A Beginner’s Guide to Propagating a Monstera Albo in Water

Ready to propagate your monstera albo? Although it sounds easy enough, it does require attention to detail, the right tools, and a bit of patience.

In this blog post, I’ll guide you through step-by-step on how to successfully water propagate your monstera albo in water.

As I sit here, surrounded by the indoor jungle I’ve created over the years, I’m reminded of the journey that brought me to this moment. It all started in 2021, a year marked by challenges and uncertainty. I brought home my first Monstera Albo to mark the day my husband was deployed. Little did I know that this plant would not only brighten our space but also ignite a passion for propagation that continues to inspire me today.

In this blog post, I’m excited to share with you the insights and lessons I’ve gathered along the way. From the humble beginnings of a single cutting, unsure if I would even be able to keep it alive longer than a month, to the flourishing offspring that now grace my home, each step of this propagation journey has been a testament to the resilience of nature and the joys of new life.

So, grab your favorite hot drink, get cozy, and join me as we leap into the world of Monstera Albo propagation a journey that has not only enriched my home but also my soul.

Monstera Albo A.K.A Varigated Monstera

The variegated Monstera Albo, is a beautiful and sought-after plant, and can be difficult to find in the market due to its limited availability. I remember when I ran across my first monstera albo in a local Facebook Plant Group.

It had these big “Swiss cheese” leaves (leaves with holes within them) and beautiful white variegation, creating a captivating contrast that immediately drew me in.

I’ve always been drawn to variegated plants, if you look at my collection now, the majority of them have some type of variegation. I love the contrast between the green and white.

Why Propagate the Monstera Albo

Since the albo’s are hard to come by (unless you want to pay a hefty price tag), it’s contributed to an increased interest in propagating the plant.

Propagation is the process that allows you to create new plants from an existing one.

Think of it like this, instead of buying a new plant, you’re simply cutting your mature plant and if successful you’ll have two new plants.

Your top cutting will continue to produce leaves as long as it grows roots and
Your mature plant will push out a new leaf from the growth point.

Now you’ll have two plants instead of one and you didn’t have to pay anything except your own time and effort.

Although it sounds easy enough, it does require a careful hand, attention to detail, the right tools, and a bit of patience.

Before You Get Started

There are different ways to propagate your Monstera Albo. Some of these methods are easier than others, but regardless they all produce the same end result. The main ways to propagate your plant:

Air Layering
Separation
Cuttings

When it comes to my plants, I usually use the cutting method, and then place my fresh cut into water to allow it to root, while leaving my mature plant in the pot to sprout a new leaf there. This tends to be the most popular method.

Although I have used air layering on my larger monstera deliciosa plant, it is not my “go-to” method but it is the “lowest risk.”

In this blog post, I’ll only be covering propagation via cuttings.

When to Propagate

You can propagate your plants at any time during the year however there are times that are “better” than others.

I try to only propagate my monsteras during active growing season, which means not in the winter.

Once I notice my plants pushing out new leaves, I take it as a sign that it’s ready to be propagated.

This is usually in early spring, depending upon where you live. While living in Texas my plants pushed out new leaves all year long so the timing didn’t matter as much. In New Jersey my plants would stop producing new leaves in the winter but pick back up in March.

I watch my plants and take their lead on when to propagate.

What You’ll Need for water rooting

A Healthy Monstera Albo Plant
Clean Scissors or a Razor Blade
Fresh Water
A Container for Rooting (I always use a clear glass jar. When choosing your container, make sure the opening of your container isn’t narrow. Remember, you’ll have to pull the roots out of this container and if your container narrows at the top you risk hurting your new cutting.)

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1. Find the Node

First, you’ll want to examine your monstera plant and find a node. Your node is the key to propagating and is how your cutting will be able to produce a new leaf.

A node is typically found at the intersection, please refer to the image below to locate your node.

I like to have single node cuttings. Occasionally I’ll have a cutting that has 2-3 stems but wouldn’t make a cut larger than that.

You can see in the image below the axillary bud (growth point) is right above the node of your cutting before the internode portion of your stem. This axillary bud is where a new stem will form.

Step 2. Cut the Stem

After you’ve located your node, it’s time to cut the stem. I usually try to leave at least 2-3 inches or more on my stem if possible. This allows me to have extra stem should I run into any problems with root rot along the. I’ll have plenty of stem to trim back should I need to.

Step 3. Cut additional leaves.

If your cutting has more than 2-3 leaves, I suggest trimming off any addition leaves. You want your new cutting to focus it’s energy on producing new roots, not maintaining a large number of leaves.

I let my new cuttings air dry for a minimum of 10 to 20 minutes before I place them into their new medium (water).

Step 4. Place into water.

Place your cutting into your clear vase then fill with water about 2 to 3 inches above the node.

Your position of your cutting should be upright.

Once you have your cutting in the container and covered with water, you’ll place in your preferred location with bright indirect sunlight.

Step 5. Change water frequently.

You do not have to change the water everyday but you will want to change the water frequently to limit the chance of root rot.

While you change your water, monitor the stems of your cuttings for root rot, which will appear as black mushy stems.

If you notice rot, immediately remove the affected area with a clean pair of scissors. Allow the stem to callus over for 1-2 days before placing back into fresh water.

Healthy roots will be yellow, white, light green, or light brown in color. They will be long and firm to touch. If your roots are slimy or mushy, it can be signs of rot.

Step 6. Transition to soil.

Once your roots are ready, with thick firm roots, several inches long, it’s ready to transfer out of water and into a new pot with soil. I like to do a mix of soil with perlite for aeration.

Place a layer of soil in the bottom of your new container, then you’ll place your roots into the center of this same container, and continue to surround the roots with soil under they’re completely covered. Gently press the soil to stabilize your plant.

Do NOT pack the soil. You want your roots to be able to push through the soil as they grow, which means you’ll want to leave your soil loose but not too loose.

Conditions to Thrive

Monstera’s are tropical plants and thrive in warm temperatures with high levels of humidity.

Maintain an indoor temperature between 65 – 85
Provide bright indirect light
Regularly mist the plants leaves to boost humidity
Feed your plant a fertilizer every 4-6 weeks during growing season
Avoid drafty areas, such as open windows, air conditioners, and heaters

Commonly Asked Questions

Can I just snip a leaf off and place it in water to root?

No, the placement of your cut matters. You need to cut below a node. If you cut a stem above the node and place it in water it won’t row roots.

Why is my monstera propagation Turing black?

If you have a spot on your propagating plant that is turning black, it’s rotting. Usually this is from too much moisture.
If you have enough stem, simply cut away the rot, let your cutting callus over for a day or two and then place back in your medium.

Is my plant guaranteed to have a successful propagation?

Unfortunately, no, not all of your propagated plants will produce a new leaf.

What happens if my plant produces an all white leaf?

Although these leaves are beautiful, they’ll end up dying. you can either let it die on it’s own or you can snip the white leaf.

Can I make more than one cut?

If you have more than one node, yes!

Will my new leaves unfurl with holes like the mature mother plant?

If you only make one cut, your top cut will continue to produce the mature leaves. However, mid cuts will push out a new stem from the growth point and these will once again be juvenile leaves in the beginning with no holes in the leaves. As the plants ages the leaves will once again start to unfurl with holes.