I need to steel my nerves and cut a piece off my Monstera 'Alba' to root and could use your expert advice. Do I root it in water? It has one of those ropy air roots hanging off it already - do I just plant it? I assume this is pretty basic stuff, so feel free to point me toward a tutorial or guide, too. Thanks a bunch!
Chris - THGA
Shakin' in my boots here
Need Your Advice - Monstera Cutting
Well I never cut a plant that is not big enough so first make sure your plant is large enough to cut. usually 1 foot of vine for a philo is best. I usually cut the first one or two nodes back. You need to get some older stem not extremely fresh stem. Once cut pot up in something with a lot of spaghnum peat I personally use pro mix potting soil. Once cut place it in a partial shady area that stays warm. Humidity will help. I have most my cuttings under mist propagation system which helps them to root up very fast. You will find rooting it up in water to cause rot. The main problem here is the water stagnates in a misting system the water is constantly moving and being replaced mist kicks on for 20 seconds ever 10 minutes. Good luck
Brian (a plant propagation expert) has covered most of the bases here.
I've found that the monsteras are extremely easy to propagate and will root in water, pumice, perlite or soil equally well for me. Alba is a bit slow to get growing again afterwards unless you take a fairly large bit of vine (and it's slow growing compared to the green forms anyway). In an extreme example, I had one alba frozen this last year, with only a single node remaining undamaged. I place it at the air/water interface in one of my cutting jars and potted it up when it produced new root. It now has several leaves.
I have been known to air layer when I'm looking to produce a small, perfect specimen (e.g. for shipping) in a very short time.
Thanks so much for all the info! I've been a pretty casual gardener for the last couple of years due to the craziness of my work schedule. I'm just now getting back to Dave's after being away for quite some time, so I know there is a ton of information I need to catch up on. (I'll be on the lookout for Brian's posts) I don't have a greenhouse, so it's hit-or-miss with the more fussy and delicate stuff. (I've now killed my third variegated Tapioca - it's my absolute favorite, but it is such a tender little thing.) I also like the idea of trying air layering - I've never done it and have a number of things I've been eyeing with that thought, so this guy might just end up with a little moss and saran wrap sarong ;-)
If my image makes it through, you'll be able to see the branch coming off the main stem, then the new growth coming off that. I'm wanting to remove this lopsided part to root, and leave the other new growth that's in the pot, coming off the original root. Thanks again for the words of wisdom!
Chris
Can't add anything to propagation, Brian covered it for you. Though, air layering isn't necessary - you already have roots hanging there for you and while it's warm, these guys root in soil easily. For the record, though, looks like you have Monstera deliciosa borsigiana albovariegata (or, M. borsigiana albovariegata, depending on what taxonomists are calling it this week...). M. deliciosa (variegated or non-variegated) has very little to no stem between leaf nodes. Plus, the leaves have a little crinkle where the leaf meets the petiole.
M.d.b. usually has an inch or more of stem between leaf nodes, plus, no crinkle. Personally, I like the variegation better on M.d.b., plus, at least for me, it's a little faster grower of the two.
Though, my "regular" Monstera deliciosa (non-variegated) is one of the most beautiful plants in my collection. Leaves are spanning more than 3 feet wide and all holed up just like swiss cheese. Beautiful!!
I know this thread is long dead, but I just dug up this photo of the last albovariegata that I air-layered. No, air-layering is certainly not necessary, but it produces some beautiful, small divisions.
And here is the plant now that I recovered several months ago from just a single node off of a plant, with no original root.
Oops - let's try that last one again. I wish the preview would let you see the full-size image before posting.
i'm glad you've resuscitated this thread. what beautiful plants. thanks for sharing.