How do I cut my Monstera houseplant?
Plant yourself crazy because how fun is it to expand your indoor jungle. It is super fun to propagate yourself and good for your wallet too! You're probably a huge fan of this too-cool Monstera houseplant and want more. But what is the best way to do this? Read on and find out how you can reproduce your Monstera.
What do you need to propagate the Monstera?
The Monstera houseplant is an easy houseplant to propagate! But what exactly do you need to make reproduction a success?
- One or more good aerial roots
- A sharp knife or scissors that are clean
Furthermore, you need to decide in advance whether you will put your baby Monstera in water or in soil. If you put the cutting in water, you will need a (preferably) transparent glass filled with lukewarm water. If you put the cutting in soil, you will need a small pot of your choice with some potting soil.
Why do you need an air root?
The best way to take a Monstera cutting is through its aerial roots. In this, the Monstera is somewhat different from other houseplants, as most houseplants have their roots at the bottom of the stem. With the Monstera, these roots are also on the rest of the plant. Air roots can be recognised by the small, brown buds that grow into long strings. It is not certain that every Monstera will have air roots right away. We strongly advise you to wait to take cuttings until your Monstera houseplant has developed them.
How do I find the right stem of the Monstera?
It is important to choose a stem with an aerial root or one that is starting to emerge. It is also advisable to choose a stem with only one leaf on it. If you choose a stem with several leaves on it, the cutting needs a lot of energy to develop these leaves, but a lot of water also evaporates through these leaves.
Taking cuttings from the Monstera
When you have found the right stem, you can cut it with clean scissors or a knife. Always cut or snip 5 centimetres below the aerial root and do this at an angle, this gives you more chance of root growth. After this, you can put the root in water or soil.
Put the Monstera cutting in water
When you let the cutting develop in a glass with water, it is important to choose a glass with enough space. If the glass is too small, the roots will not be able to develop properly and growth will be very slow. It is also important not to put the cutting in cold water but in lukewarm water. When the roots are about five centimetres long, you can move the cutting to potting soil.
Putting the Monstera cutting in soil
You can choose to put your baby Monstera directly into the soil. The advantage of this is that you save yourself some effort and the cutting does not have to get used to the water. The disadvantage is that you cannot see how the Monstera develops.