Cheese Plant

Cheese Plant Overview

Monstera is a genus of evergreen climbing shrubs in the Araceae family, native to the tropics of the Americas. They produce huge showy leaves that are often pinnately-cut, lobed and develop naturally elongated holes as the plant matures. They can have arum-like flowers and are usually grown as houseplants in cool climates. There are varieties with attractive variegated foliage available. They are generally frost-tender so keep above freezing temperatures, plant in a position of full sun and use well-draining soil for optimal growth. Water when the soil has thoroughly dried out for best results. Monstera also do fine potted in an aerated, well-draining soil mix - it's advisable to add moss and perlite to achieve this. Native to tropical rainforests, many species in this genus climb using aerial roots and are classified as epiphytes. These are organisms that don't require a water or soil substrate to grow, surviving instead on other organisms, gleaning nutrition and moisture from the air and their immediate surroundings.