Big Chaz

Swiss cheese plant

Monstera Deliciosa; Ceriman; Custard plant; Indian ivy; Fruit salad plant; Mexican breadfruit; Cheese plant

• 
  Easy care
• 
  Most light conditions

• Big Chaz likes...
  • 
    Light watering

    He likes to dry out a little between waterings. Give him a drink whenever the top two inches of soil feel dry.

  • 
    Medium light

    He’ll be ok in a semi-shaded spot, but he’ll grow much better somewhere that gets lots of light but not direct sun.

  • 
    Humidity

    He likes a moist atmosphere. He’ll appreciate misting every few days, especially when the central heating is on.

• Quick facts

  Botanical name

  Monstera deliciosa

  Nickname

  Cheese plant; Ceriman; Custard plant; Indian ivy; Fruit salad plant; Mexican breadfruit

  Plant type

  Evergreen shrub, indoor

  Air purifying

  Yes

  Plant height (including pot)

  100-110cm

  Pet/baby safe

  Toxic if eaten

  Nursery pot size

  24cm

• About Swiss cheese plant

  For more care advice about Chaz, check out ourcomplete guide to Swiss cheese plant care.

  This plant’s latin name, monstera deliciosa, translates as - you’ve probably worked this out - ‘delicious monster’. And isn’t it just. The monster part is likely because of its huge, glossy leaves. The delicious part is because in the wild it bears (apparently) very tasty fruit. Either way, this limited edition monstera is monstrously bigger than most and the ultimate king of the jungle.

  The reason its leaves have all those holes is because it’s used to growing in jungle shade. It’s an epiphyte, which means it grows in crevices in large trees. The gaps in its leaves allow the available light to reach the lowest foliage. The holes in the leaves develop as the plant grows larger, which is why this monstera has far more holes than its younger, smaller brothers.

  With its gorgeous foliage as its crowning glory, it’s a real statement piece, wherever you put it. It’s not hard to take care of and is tolerant of surprisingly low light. It will also love you if you give it a feed with liquid fertiliser once a month in spring and summer. It will help it grow big and strong.

  Did you know?

  When it grows really large, the Swiss cheese plant grows long, aerial roots. In Peru, these roots are used to make ropes.