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Questions on Swiss Cheese Plant - Monstera Obliqua

14 years ago

Hi,

My name is Melanie and I am new to the forum. I have read through a lot of the threads here, but finally decided to join. So.. What brings me to posting is monstera obliqua.. Swiss cheese plant. I recently adopted one and it is in sorry shape. The leaves are dull, so I am assuming they need a good misting. It is growing up along a stake and has quite a few air roots. Do they like being in a hanging basket or do they prefer being staked? Also, I noticed tiny flies.. assuming they are fungus gnats or white fly, so I am thinking I need to repot in fresh soil and it dry out a little before starting with watering and fertilizer. I know quite a few people do not like Miracle Gro moisture control, but I usually mix a little peat moss in with it. Would this be an ideal soil for it? I know it works great for all my pothos, spiders and corn plant. I can email a picture to anyone who would like to see it.

Any suggestions would be welcome.

Melanie

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Comments (4)

bunnygurl
14 years ago
I've read that MG moisture control soil is a horrible soil to use. It holds too much moisture for indoor plants. Its more recommended for outdoor plants that are in the sun all day long.

You should have your Monstera growing up a moss stick where you can push the aerial roots into the moist moss so that the upper regions of the plant can get moisture. Monsteras can get so large that it can't push moisture and nutrients up that far, so a moss stick is a good idea.

But seeing as how I've never grown one of these, I'm afraid that's all the info I can provide. Good luck.
silverlily
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks for the response Bunnygurl. It tends to get very dry in my home, which is why I add the moisture control to the peat moss. The Swiss cheese plant I got (from what I read) is the smaller of the monstera's and in looking at pictures online, I see that people have them growing on a stake, but most of them show the plant in these gorgeous hanging baskets.
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Mentha
14 years ago
Peat moss is not a good thing to use, it is used by commercial growers to keep the soil from jumping out of pots while shipping. It is also something that should be washed out of the roots as soon as you buy it or you're in for a world of trouble. I would not use Miracle Grow potting soil at all. If you're concerned about fungus gnats peat moss it the worse thing for controlling them as they breed in the stuff. It also dries to a brick when you don't water it. Use perlite or pumice instead.
bunnygurl
14 years ago
Alright, well if it's a smaller variety then probably a hanging basket wouldn't be a bad idea, but I personally have a love for upright plants. Out of 60 or so plants only 5 are hanging. But whichever you choose I'd still suggest at least misting the aerial roots (and the rest of the plant of course) so that moisture reaches the whole plant somewhat easily, especially if your house can get pretty dry. Perhaps when the plant gets larger misting a weak fertilizer solution on the aerial roots as well may help.

I so wish that one of the stores here would decide to stock a Monstera some time in the near future. They're such neat plants.

Good luck.

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