If you’re looking to multiply your mini Monstera, you’re in luck. Propagating vining plants like this one is pretty easy! Rhaphidophora tetrasperma propagation works in soil or in water, but also in LECA, perlite or sphagnum moss.
Keep reading for everything you need to know about Rhaphidophora tetrasperma propagation and how to care for your brand new plant(s).
Taking cuttings from Rhaphidophora tetrasperma
All you need to propagate Rhaphidophora tetrasperma is a healthy mother plant and a pair of scissors or pruning shears. Give them a wipe with some rubbing alcohol just in case.
Select the vine you’d like to sacrifice (for the greater good!). If there are any vines on your plant that look a big scragglier than others, those would make good candidates. You can root them and then plant them back in the same pot to make your mini Monstera look fuller.
You can cut the vine anywhere you’d like, as long as the cutting includes a node. This is a small bump that roots or new foliage can grow from. Including a few leaves is also handy, especially if the stem is on the thinner side. Their presence will really speed up the process, as the cutting to photosynthesize effectively.
Did you know? If you cut a longer vine, there’s nothing stopping you from separating it into multiple pieces. Again, as long as there is a node or two and some leaves present, any cutting is absolutely viable. This way, you can turn a single vine into a bunch of new plants.
Rhaphidophora tetrasperma propagation in water
The most hands-off way to successful Rhaphidophora tetrasperma propagation is to just stick the cuttings in a glass of water. Place the glass in a spot in your home that receives bright light, but no direct sun, as the water can easily overheat. Some warmth is great, but too much can turn your cuttings to mush.
Once you’ve found a good spot for the cuttings, it’s all about being patient. Change the water every few days and keep an eye on the nodes, as that’s where the roots will emerge from. Once they’re an inch or two (~5 cm) long, you can pot up your brand new Rhaphidophora tetrasperma plant(s). Remember that they can look a bit grumpy at first while the roots get used to living in soil.
Not ready for potting? No problem. As you can see from my cuttings below, they do fine in water for extended periods of time.
Rhaphidophora tetrasperma propagation in soil
Don’t want to bother rooting your cuttings in water and then having to transfer them to soil? There’s no reason not to propagate your Rhaphidophora tetrasperma directly in soil: it’s all just a matter of preference. I often manage to ruin my soil propagations, while others have much better success rates with it than in water.
To propagate your mini Monstera in soil, go for an airy aroid mixture. I like to use potting soil with plenty or perlite and bark, but everyone has their favorite combinations. As long as it drains well, you’re good! Plastic nursery pots are a great option for starting plants, but anything with a drainage hole will work.
Here’s how rooting in soil works:
- (Bonus step) Dip the cutting in some rooting hormone to speed up the process.
- Stick the cuttings into the soil so that at least one node is touching the mixture. Use bobby pins to hold them down if need be.
- Lightly moisten the soil: spraying it works well. It doesn’t have to be wet.
- (Bonus step) Place the whole thing in a clear plastic bag or propagator to keep in warmth and moisture.
- Find a spot for the cuttings that gets bright but indirect light.
- Keep the soil ever so lightly moist. If you’ve gone for the ‘mini greenhouse’ bonus step, you probably won’t have to spray or water often.
- You can give the cutting a light tug if you want to know whether it has started rooting yet. If you feel any resistance, that means you’re probably in the clear!
- Once you feel the root system is established or you spot the first signs of new leaf growth on the cutting, you can consider your propagation attempt a success. You can remove the mini greenhouse setting at this point.
Tip: Your Rhaphidophora tetrasperma cutting can look pretty droopy for a while. You’ve stuck it in soil with no way to absorb water, so it’s not surprising if it sulks until it has grown a basic root system. No worries!
Other Rhaphidophora tetrasperma propagation methods
Propagating in water or soil is the way to go for most plant enthusiasts simply because these methods are so straightforward. That doesn’t mean there are no other options, though!
If you’re looking for other Rhaphidophora tetrasperma propagation methods, you can also try:
- Propagating in LECA. Fill a baggie or cup about 2/3 of the way with clay LECA pebbles and pop the cuttings in there. Then, fill about 1/4 of the way with water. The LECA should wick moisture to your cutting without soaking it to a point where rot becomes a risk.
As with soil propagation, you can place the whole thing in a clear plastic baggie or a propagator to increase warmth and moisture levels.
- Propagating in perlite. Same thing, really, except you use perlite rather than LECA! It’s a matter of preference or what you happen to have on hand.
- Propagating in sphagnum moss. This method is also similar, aside from the fact that you don’t fill the cup or baggie with water. Instead, you moisten the sphagnum moss to a point where it’s damp but not soaked or dripping, and stick the cutting in there.
You can also use rooting hormone for an extra boost.
With all of these methods, you can move your new plants to your favorite aroid soil mixture once they’ve rooted. They can stay in LECA, perlite or moss for a while, but may eventually start to suffer from nutrient deficiencies if you don’t supplement with a fertilizer solution.
Did you know? Vining plants like Rhaphidophora aren’t prime candidates for air layering, another propagation technique. Their stems tend to be too thin for it to work well. However, if your mature speciment has thick stems, there’s nothing stopping you!
Caring for Rhaphidophora tetrasperma
So, your Rhaphidophora tetrasperma propagation attempt was a success. The cutting has rooted and is planted in your preferred medium. Now what? If you’re not sure how to care for your new plant, here’s some good news: they’re really not very difficult. Mini Monsteras like bright indirect light, good drainage and lightly moist soil.
To find out more about growing this species successfully, have a look at the extensive Rhaphidophora tetrasperma care guide!
