Splitting a Monstera plant is a common horticultural practice for managing its size and encouraging new growth. This process involves dividing a larger, mature plant into multiple smaller ones. It is often undertaken when a Monstera has outgrown its container or space, offering a way to refresh the plant and potentially expand your collection.
Why Consider Splitting Your Monstera
Monstera plants can grow quite large, sometimes reaching up to ten feet tall indoors. An overcrowded plant might exhibit roots emerging from drainage holes, indicating it is outgrowing its pot and needs more space. Splitting provides this space without requiring a significantly larger pot for the original plant.
Overcrowding can also hinder airflow around the plant and create competition for nutrients. By dividing the plant, each new section gains improved access to light, water, and nutrients, fostering more robust growth. Additionally, splitting offers a quick way to propagate new plants without waiting for cuttings to root. It also improves the aesthetic appearance of leggy or overgrown plants.
Best Time to Split Your Monstera
The optimal time to split a Monstera is during its active growing season in spring or early summer. This active growth helps it recover more readily from division stress. Ensure the plant is healthy and robust before undergoing the process.
A mature root system and signs of strong, new growth indicate the plant is ready for splitting. Avoid splitting a Monstera when it is stressed, such as from pests or disease, or during its dormant period in colder months, as recovery will be slower or less successful. Prioritizing the plant’s health ensures successful division.
Step-by-Step Guide to Splitting
Gather tools: a sharp, clean knife or garden shears, new pots with drainage holes, and fresh, well-draining potting mix. Sterilize cutting tools with rubbing alcohol to prevent disease transfer. Water the Monstera thoroughly about a week before to hydrate roots, making them pliable.
Carefully remove the Monstera from its pot by tipping it on its side and sliding it out. If root-bound, use a butter knife or garden trowel around the inner edge to loosen the root ball. With the plant out, examine the root ball to identify natural divisions or individual plant sections. Look for areas where stems branch out from distinct root masses, as these are the easiest points to separate.
Gently tease apart the roots with your fingers to minimize damage. If roots are heavily entangled or a clear division point is not apparent, use your sterilized knife or shears to make clean cuts through the root ball, ensuring each new division has sufficient roots, stems, and leaves.
Pot each newly separated Monstera in a pot 2 to 4 inches larger than the root ball. Plant at the same soil level, gently firming soil around roots to remove air pockets. Water thoroughly to settle soil.
Post-Splitting Care
After splitting, proper care is essential for the recovery and establishment of your new plants. Immediately after potting, water each plant to help settle the soil around the roots. Allow the top inch or two of soil to dry before watering again to prevent overwatering and root rot.
Place the plants in an area that receives bright, indirect light. Direct, intense sunlight can cause stress and potentially burn the leaves. Maintaining consistent temperature and humidity aids recovery, as Monsteras prefer temperatures between 65°F and 85°F and high humidity.
Avoid fertilizing the plants immediately; wait about two months, or until new growth appears, before fertilizing. Monitor the plants closely for any signs of stress, such as drooping or yellowing leaves, and adjust their care as needed. Recovery takes time as plants establish themselves and show new growth.
Other Options Instead of Splitting
While splitting is one way to manage a large Monstera, other options exist. If your Monstera is outgrowing its pot but not overcrowded, repotting it into a larger container provides space for growth, allowing the entire plant to remain intact.
Pruning also manages an overgrown Monstera’s size and shape without disturbing the root system. Trimming back leggy stems or excess foliage maintains a compact appearance and redirects energy.
Additionally, providing support structures like moss poles or stakes encourages vertical growth, managing spread and promoting larger, fenestrated leaves. Some plant owners may also simply choose to let their Monstera grow to its full size, embracing its natural expansive habit.