How I Multiply My Monstera Without Buying More Plants (and How You Can, Too!)

If you’ve got a Monstera growing wild and beautiful on your shelf, here’s a little secret: you don’t need to buy another one. Just take a cutting, stick it in water or soil, and give it time. You can grow an entire new plant from a single stem, and once you’ve done it once, it’s addictive.

Here’s exactly how I propagate my Monsteras, and some tips I’ve picked up from trial, error, and a few too many cuttings in jars on the windowsill.

What You’ll Need

• A healthy Monstera (Deliciosa or otherwise – this works on any Monstera variety!))
• Clean, sharp scissors or garden snips
• A glass of water, or a pot of moist soil
• Patience. Seriously.

Where to Cut Your Monstera

The trick is to cut just below a node. That’s the little bump where a leaf stem (petiole) meets the main stem. Nodes are where the roots grow from, and without one, you won’t get a new plant. Look for:

• A leaf with a nice thick stem
• A visible node or aerial root near the base of the leaf
• A section of stem with enough length to sit in water or soil

Avoid cutting too close to the base of the plant; give yourself room to work with.

My Two Favorite Methods

1. Water Propagation

This is the easiest way to get started. And the most satisfying when those roots appear.

• Pop the cutting in a clear jar with the node fully underwater
• Place the jar in a spot with bright, indirect light
• Change the water every week or two to keep it fresh. A little trick is to add some charcoal granules to your jar. The charcoal keeps the water sparkling clean!
• Wait for roots to grow a few inches before planting

It usually takes 2–6 weeks depending on the time of year. Once it’s rooted well, move it to soil.

2. Soil Propagation

This is more hands-off once it’s planted, but takes a bit more care up front.

• Dip the end of the cutting in rooting hormone (optional). You can buy a hormone or use some raw, natural honey.
• Plant the node just below the soil surface
• Keep the soil slightly moist, but not soggy
• Cover with a plastic bag if your home is dry. This helps to hold the humidity in.

Give it a very gentle tug after a few weeks. If you feel resistance, roots are forming. Another way is to wait until you see roots forming at the base of the pot.

You Can Also Try Air Layering

This is for when you don’t want to cut your Monstera until it’s already rooting. It’s a good option for large plants or expensive varieties like Thai Constellation or Albo.

Here’s how:

• Choose a node and wrap it in damp sphagnum moss
• Cover the moss with plastic wrap and tie it off loosely
• Keep the moss damp by misting every few days
• Once roots form inside the moss, snip below the node and pot it up

It takes longer but has a high success rate. It’s also less stressful for the plant.

Another way is to wait until your plant forms a trailing stem, preferably with an aerial root. Don’t snip it. Just plop a glass of water or pot of soil next to your mother plant. Secure the aerial root to the glass jar or pot of soil, and wait for the roots to multiply. Once you’re happy with the number of roots, snip it off the mother plant and you’ve got a whole new plant!

When to Propagate

Monsteras grow fastest in spring and summer, so that’s the best time to propagate. But you can take cuttings in winter, just expect things to move slowly.

I avoid doing any major cutting if the plant’s already looking tired or stressed. Wait until it’s actively growing and healthy.

What About Potting Soil?

Once your cutting has roots, you can plant it in:

• A mix of regular potting soil with added perlite or orchid bark
• Pre-made aroid soil blends (nice, but optional)
• Or just standard indoor plant soil if that’s what you’ve got

Monsteras like soil that drains well but holds a bit of moisture. Don’t overthink it.

How Long Until It Looks Like a Real Plant?

This is the part where people give up because, yes, it takes time.

A fresh cutting may stay as one leaf for months before it even thinks about pushing out a new one. But once it’s settled and happy, it will start sending out new growth like it always belonged in your plant gang.

Why I Keep Propagating Monsteras

• They make the best gifts!
• They’re easy to trade or swap
• They fill out sparse pots
• It’s just satisfying watching a plant multiply

Sometimes I grow them as trailing plants, letting them spill out of a shelf or basket. Other times I give them a moss pole and let them climb. Both looks are great, and you can choose whichever suits your space. I’m lucky enough to live in a tropical climates, where we can grow Monsteras outdoors as well! I love them climbing up trees or fence poles. They’re happy as long as they’re not in full blazing sun.

Penniless, Infinite Monsteras

You don’t need to keep buying new Monsteras. Just start with one healthy plant, learn where to cut, and try one of the methods above. It’s not hard. And once you get the hang of it, your friends and family will probably start asking for cuttings too. And if your friends or family have a different variety, you may be able to swap one of yours with theirs and grow your collection!