How to Propagate Monstera Deliciosa in 5 Easy Steps

How to Propagate Monstera With Stem Cuttings

A popular way to propagate monstera is by rooting stem cuttings in a coarse, well-draining growing medium. You can root cuttings in perlite alone, amend standard potting mix with a few handfuls of perlite or orchid bark for drainage, or make your own propagation mix by combining equal parts peat moss, perlite, and organic compost. 

1. Prepare the Pot

   Fill the plant pot half full with growing medium so there's one inch of space between the soil level and the top of the pot. Lightly moisten the growing medium.
   

2. Take a Cutting With a Node

   Examine the mother plant and choose a healthy-looking stem with a node (the bumpy area on the stem that can produce new growth), at least one aerial root, and at least two leaves. Make a clean cut directly below the node or below an aerial root.
   

3. Dip the Cutting in Rooting Hormone

   Dip the tip of the cut end of the stem in rooting hormone powder to promote faster, more vigorous root growth. Tap the cutting to remove excess powder, a light coating is sufficient.

4. Plant the Cutting

   Use your finger or a pencil to poke a hole in the center of the growing medium. Plant the cutting so the node is one inch below the soil surface. Coil any aerial roots around the top of the pot and cover with another layer of soil. You can cut back aerial roots instead if they’re too large to fit in the pot. 

5. Monitor the Cutting

   Put monstera stem cuttings in a warm place with bright, indirect light. Keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy. After a week or two, you can allow the top layer of soil to dry out between waterings to avoid root rot.

How to Propagate Monstera By Air Layering

Another way to propagate monstera is air layering, which allows new roots to grow before separating a new plant from the mother plant. It’s a lower-risk way to propagate because you don’t have to worry about the cutting rotting or failing to root, and you can see root progress without removing the cutting from the growing medium. 

1. Prepare Sphagnum Moss

   Soak a handful of sphagnum moss in water for at least 15 minutes before you plan to propagate so it can become saturated. 

2. Make the Cut

   Identify a healthy monstera stem with a node. Using a clean, sharp blade or shears, make a cut about one-third of the way through the stem just below the node. 

3. Apply Sphagnum Moss

   Give the sphagnum moss a good squeeze to remove excess water. Wrap the moss around the cut and the node so that it’s about one inch thick. Wrap the moss in clear plastic and use a twist tie at either end to secure the moss to the stem. Make sure the plastic fully encloses the moss to hold in moisture.

4. Monitor Root Growth

   Keep an eye on the moss for the next several weeks and mist it with water if it begins to dry out. Over the next couple of months, roots will grow into the sphagnum moss, which you should be able to see through the clear plastic.

Caring for Your Cuttings

In ideal conditions, cuttings should root in two to four weeks. Gently lift the cutting out of the growing medium with a trowel or spoon and look for firm, white roots. New leaf growth also indicates that the cutting has rooted.  

If you’re propagating your monstera by air layering, you can care for the plant as usual while the new roots grow. 

When to Transplant Cuttings 

Once your monstera cutting has rooted and is showing new leaf growth, you can transplant it into a pot one size larger and care for it as usual. 

If using the air layering method, wait until the new roots are about an inch long before removing the cutting from the mother plant. At that point, you can make a cut below the new root growth to remove the new plant. Plant it in a pot and care for it as usual.