I adore how easy it is to spread a Monstera deliciosa. You may quickly fill your space with Monsteras or have a large number of baby plants to give to friends because they grow quickly from cuttings. Although nodes are suggested to be included on stem cuttings for propagation in online instructions, is this really necessary?
Can a Monstera be propagated without an A node? regrettably, no. Without a node, it is impossible to develop a Monstera deliciosa from a cutting. The components required to produce fresh growth are found in nodes. A Monstera leaf can withstand prolonged hydration and even develop roots, but only nodes can support new stem and leaf growth.
It can be tempting to try to grow a Monstera from a leaf, particularly if you accidentally snapped it off and want to try to save the fragment. But regrettably, it will never produce another plant. You will never have anything other than a leaf until the node is included. I’ll define a node in more detail below, along with the reasons cloning your Monstera is essential.
Expect no new leaf growth.
Monstera plants cannot develop from a single leaf cutting, unlike certain other plants like Sansevieria (Snake plant) and cactus.
Monstera plants grown without nodes will, regrettably, be unable to produce new leaf growth.
It lacks the tissue needed for cell division and the development of new leaves.
The leaf can survive without a node.
To keep turgid and fresh, the leaf will continue to absorb water by osmosis.
It must, however, be placed in the ideal environment so that no overheating occurs and the leaf withers as a result of excessive transpiration.
Can You Propagate a Leaf Without a Node?
Simply put, no. For your cutting to produce new leaves, it MUST have a node.
You’ve certainly drooled over stunning images of a single monstera leaf in a lovely glass vase of clear water on Instagram and in home décor magazines.
The bad news is that even while a leaf without a node might develop some roots, it will still only be a leaf with roots. It won’t develop into a new monstera plant with stalks or additional leaves. There will never be more than one leaf.
The node is essential for propagation since it stores all of the genetic data required to develop a new plant.
Do All Monstera Leaves Have Nodes?
Nodes are little bumps that develop on the side of your monstera’s stem that is not covered by a leaf, not even on the stems of the leaves.
Your monstera’s vine develops nodes. In fact, because it hasn’t matured sufficiently, a young monstera may not have any nodes yet. Your monstera may not yet be mature enough to propagate from cuttings if it appears as though leaves are sprouting directly out of the soil. (However, if it’s big enough, you might be able to propagate it using separation!)
Most of your plant’s leaves will be accompanied by a node on the other side of the stem once it begins to vine.
Can You Propagate Leafless Nodes?
So, while you CANNOT propagate a node without a leaf, you CAN propagate a leaf without a node!
Online vendors may provide leafless, unrooted nodes for sale. But the success rate won’t be as high as when you propagate cuttings with one or two leaves.
Is it possible to grow Monstera without aerial roots?
A Monstera plant can be propagated without an aerial root. A leaf or two and at least one node are all that the stem cutting requires. It makes no difference if the plant node already has an aerial root.
In the jungle, a Monstera’s aerial roots enable them to cling to trees and ascend to the canopy. The same thing will happen to your plant indoors, especially if you’re utilizing a Monstera moss pole to encourage growth.
Your Monstera plant can climb by producing aerial roots from nodes along the stem or vine. If the cutting you are using to propagate your Monstera plant has an aerial root, it will frequently also grow micro roots.
How can nodes be encouraged in Monstera?
Any plant’s stem is made up of internodes and nodes. The nodes are the areas where the stem can produce new growth (including leaves, branches, and aerial roots). The spaces in between the nodes are known as internodes. Because monsteras are vining plants, they may have numerous nodes.
Knowing that the nodes are where growth begins allows you to control how your Monstera grows. Pruning above the node (i.e., leaving the node on the portion of the stem that is still linked to the plant) will promote new development in a particular area. Took below the node if you wish to reattach the stem you just cut off (taking the node with the cutting).
The cell cluster required to generate new growth is present in the node. The plant can adapt to its environment since the same node can create several forms of growth depending on the circumstances.
What should you do if a Monstera stem breaks?
Unfortunately, you can’t keep the attached leaves on that stem with it. By making a cut one inch (2,5 cm) above the closest node, you can remove the damaged Monstera stem. At that node, a new growth point will develop, and a new stem with leaves will emerge after a few months.
Put the stem in a vase with water if you don’t want to discard the damaged leaf. This will ensure that you have at least a few months to appreciate the leaf. To keep the leaf fresh, remember to replace the water frequently.
Can a Monstera stem be propagated without leaves?
No. Without a node, Monstera cannot spread. Why? Because a Monstera plant cannot generate a new shoot without a node. As can be seen, that is where roots and fresh development can be anticipated.
Therefore, no matter how long the aerial roots are, leaves, petioles (leaf stalks), or stems without nodes cannot be used to propagate Monstera. With time, they will decay or pass away.
Is it possible to grow a Monstera from a leaf?
, you should separate each leaf and node on either side of the node/aerial root into independent segments.
The youngest leaf has a node that was still propagation-viable despite not having fully matured (you can kind of see it bumping through).
After you have separated your cuttings, you should remove any outdated sheathing from the leaf stems. When submerged in water for an extended period of time, they can decay and hinder the propagation process.
Your cuttings are now ready to go to their temporary residence. All you need is water and a vessel—I like clear ones.
It’s best to let the cuts to “heal” or dry up a little bit before immersing the cuttings in water. This only takes a little while.
The aerial root can be cut back, but I prefer to leave mine uncut. To make it sit comfortably at the bottom of my vessel, I simply delicately wrap it up.
