Know your cut before you buy a Variegated Monstera

If you're looking to buy a variegated Monstera cutting, you need to know the differences between a top and mid cutting BEFORE you buy it. I go over the key differences in three cutting types so you can have a better understanding of what to expect.
Its important to know that when you cut a Monstera deliciosa the top of the plant will continue the same growth pattern, producing new leaves from the petiole of the previous leaf. The "mid cut" or the part of the plant that is left over will produce growth from nodes or growth points along the stem of the plant. The new leaves that come from these nodes will be significantly smaller than the oldest leaves. Variegation will also be determined by where on the stem, this new growth comes from.
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contact me on instagram
/ kill_this_plant

[@KillThisPlant]

Watch this to make sure you're buying the best cutting you can. kzbin.info/www/bejne/a5ewiWZjirmjbZI

[@powerWithinUs4055]

I’m new to Monstera. Left it in an unheated room and I nearly fainted when I 'found' it. It barely raised an eyebrow….all was forgiven. I did re-entry to a heated room, didn’t water until the next day. It’s an excellent grower. I’ve given five or more pieces to friends. Thanks Lee. You’ve given me courage for buying varieties.

[@Awkward_Narwhal]

I know this is super old video, but i just found your channel. This video may have just saved me a huge headache with my lil baby plant that I've nursed back to three leaves from none. I guess only time will tell.

[@KillThisPlant]

Came for the variegation, stayed for the browning leaves 😒

[@fox3015]

I came for one video, stayed for more 😌

[@animalsareamazing4744]

I bought one and getting it soon wish me luck

[@animalsareamazing4744]

Oh and I bought it for $40 and it's rooted in a pot and giving new growth

[@LiveLikeAlex]

I just bought mine a few days ago and I’m glad it’s a top cutting because I didn’t even think to ask. I’m just hoping it’s in a good spot where it’s not getting too much light!

[@SweetTea0023]

Lee, that monstera is absolutely beautiful. So impressed that you have a variegated monstera!

[@KillThisPlant]

Thank you! It came as a 3 leaf, unrooted cutting so I managed to avoid most of the price insanity. Working on air layering it now.

[@timothygardner2974]

Exactly what I needed! Thank you!

[@aprilkew9958]

This was very helpful! I'm looking into buying a variegated monstera and this is such important info that I didn't even consider! Thank you!

[@KillThisPlant]

Glad it was helpful!

[@xinqiaozhang3171]

Your monstera is stunning 🤩

[@ChickpeaVids]

This was so well explained and demonstrated with actual examples. Thank you for all the effort you put into this!

[@KillThisPlant]

Glad you found it helpful

[@bonniecooper1356]

Super informative! thank you 💚🪴

[@peachyally22]

Thank you! I've always been curious if it made a difference to purchase different sections of cuttings

[@lzenke]

THANK YOU!!! This was incredibly informative, definitely learned a few things... subscribed!

[@KillThisPlant]

Thanks for the sub!

[@chadodu]

thanks for sharing thoses good advices! really love your videos. Keep doing this! 👍

[@KillThisPlant]

Thanks for the kind words!

[@paolarodriguez4152]

I bought a very low variegated albo cutting (for fairly cheap), it already has a growth point that is been going well, the node does look swirly white and green and it’s well rooted! I hope I can get variegated leaves someday soon

[@KillThisPlant]

Hope it puts out some variegation for you!

[@jessicacalderon-rico89]

How much did you pay for it and where did you buy it? I'm shopping everywhere and it's so expensive 😭 all I've seen is sellers on Etsy but I want to find someone local

[@13BulliTs]

Nice, very clear!

[@DIARYORCHIDS_PLANTS]

Thank you for this information👍!

[@MyraFerminNadal]

"new videos everytime your friends eyes glaze over when you talk about plants" -- I always love your comments at the end.

[@plants4214]

Thank you!!! Buying my first top cutting later this week and I am SO excited!!

[@KillThisPlant]

Awesome!

[@Dieppaloveplants]

Yessss I just subscribe to your channel I Google search wish is better a top or bottom cutting your video pop up very helpful information I just got a top cutting and a new leaf is coming on the side like u say I didn't know that thank you so much I got another albo cutting node with 1 leaf I had it since September first and a new leaf unfurl but is very small but is beautiful 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

[@KillThisPlant]

Thanks for subbing! Glad your plants are doing well.

[@anitajones7090]

Man, this explains a lot. I just purchased a wood plank and just shoved it into the pot 🫣 it’s still alive, but what was I thinking!

[@sydneybristo22]

Thank you

[@normalgirlbim]

comment for the algorithm! Thank you for sharing your knowledge :)

[@KillThisPlant]

Algorithm says thanks! I appreciate you taking the time to comment.

[@ronkhan8163]

Can you show how to propagate midcutting node to produce new leaf

[@KillThisPlant]

Working on it!

[@qaphqa]

Interesting!

