Monstera Adansonii Propagation

How to propagate a Monstera adansonii cutting

It’s monstera time again! Today we’re talking all about Monstera adansonii, a close relative of the Monstera deliciosa. Monstera deliciosa is probably the most common type of plant in the Monstera genus. You might even own one.

But have you propagated it from cuttings? It’s a pretty straightforward plant to propagate, and I’ll walk you through the simple steps you need to take to ensure success. So let’s dive in!

Adansonii background

The monstera adansonii plant—also sometimes referred to as the “Swiss cheese vine”—is a flowering plant native to South and Central America. But you can find it in many different hot, humid climates around the world.

Its gorgeous leaves start small but can get quite large as the plant develops and trails or climbs. The plant’s aerial roots help it cling onto things as it trails or climbs, but your cutting is still probably pretty small. So how do you root it?

Taking a good cutting

Monstera adansonii propagation is very similar to monstera deliciosa propagation—and it’s just as rewarding! Monstera adansonii propagation starts with getting a good cutting. You can’t just cut any stem from an existing plant. You need to make sure you get a node (growth point) or two in there.

Below shows a good example of where you could cut on this plant. You can cut just below where those little nubs are. These are the start of aerial roots, but you don’t have to have aerial roots to have a growth point. This spot just happens to have both.

Propagating in water

Once you have a cutting, you can root it in water. I like to use clear containers so I can monitor root growth and development. Any old glass container works—I love saving glass jars for things like this!

Once your adansonii cutting has some decent new root growth, you can plant it. I would wait until the roots are a few inches long. After you transfer the cutting to a small pot with soil, keep the soil evenly moist for a few weeks.

Don’t be alarmed if the plant has a bounce-back period as it’s getting acclimated to its new soil home. After I planted my the cutting in the third photo below, I did have one leaf yellow and die off. The rest of the plant was fine!

Put it in a spot with bright, indirect light, and monitor it for new growth. Once you see new growth, you can begin to treat your plant as you would an established plant. It will need less water—give it a good drink after the top several inches of soil dries out.

Propagating in soil

If you want to skip the water rooting process, you can root your new cutting directly in soil. To do this, I would recommend using a rooting hormone. Take the cutting as instructed above. But before you plant it, dip the end of the cutting—including the node—in a rooting hormone powder.

Then plant your cutting in soil in a small pot with a drainage hole. You’ll need to keep this new plant warm and moist to further encourage root growth. But this is what I don’t love about soil propagation—you can’t see what’s going on below the surface! So you need to be very patient and baby your plant as the root system develops.

It’s helpful to create a “greenhouse effect” for your cutting by placing a large clear plastic bag over the pot. This helps the plant retain the heat and moisture it creates as a living, breathing being. Monitor the soil for mold and remove the bag to let air circulate every few days. You could also use a propagation box instead. You should see new growth emerge after about a month.

Wrapping up…

Caring for your new rooted cutting can be nerve wracking, but just remember—if you see new growth, it’s a success! Keep the plant in bright, indirect light. Plant it in a well-draining houseplant soil, and water only after the several top inches of soil dries out.

You can read more about keeping this plant happy in my guide All About Monstera Adansonii Care! You’ll be well on your way to a gorgeous trailing adansonii soon. Happy planting 🙂

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