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Full Specimen Plate

Rhaphidophora foraminifera

Rhaphidophora Swiss Cheese Plant

Medium
LightFiltered light
Medium-High
HumidityHigh humidity
Warm
TemperatureWarm (18-30°C / 65-85°F)
Large
SizeLarge climbing vine (several meters)
Fast
Growth RateMedium to Fast
Moderate
DifficultyRewards a consistent watering and light routine, but tolerates the occasional lapse. Suited to growers with some houseplant experience.
Wild£ · CommonLowwestern Malesia
£21· 7cm plant

Aroid Atlas Price Guide

Select Plant Size

£21Base
· 7cm Plant?Estimate

Pricing Data Key

High/Good Confidence: 15+ recent online sales. Highly reliable market guide.
!
Moderate Confidence: 5-14 recent sales. Good general guide, but prices may vary.
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Limited Data: Under 5 sales. Relying on shop stock listings and estimates.

Community price estimate based on limited sales history

ℹ️ Baseline Index ValueThe baseline index value represents the current market rate for an established 7cm whole pot specimen. Prices for other sizes, nodes, rooted cuttings, or mother plants are calculated proportionally from this base index guide.
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Market Analysis

Rhaphidophora foraminifera Price Guide & Auction Value

Historical eBay auction metrics and live retailer listings updated weekly.

No eBay auction history available yet. Data is collected automatically as sales appear on eBay UK.

Before You Buy

Species-specific things to check when evaluating a listing

  • Ensure there is at least one healthy node present — a cutting without a node cannot produce new growth
  • For variegated forms, check that the variegation pattern appears on the newest growth and shows no signs of reversion to green
  • Inspect the underside of leaves for spider mites (fine webbing or stippling) which are common on pothos-family plants
  • Confirm the cutting has visible roots or a healthy node before purchasing — unrooted cuttings require propagation experience to succeed

Rhaphidophora foraminifera Morphology

leaf ShapeElongated and narrow-elliptic to lanceolateLance-shaped leaves that are significantly longer than they are wide, tapering to a point at the tip.
leaf Length15-30 cm (6-12 inches)
leaf Width5-10 cm (2-4 inches)
petiole ColorGreen
venationPinnateVeins or lobes arranged like a feather, branching out symmetrically on both sides of a single main central vein.
textureSmooth, somewhat leathery
variegationNone
growth HabitClimbing aroid

About Rhaphidophora foraminifera

Rhaphidophora foraminifera is a climbing aroid native to the wet tropical forests of western Malesia. It thrives in the understory of lowland to lower montane elevations, where it uses aerial roots to ascend tree trunks. This species prefers high humidity, filtered light, and consistently moist soil conditions. Morphologically, it features slender, terete stems with distinct nodes that produce aerial roots. Its alternate, petiolate leaves are elongated, ranging from narrow-elliptic to lanceolate, and are characterized by multiple oblong to elliptical fenestrations that do not reach the leaf margins.

Native Range

Malesia (Southeast Asia)

Propagation Guide

How to Propagate Rhaphidophora foraminifera

Methods
Stem cuttingNode cutting
Difficulty
Moderate
Time to Establish

4-7 months

Care Guide

Rhaphidophora foraminifera Care Guide & Growing Conditions

Substrate

Well-draining mix: 40% perlite, 40% potting compost, 20% orchid bark.

Watering

Water when the top 3–4 cm is dry. These are generally forgiving and will tolerate slight drought better than overwatering.

Humidity

50–70% preferred. Most varieties in this group are more adaptable to typical indoor conditions than true aroids.

Fertilising

Balanced liquid fertiliser at half strength every 2 weeks in spring and summer. Monthly in winter.

Repotting

Every 12–18 months when root-bound. These vining plants grow quickly and may need annual repotting in peak years.

Common Problems

Problem

Yellowing leaves

Cause

Overwatering or too little light

Fix

Allow to dry more between waterings; move to a brighter position

Problem

Loss of variegation (for variegated forms)

Cause

Insufficient light causing reversion to green

Fix

Move to a brighter position — variegated leaves need more light to maintain their pattern

Problem

Root rot

Cause

Overwatering or compacted substrate

Fix

Repot into fresh well-draining substrate; reduce watering frequency

Field Notes · Vol. 11 April 2023

Hole-Bearer from Western Malesia

Foraminifera means 'bearing holes' — a reference to the leaf fenestration that characterises adult material of this western Malesian species. At upper middle tier pricing for a Rhaphidophora that has attracted collector interest as an alternative to the Monstera-dominated fenestrated-leaf niche. Rhaphidophora foraminifera is not a Monstera, despite the superficial fenestration similarity; the genera are related but distinct, and Rhaphidophora typically produces a different growth habit and somewhat different care response. Worth distinguishing.

Written at AroidAtlas research station— Aroid Atlas
Retail Price?The average price across tracked UK retailers (nurseries and specialty stores).
Not tracked
Not currently stocked by tracked UK retailers

How prices are calculated: The AA Price uses online sold listings converted to GBP at current exchange rates, excluding extreme outliers to ensure a fair-value guide. Falls back to UK retail average when auction data is unavailable.