The Monstera deliciosa, often called the Swiss Cheese Plant, is a popular vining houseplant known for its distinctive fenestrated leaves. Cutting the plant is necessary for two primary functions: maintaining its health and shape, and creating new plants through propagation. Understanding precisely where to make these cuts is crucial for a successful outcome. This process begins with proper preparation to ensure a clean procedure.
Preparing for a Healthy Cut
Before making any cut, gather the appropriate tools and ensure they are clean. Use sharp, bypass pruning shears or a clean knife to make a quick, precise incision that minimizes damage to the plant’s vascular tissue. Dull tools can crush the stem, causing unnecessary stress and creating a wound that is slower to heal.
Sterilizing your cutting tool prevents the transmission of bacterial and fungal pathogens, such as Xanthomonas. The most effective method involves wiping the blades with a cloth soaked in 70% to 91% isopropyl alcohol. The alcohol should remain in contact with the cutting surface for at least 30 seconds to denature the proteins of potential microbes. Clean tools ensure the wound heals quickly without the risk of systemic infection.
Locating the Node for Propagation
The most important factor for successful propagation is locating the stem node, the singular point from which all new growth emerges. A node appears as a slightly swollen bump, ridge, or ring on the main vine, typically located directly below where a leaf petiole or an aerial root attaches. This area contains the necessary dormant or active cells required to generate new roots.
To create a viable cutting, the segment must contain at least one node and preferably one or more leaves to support photosynthesis while the roots develop. A leaf cut without a node, often called a “leaf-only” cutting, will not produce a new plant because it lacks the necessary growth point, and will eventually deteriorate. Therefore, a leaf and its attached petiole should only be harvested if the node is present on the stem segment.
Once a healthy section is identified, the cut should be made on the stem in the internode area, the smooth space between two nodes. Measure approximately one to two inches below the target node and make a clean, straight cut across the stem. This placement ensures the node is fully included on the removed segment and provides a buffer of stem material for new roots to emerge. Any aerial root present near the node can be included in the cutting, as it will transition to water-absorbing roots in a propagation medium.
Trimming for Plant Shape and Health
Cutting your Monstera for maintenance and aesthetics differs from propagation, as it does not rely on isolating a node. Pruning is primarily done to remove yellowed, damaged, or dead foliage, or to control the plant’s overall size and shape. Removing unsightly leaves redirects the plant’s energy away from damaged tissue and into fresh, healthy growth.
When removing an entire yellow or brown leaf, trace the leaf petiole—the stem connecting the leaf to the main vine—back to its origin. Make a clean, precise cut as close to the main vine as possible, without nicking the vine itself. This technique prevents a short stub from remaining, which can turn brown and potentially allow decay to set in.
If the plant has become “leggy,” with long, bare stretches of stem, cutting back the vine encourages a bushier growth habit. Cut the stem just above a visible node to stimulate the dormant bud at that point to activate and form a new side shoot. This intentional shaping technique forces the plant to branch out, resulting in a fuller appearance.
Post-Cutting Care for Mother and Cutting
Immediately following the cut, focus on healing the mother plant and establishing the new cutting. The exposed wound on the mother plant’s stem will naturally dry out and form a protective, cork-like layer called a callous, which seals the tissue from pathogens. Optionally, dust the cut end with ground cinnamon, which acts as a mild fungicide to help prevent infection.
The mother plant will typically activate the dormant bud on the node immediately below the pruning cut, which becomes the new growing tip. For the new cutting, the goal is to encourage root development from the node. The cutting can be placed in clean water, a moist substrate like sphagnum moss, or a well-draining soil mix containing perlite. If using water, ensure the node is submerged and change the water every few days to maintain oxygen levels and prevent bacterial growth.