[@darthweedo]

Hi Lee, thank you for the informational video. I'm looking to purchase a top cutting for a Thai constellation monstera. However, the sellers removed the newly emerging leaf that was coming from the petiole to use for tissue culture. Can the petiole of the top cutting still produce another leaf?

[@KillThisPlant]

That's unfortunate! But yes, if the petiole is still intact it will continue to produce another leaf.

[@brookek3563]

I just purchased an Alobo Top cutting, do I put it in soil or water? I'm lost lol 😢

[@CoFFee123..]

Why no mention of a bottom cutting? Recently a seller offered for sale a mid and a bottom cutting. The mid cutting will only be done after payment is made. He advised me to take the bottom cutting that has a fair amount of roots since I have no experience propagating a monstera albo cutting.

[@sulaikhamanningal8379]

Can you plz do a video about how to verigate?

[@KillThisPlant]

I am working on a video about that but the short answer is it's all genetics, and because it's unstable you can't really do anything to encourage good variegation except have a lot of plants, cut a lot of plants, throw away the ones with bad genes and keep the ones with good ones

[@MichaelDeNicola]

When you first asked if i knew the difference btwn a Top i thought you were talking about something else entirely 🤣

[@KillThisPlant]

😂

[@youdidist]

❤

[@normalgirlbim]

I have a question about regular monsteras, do you find that they grow better in leca or a regular well draining soil? I'm about to get one and I'm not sure if I should switch it to leca or leave it

[@KillThisPlant]

I've noticed mine grow faster in LECA but the issue with keeping it in LECA is their ever expanding roots. Finding a decent sized/good looking cachepot can be an issue.

[@powerWithinUs4055]

Saw a vid earlier….love that internet. Take existing pot to next size up pot, fill soil all around. Now, a few days later, there's an indentation, like a footprint in wet sand. Lift the baby pot out, turn the baby potted plant out, plop it into the indentation hole. Normally you need three hands, this way is easier….and the plant is amused.

[@CrystalReardon]

So if the mid cut has very little white is it possible that it will grow more white or should I expect it to become all green?

[@KillThisPlant]

Watch my updated video. I have a more clear indication of what will happen based on what the growth point looks like.

[@samanthajordan9794]

I just received a "rooted cutting" that I purchased online and after watching your video I know now that it's a mid-cutting. There are two aerial roots coming off- one is about an inch long and looks a bit dead at the end and the other one is where all the roots are. There is about an inch of plain regular aerial root before the root cluster and the cut section of vine. The seller advised me to plant just the soil roots in soil (which I did - bark, perlite, horticulture charcoal, soil, and worm casting mix) but is it ok for that section to be sticking up out of the soil? Will new growth come from the roots off of that aerial root?

[@KillThisPlant]

Yes, your seller gave you a good suggestion.

[@samanthajordan9794]

@@KillThisPlant Great, thank you! Love your channel!

[@michellesimpson4591]

Lee, my albo Monstera is 1 year old. The last four leaves that have come out have been all white. Is there anyway to fix this? I cut them off immediately, but don’t know if there’s a way to fix this.

[@KillThisPlant]

At some point you'd have to cut it back down to a growth point where there is more even variegation.

[@RoseLe]

I'm patiently waiting for Costa farm to sell their Thai Constellation in a couple of years lol.

[@KillThisPlant]

Me too! The wait will pay off if we can save hundreds of dollars. Hopefully they have enough in stock so people don't try and buy them all up and flip them. 😠

[@powerWithinUs4055]

Well done ! Information is concise with excellent presentation. Fun to watch, thank you. Forwarding this to plant friends…use the blue arrow above, will drop the webaddress into an email. Everyone should see this.

[@amandabyrnes7253]

Im looking at purchasing a low varigated monstera albo. The pictures appear that the last 4 established leafs are not varigated. Is there still a chance you can see variation from the plant if you cut back to the plant at the point where the vairgated leaf is. Or is it impossible to do?

[@KillThisPlant]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/a5ewiWZjirmjbZI

[@XyberFox213]

Someone is selling a well rooted bottom cut do you think this would be fi e for purchase?

[@KillThisPlant]

Can you see the growth point?

[@bellafletes3564]

Hey! I’m planning on buying a middle cut, it’s 2node cutting with two leaf, rooted, but it doesn’t have a visible auxiliar bud (growth point), would it grow?

[@KillThisPlant]

I'm sure it will. Sometimes they are hard to detect or are hidden in the crevice under the petiole

[@andresarce4330]

Hi, why are some areas of the white parts turning brown ? It happens to mine Thai cons but as in your video, only in the white area and not affecting the green ones

[@KillThisPlant]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/a5ewiWZjirmjbZI

[@leciobi]

What plat do I see in your back, to the left, upper part of the screen at 1:51?

[@KillThisPlant]

On the high shelf I think it was just a green philodendron hederacium

[@vijisgarden5093]

Do you suggest any trusted sellers for variegated monstera in Canada. I was scammed once for this plant. The variegated monstera plant is in my wish list from a long time , thanks

[@KillThisPlant]

North Shore Tropicals. House of Monstera. Centred by Plants.

