This is my method for propagating all of my vining aroids, not just Monsteras. People have different ways of doing this. This is mine. It works for me, under my growing conditions. If
@gasrocks,
@WillC, and
@tofitropic post theirs, people will see different ways and can choose what they think is best for them.
I have a large grouping of variegated Monstera in my greenhouse growing up against a wall of rocks that lead to coir wrapped PVC totems that rise 12 feet into the air. This little sucker (offshoot) decided to start growing AWAY from the rocks and totems, so its a perfect time to make a new plant. It may be hard to see, after all, it is a jungle in there
I carefully dug around the running trunk, made my stem cut, dug out the roots and this is what I have. Notice there is a brand new root (that little white nub) emerging from the trunk where it met the soil before
These are the other roots
I always pot up directly, so I choose a container with excellent drainage, in this case an old plastic 1 gallon, that I think will make a good fit for my new plant. Not too big, not too deep, not too small
I test my cutting in the container to be sure I thinks its the correct situation
where I made the stem cut, I want to treat that with fungicide. I use Captan powder. There was also a damaged root. I snip a little off the damaged part to get a clean cut and treat that too
Now its time to prepare the container. First, a layer of lava rock
Then I take a 'mixer' pot, an old 3 gallon, and go to my trashcan full of premade soil that I have made up for all my needs. It is made of wood quality potting soil, perlite, peat, and organics like bark. I throw some premix in and augment with a little more orchid bark and peat
I mix this well and fill the 1 gal growing pot up about 1/3 full, then I situate my plant in the pot. I want the trunk to be growing at the same level it was growing at in the ground, with the new emergent root barely touching the soil, to encourage it to grow down. So I use more soil mix around the roots to get the level I want
And here is the potted up cutting. Miracle Gro container for scale.
I don't water this, because, my premade soil is already very damp and moist and there is no need. Maybe in 2-3 days. I set it into the greenhouse with some of its brothers and sisters, who were separated and potted up last October. They are putting out new spring leaves now.
Here, I am propagating my own plants, but if I were to purchase a vining plant cutting through the mail, I would do it exactly the same way. I've done many over the last 30+ years and have not ever lost one
