Propagating Monstera in Water | How to Grow Monstera in Water

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Growing Monstera in Water is super easy. You can propagate these in vases, glasses, and terrariums and have them as a centerpiece.

Growing monstera in water
Image Credit: Carmeon Hamilton

Also known as the Swiss Cheese plant, monstera can be a bold tropical addition to your home. If you want to multiply or grow it easily, then Propagating Monstera in Water without soil is the best thing. Learn the procedure below!

Check out our article on growing pothos in the water here


Origin

Monstera is a tropical plant native to Central America. So, the place of origin lets us know that it thrives in a warm and humid environment. The plant is evergreen and remains green year-round, whether it’s grown indoors or outdoors.

It is a low-maintenance plant, and you can easily grow it in soil and water. Purchase one of these unique plants from any nursery or cut a piece of vine from a friend’s plant, then follow these tips for growing monstera in water.


Propagating Monstera in Water

If you have purchased a plant from a nursery or a garden center, it will come in soil. From that plant, many stems can be propagated and grown in water.

  • Finding the Node: The nodes are brownish circular rings on the stem from where a leaf used to be; this is the junction where new leaves and roots will form.
  • Snipping the Stem: Take a stem cutting from the plant with several nodes or leaves and place the cut end of the stem in non-chlorinated water.
  • Positioning the Cutting: Position the cuttings in a jar or vase in a way that they remain upright. Getting a tall and narrow jar will help in this purpose.

The cutting can remain in the water indefinitely, or you can transplant it into a container filled with potting soil or to an outdoor garden after it develops a healthy root system.


Monstera Plant Care in Water

Propagating monstera in water

Growing Location

Place the container/jar/vase/glass in a location that receives bright, indirect sunlight. The plant does not like the intense, direct sun, and too much exposure to it will burn the leaves and cause them to turn yellow and fall off the plant.

Pro Tip: A bathroom with a south-facing window is an ideal growing location for this humidity-loving plant.

Change Water Often

The water should be changed often when growing monstera. Every 3-5 days or sooner, if the water becomes discolored. A transparent container will allow you to keep a check on the water level and root development.

Allow water to reach room temperature before replacing the old water. Coldwater will shock the plant, and hot water will cook it. Most tap water contains chlorine, so it’s best to use bottled or purified water for growing monstera. In case you’re using tap water, let it sit overnight to eliminate the chlorine.

Fertilizing

You can feed the plant using a balanced liquid fertilizer. Add 1/2 or 1 teaspoon of it in 2 gallons of water and use it once a month. In case of confusion, follow the instruction on the label for the dosage!


Taking Care of Roots

Root Bound

Monstera will be happy with its’ roots in water, but it can become root bound if the container is small. Move the plant to a larger container or prune off some of the longer aerial roots with a pair of sharp shears.

If the stem, with one or more leaves, is attached to a section of the aerial roots, you can snip the stem and roots off together to create another monstera plant. Place the roots and stem section that has been pruned off the plant into a separate container of water and watch it grow into a beautiful houseplant!

Aerial Roots

Aerial roots in water will develop regular roots as offshoots, and this will increase the plant’s ability to draw up water and nutrients. If some of the thick brown outer covering of the aerial roots sloughs off and floats in the water, it’s normal. Just remove them while changing the water.


Where Do You Keep It?

Your water-grown monstera plant can be an excellent tabletop centerpiece. Keep it on a narrow decorative jar on your desk, coffee table, shelf, kitchen countertop, plant stand, or wherever you like–It’ll look suitable everywhere.


Watch this video for more information

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4 COMMENTS

    • If you are asking if it can be grown fully submerged in water like an aquatic plant, the answer is no. However, if you’re asking if it can be grown as a marginal plant and remove waste products from aquarium water, then yes. It could be grown similar to coattails, arrowroot or mangrove plants.

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