Since we’ve been selling quite a few cuttings of these gems recently, I thought it was finally time to properly pen a guide to transforming these into plants from my personal experience.
The most important thing that you need to consider when looking at rooting these guys is their nodes. They should have at least one node in order to root into a plant. The roots will come from the node.
But First:
What is a node? A node is the area on a plant that exhibits cellular growth. This could be in the form of leaves, buds, stems or aerial roots. When we’re looking at nodes on a Monstera for rooting purposes, the goal is to get the roots to sprout from a node. Identify the nodes by finding the base of a stem or aerial root. Other ways is to find a scar in the stem where a leaf has fallen away or a knob-like flattening on the stem. Here are some examples:
Since visuals are the best method, here are is a diagram of where you can find them on your monstera:
Rooting Mediums:
I have rooted these guys in the following mediums: Perlite; Soil and Water. Let’s check out the hows and whys:
My most recommended medium for rooting Monsteras for new plant parents is through perlite. Why? It requires minimal work from you. All you have to do is fill up vessel large enough for your cutting with perlite and top it up with water. You then need to every now and then add water. This also elevates one of the biggest pitfalls: Overwatering your plant. This method usually takes around 2 weeks for me to start seeing roots develop. If you want to speed this process up, pop your plant in a clear container with a cover and watch the added humidity give it a boost.
One of the most popular mediums with new plant parents for growing roots on cuttings is with water. Why? Because you’re able to keep track of the growth of roots and it gives it a visual context that boosts the confidence of plant parents. Again, the issue of overwatering your cutting is eradicated. The biggest downside to this method is when you want to transfer the cutting over to soil, the roots take a hit at adjusting to their new conditions and a bit of skill is needed in getting the potting mix and watering schedule right. If you do choose to go this route, don’t forget to change the water at least once a week and wipe down your old plant growth from any slime that might have formed.
A new method that I’m using for rooting plants is through a chunky soil. Why? There is zero worry about transitioning your plant from one medium to another. Did you know that for most professional growers this is their go-to? You don’t see nurseries necessarily getting involved with other methods of propagation. It gives a good starting point for your plant to develop a strong and healthy root system. Of course, you have to get the soil right. It should be chunky or light so there is plenty of opportunity for water to drain right through and your watering habits should be closely monitored so that you don’t overwater or underwater the plant.
In the below image, I investigated the two cuttings that I had planted in soil. The one on the left transitioned really well and there were plenty of roots to be seen. However the one on the right had no new roots and exhibited some root rot. You can see just by looking at the two plants that the one on the left is doing well and the droopy sad leaf on the right, isn’t. I obviously have to get better at this method, but I still find it worthwhile in getting better at.
Here’s a video I created where you can watch these methods on Variegated Monsteras in action:
If you have any questions, suggestions or comments. Please drop them.