Out of all the house plants on the market, the mini monstera is a gorgeous vine-like plant that will make a wonderful addition to your plant collection.
Also known by the name Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma, this is super easy to care for, and super easy to propagate and grow into a separate plant if you so wish. Despite the name “mini monstera”, this plant isn’t actually related to the Monstera deliciosa.
So how do you go about propagating your own mini monstera plant or Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma?
Today, we’re going to give you all the information you need to successfully propagate your very own mini monstera! We’ll cover the best propagation methods to use, as well as show you how to look after your plant to ensure that it thrives.
Let’s take a look at everything we need to know about propagating the Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma!
How To Care For A Mini Monstera
First, we will need to know how to properly care for our mini monstera so that it can stay happy and healthy.
By ensuring that we meet the right care conditions for our Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma, we can rest assured that we will be giving each of the cuttings their very best chance to survive and thrive.
You will need to place your mini monstera in an area of your home that gets plenty of bright, indirect sunlight. These plants don’t survive well in homes with low level light.
The soil will need to be moist but well draining, so that the roots don’t become too soggy over time. Ideally you will also need to give your mini monstera high humidity.
In terms of fertilizing your Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma, it will be best to do this once every 4 months or so. You should use a slow releasing fertilizer that has been diluted in the usual water that you give your mini monstera plant.
This will prevent the roots from becoming burned by the fertilizer when you apply it to the soil.
But what about propagating your Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma plant? Well there are actually three main methods that you can use: water propagation, soil propagation, and moss propagation.
We’ll cover each of these propagation methods in more detail, but you may also find success by combining the water and moss methods.
Let’s take a closer look at the propagation methods you can use for mini monstera.
Does The Water Propagation Method Work For A Mini Monstera?
The water propagation method is actually the most popular method for a variety of gardeners. This is because it is super easy, and you don’t need a lot of specialized equipment or processes in order to make it successful.
Once you have selected your chosen stem with 1 or 2 nodes, you can then place it in a suitable vessel filled with water. You will need to ensure that the bottom node is below the surface of the water, as this is where the roots will be forming.
Make sure to remove any leaves that would be below the water level, as these can easily become rotted.
It may take a while for roots to develop, but you will be able to easily see the roots developing over time. Make sure to swap out the water once a week so that the roots are getting fresh oxygen.
You should also change the water if it starts to look murky or brown.
Once roots have established themselves and are at least 2 inches long, you can then transplant them into their very own pot.
Alternatively, you can take your cutting out of the vessel and cover the roots in moss. This will help to promote the growth of the roots so that you can plant them in your chosen plant pot.
Does The Soil Propagation Method Work For A Mini Monstera?
Another tried and tested method is to use the soil propagation method. Rather than soaking your Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma cutting’s node in water, you will plant the cutting in the potting soil that you have selected.
This is often easier in the sense that you won’t then have to transplant your cutting into a pot of soil, and it is less likely to die off because of struggling to adjust to the change.
Similar to the water method, you will need to take a clean cutting. But instead of propagating it in water, you will need to plant your cutting in a plant pot of fresh potting soil.
Ensure that at least one node is covered by the layer of soil, as this is where the roots are about to form. It will be best to ensure that you select the right sized plant pot for the size of your cutting.
Place your plant pot with your Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma cutting in an area of your home that has plenty of bright, indirect sunlight throughout the day. It will take around 1 month for your mini monstera to start establishing its new roots.
Does The Moss Propagation Method Work For A Mini Monstera?
One of the lesser known propagation methods for plants is the moss method. This typically uses sphagnum moss, which gives the roots aeration, but also retains moisture well so that the plant can absorb the nutrients that they need.
This method can be on the temperamental side, with some gardeners swearing by it, and others finding little success with it at all.
The moss method typically involves wrapping the nodes of your Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma plant in sphagnum moss, forming a ball that doesn’t let in any excess air.
You will then need to place this cutting with the moss in a container which you can lightly seal up. You may also wish to use plastic wrap instead of a container filled with moss.
The whole idea is that the cutting will then create the humid environment that it needs to thrive.
Once the roots have started to grow at least 2 inches, you can then transplant the cutting into its own plant pot filled with appropriate potting soil.
The Correct Method For Cutting A Mini Monstera Stem For Propagation
No matter what method of propagation that you opt for, it will be important that you know how to make a cutting correctly.
If you use the wrong method or damage the mother plant or cutting in any way, this can ruin your chances of success with propagation. You may even find that you have to deal with your hurt mother plant if the cut has been performed incorrectly.
First, you will need a sharp set of pruning shears that have been sterilized with isopropyl alcohol. Alternatively you can also use a sharp knife that has been sterilized, but it will be much easier to use a set of pruning shears.
Next, you will need to choose the appropriate stem for your needs. This will mean selecting a part of the stem that has at least 1 to 2 nodes – which is where the new growth will sprout from – and at least 1 to 2 leaves.
