From our perspective, propagation is not a human invention but a fundamental survival strategy encoded in our DNA. As a Monstera deliciosa, my very design anticipates the possibility of my main stem being damaged or severed. In response, I have developed nodes—those crucial, slightly raised bumps along my stem. Each node is a self-contained command center, housing a dormant meristem (commonly called an "auxiliary bud") that holds the potential to become a new stem, leaf, or root. When a cutting is taken that includes a node, you are not just taking a piece of a plant; you are activating a latent life and providing it with the resources to establish itself as a new, independent organism.
To successfully initiate this process, you must make your cut with precision. Using a sharp, sterile tool is paramount; a crushing or dirty cut can introduce pathogens that my tender tissues cannot fend off. Identify a healthy section of my stem that includes at least one, but preferably two, nodes and one or two healthy leaves. The leaves are my solar panels; they will continue to perform photosynthesis, generating the essential carbohydrates needed to fuel the energy-intensive process of root development. Make your cut about an inch below a node, as this is where my concentration of natural rooting hormones (auxins) is highest. This hormonal signal is the trigger that tells the node to switch from dormancy to active root production.
Once separated, the cutting enters a critical phase. You have two primary options that I, the plant, can work with: water or a well-aerated potting mix. In water, you can observe my cellular machinery at work. The auxins mobilize to the cut site, stimulating the parenchyma cells in the node and stem to differentiate and divide rapidly, forming a white, fibrous root primordia that eventually emerges as a visible root. While effective, these "water roots" are structurally different from "soil roots." When transferred to soil later, they must undergo another stressful adaptation. Planting me directly into a moist, chunky substrate (like a mix of peat, perlite, and orchid bark) mimics my natural epiphytic environment and encourages the immediate development of sturdy roots suited for terrestrial life.
The final stage is the transition to true autonomy. Whether propagated in water or soil, the goal is the same: to develop a robust root system capable of sustaining the plant. My signal that I have achieved independence is the production of new foliar growth. When you see a fresh, tightly rolled leaf (a spear) emerging from the stem, it is a clear indication that my new roots are successfully absorbing water and nutrients from the growing medium and that my leaves are efficiently photosynthesizing. This new growth is the ultimate confirmation that the propagated cutting has graduated from being a dependent cutting to a self-sufficient Monstera deliciosa, ready to climb and fenestrate its way toward the light.
