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Making more Monstera plants …
Have you ever wondered if you can propagate Monstera deliciosa (Swiss cheese plant) and make a cheeky new plant?
Well, you can and it’s surprisingly easy. In fact, if you have an existing Monstera that is getting a little monstrous, this is the perfect time to give it a prune and grow more Monstera from the cuttings.
And who does not want more plants if they can get them for free!
My spreading experience …
Last week I wrote about how I accidentally became the Mother of Monsteras and created a monster jungle.
This post distills what I learned from that experience and focuses on how to propagate Monstera from stem cuttings.
When I pruned my Monstera plant, I took about twenty cuttings:
- Some of these I thought of as “junior” plants and included the growing top of the vine, some stems, several mature leaves and aerial roots.
- Others were very minimal and were simply a short part of the stem without leaves or aerial roots.
The propagation process for both was the same, the only difference is that the “junior” plants definitely established themselves faster. I was very surprised at how effective the basic stem cuttings were. I had almost 100% success.
There is another propagation technique called air stratification where you can propagate Monstera in situ with sphagnum moss wrapped in a plastic bag. GardenHat has a good explanation for this technology.
Monster cutting with leaves, aerial roots and stem 
Monster stem cut with 3 nodes
The 2 minute long decline on how to spread Monstera
How to spread Monstera deliciosa.
What you need: a Monstera deliciosa plant, sharp scissors, a pot of soil or water.
- Take a stem cut
Choose a stem cut with several nodes or leaves. Some aerial roots are useful but not necessary.
- Choose a culture medium
You can propagate your cuttings in water or soil. Water works just as well as soil and has the advantage that it is easier to control progress.
- Warm and bright
Keep your cut in a warm, bright place.
- Stay fresh and moist
If you grow in water, change the water regularly. If it grows in soil, give it plain water to keep the cuttings moist.
- Forget it!
It can take a while for some growth to germinate, especially if you have taken the cuttings during the winter dormancy.
- Pot up
When observing established new growth such as a few roots and a rolled out leaf, pour into a suitable container.
The in-depth 10-minute guide on how to spread Monstera
If you are like me and the words “just put it in a pot” arouse fear in your heart and you are a certified thinker (how deep, how long, what earth, where, when, how ?????) … ..do not worry! I have you too.
Make yourself comfortable and sit down as I address all the little quibbles and questions you have below in detail with lots of photos.
What parts of a Monstera will reproduce?
Monstera can very easily be propagated from stem cuttings. When selecting a stem, look for sections of stem that contain at least one node.
The nodes are brownish circular rings on the stem from which a leaf used to be; this is where new leaves and roots will form. Each nodal area can support one leaf and several roots.
Monstera stem with 2 nodes 
Monster stem with new growth sprouting from a node
- A section of stem around 20 cm long with 2-3 nodes offers many opportunities to germinate new roots and leaves; the longer the piece, the larger its energy stores to drive new shoots.
- The smallest piece I have multiplied from was probably 5 cm long with a node
- If a piece of the stem has a leaf that sprouts from it is node; from there, further growth as roots can come. New leaves on that section will develop from the leaf stalks of your current leaf.
Which parts of Monstera do not spread
Not all parts of your Monstera plant will reproduce to create new Monstera babies. This includes:
- Leaves without stem
- Roots or aerial roots without stem
- Stem without nodes and no leaves
What helps a Monstera piece to establish itself quickly?
The more parts of the plant that the cuttings contain, the faster it will establish itself in its own right. Therefore, try to include when choosing where to cut:
- One or more leaves as these help to increase its growth potential and the rate at which it will establish itself.
- Roots or aerial roots. Aerial roots in water or soil will develop regular roots as shoots and this increases the plant’s ability to absorb water and nutrients. Do not worry about the thick brown outer shell of the aerial roots dropping, this is normal.
Just remember that part of the stem with nodes must be present, trying to plant a leaf will not result in anything!
What affects the success of reproduction?