You will need to make a clean cut in the internode section of the stem, which is the part in between 2 nodes. Make sure to cut around an inch below the bottom node that you wish to include.
Remember to sterilize your blades in between cuttings so that the shears will be ready to use again.
Top Tip For Encouraging Roots To Sprout
If you find that the water method isn’t quite working for you and your mini monstera cuttings, you should use sphagnum moss to help you.
This will involve starting off the propagation using water, as this will soak the node and make it more likely to sprout precious roots. After a couple of weeks have passed, you can then remove the cuttings from the water and put them in moss.
This will then give your cuttings the aeration they need to absorb more oxygen, while also creating the moist, humid environment that they need to absorb nutrients.
You should notice roots starting to form pretty quickly after using this method, and then the mini monstera cuttings will be ready to be planted in their own plant pots filled with potting soil.
How Long Will A Mini Monstera Take To Grow Roots?
Ultimately it will depend on the propagation method that you opt for, as each of them can develop roots at different time spans. Using the water propagation method can cause roots to form after a month or so.
If you use the soil propagation method, it can take a couple of weeks. The moss method can take up to a month to develop roots, or up to 6 weeks if you start soaking the nodes in water for 2 weeks first.
The key thing here is to be as patient as possible. If you are constantly checking the cutting for new root growth every day, this will disturb the roots. It will be better to leave the cutting alone so that it can concentrate its efforts on that new growth.
On average you should notice new roots starting to form after a couple of weeks, and there should be roots that measure at least 2 inches ready for transplanting after 1 month.
How To Re-pot Your Propagated Mini Monstera
It’s important to ensure that you give your mini monstera the right potting soil for its needs. You can of course opt for a ready made potting soil that will be suitable for your Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma plant.
However, you can also easily create your very own potting soil. This will then reassure you that you have all of the necessary components for keeping your mini monstera plant happy.
Your potting soil will need to be made up of 3 parts orchid bark, 3 parts coconut coir, 3 parts perlit, 1 part worm castings, and 1 parts activated charcoal. Each of these parts will help to promote a healthy environment for your roots to thrive.
These quantities will help to retain moisture, give the plant pot good drainage, aerate the roots properly, and give your mini monstera all the nutrients it needs.
It will also be worth ensuring that you opt for a plant pot that comes with a drainage hole so that excess water can easily drain out of the soil. If there isn’t a drainage hole, then the soil can become too waterlogged for your plant.
Can You Encourage More Growth On A Mini Monstera?
The Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma plant is naturally a vine-like plant, which can make it tricky to encourage any kind of bushy growth. This plant typically features 1 or 2 vines that grow upwards, with lots of leaves dotting around these vines.
One way to get around this is to plant multiple mini monstera cuttings together. This will give the appearance of a fuller plant, with all the vines growing upwards.
Alternatively you can propagate the mother plant, and get the cuttings to make alternative layers in the plant pot.
Your mini monstera will also benefit from some kind of mini greenhouse, as this will give it the humidity it needs to thrive. A constant humidity is needed for a happy Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma.
Using a mini greenhouse will help to promote more growth at the nodes, which can result in multiple growth points, and therefore a slightly bushier plant.
What Is The Average Cost Of A Mini Monstera?
If you wanted to buy a Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma plant that has already become established, you will be looking at paying a pretty hefty price tag.
Depending on the age of the mini monstera plant in question, this can range from as little as $20 up to an eye watering $8,150. If there is anything such as variegation on the variety that you are looking for, then this will reach a couple of thousand dollars.
If you just want a standard mini monstera that you can nurture in your own home, then you should be able to find one for around $20 up to $50.
So if you want to stick with a more budget friendly option, it’s best to opt for a standard Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma that doesn’t feature variegation.
In Summary
So there you have it! You now know everything there is to know about propagating your very own mini monstera plant.
There are a couple of methods that you can use to propagate your Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma cutting, with the most popular method being the water propagation method. This will take a couple of weeks up to a month for new roots to fully form.
You can also use the soil method or the moss method if you would prefer these. It may also be worth starting the propagation process off using the water method, and then placing your cuttings into moss after 2 weeks to get the best of both worlds.
Alternatively you can try out each of the propagation methods to see which will be best for your mini monstera.
Make sure to use a clean, sterilized, sharp set of pruning shears to make your cutting. You will also need to include at least 1 or 2 nodes, as this is where the new growth will be coming from. Best of luck with your mini monstera propagation experiments!
Hi, my name is Amy Enrich and I have had a keen green thumb since my parents first taught me how to sow a sunflower seed. The process of watching it grow from seed to sprout, sprout to shoot, and then to a full-blown plant is a wonderful sight - I never get bored of it!
I love talking to anyone who will listen about plants, different varieties, how to look after them, and more. That is why I have created Plant Vessel, to help other plant lovers look after their new family members properly and keep them thriving!
Please stick around and enjoy my plant content, and don’t blame me if it influences you to go and buy some more plants!
