Where To Cut Monstera Deliciosa: A Step-By-Step Visual Guide

ByRimon Chowdhury Updated on

Does your gorgeous Monstera Deliciosa look a little… wild? Perhaps it’s sending out long, leggy vines in every direction, outgrowing its favorite corner, or maybe you’re just dreaming of creating more of these stunning plants to share with friends (or keep for yourself—we won’t tell!).

Holding a pair of shears to your beloved plant can feel a bit nerve-wracking. I get it! But I promise, making a few simple cuts is one of the most rewarding things you can do for its health and your collection. It’s the secret to a fuller, more vibrant plant and an endless supply of new ones.

I’m here to take the guesswork out of it and show you exactly where to cut monstera deliciosa. In this complete guide, we’ll walk through your plant’s basic anatomy, pinpoint the perfect spots for both pruning and propagation, and share the best practices I’ve learned over years of gardening to ensure both your original plant and your new cuttings thrive. Let’s get snipping!

Why Pruning Your Monstera is a Game-Changer

Before we grab our tools, let’s talk about the incredible benefits of where to cut monstera deliciosa. This isn’t just about giving your plant a haircut; it’s about strategically encouraging it to become its best self. Think of it as a spa day for your leafy friend!

Proper cutting provides several key advantages:

  • Encourages Fuller Growth: When you trim a long vine, you encourage the plant to branch out from lower down the stem. This prevents that “leggy” look and results in a much bushier, more lush plant.
  • Manages Size and Shape: Let’s be honest, Monsteras can become, well, monsters! Pruning is the best way to keep your plant at a manageable size for your space and guide its growth in the direction you want.
  • Promotes Plant Health: Removing yellow, brown, or damaged leaves allows the plant to redirect its energy toward new, healthy growth. It’s a simple act of plant hygiene.
  • Creates New Plants for Free! This is the most exciting part. Every healthy piece you cut can become a brand-new Monstera plant through propagation. It’s a truly sustainable where to cut monstera deliciosa practice that lets you multiply your jungle.

Understanding Your Monstera’s Anatomy: The Key to a Perfect Cut

To know where to cut, you first need to know what you’re looking at. Don’t worry, you don’t need a biology degree! Learning to identify a few key parts of your Monstera will give you the confidence to make the perfect cut every single time. Let’s break it down.

The Stem (or Vine)

This is the main “highway” of your plant. It’s the thick, green stalk that all the leaves and roots grow from. As your Monstera matures, this stem will grow longer and look more like a vine.

The Node: Your Magic Spot

If you learn only one thing from this guide, let it be this: the node is everything. A node is a small, slightly swollen bump or ring on the stem where new leaves and aerial roots emerge. It contains all the special cells needed to sprout new roots and leaves.

When you want to propagate, your cutting must include at least one node. This is the non-negotiable golden rule!

The Internode

The internode is simply the smooth section of stem between two nodes. It’s like the empty stretch of highway. While important for the plant’s structure, an internode has no ability to grow new roots. A cutting with only an internode will sadly never become a new plant.

The Petiole (Leaf Stem)

This is the slender stem that connects a leaf to the main vine. It’s a common mistake for beginners to snip just a petiole with a leaf attached and hope it will root. Unfortunately, it won’t. You need a piece of the main stem with a node.

Aerial Roots: Friend, Not Foe

Those strange, brown, stick-like growths coming from the stem are aerial roots. In the wild, your Monstera uses these to climb trees. In your home, they help support the plant and can absorb moisture from the air. A cutting that already has a small aerial root attached has a fantastic head start on growing new roots in water or soil!

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The Ultimate Guide on Where to Cut Monstera Deliciosa

Alright, you’ve done your homework and are ready for the main event! This is your complete where to cut monstera deliciosa guide. The exact spot you cut depends on your goal: are you trying to make a new plant, or are you just tidying up the mother plant?

Where to Cut for Propagation (Making New Plants)

This is where the magic happens! To create a viable cutting that will grow into a new plant, you need to be precise. Follow this simple process for perfect results.

  1. Identify Your Cutting: Look for a healthy section of vine that has at least one or two vibrant leaves and, most importantly, one or two nodes. A cutting with a small aerial root is a bonus!
  2. Locate the Node: Find the node below your chosen leaf or leaves. You’ll see a faint ring or a slight bump.
  3. Make the Cut: Using your clean shears, make a single, clean cut through the main stem about half an inch to one inch below the node. This extra bit of stem helps prevent the node from rotting.
  4. Prepare for Propagation: You now have a perfect cutting! You can place the stem (making sure the node is submerged) in a jar of fresh water to root.

Remember, the mother plant will now be shorter, but don’t fret! It will soon push out new growth from the node just below where you made your cut.

Where to Cut for Pruning (Shaping and Health)

Sometimes, your goal is simply to control size or remove unsightly leaves. The rules here are a bit different.

  • To Remove Yellow or Damaged Leaves: If a single leaf is looking sad, you don’t need to cut the whole vine. Simply follow its petiole (leaf stem) all the way back to the main stem and snip it off as close to the main stem as possible without damaging it. This tidies up the plant and redirects energy.
  • To Control a Long, Leggy Vine: If a vine is getting too long, you can prune it back to a more desirable length. To do this, follow the same rules as propagation: cut about an inch below a node. This will encourage the plant to become bushier from that point. And hey, you’ve just created a cutting you can propagate!

Pro Tip: Where to Cut to Encourage Fenestrations (Splits)

Want more of those iconic splits in your Monstera leaves? While light and maturity are the biggest factors, strategic pruning can help. By trimming off some of the smaller, older, non-fenestrated leaves at the base, you signal the plant to focus its precious energy on producing bigger, more mature leaves—the kind that are more likely to develop those beautiful splits!

Your Toolkit: Where to Cut Monstera Deliciosa Best Practices

Having the right tools makes any gardening task easier and safer for your plant. You don’t need anything fancy, but a little preparation goes a long way. These are the where to cut monstera deliciosa best practices I swear by.

  • Sharp, Clean Shears or Scissors: A clean cut is crucial. A dull blade can crush the stem, making it harder for the plant to heal and for the cutting to root. I recommend bypass pruners or a sharp pair of floral snips.
  • Rubbing Alcohol or Bleach Solution: Always sterilize your tools before and after each use. Just wipe the blades with an alcohol-soaked cotton ball. This simple step prevents the spread of bacteria and disease between plants, a cornerstone of any good where to cut monstera deliciosa care guide.
  • A Clean Jar or Vase: If you’re propagating, have a clean glass vessel filled with room-temperature water ready to go. Clear glass is great because you can watch the roots grow!

Common Problems and Pro Tips for Cutting Your Monstera

Even with the best instructions, you might run into a few hiccups. Don’t panic! Here are some solutions to the most common problems with where to cut monstera deliciosa.

“My cutting isn’t rooting!”

Patience is key! It can take several weeks, sometimes over a month, for roots to appear. Make sure the node is underwater, change the water every 3-5 days to keep it fresh and oxygenated, and place the jar in a spot with bright, indirect light. A little warmth can also speed things up.

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“The mother plant looks sad after cutting.”

It’s normal for a plant to experience a little bit of “shock” after a prune. Just continue its normal care routine, and it will bounce back quickly. New growth will often appear from the topmost remaining node within a few weeks.

“I cut in the wrong place! What now?”

We’ve all done it! If you accidentally took a cutting without a node, it unfortunately won’t root. You can still enjoy the beautiful leaf in a vase of water for a few weeks! The mother plant will be perfectly fine. Just find a proper node for your next attempt. These plants are incredibly resilient.

A Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Approach to Pruning

Embracing a pruning routine is a wonderfully green practice. This sustainable where to cut monstera deliciosa approach is about more than just plant care; it’s about mindful gardening.

Every time you propagate a cutting, you’re creating a new plant without any plastic pots or shipping emissions. Sharing these new plants with friends and family is a beautiful way to spread joy and greenery. This is the heart of eco-friendly where to cut monstera deliciosa practices.

For any leaves or stems you discard that aren’t suitable for propagation (and are free of disease), be sure to add them to your compost bin to enrich your garden soil. It’s a wonderful, circular way to garden.

Frequently Asked Questions on Where to Cut Monstera Deliciosa

When is the best time to cut my Monstera?

The ideal time is during the growing season, which is typically spring and summer. The plant is full of energy and will recover from pruning and push out new roots on cuttings much faster. You can cut in fall or winter, but the process will be much slower.

How many leaves should my cutting have?

A cutting only needs one leaf to be viable, but a cutting with two or three leaves often has more energy stored up to produce roots more quickly. Avoid taking a cutting with more than four leaves, as it may struggle to support them all while trying to grow a new root system.

Can I propagate a Monstera leaf without a node?

This is a fantastic question and a very common point of confusion. The answer is a firm no. A single leaf with its petiole (leaf stem) may stay green in water for months, but it lacks the necessary stem cells located in the node to ever produce roots or new growth. Always include a piece of the main stem with a node!

Your Monstera Adventure Awaits

See? That wasn’t so scary! You are now fully equipped with the knowledge and confidence to make the perfect cut. The whole secret to understanding how to where to cut monstera deliciosa is simply learning to spot that magical little node.

By making these simple snips, you’re not just maintaining your plant—you’re actively participating in its life cycle, guiding its growth, and creating new life from its trimmings. It’s one of the most satisfying parts of being a plant parent.

So grab your clean shears, take a deep breath, and get ready to shape a healthier mother plant and welcome a whole new generation of Monsteras into your home. Happy pruning!

Rimon Chowdhury
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