The remaining stems are then arranged in the vessel, each one being spaced apart to allow for proper root development as well as aesthetic appeal once they are planted in soil. Due to their new root system, there isn’t much room to try to arrange them at that time.
Simply add water to completely cover the roots and ends once they are positioned how you like.
Place it somewhere bright, but not in the sun, and replace the water every three to five days. After roughly 2-3 weeks, roots should start to form!
In addition to new roots, it has also sprouted a huge number of new leaves.
Here is a picture of my very first effort at growing a monstera. I took the above steps, potted the cuttings in soil after around three months, and continued. It has thrived ever since I started watering it once a week!
Your inquiries are addressed:
Yes! Once they are in the proper light and receiving the appropriate amount of water, they are excellent for beginners and very simple to care for.
I plant them in a well-draining pot using ordinary Miracle Grow indoor potting soil. No need for moss or pearls.
Yes, to answer simply. That is a factor in the propagation process. I wouldn’t recommend making excessive or frequent cuts because you run the danger of harming the plant by putting it into shock.
It’s usually time for a new and larger pot when you can see the roots through the dirt or when you notice the growth has significantly halted.
All of my plants receive fertilizer during the growth season (April to September). I will fertilize every other week because I water them all once a week. I prefer liquid fertilizers (plant food) since I can regulate the amount that each plant receives.
In the summer, grocery stores like Kroger or your neighborhood Lowe’s or Home Depot may stock them. It’s always a good idea to check for nearby and online nurseries, such as
Can a leaf from a Monstera plant grow in water?
The Monstera deliciosa can be easily rooted in water, just as many other plants. In addition to creating a stunning display piece, water propagation is a reasonably simple method of growing numerous new Monsteras with little effort. A few simple tools, a lot of sunshine, and lots of time are all you need.
You must locate a region of the Monstera deliciosa plant that has a node if you want to root it in water. Place the cutting in water in a location with bright, indirect light after using sharp shears to remove the plant beneath the node. After a few weeks, the cutting’s tip should start to sprout roots.
There is much more to this process than what is described above, but this quick summary gives you a decent idea of how simple it is to grow a Monstera in water. The remainder of the essay will cover the specifics of rooting a Monstera in water, what to expect from a cutting that has been propagated in this manner, and some advantages and disadvantages of water propagation.
Where can you discover nodes of Monstera?
If you are an over-thinker (how deep, how long, what soil, where, when, how??) like me and the phrase “simply bung it in a pot” makes you nervous, don’t worry! I also have you.
Make yourself comfortable and prepare to relax as I thoroughly address all of your concerns and questions below with a ton of pictures.
What parts of a Monstera will propagate?
Stem cuttings make it very simple to reproduce monstera. You must choose stem sections that have at least one node when choosing stem.
New leaves and roots will form at the nodes, which are circular rings that are brownish in color and are located where a leaf once was on the stem. One leaf and several roots can be supported by each nodal area.
- A stem segment that is 20 cm long and has two to three nodes provides many opportunities for the emergence of new roots and leaves; the longer the segment, the more energy it has available to fuel new shoots.
- I have propagated from pieces as tiny as 5 cm long, with one node.
- The node is where new development, such as roots, might arise if a section of stem has a leaf emerging from it. Your existing leaf’s petiole will sprout new leaves on that portion.
What parts of Monstera won’t propagate
Not all of the components of your Monstera plant will reproduce to produce new Monstera offspring. This comprises:
- unconnected leaves without a stem
- roots or aerial roots that are not linked to stems
- stem devoid of leaves and no nodes
What will help a Monstera cutting establish quickly?
The cutting will establish itself in its own right more quickly the more portions of the plant it contains. As a result, while choosing where to cut, attempt to include:
- One or more leaves, as these contribute to the plant’s increased growth potential and quicker establishment.
- aerial roots or roots. In water or soil, aerial roots will produce ordinary roots as offshoots, which will improve the plant’s capacity to absorb nutrients and water. It’s typical for the thick, brown outer layer of the aerial roots to slough off, so don’t be alarmed.
Just keep in mind that nodes must be present on some piece of the stem; otherwise, trying to plant a leaf will fail.
Why are there no aerial roots on my Monstera?
Don’t forget to check out my DIY moss post technique. You can create one that is superior than anything currently on the market! I always found the quality of pre-made moss poles to be lacking, so I decided to make my own and am very glad I did.
Are moss posts required? Not at all, no. In reality, I created a simple bamboo tripod for my non-variegated plant and tied the vines to it for support.
Why doesn’t my Monstera have aerial roots?
Your Monstera delciosa is probably still too young in most circumstances. The aerial roots will start to show as your plant gets older and expands.
It may take some time before aerial roots begin to grow if your plant is still a young one like the one below.
Why are my Monstera roots shriveling?
The aerial roots of Monsteras are radically different from those of Phalaenopsis orchids, which would shrivel up if not given enough moisture.
Even when the humidity in the house is quite low throughout the winter, my plants still remain perfectly lush and solid despite never being misted or wet.
Check for physical injury if you see that the aerial roots on your Monstera are shriveling.
Maybe at one time you broke or snapped the roots by accident. Just cut off anything that has dried out or become shriveled.
Review your growing circumstances and make sure your Monstera plant care is up to par if your aerial roots are still shriveling or dying at the tips despite no visible physical harm.
Check out my Monstera Problems post for more than a dozen problems with solutions if you need assistance solving any issues with your plant.
Do you have any further queries I didn’t address in this post? Comment below. I’d adore to assist!