It can take more than a year for the fruit to fully mature. You can ripen the fruit by cutting it when the scales start to fall off. The scales are then removed to reveal the tasty yellow flesh that is similar in texture to a pineapple.
When grown indoors, the amount of fruit you receive from your Monstera Deliciosa plant will be limited. Many indoor plants never flower or produce fruit.
Advice
Since the Monstera Deliciosa plant is native to the rainforest and tropical climates of Central America, you should plant it in a humid environment. During the growing season, spray the leaves and moss pole with warm water daily.
Whether grown outdoors or indoors, you will need proper soil for the plant to thrive. Peaty soil-based potting mix is the best type of soil for this particular plant.
The soil should be dry about two to three inches below the surface before adding more water. Make sure to allow the soil to dry between watering sessions.
Applying fertilizer from spring to fall will help your Monstera Deliciosa plant grow. Try a balanced fertilizer (10-10-10) to get the best results, giving your plant proper nutrients every 12 weeks.
Pruning is not entirely necessary. If the plant starts growing out of control, cut beneath the leaf nodes to avoid leaving stumps. If you don’t mind the plant looking unruly, you only need to remove dead leaves and stems.
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