How to propagate a Monstera from a cutting
Taking a cutting is one of the simplest and most satisfying things you can do with a Monstera: one cut, a jar of water and, a few weeks later, a new plant. The secret is knowing where to cut.
To propagate a Monstera from a cutting, snip a piece of stem with at least one node and one leaf, just below the node. Stand it in water, somewhere bright and warm, or push it straight into damp soil. Roots usually appear within two to four weeks. A leaf on its own, with no node, won’t make a plant.
What is a node, and why does it matter so much?
A Monstera (Monstera deliciosa) grows by nodes: the points along the stem where leaves emerge and, below them, aerial roots. New roots and new shoots form at the node. A cutting without one tends to rot rather than root, however lovely the leaf; the same goes for a leaf with its stalk but no piece of stem.
To spot a node, look for a bump on the stem where a leaf attaches, nearly always with a small aerial root or a little brown nub beside it.
What equipment do I need?
- Clean scissors or a knife (wipe the blades with alcohol).
- A clear glass jar, if you go for water.
- A small pot with a drainage hole and a light mix that drains well (perlite, for example, or airy potting soil), if you go for soil.
- A well-lit place, away from direct sun.
How do I take the cutting, step by step?
- Pick a healthy stem, with at least one whole leaf and a node carrying an aerial root or a little nub.
- Cut roughly two to five centimetres below the node, in the stretch of stem between two nodes, or just below an aerial root. With two nodes there are more places for roots to form.
- Let the cut dry for a few hours if you like: some growers do it so the wound seals, but it isn’t essential.
- Stand the cutting in a jar of water at room temperature, node submerged and leaf clear of the water. If you prefer soil, bury the node in damp soil.
- Place it in good light, shielded from direct sun. The warmer the spot, the quicker the roots. Rooting hormone is optional: it speeds things up and encourages denser roots.
- Refresh the water whenever it goes cloudy, so the roots always sit in clean water.
Is it better to root a cutting in water or soil?
| In water | In soil | |
|---|---|---|
| Advantage | You can watch the roots grow | Roots grow already adapted to soil |
| Disadvantage | Water-grown roots have to adapt to soil later | You can’t see what’s happening |
| Time until roots | Two to four weeks | Two to four weeks |
| Care | Change the water when it clouds | Damp soil, never soggy |
If you’re starting out, water is easier: you can see when there are roots and when to pot up.
When should the cutting go into a pot?
Once the roots are a few centimetres long, firm and creamy-white, and have started to branch, the cutting is ready (brown, soft roots point to too much water or poor drainage). Plant it in a small pot with a drainage hole, in light, airy soil, and keep the soil damp, not soggy, for the first few weeks so the water-grown roots can adapt. New leaves usually take two to three months to appear after the cutting has rooted. After that, move on to the normal rhythm.
From then on it’s a Monstera like any other, and the watering guide covers the rhythm and the finger test. The rhythm depends a lot on the light in the spot you choose. One plant, in July:
| Where it lives | In July | In January |
|---|---|---|
| South- or west-facing window | 5 days | 7 days |
| East-facing window | 6 days | 8 days |
| North-facing window | 9 days | 13 days |
| Hallway or corner with no window | 13 days | 18 days |
What happens to the parent plant?
If you took a stem with leaves, the parent plant usually sprouts again from the node left behind. If a plant has outgrown its space, pruning it in spring is common practice, and what you cut off makes cuttings.
What usually goes wrong?
- The cutting rots in the water. Trim off the soft part with clean scissors, let the cut dry and set it in fresh water.
- No roots appear. Too little warmth or light, or no node. Move it and wait a few more weeks.
- The roots come out brown and soft. Too much water or too little oxygen: change the water often, or pick a mix that drains better.
- The leaf turns yellow. Sometimes the cutting is simply using up its reserves. If the stem stays firm and green, leave it. If it softens, that’s rot.
- The cutting seems stuck. Cuttings in water grow slowly, particularly in winter. Spring and summer are the best seasons.
Are there other ways to multiply it?
There are. Air layering (rooting the stem while it’s still on the plant, by wrapping damp moss round a node) and splitting a big plant in two also work, as long as each part has at least one node.
What’s the best time of year to take a cutting?
From spring to early autumn, when the plant is in growth. With more light and warmth, roots tend to come faster. In winter, cuttings take longer and rot more easily.
Summary: a Monstera cutting
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| Choose | A healthy stem with a node and a leaf |
| Cut | Two to five centimetres below the node, with clean scissors |
| Dry | A few hours, if you like (optional) |
| Root | In water or damp soil, somewhere bright and warm |
| Wait | Two to four weeks, changing the water when it clouds |
| Pot up | When roots are firm, pale and a few centimetres long, in a light mix |
Quick questions
Can I propagate a Monstera from a single leaf? No. Without a piece of stem and a node, a leaf cannot make roots or shoots.
How long do Monstera cuttings take to root? Usually two to four weeks, with light and warmth. In winter it takes longer.
Water or soil: which is better? Water is easier for beginners because you can see the roots. Soil-rooted cuttings are already adapted to soil.
Will cutting a stem harm my Monstera? No. The parent plant usually sprouts again from the remaining node.
A newly potted cutting drinks differently
A cutting freshly potted up has small roots and drinks little, so its rhythm changes over the first weeks. In Verdejar, you add the new plant, give it its pot and light, and the app works the rhythm out. For the rest of the care, read how to care for a Monstera, and visit the Monstera plant page.
Sources: Royal Horticultural Society · Missouri Botanical Garden · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · University of Wisconsin–Madison Extension · Penn State Extension · University of Minnesota Extension · University of Illinois Extension · Oregon State University Extension. The days between waterings come from the Verdejar watering engine.