Overall, Monstera cuttings are very tolerant of growing medium, position and conditions but there are definitely variables you can adjust to increase either the probability or the speed of success.
Time of year
You do not need much time when you take a cutting, but keep in mind that your cutting may be slower to get started in the winter when the plants are usually dormant.
Time frame
The first thing to say is that patience is the key. Some cuttings take root immediately and throw out new leaves in quick succession. Others may go through a long rest period. Often, spring will kickstart previously dormant cuttings.
See below for how to check that your cuttings are still healthy even though they are doing too much!
Light and heat
Monster cuttings benefit from heat and brightness and will germinate fastest on a warm, light windowsill. I have seen suggestions that Monstera cuttings need a heating pad to start them, but in my experience this is not true. However, it is possible that a heating pad can speed up the propagation process.
Moisture
If they are in soil, they must also be kept nicely moist but not wet – they do not like wet feet and will rot. Feel their soil once a week and if it feels dry give them a light drink. There is no need to cover them with a plastic bag as is sometimes suggested.
Size of cut
Longer or larger stem sections with more nodes tend to produce more new growth with several new stems sprouting. This is important because Monstera is a vine and grows along a long stem. If your cutting develops leaf sprouts on several nodes, each will develop as a stem that leads to more bushy growth in a compact size.
Hormone rooting powder
Honestly, Monstera cuttings are so incredibly easy to root that I do not recommend using hormone root powder.
Plant medium
The advantage of reproducing in water in a glass jar is that you can see any new growth immediately. But larger cuttings that include leaves and aerial roots are probably best to go straight into the soil.
Water selection
You can use ordinary tap water, but be careful if your tap water is very hard and do not use artificially softened water. Rainwater or distilled water is also good.
Immerse most of the stem section in water, leaves and roots sprout quite happily in the water.
Soil mixture
Use a light, free-flowing potting compost and when the plants get older, use a more hummus-rich mixture.
The simplest and most space-efficient way to pot cuttings in soil is to plant stems vertically with only the top inch above the soil.
I was worried that some trunk knots needed to be above the surface for new leaves to germinate, but that was not the case at all. New leaves grew below ground level and had no problems pushing up to the surface before unfolding.
Pots up
If you have several cuttings that share a pot, so as soon as they start to develop new growth, you should pot them up on your own. My experience suggests that Monstera are quite robust and do not mind being disturbed if you handle them carefully.
You do not have to leave any of the original stem cut above ground level and can dig down everything for a nicer look.
Troubleshooting
Because I was I could not leave myself alone and continued to dig up my cuttings – therefore water works better for me! I was like an enthusiastic puppy worrying about a leg … What I noticed was that I could see which cuttings went well because they remained firm and a bright green color.
Signs that your hitherto completely dormant haircut is actually going well
You will be able to see when your cuttings are approaching germination as the stem will look more and more swollen and the tubers around the nodes will look more pronounced.
Signs that your haircut is not satisfied
Cuttings that do not feel well can start to rot and become black and squishy. In that case, cut off the black until you have firm meat and replant in fresh soil and do not let it get as moist – if the cutting is only small, you may need to throw everything away.
A blackened stem section is just starting to feel “squishy” The same stem sections are trimmed back to healthy plant material.
Alternatively, rinse and pour in water as this will allow you to monitor them more closely. You may find that changing the medium is effective in stopping rot.
Cuttings that lose their fresh green color and begin to become wrinkled dry out from too little moisture. To solve this, water well, place in a well-lit position and consider replanting in water instead of soil.
My monster family
Mama Monstera, my original plant, is so large that she can not be moved for pictures, but here is a picture of all her babies in different stages of reproduction from juniors to babies, to fresh cuttings.
Your Monstera family
I would love to see pictures of your progress and hear how you spread your Monstera. What has or has not worked for you. Do you have any questions, did I miss something?
Post pictures on Facebook, twitter or insta and tag us to tell us how you are doing! #MakingMonsters.
