How to propagate: Monstera (Cheese plant)

A Monstera belongs to the Philodendron family, and is perhaps one of the easiest house plants there is. Propagation a Monstera is very easy because of the aerial roots that a Monstera grows. With these roots, taking cuttings from a houseplant is a piece of cake. Even if you don’t have green fingers.

What are aerial roots?

Aerial roots are roots in the middle of the trunk of a Monstera. These roots don’t grow directly in the direction of the soil. It’s even possible that these aerial roots grow so big that they start to look like vines. A perfect plant for your Urban Jungle!

Propagating a Monstera in 4 steps

Step 1: Disinfect

First clean the knife you might be using.

Keep the knife under hot water and clean them well. This prevents you from unnecessarily transferring bacteria during the propagation.

Do you happen to have disinfectant or pure alcohol? Disinfect the tools after using hot water. Let's get away with those bacteria and fungi!

Step 2: Take cuttings

Choose a nice stem. Does it happen to have an aerial root? That is ideal! You can cut off the stem from the plant 5 cm below the aerial root.

Doesn’t the plant have an aerial root where you would like to separate the plant from each other? Then cut the stem a bit oblique. There is a bigger chance that roots will grow on it, when you cut it oblique. Cuttings without an aerial root are therefore possible, but unfortunately not always successful.

Step 3: Apply rooting hormone

Do you happen to have cutting powder at home? Then you can apply the cutting powder to the ‘open wound’ of the cutting. Let the powder dry well!

Don’t have any cutting powder? No problem. You can also easily propagate without. Although the use of cutting powder can stimulate root growth. So it is an interesting option to consider.

Step 4: Taking care of the cutting

Fill a vase or glass with water. Put the cutting(s) in the vase. Make sure the cutting is touching the water, but avoid that the leaves touch the water too. Leaves that touch the water can cause rot.

If the leaf is in contact with water, all the energy of the cutting will go to rotting leaf. So make sure to remove any leaves that are touching the water.

Change the water once a week. This way you keep the cutting healthy!

As soon as the cutting starts growing roots, or the aerial roots have grown to roots of at least 5 cm, you can plant them in the soil. Roots will usually appear after 2-4 weeks.