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The monstera deliciosa is an evergreen climber which grows in subtropical climates accompanied with high rainfall. It is a species of flowering plant native to tropical forests of southern Mexico, south to Panama.
The monstera has strong and thick aerial roots which are fast growing and spread quickly in the space surrounding them. This speedy growth of the plant can sometimes become a problem for its caretaker.
If the plant is planted outside, then its aerial roots tend to grow along the ground to reach for nutrients and water. They form a support system for the vines as they grow larger. This also provides firmness to the plant.
Monstera grows as a climber if it has vertical support. This would mean that it clings onto tropical trees and walls as it grows. Non tropical trees cannot bear the weight of the plant and tend to get damaged by it.
Some prefer to grow the plant indoors, inside a pot. This can be very helpful when cutting the roots of the plant when it grows too large.
Cutting the roots becomes essential when the plant is kept indoors. The aerial roots of the monstera can damage furniture and walls if it gets in contact with any of them.
You monstera cutting may not be rooting. There can be various reasons why this happens. It could be that the cutting you took of your plant did not have any nodes. Or it could be that the water that you had placed your cutting in was not right for it.
But before we further get into this, let’s first take a quick look at how to cut the monstera roots.
How to Take a Monstera Cutting?
Before we get into how to cut a monstera, you should know when to cut the monstera. Time is an important factor. Spring and summer are the best time for taking a monstera cutting.
These are also the seasons when the monstera is actively growing. Conversely, avoid propagating in Winter because the plant is dormant and will grow roots much slower.
In winter, it also requires less water, so overwatering can increase the risk of rot or fungus on the cuttings.
This plant hails from the rainforest, so a little bit of summer heat and humidity will do wonders for it. It is necessary to make sure that it does not get direct sun all day. Bright and indirect light is the best for it.
There are several options when it comes to cutting the monstera. You can either take multiple small cuttings of just 1-2 leaves with nodes, or you can cut one full cutting that has 4-5 leaves and nodes on one vine.
It is important that you cut a part of the plant which has several leaves or nodes. If you simply cut off a stem from the plant and place it in water, nothing will happen. It will most likely not develop any roots if it does not have any nodes.
Even more important than leaves are nodes, and these should be present in your cuttings.
The node can easily be found on your monstera when searched for. It looks kind of like a plant pimple and is located at a petiole intersection. The node is the key to propagate your roots once it grows.
Cutting aerial roots is not essential but can be super helpful. If your plant already has some long ones growing, you can grab a cutting with one to speed up the process.
Why is my Monstera Cutting not Rooting?
There can be a couple of reasons why your monstera cutting is not rooting. Recognising these reasons will help you find a solution which will make your cutting start rooting in no time.
It could be that the cutting you took of your plant did not have any nodes or leaves included in it and was a cutting of a stem alone. In that case, you should not expect your cutting to root.
Another reason why you may not be seeing a root from your cutting could be that the water that you had placed your cutting in was not right for it.
It is important to place it in a clean jar without a lid. Fill it halfway with room temperature, filtered water. Using rainwater is an even better option.
Water containing chlorine is not good for young plants. If the water you had placed your cutting in contains chlorine, then it would be a good idea to change the water.
Not regularly changing the water that you had planted your cutting in may also be a reason why it is not growing.
The cutting of the monstera can also be placed in soil for rooting. If that is what you have done and do not see the cutting root, then it may be that you are not regularly watering the plant.
At times, not using filtered or distilled water to water the soil can result in salt build-up in soil over time which slows down Monstera’s ability to absorb water and nutrients resulting in poor growth.
The proper sunlight and temperatures play a major role in your monstera rooting.
If not provided with bright, indirect Light and warm Temperature your cutting may not root. Not having the optimal humidity may also result in the hindrance of your cuttings’ rooting.
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How Long Does it Take for Monstera Cuttings to Root?
The time taken for the monstera cuttings to root is generally between three to five weeks. This is the time after which you will the first root of monstera appear.
The root should be approximately 1 inch long. So, when you see multiple roots of this size growing, know that it is time to place it in a pot to continue its growing process.
How do you Encourage a Monstera Cutting to Root?
Encouraging any plant to grow is by providing it with the most suitable conditions required for it to grow. The same goes for encouraging a monstera cutting to root.
Generally, temperatures between 73 – 75°F (23 – 25°C) along with bright, indirect light preferable from an east-facing windowsill are the best for a monstera cutting to root.
Temperatures above 75°F stimulate the growth of pathogens and dry out plant tissues before roots start to form.
Now coming to the medium where you are growing your cutting. If you are growing your cuttings in water, then make sure that the water is either distilled or filtered. However, tap water may also work well for some.
The water should be changed on a regular basis to ensure good growth of your monstera cuttings. Try to change the water about once a week or when the top 2 inches of the soil has dried out. On the other hand, overwatering may result in root rot.
Furthermore, if your monstera cutting is being grown in soil for rooting, then make sure to drain your soil properly. You should water the soil often and try to keep it aerated. This will encourage root growth in your monstera cutting.
Humidity is another factor whose presence can do wonders for your plant. Optimal humidity levels allow the plant cuttings to stay turgid by maintaining a balance between water absorption and the rate of transpiration.
Keeping the humidity at 80% can reduce water loss, which can suppress growth and photosynthesis.
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Final Thoughts
To sum it up, if your monstera cutting is not rooting then you should first find out why. There can be multiple reasons why it is not rooting. But most of the time, these reasons are easy to figure out with some help from the internet.
If you know why your monstera cutting is not rooting, you can start looking into how you can fix the problem. The solution to your problem will surely be easy one.
These can include giving your monstera appropriate sunlight and temperatures or changing its water or maybe just slightly changing its position to give your monstera cutting exactly what it needs to start rooting.
