If your Monstera has started to look a little crowded, with long, reaching stems and aerial roots snaking out of the pot, you’re in exactly the right place. You don’t need to be a botanist to make more of this beloved houseplant. Once you learn how to propagate Monstera, you can turn one healthy plant into several and share them with friends.
What You’ll Need
- A healthy Monstera stem cutting with at least one leaf and one node — the small, slightly raised bump just under each leaf stem
- Clean, sharp pruning shears or scissors, wiped with rubbing alcohol
- A glass jar or vase
- Room-temperature water
- A small pot with drainage holes and a well-draining aroid potting mix
Step-by-Step Monstera Propagation
- Choose the right stem. Look for a healthy leaf with a node attached. The node is the key ingredient because that is where roots will emerge. If you can, also pick a stem with a short aerial root already visible. It roots faster.
- Make a clean cut. Cut about 1/2 inch below the node or aerial root, at a slight angle. This gives the stem more surface area for rooting and keeps the cut clean. Remove any lower leaves so none sit in the water.
- Place it in water. Put the cutting in a jar with room-temperature water. The node and any aerial root should be fully submerged, but the leaf stem should stay dry. Set the jar in bright, indirect sunlight. Change the water every three to five days to keep bacteria from forming.
- Wait for strong roots. In two to six weeks, you should see white roots growing from the node. Resist checking too often — reaching and tugging can break delicate new roots. Once the roots are at least 2 to 4 inches long, ideally with smaller secondary roots branching off, your cutting is ready for soil.
- Pot it gently. Use a small pot with drainage holes and an airy mix of indoor potting soil, perlite, and a little orchid bark, if you have it. Plant the cutting so the roots and any lower node are covered, and the leaves are above the soil. Water it well, then let the top inch of soil dry out before watering again.
🌿 Note: The most common mistake is skipping the node. If your cutting doesn’t include at least one node, it won’t grow roots — no matter how healthy the leaf looks.
Your new plant might look a little droopy during its first week in soil. That’s normal while the roots adjust from water to dirt. Keep it in bright, indirect light, and hold off on fertilizer for the first month. With a little patience, you’ll soon be handing out baby Monsteras to practically everyone you know.
Related Terms:
- How to Propagate Monstera deliciosa
- How to Propagate Monstera plant
- How to Propagate Monstera cuttings
- How to Propagate Monstera adansonii
- How to Propagate Monstera albo
- How to Propagate Monstera standleyana