Propagating Monstera Without Node: Create a Plant That Only Has Roots

Propagating monstera without node isn’t such a common practice, which is why there is such little information about it available online. It might seem to be an impossible task, but trust us when we say that you can definitely achieve this.

We have contacted our Monstera experts to give us their best tips regarding this method of propagation, so continue reading our well-researched guide to learn what these tips are.

How To Propagate Monstera Without a Node

 

Read all the details in the section coming up below.

– Take an Appropriate Cutting

Now that you have decided to propagate Monstera without a node, the first thing you need to do is to take an appropriate cutting. By this we mean a cutting that does not contain any nodes in it. For this, you can just take a leaf cutting or use a piece of the stem instead.

– Stem Cutting

A cutting taken from a stem works better and has more chances of successful propagation. Here is how you can take stem cutting properly.

• Cut at least three to four inches of a stem using a sharp knife. Make sure this cutting has no nodes included in it. The nodes are the bulging, rounded dark parts of the stem.
• The stem that you are using to take the cutting should be healthy, first of all. Inspect it carefully to make sure that it is free from any diseases and pest infestations.
• The stem should ideally be of middle age. That is, it should neither be too old nor too young. This increases the chances of success for your propagation.
• The incision used to cut this piece of stem off needs to be precise and sharp. It should also ideally be at an angle instead of being a straight, blunt cut.

– Leaf Cutting

You will need to take multiple leaf cuttings because, unfortunately, the chances of success with leaf cuttings are a bit slim. Learn how to take the best leaf-cutting here.

• Monstera leaves arise from tiny, thin petioles from the main stem exactly opposite where a node is.
• Choose a fresh, healthy leaf that is free from any type of spots, curling or discoloration.
• You can either use a knife to cut the leaf off along with its stem, or you can gently twist the leaf off by hand using your fingers.

– Use Clean Instruments

Don’t forget to clean your instruments well before taking a cutting. Wash the scissors or the knife thoroughly and gently rub alcohol or a disinfectant solution on it.

Using clean tools is very important. A lot of times propagations fail because of transferred infections from another diseased plant via these tools.

– Choose Your Preferred Propagating Medium

Now you have to decide upon the potting medium for your node-less cutting. You have three options in this case: you can use a potting mix, water, or moss. All of them produce equally great results. You can read about all three in detail here.

– Propagation in Soil

Using soil as the propagation medium is quite convenient because it doesn’t need to be changed every week, unlike water. 

• Take a small-sized pot and fill it with the appropriate potting mix for the Monstera plants. This mix should be loose, well-aerated, and have proper drainage of water.
• The drainage holes at the bottom of the pot are of equal importance. They need to be large enough so that excess water can drain out of them without any kind of blockage.
• Dig a small hole in the center of the potting mix and insert your cutting vertically in this hole. Be careful not to push it in too forcefully, you don’t want to damage it right in the beginning!
• Keep the soil continually moist for a couple of days afterward and take your pot to a bright and well-lit area. You can try covering it with a transparent plastic wrap in order to increase its humidity and temperature.
• You can also add some store-bought propagation promoters to increase the chances of a successful propagation. These promoters are easily available both online and in local gardening shops.

– Monstera Propagation in Water

The good thing about using water as the propagation medium is that you can see your propagation growing roots right in front of your eyes.

• Water is a suitable propagation medium for a node-less cutting with a leaf. Take a clear, transparent jar and make sure it is clean and washed.
• Fill it halfway with clean and filtered water. Filtered water goes a long way in ensuring your propagation isn’t negatively affected by minerals and salts that are otherwise common in municipal tap water.
• Take your variegated monstera cutting and place it vertically inside the jar. The leaf should be above the surface of the water. 
• You might have to use a moss stick or a pencil to keep the cutting upright and prevent it from falling into the water.
• Keep this jar someplace bright but without direct sunlight. Maintain a warm temperature.
• It is very important that you change the water in the jar at least once a week. Use clean water every time.
• Adding a bit of seaweed to this jar adds to the nutrient content. In one to two weeks, you will see your cutting root.

– Propagation in Sphagnum Moss

Moss is quite rich in nutrients and is one of the best when it comes to propagation media. Read below to learn how to use it to grow a monstera cutting.

• You can totally propagate nodeless plant cuttings using moss as the growth medium. It is rich in nutrients and also retains adequate enough moisture needed by a young plant.
• Buy some good-quality moss. Moisten it using water and liquid fertilizer. It needs to be only moistened and not runny or wet.
• Take the nodeless stem cuttings or the Monstera leaf cuttings and bury them in this moss.
• Ideally, the moss should be placed in a special container so that whenever it begins to dry, you can take it out and re-moisten it. You can put it back after doing this.

– Transfer to a Pot

In a few weeks, new roots will begin to grow. Give them some time to grow and become strong enough. Allow them to grow at least three to four inches long, then transfer to a larger, more suitable pot with mature plant soil in it.

