Monstera Axillary Bud: How to Force New Growth
Understand the biology behind your Monstera's growth and learn how to strategically prompt new stems, transforming a single vine into a fuller, bushier plant.
Many Monstera owners find their plant growing as a single, long vine and wish for a fuller, bushier appearance. The solution lies in activating a specific part of its anatomy called the axillary bud. Unlocking this latent potential for new growth redirects the plant’s energy to create multiple stems and a more robust form.
What Is a Monstera Axillary Bud?
To encourage new growth, you first need to locate the axillary bud. On a Monstera, this is a small bump of plant tissue found on the stem at a node, which is the joint where a leaf’s stalk (petiole) emerges. The axillary bud sits in the “axil,” the upper angle between the petiole and the stem. Every node on the plant contains one of these buds, holding the blueprint for a new vine.
These buds can be faint and difficult to see until activated, appearing as a slight, oval-shaped swelling sometimes hidden under dry plant material. Distinguish the axillary bud from a developing aerial root, which is thicker, more pointed, and emerges from the opposite side of the stem. The axillary bud is specifically the point from which a new stem and leaves will sprout.
Finding the bud requires close inspection. On some stems, you may need to gently peel back the sheath at the base of the petiole to reveal it. The bud is positioned just to the side of where the leaf stalk connects to the main vine.
Understanding Apical Dominance and Bud Activation
Axillary buds remain dormant due to a process called apical dominance. The main growing tip of the vine, the apical bud, produces hormones called auxins. These auxins flow down the stem and inhibit the growth of lateral buds, encouraging the plant to direct its resources toward vertical growth to reach for light.
This hormonal suppression is a survival strategy that ensures the plant invests energy in its primary growth point. As long as the apical bud is healthy, it sends signals that keep the axillary buds in a state of suspended animation. They are viable and ready to grow but are chemically instructed to wait.
When the apical bud is removed or damaged, the flow of suppressive auxins is interrupted. This interruption signals the axillary buds to activate. The plant’s energy is then redirected to these dormant points, prompting them to develop into new vines. This is the principle behind pruning for a fuller plant.
How to Force a New Growth Point
Activating an axillary bud is achieved through a precise cut. Before you begin, ensure you have clean, sharp pruning shears or a knife. Sterilizing the blade with rubbing alcohol prevents introducing pathogens, and a clean cut minimizes damage and reduces the risk of rot.
Identify a node on the stem with a healthy axillary bud you wish to activate. Make your cut on the stem about an inch or two above this chosen node. This leaves a small buffer of stem on the main plant.
The plant will respond by channeling energy into the nearest axillary bud below the cut. In the following weeks, you will observe this bud swell and sprout a new leaf. This new growth will mature into a secondary vine, adding density. The piece you removed, known as a top cutting, can be propagated in water or another medium to create a new Monstera plant.
This principle also explains why leafless stem segments, or “wet sticks,” can produce new plants. As long as the segment contains a node with a viable axillary bud, it has the potential to sprout once separated from the mother plant.
Caring for a Newly Sprouted Bud
A newly activated axillary bud requires proper care to develop into a healthy vine. Position the plant in a location where it will receive bright, indirect sunlight. Direct sun can scorch the new leaf, while insufficient light may slow its development.
Maintaining adequate humidity is also beneficial for the emerging shoot. Increase ambient moisture by using a humidifier, placing the pot on a pebble tray with water, or grouping it with other plants. Avoid directly misting the new growth, as this can encourage fungal issues.
Refrain from touching the new sprout, as it is fragile and easily damaged. It is normal for the first leaves from the new growth point to be small and lack fenestrations. As the new vine establishes itself, subsequent leaves will gradually increase in size and develop the iconic Monstera splits.