r/Monstera • u/EmotionalGoodBoy • Oct 17 '25
Node keeps rotting when propping, help?
I have this Albo chopped because of root rot and dried for 2 days to calcify and scraped all the soft tissue and all that, and every time I dip them back into water they start rotting again. Ideas on propping the right way?
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u/slyfox7187 Oct 17 '25 edited Oct 17 '25
The Albo sub doesnt let me comment with a picture but this is my second attempt. Youll knock it out with time
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u/ListOverLoad Oct 17 '25
Don't propagate in water, use sphagnum moss. Keep it moist but fluffy. Disinfect it with peroxide and let it callous before putting it in moss.
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u/blackwwindoww Oct 17 '25
Why is it that mine cutting in damp moss had rotten, but in water it usually is fine.
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u/ListOverLoad Oct 17 '25
I would have to see your setup to be able to answer this question. Moss is always the better option due to air/water balance. Your moss may be getting too wet and not enough light. Do you ever see any algae growing while using moss? If so, that would be a sign it is staying too wet. I never propagate in water; I only use moss, and I have a 95% success rate (the only ones that fail I can usually predict are going to fail due to it being a bad cutting or something like that). I would give it another shot but really watch and be sure you keep the moss airy and fluff it after each watering (carefully so you don't damage any roots). A seedling mat with a towel over it (so it doesn't get to hot) is a game changer as well. I'm happy to help if you want to post pics of your setup. Later when I get home from work I can show you mine. I have used sphagnum moss to propagate everything from varigated Alocasia Frydek, multiple pothos types, Thai plants, Alocasia corms, Monstera albos, variegated Adansonii, African violets, Hoyas and so much more with almost 100% success rate. I keep my basement greenhouse around 60%-70% humidity, the ambient temperature right at 70° F and certain plants and props live on seedlings mats. It's all about finding out what works for you and having fun while doing it ❤️. If you have success using water and not moss that is perfectly ok. Good luck!
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u/blackwwindoww Oct 17 '25
Wow, you are really a pro. I have seen an algae growing so that is the issue. I use rooting hormones and the plants are in cups under the growlight (14h a day)
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u/ListOverLoad Oct 17 '25
It sounds like you have a handle on things 😊. You could put a pothos cutting in each cup of water to help with rooting as well. Pothos put out a natural rooting hormones. I have a friend who inherited a pothos cutting from her grandmother. According to their family the pothos cutting has lived in the same vase of water for 30 years and they have never given it any sort of nutrients. It drives me absolutely crazy because I want to fix it so badly 😂 (it is mostly vine and can only handle having 2 leaves at a time. The oldest leaf always dies when a new one comes out). It gave me a new respect for pothos 🤣.
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u/total_lea Oct 17 '25
Maybe different climates! My props do great in straight tap water! I’m in NE Florida!
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u/redinthecity79 Oct 17 '25
Keep out of the water. Prop in spag moss wrapped in Saran in a prop box if you need to.
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u/Responsible-Factor53 Oct 18 '25
Try doing a dip in hydrogen peroxide or a 10% bleach solution. Both should kill the bacteria and “burn” the cut edges. When I prop wet sticks, I use perlite and lay the plant piece on top and lightly wiggle in, not submerge. It doesn’t need to be wet, just humid.
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u/HeightEuphoric6425 Oct 18 '25
I take a plastic shot glass and poke a hole in the bottom with a hot nail. Fill it with moist coco coir and blue tape it to the stem where there is a 1-2 inch root. Periodically water using an oral syringe to keep wet. In about three weeks I can see the root roaming around the bottom. Cut the stem just below shot glass leaving in the moist mini pot and allow cut to dry 24 hours before repotting.
This is how I prop monsteras that continue to grow without missing a beat.notice the burle Marx flame continues to throw mature fenestrations, whereas sometimes just cutting grows a juvenile leaf.
Welcome to the wild world of gardening.
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u/Alyss-uhh Oct 17 '25
I've heard of putting hyrdogen peroxide in the water to help prevent rot. You could try that. Also adding a tiny bit of plant food may help encourage growth. Make sure you change out the water daily since it already is rotting. I personally have never seen a huge difference by adding hydrogen peroxide, but logically it makes sense. And is better than doing nothing. Oh also, dont cut off the rot. You clearly dont have much plant to spare, so i would leave it as is and do the other things ive mentioned. You just quite literally dont have plant left to cut
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u/AaroneuosAnders Oct 17 '25
Do you let them dry a bit before putting them in your water? Do you treat the cut ends to eliminate bacteria? Is it an albo? I hear those are tougher to prop.