Native to Central and South America, the tropical “Swiss Cheese Vine” has worked its way into the home as a true houseplant staple.
Affectionately named after the naturally occurring holes in its leaves, this versatile plant has green vining foliage that can climb up a moss pole or trail down as a lush curtain.
In the wild, the vines are known to grow up to 20 feet long!
Despite the size that Monstera adansonii can amass, this houseplant can thrive in terrarium life.
As an added bonus, if it starts to overgrow and crowd the space, you can trim back the growth and propagate the cuttings to multiply your Monstera!
Overall, this plant addition is a great fit for beginners and a wonderful addition to add leaf contrast to your terrarium.
Where to Buy the Swiss Cheese Plant
See the links below to purchase from reputable terrarium plant shops and marketplaces (may include affiliate links).
Monstera adansonii Care & Growth
| Plant Type | Vine, foliage |
| Lighting | Medium indirect light |
| Temperature | 60-80°F (15-27°C) |
| Watering | Moderate moisture |
| Humidity | Medium to High humidity (50% minimum) |
| Growth | 6” – Up to 12 Feet |
Lighting
The Monstera adansonii prefers medium-to-high indirect light.
You definitely have a bit of wiggle room here, though. As long as it’s kept out of direct sunlight and still receives some light, it should be fine.
At the extreme ends of the scale, too little light leads to “leggy” foliage when the plant stretches to reach the sun, and too much light will cause the leaves to burn.
Watering
Despite being a tropical plant, the Swiss Cheese Vine hates wet soil.
In the wild, it can be found climbing up rainforest trees, getting soaked when it rains, and drying out in between.
So when kept in a pot as a houseplant, it’s best to emulate thins – only water it when the soil feels dry, but water it thoroughly when you do.
Of course, this “feast-or-famine” doesn’t really translater to watering terrariums. I always use a spray bottle to avoid overdoing it (you can always add more water but it’s challenging to remove).
Aim for the soil to feel slightly moist but never wet.
Because overwatering is such a threat to this plant, it’s essential to add a drainage layer to the bottom of the terrarium.
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Substrate
Because of its hatred for soggy soil, this Monstera will thrive in a well-draining substrate mix.
Coco coir is an ideal base because it’s so light and airy, and plenty of orchid bark will support root aeration and drainage.
Monstera plants appreciate plenty of nutrients, so supplementing the substrate mix with extra earthworm castings is always a good idea.
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Temperature & Humidity
A plant with true tropical origins, Monstera adansonii is certainly not cold-hardy.
Since it can tolerate some serious heat, normal household temperatures will be absolutely fine, but if your home is particuarly chilly (less than 60°F/15°C) the plant will likely struggle.
Importantly, these jungle-originating plants require at least 50% humidity, so avoid placing them near drafty windows or drying heat vents.
A warm and humid terrarium will make the perfect home!
Growth
In the wild, this plant gets absolutely massive as it climbs up host trees.
So it can and will grow quite rapidly as long as it’s happy, which naturally makes it unsuitable for super-small terrariums.
You’d be best off giving this vine a little more space. If you can give it a background or hardscape to climb up, it’ll look fantastic.
Trimming back this plant can not only control the size, but give you tonnes of cuttings to propagate and give to your loved ones.
One thing to note here, though: this plant is considered a toxic species, so it’s important to keep it away from children and furry friends.
Propagation
This Swiss Cheese Vine is a propagation champion!
Just take a cutting with at least one node and ideally a few leaves, then place it in a glass of water to root up.
It can take a while, so remember to change the water every now and again to keep the roots happy.
In my experience, Monstera species like to have a fairly established root system before they’re planted. So don’t plant it in its new home until the roots are sprawling around the glass.
Varieties & Similar Plants
There are many plants in the Monstera family that are suited for terrarium life.
The most expensive relative is the rare but similar-looking Monstera obliqua. More affordable and feasible alternatives include the Monstera siltepecana, another vining plant that has occasional holes in the leaves, and the Rhapidophora tetrasperma, also called Monstera minima, which is a well-loved houseplant that can live in larger terrariums.
The most popular of the various types of Monstera in the family is by far the Monstera deliciosa, a large tropical houseplant with mature split leaves, a tendency to trail and vine despite its large size, and its overall spa-like feel it brings to a space.
Unfortunately, Monstera deliciosa is much too large for a terrarium, but it still remains the “poster child” of the Monsterafamily due to its popularity among tropical houseplants.
Common Problems
Besides the possibility of spider mites or mealybugs, the Monstera adansonii can be difficult to read.
The leaves can turn yellow when the plant is overwatered, but it can also mean the plant is lacking nutrients or light. If the plant is receiving too much light, it can also cause the leaves can turn yellow and crispy brown.
All this to say that issues can be challenging to troubleshoot if you run into them.
But don’t let this scare you off. This plant is mostly low maintenance – especially in humid terrariums – and its gorgeous leaves are worth the potential need for interpretation!