Planting your Monstera cutting in soil is the last step in propagation! When your Monstera cutting finally grows its own roots, it’s time to transition it to soil. Now, you have a brand new Monstera plant potted and ready to grow.
Please note this article describes transitioning cuttings from non-soil propagation methods into soil after they are rooted. For info on rooting fresh cuttings in soil, see the propagation guide.
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When to plant a Monstera cutting
First you followed our propagation tips, and now you want to know when your new Monstera is ready to plant. Wait until the largest fuzzy white roots are long enough to branch into many smaller roots. When these small feeder roots are at least 3 inches (8 cm) long, it is time to plant your Monstera cutting in soil!
A good way to estimate when your cutting is ready to plant is compare the root volume to the size of pot you wish to plant it in. For example, a small Monstera like an adansonii could be planted (alone or in combination with other cuttings) when its root volume would fit in a 2 inch (5 cm) pot.
In the case of a Monstera deliciosa, which has thicker roots, I usually wait until the roots can fill a 3.5 inch (9 cm) pot. For an albo variegated Monstera deliciosa, I wait until the roots can fill a 4.5 inch (11 cm) pot. Planting an albo Monstera cutting when it has more roots lessens the risk of leaf loss due to transplant shock.
How long does it take for a Monstera cutting to root?
The time it takes a Monstera cutting to root depends on the length of aerial root available. In addition, it depends on if the aerial root was actively growing before the cutting was taken.
Short aerial roots usually extend into one long new root. Longer aerial roots can start growing new roots from the sides as well as the tip, which speeds the rooting process. Monstera cuttings without aerial roots will need to grow a new root from inside the stem, which takes even longer.
A Monstera deliciosa cutting with actively growing aerial roots should root fairly quickly. You can tell if the aerial root is new based on color and texture. If it it white, light brown, or green in color and flexible, it is new. If it is stiff, dark colored, and has a lot of bark flaking off, it older and will take much longer to start growing new roots.
It usually takes a few weeks for the aerial root to extend into a white, fuzzy real root. Then, it takes a few more weeks to put off feeder roots. Overall, expect at least six weeks from the first fuzzy white root to the time your Monstera cutting is ready for planting.
Rooting Tip
Monstera roots split into feeder roots faster when the root is touching a surface. If you are propagating in water, try to use a short container so that the root tip will touch the bottom quickly. If the water is too deep, the root will keep getting longer without branching.
Once roots have started to appear, I have had success using LiquiDirt to encourage faster root growth.
When to move a Monstera from water to soil
Switching straight from water to soil
Move your Monstera out of its propagation medium and into soil once it has enough roots to survive the transition. The transition from water propagation to soil is a big change for your roots. This transition is more severe than switching from propagating in moss or perlite to soil.
If your Monstera cutting has too few roots when you plant it in soil, some of the roots may dry up or die in transition. The “water roots” are used to being constantly wet, and do not have as much fuzzy root hair to absorb water. It will take time for them to grow more fuzz to take up water in soil.
Assume that up to one third of your Monstera cutting’s roots will be damaged or not survive. You want to make sure that the remaining roots will be enough to sustain the new plant.
If your Monstera has too many roots grown in its propagation medium, you will not harm the plant. The main things you are missing out on are nutrients available from the soil, and the microbiome of beneficial bacterial that help roots in soil. Once you plant your cutting in soil, it will grow faster.
I try to err on the side of too many roots. Even if my cuttings grow a little bit slower in the meantime, I want to make they survive the switch.
Switching to another medium before soil
For inexpensive plants, switching from water to soil works just fine. For expensive albo Monstera cuttings, or any plant you want to be extra careful with, try switching to perlite or moss before soil.
To do this, start propagating in water until your cutting begins rooting. Then, switch to moistened perlite or moss while the roots develop. Roots grown in a solid medium will branch more and grow more fuzz. This makes the transition to soil less stressful for the plant, because the roots are already ready to absorb water from soil.
Can Monstera live in water forever?
If you don’t want to plant your Monstera in soil, you can keep it in water or use another alternate medium. While water alone is enough for propagation, to keep your Monstera in water long term you must use fertilizer.
Growing Monstera with Hydroponics
Hydroponics, or growing plants in water, requires you to add nutrients to the water to sustain growth. To keep your Monstera in water forever, there are three steps.
First, change the water frequently. Rinse the roots and keep the container clean to avoid mold or algae growth.
