Monstera, to slice or save?

Alas, the support rotted out overnight and the whole thing toppled over.  The plant part is about 7 feet tall (not including the new leaf).  As I grew my Monstera from a tiny twig, the base of the plant is pretty thin compared to the topmost stem (which is a couple of inches across).  I either need to place it in a pot so the stem is several inches deeper than now (aka, a 10 gallon pot) or...

...and my heart breaks to even think of this idea. ..

...or cut it and hope it grows back from the base while I make new baby Monsteras.

Thoughts?

One possibility is, cut the roots at the bottom, take the soil (or get new soil) and heap up enough on the top so that hopefully the new, thick section starts rooting, and maybe prune the top to make it not fall over? I am not so familiar with Monstera so may be wrong.

I would try both.  Trim the root ball back by no more than a third and replant into a larger pot and use a new support.  I've rooted Monstera in the past and they tend to do well for me.  I can't see any "air"roots along the stem, if there are any you have hit the jackpot, those sections of the stem will root in water very fast.  Take a cutting that has at least one node and leaf on the stem and you will have a good chance of rooting another plant.

Heddwch

I trimmed off the air roots a couple of days ago as they had crawled INTO the wall when I wasn't looking. Only left a couple of inches of root behind.  One of them was nearly 4 yards long...possibly some got left in the wall.

That is probably why it fell

Deane Adams wrote:I would try both.

Yes, try to root cuttings and cut it back.

here they grow outside, and i have had some in the yard that were impossible to kill. they are amazingly resilient plants. in a pot, maybe not so much, but with two alternatives one is bound to work. even if you trimmed the air roots they might grow back.

Looking at the plant this morning, it hasn't moved and still laying prone on the floor.

Except the tiny leaf at the base seems to have doubled in size...must be an optical illusion as it's too old to do that.

It's giving the vibes that it wants to start again.  I could leave 3 nodes on the old plant and take cuttings?

r ranson wrote: It's giving the vibes that it wants to start again.

That's what I thought about that base leaf when I looked at the picture yesterday, but I don't know the plant, so I didn't want to steer you wrong.

If the plants telling you an approach, I'd risk listening to it.

Cuttings

I wasn't sure how best to make cuttings,  so I tried a few different ways.

Any idea how long cuttings tis big will take to show results?

If you put one of the node section in water, you may see root tip growing as little as three days. Maybe some of the cuttings already have root development but new buds take much longer.

Takes time, but I'd air layer that beauty.

Make enough of a vertical cut in the lovely winding basal stem to pierce the woody outside layer. If you have rooting hormone powder, apply some (if not, it will be fine). Pack a couple of handfuls of wet horticultural moss (the kind used for orchids) around the cut place, and wrap it all with something like plastic wrap, securing with string or twist ties. Roots will grow from the cut, and when they're big enough, cut the original roots away.

You can do it all without moving the plant. This will still mean a top heavy plant, though.

That's a great suggestion from Karima. Air layering is such a gentle way to keep the momentum of a big, mature Monstera. They usually respond so well to it, too. You'll probably start to see roots forming in a few weeks if it's kept warm and humid.
It's amazing how resilient these plants are, even after a fall, they seem determined to grow back stronger!

r ranson wrote:I trimmed off the air roots a couple of days ago as they had crawled INTO the wall when I wasn't looking. ...

I don't know this plant, but I can see why a wall-penetrating plant is some kind of monster! 🙂
Have you named it? (Audrey is already taken.)

Any part of that stem will root easily. Just cut a piece with a couple of nodes and lay it in a pot covered buried in  about 2" of soil. You don't need any leaves. You could also tie the whole stem to a larger support in a larger pot if you wanted to keep the tall plant. I used a thick piece of bamboo, but you can use a 4 x 4. Old nylon stockings work well.

Most of my  Monsteras are in the garden, but one is in a pot. The aerial roots travel far and wide!

To keep a plant from tipping over when the support rots at the base, run some cordage to a hook in the ceiling from the top of the post.

Looks like you'll have a few years to plan until you have 4 monstera threatening to tip over.

I have propagated from my original Monstera, about a dozen times.  Her name is Fiona.
Cut the stem into pieces, making sure there are a couple of leaves and some nodes (little bumps) on the stem below the leaves. These will turn into roots. Stick the noded stems in water for a few weeks, until you have a some  roots, and pot in tropical dirt, with good drainage. Voilà.

That is a remarkable plant! I have never heard of it before. Now I am thinking I want one.!

The fruit, by the way, is edible...although you should look into it, as unless it's completely ripe, it'll stick you with needles.  And I've read it takes some years before it will fruit for you.

Monstera deliciosa, its scientific name, was given to it for a reason!

Sorry, I haven't eaten it before, or I'd give you more info.

The original root is showing shoots.

Of the cuttings, the crown cuttings looks the least promising, but perhaps it will surprise me.  It's not dry, but it feels unhappy somehow.

The one where I cut the leaves off, is taking off. There are three in here but one of them decided it didn't need the leaf stem.  I think that's the one that is shooting.

Yeah, Monster plant! Shoots are a great sign. Particularly with how little light we get at this time of year.

r ransom wrote: The one where I cut the leaves off, is taking off. There are three in here but one of them decided it didn't need the leaf stem.  I think that's the one that is shooting.

If they all survive, are you planning on selling any? My friend's son is very into houseplants and I mentioned you might end up with extras. He was *very* interested. Apparently there's a "small version" of Monstera which he already has, but he would be thrilled to buy the "Monster" version!

Possibly.

I am running out of window space.  

We will have to see how many survive

All the cuttings where i chopped off the leaf have new leaves. All the cuttings with the leaf stil, there look alive, but don't have new leaves.

I suspect they have better root growth as they can use the old leaf to gather light.

But I can't see roots, so as an experiment, i cut the leaf off one to see how quickly it will make new leaves