Skip to Content

How To Trim Monstera In 8 Easy Steps

Sharing is caring!

Monstera plants are a great addition to any indoor garden. While most people chose these exotic plants for their eye-catching foliage with holes and splits, their remarkable growth is generally a close second.

However, as they develop, they will eventually need pruning – but do you know how to trim Monstera to stimulate growth? Monstera is very low-maintenance, while it does require some TLC to be healthy.

Grow your Monsteras in a sunny window with plenty of light and keep the soil moist, and you’ll be rewarded with robust growth that will leave your visitors to drool.

Monstera is a magnificent climber that grows aggressively and swiftly. As a result, they must be trimmed regularly to keep them at their best.

On the other side, Trimming is essential for controlling a Monstera’s size. This plant can grow to be colossal! Monsteras may grow to be 30 feet tall outside and 10 feet tall inside, which is crucial if you live in a flat with 8-foot ceilings.

Pruning is an important part of any plant care regimen. Trimming is the process that removes leaves from a plant that are no longer valuable yet are still eating its resources. This helps free up energy to help with new leaf growth and health!

How To Trim Monstera
via Reddit

Equipment You Will Need

  • Thick Gloves
  • Pruning Shears
  • Sharp Knife
  • Protective Goggles

A Guide On How To Trim Monstera

Pruning a monstera is, thankfully, pretty simple. They do not have to be pruned meticulously because they’re hardy plants. In other words, your plant will most likely live even if you don’t do a terrific job. Take a look at this step-by-step tutorial on how to trim Monstera.

Step 1: Choose a Proper Pruning Season

  • It’s vital to trim your Monstera at the right time of year, especially before the growing season begins in the spring.
  • This is the best time to trim it to keep its form or maintain its size.
  • It aids in the speedy recovery of your houseplant.
  • If it has a damaged stem or yellow leaves, you can trim it at any time during the growing season.

Step 2: Disinfect the Pruning Tools

  • Sterilize the garden cutting tools, including scissors and pruning shears, with alcohol before starting this activity.
  • Dirty tools introduce harmful bacteria and infections to plants.
  • As a result, using an alcohol-soaked towel to wipe the instruments is recommended.
  • If your pruning shears or scissors are exceptionally filthy, giving them a dousing water bath for a few minutes will help smooth out the muck.
  • After that, clean and sterilize these tools with care.

Step 3: Wear Your Safety Gloves and Protective Goggles

  • The sap of the Monstera has calcium oxalates, which induce skin irritation and rashes.
  • As a result, put on some protective gloves to protect yourself from this health risk.
  • Make sure it’s out of reach of children and dogs.
  • If the sap gets on your skin, wash it off as soon as possible with moderate soapy water and avoid getting it in your eyes.
  • Goggles should be worn if possible to shield your eyes and face.

Step 4: Identify the Position of Monstera Nodes

  • It would help if you first locate the node before pruning your plant. This will assist you in determining where the plant should be pruned.
  • Nodes are the parts of the Monstera from which new stems, aerial roots, and leaves will originate.
  • To identify Monstera nodes, look for lighter spots on the stem that grows higher than the rest.
  • Although a node may only have one leaf, many massive plants sprout numerous leaves from a single node.
How To Trim Monstera 3
Leave no node behind via Reddit

Step 5: Remove any Leaves that are Yellow, Dead, or Dry

  • Regularly pruning old and yellowed leaves will keep your Monstera plant healthier and happier.
  • Make a list of the pieces you wish to save before cutting your plants, such as dead or yellow leaves and brown stems.
  • Soft patches are another sign of deterioration.
  • To show which parts of large outdoor Monsteras require to be cut, use brightly colored thread.
  • As a result, snip them near the stem using disinfected garden shears or scissors whenever you notice leaves with these features.
  • The yellowing of your plant’s leaves indicates that it has been overwatered.
  • Cut them near the stem’s base to keep their proper height.
  • Make a clean cut to remove the leaf stem from the plant by following it back to the main branch.
  • Because the leaves cannot be rooted as a new plant, toss them in the garbage or compost bin.

Step 6: Prune the Stems

  • Look for branches that are twisted and don’t have many leaves.
  • Using sterile scissors, snip the branches at the stem’s base.
  • This will encourage the plant to produce new, strong stems and leaves.
  • Trim below the node if you don’t want to annihilate the whole branch.
  • To clip off the stems and stalks, make a flat cut.
  • Cut the plant to the point where the parent stem meets the branches.

Step 7: Remove the Roots

  • If the roots are sprouting from the container’s drainage holes, carefully remove them and slacken the roots with your fingers.
  • Cut out the roots with sanitized garden equipment.
  • Repot your freshly clipped plant in new, well-drained soil.
  • Yellow leaves and root stress should be avoided.
  • Avoid overwatering to avoid root rot.
  • Trimming the roots enables them to mature strong and healthy, ensuring that the whole plant is supported.

Step 8: Dispose Of

  • You can either burn the cuttings or dump them in the dumpster to include in your compost after you’ve pruned your plant.
  • The Monstera should be properly disposed of because it is hazardous.
  • This houseplant should be handled with attention due to its oxalic acid, which can cause skin irritation.

Final Remarks

It can grow to a height of nearly 8.5 inches. So, if it starts taking over the living space, prune it to keep the form and size manageable while still looking great.

As you can see, it’s not difficult to understand how to trim Monstera to encourage growth. Pruning an indoor Monstera can be an easy task if you follow a few simple instructions to keep your formerly overgrown Monstera Deliciosa looking its best.

It’s natural to be curious about how to trim an indoor Monstera if you’ve never done so before, as no one wants to hurt a Monstera when trimming it accidentally.

However, by pruning back your Monstera (make sure to trim above the node) regularly, you’ll soon discover how easy it is to shape it, so it looks right in your house.

It’s also an excellent way to prevent the transmission of pathogens from one infected leaf to the next. The cut-off procedures are the same for all kinds of Monsteras.

It just necessitates modest maintenance. Pruning your houseplant will be a snap if you follow the methods as mentioned earlier. Early spring is the best time if you wish to trim your Monstera. Avoid pruning during the dormant season since it could harm the plant more than help.

Pruning your monstera deliciosa at the wrong time of year won’t kill it, but it will lessen the chances of it growing successfully, especially during propagation.

Please pay great attention to it after pruning to prevent trauma and disease invasion. Keep a watch on your Monstera to ensure it’s getting adequate sunlight, humidity, and water. Drooping, yellowing and withering leaves are never a good indication.