Second, use a N-P-K fertilizer designed for use with hydroponics, such as Dyna-Gro Foliage-Pro 9-3-6. The water mixed with fertilizer is called a nutrient solution. Click the image or link to check the current price on Amazon.
Dyna-Gro FOL-100 Foliage-Pro Liquid 9-3-6, 1-Gallon Plant Food, 1 Gallon
Third, (optional) adjust the pH (acidity) of the water using a pH test kit and pH up and down solution. The optimal pH for Monstera is slightly acidic, between 5 and 6. Click the image or link to check the current price on Amazon.
General Hydroponics pH Control Kit for a Balanced Nutrient Solution
Semi-hydroponics
Adding a solid inorganic material to the water is called semi-hydoponics (or semi-hydro for short). Lightweight expanded clay aggregate (LECA) are porous clay balls commonly used for this purpose. Chunky perlite works well too.
The solid material provides structure for the roots to grow, and allows more airflow. The LECA balls wick water upward, allowing roots to grow in the air, above the level of pooled water. Similar to hydroponics, this method requires occasional cleaning and consistent fertilization/pH adjustment. Click the image or link to check the current price on Amazon.
Mother Earth HGC714112 Hydroton Original Expanded Clay Pebbles, 10 Liter, Terra Cotta
If you want to try hydroponics or semi-hydroponics, right after propagating is the best time! You won’t need to clean any soil off the roots to make the switch.
Planting a Monstera Cutting
Once your cutting is ready, you need to transition it from the propagation medium to soil. Prepare your soil mix and choose a pot beforehand so that everything is ready to go.
Removing propagation medium
First, you want to remove as much of the propagation medium as possible without damaging the roots. This will make planting your Monstera cutting easier, because the roots will be free to take the form of their new pot. It also makes sure they will have access to their new soil mix.
For water, it’s easy; just take the cutting out! For other materials like perlite or moss, gently work the roots free and let the excess material fall off them.
This can be a bit tricky, especially for moss, as the root hairs stick to the medium. Here are some tips:
- Remove the cutting from its container and dunk the roots in a bowl of water. Loose materials will come off the roots and float to the surface.
- Detangle the roots from the tips first. Find the tip of each root and work backwards, detangling it a little bit at a time to avoid breakage.
- When using moss, choose a high quality sphagnum moss with long fibers. This will help you pull it free in long chunks that come away from the roots without breaking.
- Be patient! Even the toughest root tangle will come undone with time. Start with the easiest sections and go back to difficult ones later when the root ball has loosened.
It is very important to keep the roots of your cutting moist during the transition. If the roots dry out, the root hairs will die and the plant will not be able to absorb water as well. Damaged and dried out roots can quickly lead to rot. If you need to take a break while cleaning off the roots, leave the cutting in water so the roots stay wet.
Planting a Monstera cutting
Fill the bottom of the pot with one to two inches (2.5 – 5 cm) of your potting mix. Place the cutting in the pot and hold it in the way you would like it to sit. Then, pour soil mix around the roots until they are all covered, leaving about 1 in (2.5 cm) space at the top of the pot to keep the soil from spilling.
Be careful to avoid compacting the soil mix around the roots. If there are any air gaps, use a chopstick to gently poke down into the soil in that area. This will allow you to redistribute the soil with the tip of the chopstick without compacting it around the roots.
How deep to plant a monstera cutting
Just like while propagating, it is best to keep the stem and nodes of your Monstera above the soil. This helps prevent stem rot and lets you keep a closer eye on the stem.
Sometimes, based on the shape of your roots and your cutting, it might not be possible for the plant to stand up without burying some of the stem. In this case, it’s ok, just be extra vigilant about overwatering. I like to position the cut end of a buried stem near the edge of my clear pot so I can still see it even though it’s buried.
Watering a newly planted Monstera cutting
When planting a Monstera cutting, make sure to water it right away! Remember, we want the roots to remain moist during the transition. Water until drops come out of the drainage holes in the bottom of your pot, and all the soil is wet.
The second watering after planting your cutting is very important! Keep a close eye on your new plant, and do not let the soil dry out all the way before watering a second time. Your Monstera is still adjusting, and needs a consistently moist environment. This is especially important if you are planting a Monstera cutting straight from water to soil.
After the second watering, you can start to transition the plant to a regular watering schedule. If you are using a clear pot, look for new root growth in the soil to confirm that your plant is healthy and adapting well to its new home.
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