[@jessicalee1172]

What is the cheapest way to get one of these plants. I don't know anyone that has this plant.

[@KillThisPlant]

probably though Facebook groups. be patient, prices are still coming down.

[@jammiewhammie]

how do you know where a growth spot is? i recently got a top cutting of a monstera and it hasn't produced any new leaves, would that just be because it's spending its energy establishing roots? or.....

[@KillThisPlant]

Top cuttings always produce a new leaf from the previous leafs petiole (cataphyll). You'll just have to be more patient!

[@jammiewhammie]

@@KillThisPlant oh great! thank you so much!

[@Pietertjepet]

@@jammiewhammie any update? 😀

[@jammiewhammie]

@@Pietertjepet well it was only on water before because i was propagating it so i recently put it in soil and leca and i’m hoping that the nutrients in the soil will help promote growth! 😁

[@keg2140]

I just bought a very mature single leaf cutting of a monstera Thai constellation and after a week of water propagation the 1 ariel root that it had rotted off, I should have known not to submerge the whole thing in there since they aren’t used to water in the first place. Oh well. So now I’m left with a nub for an ariel root and I’m nervous now that it won’t grow a new leaf? I’m really confused about the whole “growing eye” thing and how to know when the plant will never produce a new leaf or not.

[@KillThisPlant]

That's awful. Sorry to hear about your cutting. Did you get a top cutting or mid cutting? When I'm ready to propagate mine I plan to do a more in depth explanation on what to look for. Unfortunately that won't be for a while. Maybe sphagnum moss will be a better medium?

[@keg2140]

It’s a mid cutting. If I don’t notice any growth or more rot in about a month I’ll definitely try out some moss!

[@KillThisPlant]

@@keg2140 good luck.

[@melissakeating2093]

Hello I need help, I think I have just purchased a mid cutting monstera Thai con which has two lovely verigated mostly green leaves and a full white leaf with new growth that looks to be all white aswell. Should I just let these continue to grow for now until I can see a node with some green on it, as I'm afraid that if my two back green leaves die off I will lose the plant.

[@KillThisPlant]

I would have to see what it looks like. These things can kinda be a dice roll. There might not be a best answer

[@KillThisPlant]

@@melissakeating2093 Instagram or email

[@jimc6694]

Correction. The new leaf comes from the axillary bud. NOT the node itself. So many people have misinformed others about these aroid plants. And very few people want to sell a top cutting. Afterall there is only one

[@ajayempee]

Oh no! I just bought a mid cutting 1 pair of nodes and no leaves! It's just a piece of stem with a node! Now I'm worried it won't grow!

[@KillThisPlant]

Did it have an aerial root? I'm sure it'll be fine. Didn't mean to worry you. I intend to remake this video to add more clarity.

[@ajayempee]

@@KillThisPlant it hasn't arrived yet, but I just checked the order it is a cutting with 2 arial roots so fingers crossed! I watched a great time lapse video of albo cuttings growing in sphagnum moss in a glass jar that's what I think I will do too!

[@corinagarza5940]

So then the whole plant will die without those nodes ?

[@KillThisPlant]

So to be more specific you'd be looking for something called a 'growing eye'. On the mid cuttings I showed there were no growing eyes(growth points), or I cut into them which damaged them. The plant may develop a growing eye, or that node could be hidden or hard for us to see. In my case, it had none. The plant will eventually age out and die off.

[@linaalkhateeb9010]

Thank you this is so helpful, do sell top cutting variegated monstera ?! Or do you recommend good sellers? Do you have an instagram page?!

[@KillThisPlant]

I don't sell, sorry. But checking locally on plant groups is always a good place to start.

[@tonyandiaye4583]

Can you help me please

[@Msgrownchick]

Do you sell cuttings?????

[@KillThisPlant]

No

[@harveybyars8655]

Great informational video , but the music, or whatever it may be called is very distracting, Can’t even concentrate on what’s being said

[@Gushing69Granny]

I got a 5 mid cuttings for $7. Couldn’t pass it up

[@atherisGAY]

Great deal, and I hope they work out!

[@Gushing69Granny]

@@atherisGAY it was a scam💀 lol oh well

[@Erandy_]

@@Gushing69Grannywhat plant was it?! 😱

[@corinagarza5940]

Now I’m scared to propagate wrong :0

[@KillThisPlant]

You should be ok. I think the issue with my plant was its age. Inspect your plant for growing eyes. Google image search "monstera albo growing eye" the 1st result shows a good example of what you're looking for.

[@Rabid97]

White monsteras die after a long time without photosynthesis.

[@KillThisPlant]

Absolutely.

[@Rabid97]

And borsigiana have smaller leafs and faster growth. 😁😁Fast tips 😁

[@Rabid97]

I suggest trying to cover the white ones and giving more indirect light to the green ones, slowly the new growth will become greener and greener.The plant is trying to get healthier and is reversing variegation in order to do so. Thanks for the video and good luck !

[@andrewyip4543]

Very useful video, sent you a quick DM on Instagram!