How To Propagate Monstera Without Node: Is It Possible?

Propagating Monstera without a node I regret saying no. Propagating Monstera without a node will cause a Monstera deliciosa cutting to not grow into a plant. The building blocks needed to produce fresh growth are found in nodes.

To start propagating a new Monstera, you have to choose a cutting that has at least one node, since nodes are the only places from which new stem and leaf development can occur. If you want to know more, let’s get started!

Can you propagate Monstera cuttings without any nodes?

If your cutting doesn’t have a node, you can’t root your Monstera and grow more young plants from it. As a result, a node MUST be present on your cut for this. A leaf with a petiole, however, can remain fresh in water for several months. That means you may use it as a standalone ornamental item or use it together with other cut flowers in a bouquet.

Monstera deliciosa, unlike several other plants, is unable to produce new plants from a leaf or even a small portion of a leaf. A node, which contains the tissue required for future development, must be included in your cutting if you want to produce another plant with a stem and several leaves.

How to successfully propagate Monstera?

How to choose a good cutting?

You must take a cutting that contains a node in order to spread your Monstera. You already know how to recognize the node, so locate the Monstera stem or stems on your plant that you wish to cut off for cuttings. The quickest results will come from a stem with an aerial root, a few nodes, and three healthy leaves.

To cut Monstera cuttings, you could use a garden knife or garden shears. Before cutting, be sure to sanitize your equipment to prevent illness from getting onto your plant. Cut through the stem with caution a few inches below the node. Several inches below the node, delicately cut through the stem (or below the lowest node, if there is more than one). This makes sure you receive the entire Monstera node and don’t unintentionally cut into it. Stop and search for a tool that is more appropriate for the job if the stem is too tough to cut through neatly. As you cut, you want to be careful to avoid compressing or harming the stem.

Allowing the cut area to callus over after cutting helps avoid rotting. Do this by letting the cut area rest for a little while. You may root your Monstera cutting when the cut end feels dry to the touch. For the best chance of successful propagation, ensure that the cutting has at least one healthy leaf and one node

Which are ideal growing environments?

As soon as you get a plant, always assess its watering needs. Before giving your plant a drink, it’s crucial to check the soil’s moisture level to make sure it isn’t damp underneath the surface. Additionally, think about aerating your plant’s soil before the first watering. Aeration can help the soil breathe, enable rainwater to escape, and expand the surface area of the soil, which enhances drainage. In general, Monstera plants enjoy their soil drying out a little bit in between waterings and prefer a mild moisture level. They don’t like to be sitting in moist soil since they are creatures with aerial roots that are sensitive to overwatering. However, plants could want a drink once the top 2 to 4 inches of soil are dry.

Dust the leaves frequently, so the plant can properly photosynthesize, and rotate your Monstera occasionally to maintain even development on all sides. Use the chance to check the undersides of the leaves and keep an eye out for bugs when dusting the leaves. Although Monsteras are less susceptible to pests than many other low-light tropical plants, they are nonetheless vulnerable to thrips and mealybugs.

Keep in mind that every plant is a distinct living creature with different demands depending on where it is. You may have a prolonged and essential role with your Monstera by providing an ideal environment and living conditions to help it thrive and sustain itself.

Caring for the rooting process

Temperature

Temperature also plays a role in encouraging root and shoot growth, combined with light power, which is responsible for supplying energy. The rooting process will be slowed if any of these conditions are not ideal. To keep your node cuttings warm and content, they need to be maintained in conditions between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

Humidity/Watering 

Additionally, humidity is one of the beneficial factors for the rooting process, particularly for leafless cuttings that need to quickly produce new leaves. Besides that, you’ll need enough humidity (i.e., above 60%) for the initial leaf of your cutting to develop healthily and avoid dropping the leaf. It is great to use a greenhouse, a transparent growth container, or perhaps a Pyrex container with plastic wrap gently put over the top.

In order to avoid fungal development, which can kill your cutting before it has a chance to root or sprout a leaf, airflow is also crucial. Never tighten the plastic covering the propagation box; instead, remove it or leave it open for a few hours each day to encourage ventilation. Here, you want to strike a balance between heat, humidity, and ventilation. It may be difficult!

Light

To give your cutting the most vitality, there should be a lot of light available. Light is indeed a challenge, especially when spreading smooth nodes. Your Monstera needs leaves to turn sunlight into energy since growth requires them. Your leafless node will first strive to develop a leaf, so it can begin absorbing more energy.

Rooting hormone

By supplying a boost of the natural rooting hormones that plants create when they are developing, the propagation promoter helps your cuttings root. Additionally, it nourishes the young cuttings as they grow new roots and leaves, as well as protecting them against diseases while they are still young and susceptible. To improve your chances of establishing successful propagation, add a little to your water or growth media.

Some reasons why your cutting isn’t rooting 

An unhealthy cutting 

It’s improbable that the plant could produce enough energy to root if you took a cutting with an old or sickly leaf that isn’t likely to sprout again. It occurs! Next time, simply choose a younger one and make an effort to include an axillary blossom.

Extreme or inadequate growing resources

Too chilly

The plants won’t take it if the water they’re in or your cuttings are too chilly for them to root in. Another explanation for why warmer months are often better for proliferation is this! If you have to reproduce throughout the winter (maybe to save the healthy parts of a dying plant), try to keep your cutting in a warm area.

Inadequate lighting

Light is one of the essential energy sources for callus and root formation. Your cutting will not be able to grow without enough light, and the process of root growth will also be disrupted.  Make sure your plant receives at least 9 hours a day of strong, direct sunlight. 

What to do after propagating the Monstera plant? 

Transfer to its permanent living space

This plant loves filtered light or strong indirect light, as you might expect given how it thrives in the wild in its natural environment, which is mentioned above. I grow mine in a sizable window with an Eastern aspect, so it gets enough light, including the calming morning sun. It can survive in situations that are darker and lower in light, but your growth won’t be as impressive. After all, photosynthesis in plants depends on light!

However, you should try to limit your plant’s exposure to harsher sunlight, especially in the afternoon. You should protect your Monstera deliciosa from excess light if you reside in a location where there is frequently intense sunlight.

Apply the normal caring process

Watering, absorbing light, fertilizing the soil, etc. are the basic and essential activities in the process of caring for your plants. After transferring your plants to a permanent living space, here is the process of caring for them:

One of the indispensable factors in maintaining the life of a plant is water because, in addition to helping plants grow well, it also plays a role in transporting nutrients from the soil to the plant’s tissues, helping to nourish the plant by going through the soil and seeping into the roots of your plants.

Must regularly water the plant, but only in a moderate amount to avoid root rot due to waterlogging. After watering the plant, allow the plant to absorb energy from light daily to help your Monstera breathe and perform photosynthesis. Chlorophyll in plants is responsible for the green colour of leaves, and it has the ability to harvest energy from the sun. You should bring your plants to a place where there is enough light to absorb energy and grow. 

To keep the plants healthy, you might remove the lower leaves by clipping off the leaves on the shoot’s bottom half since the leaves below have been soaking in water and have become waterlogged. You need to remove them to avoid affecting the entire plant. 

Watch this video to gain more insights: