People often reckon that pruning is all about keeping a garden neat, but it’s also a cool way to boost your plants’ growth. Take the Monstera, a pretty chill houseplant, for example. It’s known for its big ol’ leaves and speedy growth. If you want your Monstera to keep on thriving, make sure to prune it regularly. In this blog post, we’re gonna show you how to prune Monstera to get the max growth out of it!
How to prune Monstera?
You can easily prune Monstera plants to manage their size and shape, encourage healthy growth, and prevent overcrowding. Here’s how you do it:
- First, figure out which bits of the plant need pruning. Look out for any leaves or stems that are wonky, sick, or dead, as well as any parts of the plant that are getting too long or crowded.
- Grab a clean pair of pruning shears to make your cuts. This helps reduce the risk of infections and prevents damage to the plant.
- Start by getting rid of any stems or leaves that are infected, damaged, or dead. Chop ’em off as close to the plant’s base as you can.
- Then, trim any stems that are too long or overgrown. Make your cut right above any nodes (those small lumps) on the stem where new growth might pop up.
- You can also cut back any leggy stems or branches to encourage bushier growth. Again, look for nodes where new growth might appear, then cut just above the node.
- Lastly, step back and check out the plant’s overall shape. If it looks a bit wonky or uneven, you can trim back some more stems to get the shape right.
Always wear gloves when handling Monstera plants ’cause they can sometimes irritate your skin. Also, the best time to prune Monstera plants is in the spring or summer when they’re actively growing and can bounce back from the pruning quicker.
Note: Always make sure to do your own research and double-check information before including it in written content. The above information is based on general plant care knowledge and personal experience, but may not apply to all Monstera species or individual plants. As with any form of plant care, use your best judgement and pay attention to the overall health and response of the plant.
Pruning Monstera Aerial Roots
Another type of root that shows up Monsteras are aerial roots. Thanks to these aerial roots, Monsteras can climb up and around bigger plants like trees.
If you’ve got a huge Monstera plant, these aerial roots might start to be a pain. They can grow super long and aren’t exactly eye-catching. While it’s unlikely they’ll damage your home, you’ll need to prune them carefully if it’s a worry.
Pruning an aerial root is as simple as pruning the whole plant. Start by spotting any wild and ugly aerial roots with clean shears. Trim the aerial roots as close to the stem or node as you can without nicking them. Cutting or hurting the stem or node can weaken the plant and leave it more open to pests or diseases.
Aerial roots often grow back with a vengeance, so don’t be shocked if you find two growing back where you cut one. Just stay on top of your pruning!
Pruning Monstera Dying and Yellow Growth
If your Monstera’s been around for a while, it might start to look a bit tired. Monsteras often lose their older growth, which turns yellow and eventually kicks the bucket. It’s no biggie if a few leaves are doing this, especially on an older plant. You can easily chop these off.
If your plant isn’t that old or is suddenly turning yellow all over, it might have a problem like too much water or root rot. If that’s the case, don’t even think about pruning it! You gotta fix the main issue first.
Trimming old growth is easy peasy, kinda like pruning regular leaves on a plant that’s got too big. Before you start, decide what’s gotta go. Any yellowing or dead leaves and anything with unhealthy holes (not just the usual fenestrations) should be cut.
Once you’ve planned it out, just follow the leaf and stem back to the main stem and trim it as close to the main stem as you can without cutting into it. Always use clean shears!
Don’t use leaves that don’t look healthy for propagation cuttings. In this case, don’t worry about pruning below nodes. After you’re done pruning, toss or compost the leaves you’ve removed.
If your monstera has yellow, please read our article: Monstera Leaves Turning Yellow: Reason and How to Fix
How to propagate what your monstera pruning
Like lots of other plants, Monsteras are easy to clone from cuttings taken from the mother plant. You use these cuttings from a healthy plant for propagation by sticking them in soil or water and letting them grow roots. It’s a simple method that’ll teach you loads about your plants and how they grow.
When you’re pruning a Monstera with the aim of propagating it, make sure to check for healthy leaves and nodes. You need to take cuttings from below a node for propagation. That’s ’cause nodes contain the tissue needed to grow a new plant.
All you need to take a cutting is a pair of clean shears, your chosen growing medium, or a jar of water. Once you’ve decided which bits of the Monstera you’re taking for cuttings, cut just below the chosen nodes.
It’s totally up to you how you want to grow your Monstera, although I love to stick my cuttings in cute jars of water. Some folks reckon putting a plant’s roots in water makes them weak, but I’ve never had that issue. I’ve had a few cuttings that I tried to root in soil die, though.
When you propagate in water, you can keep an eye on the cutting for any problems, like rot, that might mean the plant’s not gonna make it. It also lets you watch the roots grow. Even though you don’t need to see this for a healthy plant, it’s pretty cool to watch.
If you’re propagating in soil, use fresh soil, and keep it moist but not soggy. Super wet soil can lead to mold and bacteria, which can seriously hurt and maybe even kill a fragile cutting.
How often should you prune Monstera?
While it really depends on the plant, you should generally wait until your Monstera shows you it needs a trim. For example, if the leaves start to go yellow or the plant’s growing in a weird shape, then it’s likely time for a little haircut. If you’re unsure, better to play it safe and wait a bit longer. But, if you want to get your Monstera to put out more shoots and leaves, you can give it a light pruning every few months.
Just don’t get carried away and cut too much off at once, ’cause that could shock the plant. If you’re unsure, it’s always best to chat to a professional before you make any big changes to your Monstera.
Aftercare tips for your newly pruned Monstera plant
After you’ve given your Monstera a prune, make sure to give it some TLC. Here are some tips to help you out:
- Chop off any brown or dead leaves to make way for new growth
- Water your plant regularly, but be careful not to water it too much or you could end up with root rot
- Pop it in a spot with indirect sunlight for the best results, ’cause direct sunlight can burn the leaves
- Use a potting mix that drains well to prevent root rot and make sure the water can get out
- Keep an eye out for pests, especially mealybugs, and deal with any infestations ASAP
- Feed it every 1-2 months in the growing season with a balanced fertilizer
- Prune regularly to keep the shape nice and encourage healthy growth
- Think about using a support stake for taller plants to stop them drooping and damaging their stems
- Be patient, it might take a while for new growth to appear after a prune. Enjoy watching your Monstera flourish with the right care!
Now you know how to prune Monstera, make sure to stay on top of the maintenance and watch it grow into an amazing tropical plant. Ever grown a Monstera before? Let FamiPlants know in the comments below!
