Want to grow/ propagate your Monstera plant in water? Click here to learn how to propagate monstera in water.

Monsteras, commonly known as the Swiss cheese plants, are highly popular large houseplants.

You will almost always see them in interior design magazines and catalogs, where they help elevate the look and feel of interior spaces and furniture.

Apart from their large presence and unique look, the main reason these plants are so popular is that they are easy to grow and maintain.

• They rarely get any diseases and they grow faster and larger than most other houseplants.
• They are one of the easiest large plants to propagate and grow in your home.

Today, our guide will teach you how to propagate Monstera in water, so you too can get started with this popular and beautiful houseplant.

How To Propagate Monstera in Water

Monsteras are one of the easiest and best plants to propagate in water, making them ideal for beginners.

If you have never propagated a houseplant in water, this is the one to get started with. It will grow fast and healthy, giving you quick exposure to the process of propagation in water.

Of course, different plant species have different needs, but learning how to propagate Monstera in water will help you better understand the basics of rooting plants in water.

Another benefit of rooting Monsteras in water is that they can last longer in water than most other houseplants.

With proper care, Monsteras can last in water for up to several years, growing large, and only being limited by the space of their container.

That being said, here’s how to propagate Monstera in water:

Step 1: Identify & Cut a Node From a Monstera

The best time to propagate Monstera in water is during spring.

This is because like most plants, it is a time when Monsteras come out of their dormancy phase from winter, and enter the strongest and longest growth period in the entire year.

To root Monstera in water, you’ll need to take a cutting from an existing plant.

However, unlike some houseplants, you cannot just use Monstera leaves or random cuttings to propagate it in water.

Monstera roots only grow from nodes, so the first step is to identify a node on an existing Monstera stem.

Typically, you can find nodes on the bottom half of the stems of a mature Monstera plant. They are most commonly found at the point where two stems meet or ‘intersect’.

• A node looks like a brown bump, often with a stem already beginning to grow out of it.
• Once you have identified a node, you must use sharp shears, scissors, or box cutters to cut roughly two inches below the node.
• After cutting, make sure to remove any sheathing or other stems growing out of your cutting.

Your goal should be to extract a node with one or two long stems and leaves above it, to prevent extra foliage from taking up plant resources or unnecessarily rotting the plant during propagation.

Step 2: Root It in Water

Now that you have your Monstera cutting, clean it up and let it air dry for roughly 15 minutes, before placing it in a vertical container.

You can use any clear container like a large vase or mason jar. The wider the base of your clear container, the longer your Monstera can live in it.

The best container to propagate Monstera in water will have a wider base for the roots to grow, and a narrower opening to keep the plant upright.

Next, fill your container with enough water to submerge the node roughly 3 inches deep.

Your Monstera cutting shouldn’t be touching the bottom or side of the container underwater. Ideally, you want to keep it slightly suspended, to avoid any rot.

Lastly, find a bright space in your home, that gets plenty of indirect sunlight to place your container.

Daily 6 to 8 hours of indirect sunlight will result in a thriving Monstera that roots quickly.

• Also, read- How To Propagate Spider Plant In Water
• How To Propagate Snake Plants In Water
• How To Plant Money Plant From Cutting, In Water
• How Long Can Peace Lily Live In Water Aquarium

Step 3: Monitor & Maintain Root Growth

If you want to learn how to propagate Monstera in water, you must learn to monitor and maintain root growth.

Keep an eye on your Monstera daily to monitor root growth. You will need to maintain that 3-inch submersion of the node and any roots that grow out of it.

This can mean adding water accordingly or changing it entirely every week. We recommend the latter for the best propagation in water.

• A great tip is to wash the roots when you change the water, to rinse off any rotting plant matter that may have developed over the week.
• As you watch the roots grow, keep an eye out for unhealthy roots that are rotting.
• When you change the water, you can prune unhealthy, rotting roots, so long as there are several other roots that look healthy.

Unhealthy roots will look black and slimmer or mushier than other roots. Whereas healthy roots may look light brown, green, yellow, or white.

Step 4.  Transfer to Soil

Monsteras root fast and grow quickly, which means you will see significant root growth within a week of rooting in water.

The rooting process is incredibly rewarding to watch, especially if it is your first time propagating a houseplant in water.

However, you will still need to wait at least 6 weeks, before you can transfer your Monstera to the soil.

• Typically, waiting up to 3 months is ideal, because it ensures that enough strong and healthy roots have formed.
• This older, healthier root system will increase the chances of your Monstera’s survival in soil.
• Of course, as mentioned earlier, Monsteras can root and live in water for up to several years with proper care and larger containers to allow growth.
• But this is not necessary. You can transfer your Monstera to the soil after 6 weeks if it has a healthy cluster of roots formed to support it in the soil.
• A good rule of thumb is to count at least 5 clean and healthy roots, that is at least 5 to 6 inches long before you transfer to soil.

How To Shift Monstera To Soil

When your Monstera cutting has rooted in water and has a healthy root cluster, you can move it to a plant pot that is at least 3 inches wider than the root cluster. Read to know how to repot monstera.

Make sure to use a pot with a drainage hole, to avoid a waterlogged pot (read overwatering vs underwatering).

Add a thick layer of high-quality indoor potting mix at the bottom of your pot, and then gently place your rooted Monstera cutting in the center, before covering it with more potting mix.

You want to fill the pot to cover the roots, and lightly tamp the soil, being careful not to pack it too much.

Monsteras thrive in light, breathable and airy soils, so we also recommend adding a mixture of perlite and coir peat to your potting mix.

However, this is not necessary, especially if you use a high-quality indoor potting mix.

Step 5.  Aftercare and maintenance

Congratulations, you have successfully learned how to propagate Monstera in water and transfer it to coil, but your job isn’t finished yet.

Any time you successfully transfer a propagated plant from water to soil, it experiences stress and may go into mild shock.

This is why aftercare is just as important as any other step in this guide. You must take good care of your Monstera so it acclimates well to its new environment.

• For this, you must make sure that the soil is relatively moist for the first few weeks.
• The roots are used to living in water, and dry soil can have a severe impact on their survival. Water the soil lightly every few days after the transfer.
• You want the soil to remain lightly moist, but never wet or soggy because that will risk the plant rotting.
• The leaves of your Monstera may droop slightly for the first few weeks while it is acclimating to the soil.

However, with proper aftercare, they should go back to their healthy selves in a matter of 2 or 3 weeks.

That’s it! Now you know exactly how to propagate Monstera in water, which means you can do it again or learn how to root other plants in water.

The basic process remains roughly the same, but other houseplants may require different rooting periods, sunlight exposure, watering, soil mixes, etc. 

How to Grow Monstera in Water FAQs

Final Thoughts

We hope this guide was informative enough to teach you how to propagate Monstera in water.

Monsteras are quite easy to propagate in water, which makes them the ideal large houseplant to root, especially for beginners.

We know that you will have a great time experiencing the process, watching your Monstera roots grow into a beautiful and healthy cluster that you can transfer to soil.

However, if you plan to propagate Monstera in water, we recommend rooting several Monstera cuttings in separate containers at once, so you get more Monsteras and greater satisfaction for your efforts.

Olivia

My name is Olivia, and I live in the United States and love having plants in my garden. Lots of plants are there on my balcony, indoor and outdoor garden also. Here I am trying to share useful gardening tips, how to grow and care for various plants, etc.