How to propagate Monstera Deliciosa
Note, not all cuttings will grow... it's nature! This guide is given as a suggestion on things to consider. Please make sure you do your own research and feel comfortable with your approach and environment before propagation.
If you’re passionate about house plants, there’s probably a Monstera Deliciosa (or a Swiss Cheese Plant) in your collection. They are an extremely popular house plant but they grow quickly so many people trim them from time to time to keep them in check and prevent them from growing out of control. Instead of the plant you cut off going to waste, you can easily propagate the cuttings and enjoy even more new plants.
It’s surprisingly easy to propagate Monstera Deliciosa so you could find yourself enjoying even more new plants in no time.
We have compiled a complete guide to help you propagate your Monstera Deliciosa successfully.
Which parts of Monstera Deliciosa can be propagated?
It can be tempting to try and propagate from your mother plant using just a leaf but this is not possible. However, a Monstera plant can easily be propagated using stem cuttings from the original plant. When you’re choosing a stem to cut from your plant, you should look for sections that include one leaf node.
The leaf nodes are the brownish circular rings on the plant’s stem where the Monstera leaves used to be. This is where the new leaves and roots will form so it’s important for your cutting to have these. Each node will support one leaf and multiple roots.
When cutting for propagation, make sure you use sharp scissors or a sharp knife to make sure you don’t damage the plant too much.
There are several parts of the plant which cannot be propagated including:
- Leaves with no stem
- Roots or aerial roots with no stem
- A stem with no nodes or leaves
One you’ve found a node, you can start the process.
Monstera Deliciosa propagation process
Step 1: Snip the stem
Using a pair of sharp sheers or scissors, snip the stem you have chosen which should include the aerial root or leaf node and leaves. Once you’ve taken the cutting, give it a quick rinse with water.
Step 2: Let the cutting harden
It usually takes a couple of days for the cut ends of the stem to harden over and dry. This is done to lessen the risk of the stem ends rotting when in propagation. Some people prefer to coat the cut ends in wax to achieve a similar result.
Step 3: Select your medium
This step we have kept a little vague as we encourage people to use their own preferred method... there are so many to choose from! You can use Water, Perlite, Moss, Coir and many more, all of which work well and are preferred by different people. Have a google, talk to friends and seek advice from others who are successfully propagating.
Step 4: Watch out for rot
Aerial roots and cut stem ends are susceptible to rot. You will know by black, mushy parts on the stem or aerial root. If you notice this, just cut away all the black and repeat step 1. Unfortunately not every cutting will be successful, but the sooner you catch rot, the more chance you have of sorting it out before it consumes the whole cutting.
How to help your Monstera Deliciosa cutting establish more quickly
We find that some cuttings take straight away when we propagate them and others take a little longer or never develop. While you may just have a cutting that doesn’t want to grow on it’s own, there are certain steps you can take to increase your chances of successful propagation of your cuttings.
Monstera cuttings are extremely tolerant of their growing medium, position and growing conditions but you can tweak a few factors to help your cuttings on their way.
Time of year - whilst it’s possible to take cuttings from Monstera in the winter months, bear in mind that this is the plant’s dormant period. So, if you take and propagate cuttings during this period, they will be slower to get started. You will find during the summer months that your cuttings take and start to grow quite quickly.
Time frame - some cuttings root straight away but others might enter into a dormancy period. If you find your cutting isn’t sprouting straight away, give it until the spring as this can sometimes kick-start the cutting’s root growth.
Light and warmth - Monstera cuttings like warmth and brightness so they’ll thrive best in a warm and bright environment with plenty of indirect light.
Moisture - once your plants have been planted in soil, you will need to keep them moist but make sure they’re not wet all the time. Put your finger into the soil once a week and, if dry, provide your plant with a little bit of water.
Once your plant is established and is starting to grow, regular care will keep it alive and help you to turn it into a beautiful large house plant.
At Plants for all Seasons, we sell variegated Monstera Deliciosa cuttings so if you’d like to have a go at growing something slightly more unique, but your cuttings here.
