Monsteras are super popular houseplants, beloved for their large, "holey" leaves. But eventually these big plants can overwhelm their space, prompting you to want to break out your pruning shears. Before you do, there are a few things to know about when and how to prune monstera vines properly. By making the right cuts at the right time, your plant will reward you with a tidier appearance and lush new growth, and you can even use the stems you cut off to propagate more monsteras.
What Is a Monstera, Exactly?
The names “monstera” and “Swiss cheese plant” get thrown around quite a bit, but there are more than 50 species in the Monstera genus. What these terms usually refer to is actually just one type of plant, Monstera deliciosa.
When to Prune Your Monstera
The best way to tell if your monstera needs pruning is by looking at how leggy or top heavy the plant has become. In their natural habitats, these tropical plants usually grow up the sides of trees, easily reaching heights of over 50 feet. As they grow, they drop older leaves, leaving their stems bare. This also means that these plants can become quite top heavy in containers, with the bulk of their leaves near the ends of the vines.
When grown in a pot indoors, monsteras don't get quite as large as they would in the wild, but they still may need some trimming back from time to time. As your monstera plant continues to grow upwards, you may notice that the plant starts to easily fall over and a lot of bare stems may be visible. Also look for any dead leaves and vines that can (and should) be removed from the mass of living vines. These are all indicators that your plants could benefit from a little pruning.
Pruning should ideally be done when monstera plants are noticeably growing. This is usually during the spring or summer months when our homes (or the outdoors) begin to warm up. Pruning while plants are growing more slowly can lead to infections and severe dieback of plants.
How to Prune Monstera Plants
Monsteras are great houseplants for beginners looking to try out their pruning skills on a vining plant other than a pothos. They usually will tolerate trimming very well, quickly responding with fresh, new growth.
To prune your monstera, you’ll need clean pruning shears and a pair of gardening gloves. First look for any dead leaves, broken vines, or otherwise unsightly foliage. Make firm, quick cuts through the leaves and stems and avoid crushing or tearing them, because this can lead to more damage than is necessary and open the plant up to infection.
Like other members of the aroid plant family, monsteras contain calcium oxalate crystals in their tissues. These crystals help protect the plants from predators and can be irritating to skin. Care should also be taken to not get the sap in or around the eyes, mouth, or any other areas of the body.
If your plant is currently at a height you like, you can remove the growth at the top of each vine just above an existing leaf node. This will encourage growth from below the cut and lead to a fuller-looking plant.
Another tactic that can be used is to prune vines at multiple levels; cut some stems about a third of the way down and others a quarter of the way. Prune back vines to just above a leaf node to avoid cutting off all the leaves and leaving bare stems. It's best to use a multi-leveled pruning approach on smaller, younger monsteras to encourage them to become fuller plants that won't need very drastic trimming later on.
Making More Monsteras
As you prune your monstera back, keep in mind that these plants root easily from stem cuttings. Cuttings that contain at least one node can be rooted in the same pot or repotted in a new container to create even more plants that you can share with friends and family.