Is water propagation with monstera albos safe in water?
Many people have their own preferred way of propagating. Sometimes that’s with Leca, pure sphagnum moss, soil, etc. However, water propagation is one of the simplest ways to propagate plants. Though, one may question whether if it is the safest way since albos are more prone to node rot than their non-variegated counterparts. Despite the risk, I actually water propagate my monstera albos and it’s perfectly fine.
When should I not water propagate my monstera albo?
If you have a healthy albo cutting, there really isn’t any reason to avoid water propagation. As long as you’re using filtered water or rain water, you should be fine. Plus, if you’re using a glass container, you can see if there’s anything wrong. The only times I wouldn’t recommend it is if your node isn’t very healthy or if there are not leaves. Otherwise, propagate it using a different method where the node can breathe. I’d recommend practicing using different methods before trying out different methods on expensive monstera albos.
Which methods of propagation should I use when my node has no leaves?
My favorite method of propagation for nodes is leca. The nodes can breathe but they are kept moist with the clay pebbles wicking the water from the reservoir through all the substrate. If this isn’t an option, using a combination of sphagnum moss and perlite is also a good medium to use. Otherwise, if you have a greenhouse, I’d say direct soil propagation is fine, unless it’s winter and you do not have a heater for your greenhouse.
Is water propagation the fastest way to root my monstera albo?
Nodes and cuttings will all root at different rates, so it’s difficult to say. Generally, the quickest way to grow roots is through air-layering a plant, but if you bought a cutting/node then the quickest way will vary by on a variety of factors such a temperature, humidity, light, and if you’ve used a rooting hormone.
What do I do if I see rot with my monstera albo?
If you discover your cutting is rotting in water, you’ll need to remove all of the rot as soon as possible. Rot will spread, so it’s important to ensure that it is all removed. Additionally, once you cut all the rot off, you’ll need to allow the node to callous over. Once it’s dry, use one of the non-water propagation methods.
Have fun propagating!
