Do Swiss Cheese Monstera Climb

Swiss cheese monstera plants do climb, and it’s a natural behavior you can encourage at home.
 
If you’ve been wondering do swiss cheese monstera climb, the answer is a clear yes, these plants are natural climbers that thrive when given vertical support.
 
In the wild, monstera deliciosa uses towering trees as support to reach brighter light higher up in the rainforest canopy.
 
Your swiss cheese monstera will climb when given the right support, and this can lead to bigger, more mature leaves with those iconic holes.
 
In this post, we’ll explore why swiss cheese monstera plants climb, how they do it, and the best ways to support your climbing monstera.
 
Let’s dig in.
 

Why Swiss Cheese Monstera Climb

Swiss cheese monstera climb because it’s wired directly into their DNA.
 
Let’s look at the reasons behind this natural climbing behavior.
 

1. They Are Epiphytes by Nature

Swiss cheese monstera is an epiphyte, which means it naturally grows on other plants rather than in soil.
 
In the rainforest, a swiss cheese monstera starts life on the forest floor and then searches for a tree trunk to climb.
 
Your indoor swiss cheese monstera has the same instinct to climb, even if it’s living in a pot.
 

2. Aerial Roots Help Them Climb

The swiss cheese monstera produces aerial roots that emerge from the stem and nodes.
 
These roots are the main tool your monstera uses to climb.
 
When a swiss cheese monstera climbs, aerial roots grip onto rough surfaces like tree bark or a moss pole.
 
These roots can even attach to a wall if the surface is moist enough.
 
So when you ask do swiss cheese monstera climb, it’s these aerial roots that make it possible.
 

3. Climbing Brings More Light

The main reason swiss cheese monstera climb is to access more sunlight.
 
As a swiss cheese monstera climbs higher, it receives brighter, more filtered light.
 
This light allows the plant to produce larger leaves with the famous holes and splits.
 
If you want your swiss cheese monstera to climb, giving it enough light will encourage that upward growth.
 

4. Mature Leaves Only Appear on Climbers

When your monstera stays trailing or unsupported, the leaves tend to stay smaller.
 
But once your swiss cheese monstera climbs, the leaves can grow dramatically larger.
 
The holes and splits, called fenestrations, become much more pronounced on a climbing monstera.
 

How Swiss Cheese Monstera Climb

Understanding the mechanism of climbing helps you support your plant the right way.
 

1. The Monstera Seeks a Vertical Support

Your swiss cheese monstera doesn’t climb like a vine that wraps around things.
 
Instead, a monstera climbs by leaning against a support and sending aerial roots into it.
 
The plant naturally grows toward the support and will cling to it over time.
 
For indoor plants, you need to provide something like a moss pole for your swiss cheese monstera to climb.
 

2. The Role of Nodes and Internodes

Swiss cheese monstera plants climb from node to node.
 
Nodes are the little bumps on the stem where leaves and aerial roots emerge.
 
As a swiss cheese monstera climbs, new nodes form higher up and produce more aerial roots.
 
These roots anchor into the support and hold the plant upright.
 

3. You Can Guide the Climbing Direction

You can steer your swiss cheese monstera to climb in a certain direction.
 
Simply tie the stem loosely to a support and angle it upward.
 
As the monstera climbs, it will follow the support you provide.
 
This gives you control over the shape and silhouette of your swiss cheese monstera.
 

Best Support Options for Your Climbing Monstera

If you want your swiss cheese monstera to climb, picking the right support makes all the difference.
 

1. Moss Poles Encourage Climbing

A moss pole is the most popular choice for a climbing monstera.
 
The moss holds moisture, which attracts the aerial roots of your swiss cheese monstera.
 
As the roots dig into the moss, your monstera will climb naturally.
 
Make sure the moss pole extends all the way down into the pot.
 

2. Coco Coir Poles Work Well Too

Coco coir poles are another solid option for your swiss cheese monstera to climb.
 
These poles are made from coconut husk fibers and provide a rough texture.
 
Aerial roots can grip into coir poles almost as easily as moss poles.
 
Just keep in mind that coir doesn’t hold moisture as well as moss, so roots may attach more slowly.
 

3. Wooden Planks and Trellises

You can also use a flat wooden plank or a trellis for your monstera to climb.
 
The rough bark texture of a plank mimics a tree trunk.
 
As your swiss cheese monstera climbs, you may need to secure the stem with soft ties initially.
 
Once the aerial roots grab hold, the plant should support itself.
 

Common Mistakes That Stop Swiss Cheese Monstera From Climbing

Even though swiss cheese monstera climb naturally, some indoor setups can hold them back.
 

1. Not Providing Any Support

The biggest mistake is simply giving your swiss cheese monstera nothing to climb.
 
Without a pole or stake, your monstera will trail over the side of the pot instead of climbing.
 
So if you want your monstera to climb, a support structure isn’t optional.
 

2. Keeping the Plant in Low Light

Swiss cheese monstera climb because they’re looking for light.
 
If your plant is stuck in a dark corner, it has less motivation to climb.
 
Move your monstera to a spot with bright, indirect light to encourage upward growth.
 

3. Cutting Off the Aerial Roots

Some people trim aerial roots because they look messy.
 
But those roots are exactly what your swiss cheese monstera uses to climb.
 
If you keep cutting them away, your monstera will struggle to attach to any support.
 
Leave the aerial roots alone and guide them toward your moss pole instead.
 

So, Do Swiss Cheese Monstera Climb?

Swiss cheese monstera plants do climb, without a doubt.
 
Whether you call it a split leaf philodendron or monstera deliciosa, the climbing instinct is the same.
 
Now you know why swiss cheese monstera climb and how to provide the right support.
 
Give your monstera a moss pole and watch it reach new heights.
 
If you’ve been wondering do swiss cheese monstera climb, the answer is yes, and now you can help it thrive.