Monstera Adansonii
In general monstera adansoniis are relatively easy to care for and are not fussy, just give them a decent amount of light, water sparingly and mist them every now and again…
Monstera Adansonii Summary
| Light needs: | Bright indirect sunlight is best but they can tolerate low or medium light too. |
| Watering needs: | Water once a week if dry. |
| Fertilizer: | Balanced feed, once a month in summer. |
| Soil: | Rich, well draining |
| Humidity: | High end of normal household humidity – mist them when watering |
| Temperature: | High end of normal household temperatures. |
| Where to buy: | Try our list of Rare Plant Shops. |
| Other names: | Monkey mask monstera, Adanson’s monstera. |
| Common issues: | Can be susceptible to pests. |
Introduction
The monkey mask monstera aka the monstera adansonii, aka Swiss cheese vine, is a small vine-like relative of the monstera deliciosa. They look brilliant growing up moss poles or being allowed to hang down naturally. We run down the key monkey mask monstera care and propagation in this article…
See also: Monstera Deliciosa Care, Monstera Trellis, Monstera Dubia, Monstera Thai Constellation, Monstera Pinnatipartita Care.
Tip: we recommend Etsy for buying plants. Look for the best rated seller you can, and try to buy as close to your home as possible so the plant does not travel too far.
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Monstera Adansonii Propagation
This is an easy plant to propagate, we’ll run down a couple of different methods using water and moss…
Monstera Adansonii Water Propagation
You can propagate an Adansonii by water propagation. I like this method as you can see the roots grow, and the plant will survive in just the water so you can have them as centerpieces around the house.
You just need to take a cutting that includes a node (the part where the plant branches out from) and then place it in water. It’s a good idea to let the wound callous over for a couple of hours before putting it in water as this will reduce the chance of rot.
A monstera adansonii can actually live in water alone, we have one growing in a jar of water.
Here is one of our cuttings that has been in water for a few months:
Monstera Adansonii Sphagnum Moss
Sphagnum moss is also a great method. Especially with Monstera Adansonii as you can sometimes get a lot of nodes close together – they can all be cut into separate pieces and put in wet sphagnum moss in a tub or bowl. Then each one has a chance of producing a new plant.
Sometimes with monkey mask monsteras you get stems with no leaves on, these are great for the sphagnum moss method – you just cut them into pieces (a node for each cutting) and then you get can a lot of new plants from what would otherwise be old stems.
Some node cuttings before putting in sphagnum moss:
The node cuttings in moss:
Can You Propagate Monstera Adansonii In Soil?
Yes you can put the cuttings direct into soil to root, but I have found much better success with water or moss.
See our article on Monstera Propagation for more detailed info.
M. Adansonii Care
The key to Monstera Adansonii care is to let it almost dry out between watering as it can be prone to root rot.
Light Needs
They like medium to bright indirect sunlight. No direct sun as it can burn their leaves.
Can M. Adansonii Live In Low Light?
They like indirect sunlight, and will do well with a lot or a little, they are not too fussy when it comes to light honestly, just don’t give them direct sun.
How Often to Water
Monsteras like moist soil but they do not like their roots to sit in water permanently. I go to water my monkey mask monsteras once a week but if I put my finger in the soil and if it is still wet, it is a good idea to hold off another week.
M. Adansonii Fertilizer
You can feed your monkey mask monsteras with balanced fertilizer in the hotter months.
M. Adansonii Soil Needs
A peat based, well draining soil is perfect for an adansonii.
For more on buying or making your own soil, see our guide here: Monstera Soil.
When To Repot
You can repot these in spring. I normally take a few cuttings about a month before repotting and then add them in when repotting to fill out the new bigger pot.
Tip: give it a moss pole to climb up and your plant will grow larger leaves.
Humidity – Should I Mist My Monstera Adansonii?
It is a good idea to mist the monstera adansonii occasionally when watering. They are tropical plants after all!
Monstera Adansonii Temperature
The ideal temperature range to aim for is 15°C-25°C (59-77°F).
Monstera Adansonii Vs Obliqua
They are really simialr plants, the obliqua has thinner leaves and more delicate. 9 tiems out of 10 you have an adansonii, which are much more abundant and readily sold
Monstera Adansonii Vs Deliciosa
They are two very different plants, as the Deliciosa has large leaves that split and the Adansonii has smalelr leaves with holes in it which grow in a vining pattern.
Monstera Adansonii Vs Laniata
(see our article on the Monstera Laniata).
Monstera Adansonii USDA Zone
They can grow outside in zone 10.
Where To Buy Monstera Adansonii
They are a lot less rare than they used to be, and pop up in most plant shops as well as Amazon, Ebay, Etsy and local marketplaces etc.
Other Names for Monstera Adansonii
Monkey mask monstera, Adanson’s monstera, Swiss cheese Vine,
For more on different types of monsteras see our monstera category with all our monstera care guides.
M. Adansonii FAQs and Common Issues
Common issues with monsteras are scale insects and spider mites. You can treat these by spraying with a solution of diluted washing up liquid.
Why Are My Monstera Adansonii Leaves Turning Yellow?
Yellow leaves are normally a sign of overwatering. But sometimes can be due to underwatering too. Check the soil and see if it is wet and it will give you an ideas of which it is. It is best to check the plant weekly but only water it if the soil is almost dry.
Why Is My Monstera Adansonii Drooping?
If your adansonii is drooping the most common reason is under or overwatering, so check the soil and see if it is dry or wet to remedy the situation. If it is underwatered you can give it a good watering. If it is overwatered and sat in wet soil, you should take it out of its pot and let the roots dry, then pot it back in dry soil. It’s a good idea to take a cutting or two incase root rot spreads which can kill the plant in a worse case scenario.
The warmer side of average household temperatures are good for these tropical plants, but avoid cold temperatures so move them back from cold windows in the winter for example.
Do Monstera Adansonii Like To Be Root Bound?
They do not like crowded roots, when the roots get crowded, pot your plant up a pot size.
Does Monstera Adansonii Grow Fast?
The adonsonii grows fairly fast if given the correct conditions, especially over the warmer summer months.
Can You Grow Monstera Adansonii In Water?
Yes you can, cuttings will survive indefinitely in water if given decent light conditions.
How To Make Monstera Adansonii Fuller?
You can make your plant fuller by trimming off some cuttings (if any are ‘leggy’, use them), then propagate them in water for a month and then pot them up back in with the man plant to make it more bushier and fuller.
Is Monstera Adansonii Rare?
The Monstera Adansonii is not very rare at the moment, it has become readily available due to being quick and easy to propagate. However the variegated variety is extremely rare and currently reaches crazy prices – often over 1000 euros/dollars for a small plant! See our Monstera Adansonii Variegated article for more info.
Why Do Monstera Adansonii Have Holes?
it is thought that the reason of the holes is so the the plant can spread out and grow with less energy than it would need otherwise, so it spreads out further.
Is Monstera Adansonii Toxic To Cats?
It is toxic to cate and dogs if eaten as it contains calcium oxalate, which will case oral irrigation and possibly vomiting. Seek a vet advice if eaten. (Source).
Other Articles You Might Like
Monstera Propagation, Monstera Deliciosa Care, Monstera Thai Constellation, and Monstera Adansonii Variegated.
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