Am I Taking Good Care Of My Swiss Cheese Plant?

Is your Swiss cheese plant placed somewhere in direct sunlight?

Is your Swiss Cheese vine planted in a well-drained potting soil?

Do you water your plant regularly?

Did you provide a warm and humid environment for your Swiss cheese vine?

Did you fertilize your Swiss cheese plant excessively?

Did you provide trailing support for your Swiss cheese vine?

Did you repot your Swiss cheese plant once it got rootbound?

Do you keep your Swiss cheese plant free of pests and diseases?

Swiss cheese plants are native to the jungles of Central and South America, where they grow under the coverage of trees. Therefore, the plants grow best in indirect sunlight. If direct sunlight is unavoidable, limit the exposure to just two to three hours of the morning sun.

This plant grows best in peat-based potting soil in a pot that has a large drainage hole. The peat helps to trap moisture in the soil without allowing it to become waterlogged. A soil pH of 5.5 to 7.0 is optimal for these plants.

Before you water a Swiss cheese vine, do the knuckle test—stick your finger up to the knuckle into the soil to see how wet or dry the soil is. If the soil is nearly dry, water it. Don't let the soil dry out entirely.

Swiss cheese plants are deep-jungle plants that thrive on very high humidity, lots of moisture during the rainy season, and high temperatures. Well-lit, warm, and humid bathrooms or kitchens are good places for them. You could also place a humidifier near the plant to keep the air moist. Keep the plant above 60 degrees Fahrenheit if possible, but it can survive brief cold spells with some die-back.

For the Swiss Cheese Plant, a liquid fertilizer diluted to half of the recommended strength is advisable, though this can be increased if necessary. Houseplants are susceptible to fertilizer burn, so it is always better to be cautious and give your plant too little fertilizer rather than too much. A plant that has had no fertilizer at all will be healthier than a plant that has been over-fertilized.

To gain the tall upright look that Swiss Cheese Plants usually have once mature, you’ll need to supply them with some trailing support. Without it, the Swiss Cheese Plant stems will start to bend under the weight of its large and heavy leaves.

Swiss cheese plant needs to be repotted roughly every three years, depending on its growth. When the plant is relatively small, repotting is done to ensure the roots have enough space to grow and to refresh the soil and supply the plant with new nutrients. As the plant grows taller, repotting becomes even more important, as if the plant is in a pot of an inadequate size it can topple over.

Good job! You are taking good care of your Swiss cheese plant.

Scales and spider mites are the most common pests on swiss cheese plants. Use an insecticidal soap or neem oil to control these pests. Clean the leaves once a month with a spray of water and a damp cloth to remove dust and help prevent spider mites. Keep up with a good watering practice to prevent root rot and other fungal diseases.