A ceramic pot is always better than a plastic one as it is more breathable. The holes present at the bottom of this pot also better have top-notch drainage!

How To Propagate Monstera Nodes: An Alternate Approach

The correct way to propagate this plant is by taking a cutting that has one to two nodes in it. Now you can either take such a cutting and grow it in an appropriate growth medium, or you can go for the innovative layering technique quite in vogue these days.

Find out about both methods below.

– Air Layering

This is a brilliant new technique for propagating plants. In this method, a stem that is still attached to its parent plant is used. It has more chances of success than using cuttings or seeds. In fact, this is our favored method to propagate monstera deliciosa.

Learn the entire step-by-step procedure below.

– Make a Cut in the Branch

Choose an older and thicker stem branch for this procedure. Of course, it should also be healthy and free of pests. Take a clean, disinfected knife and make a cut in this branch. This cut should be within one to two inches of the plant node.

Don’t cut all the way through. The incision should only be two-thirds deep into the diameter of the branch. Make a slanted incision. Be very careful while you are at it, or you will end up cutting the whole stem off.

– Insert Plastic Into the Cut

Next, take a rectangular piece of plastic and insert it into the cut. This will stop it from healing. You don’t want this wound closing over because this is where the aerial roots will grow from.

– Wrap the Cutting With Moss

First, soak the moss in water. Once it has absorbed sufficient quantities of water, take it out. Squeeze hard to drain off the extra water.

Take a fistful of moss and wrap it all around the cut. Gently press it into place and don’t use too much force.

– Cover With Foil

Cover the cut with moss with aluminum or tin foil. Wrap it around the moss carefully, using a rope or a ribbon to tie the foil together. 

– Watch and Wait

Every month, remove the plastic wrap and change the moss. You will notice that the branch has begun to grow roots from the cut. Take care to follow all the plant care tips during this time.

In a few months, when the aerial roots emerging from this incision are three to four inches long, cut the stem right above the moss ball.

– Repot in a New Pot

The new pot should not be larger than the root ball by two inches in diameter. Fill it with the appropriate potting soil and plant the cutting with its roots in the soil. In a few weeks, you will have a new monstera plant at hand.

– Cutting Taken From Monstera Stem

This is the traditional route of propagating any plant. Take a four-to-six-inch long cutting with at least one or two nodes in it. It is better to include the node in the cutting, so don’t cut through the node. 

Allow it to dry and form calluses. Then you can place it in the potting medium of your choice until the roots grow. Lastly, transplant in a pot of the right size.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Continue reading to find out the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions regarding monstera propagation.

– Can You Propagate Without a Node?

No, you cannot propagate the entire monstera plant using a cutting without a node. This is because nodes contain all the cells and the genetic information that is needed to grow a new plant.

If you propagate with a cutting that has no Monstera nodes in it, the resulting propagation will contain only roots. No new stems and leaves will grow from such a propagation.

– Can You Propagate a Monstera With Just an Aerial Root?

No, unfortunately, you cannot propagate this plant using only aerial roots. Monstera grows from a propagation only when it contains an actual leaf node in it. This is because when it comes to monstera node vs aerial root, there are some key differences between the two. 

Monstera nodes are the growth centers of the plant. These are the sites from where new stems, branches, leaves and even aerial roots grow from. 

They contain the cells that are responsible for producing an entire plant from a single cutting. A cutting with monstera node in water, moss or soil will produce a whole plant. Aerial roots, on the other hand, are simply roots that grow from these nodes above the soil.

– What Is a Node on a Monstera?

Nodes are the structures that contain cells that are responsible for promoting the growth of new plant structures. A node is what leads to the growth of axillary buds. Stems, air-borne roots and leaves of the plant grow from these buds.

You can locate the nodes on monstera deliciosa or any other monstera species by looking closely at the stem. These are bulging darker colored structures and are outlined by a rim of lighter green. Sometimes, they are also brown in color.

Usually, you can find them where one stem divides into two or where a petiole of a leaf emerges from the stem or the branch. Nodes are also present at the site of the emergence of roots that are aerial.

Conclusion

Go through this conclusion to read a concise summary of the main points in the article.

• Monstera plants can technically be propagated using a cutting or a leaf that has no nodes. But this cutting will only produce roots because nodes are essential for complete propagation. They contain the cells needed for the growth of the new plant.
• If you have taken a cutting without a node, you can propagate it in water, moss or potting mix. After the roots emerge and grow a couple of inches, transfer it to a pot.
• You can use the air layering technique for propagating your plant. Take an attached stem and cut it, then cover this cut with moist sphagnum moss and foil. In a couple of months, you will notice new roots emerging. Now you can cut the stem and plant it in the soil.

Propagating Monstera without node isn’t really all that useful, but it is possible. You can go ahead and try it using our expert methods given above.