Can I save this plant!?

[SaveThePlants]

I purchased a monstera about 10 years ago, left it with my ex when I moved out. It was quite large and robust at the time.

Have recently had the pleasure of visiting as a family member lives close to him and the thing is almost dead (don't ask!). A few, sparse, stiff limbs with wilted leaves.
But there is this one, shiny new green leaf popping through from the soil.
Can I do anything with that?

I have no real knowledge of plants but would love to do something. I also haven't brought a vehicle with me so garden centres are out of the question. I can't just go and buy a big bag of soil. There are a few pots hanging around though.

Is there anything I can do, in-house, to get that little baby out of here alive?

Here is a picture.
The house is in horrific disrepair, I can not believe how far he has allowed it to go. The plant is in an outhouse with tools and stuff, so very sad and alone. I left 8 years ago so i am surprised it has survived this long tbh.

Yes you will be able to save it

Thank you, but how????

Some of the new baby stems are already dead.

Poor thing. I'd cut away all of the dead stuff, get some house plant compost tomorrow and repot into the same pot. Put it somewhere that has bright indirect light and water when the first few inches of soil feels dry. Monsteras are hardy things and it should come back. When it gets bigger get it a mosspole for support as they are climbing plants but only tie the stem to it, not leaves. I've attached a pic of one of my cheeseplants (I have 4 😍).

Oh what a gorgeous stairway! I remember that level of monstera health!

Not sure where I can get compost here though, i am visiting a relative and haven't brought the car. I can only work with the soil in the house sadly. I suppose at a push i could bring some back from tesco in a taxi but not sure how to get it back home again on train:(

I was thinking of taking the cutting? Could leave with relative in meantime until i drive down.

See this but I’ve circled, it looks like there’s a node there. Cut it below the node and place into a glass of water. Change the water weekly and you should start to see some roots form within about two months.

Have a look at the plant and take cuttings wherever you see a node (pics on Google will help you identify) or root with some growth and water propagation should work.

Ahh okay, sorry you did say soil was hard to get. Have a Google of taking cuttings from monsteras, you have to cut below a node but they're fairly easy to spot. Then you can just take the cutting home, root it and pot up in a few weeks 😊

Totaly salvageable, im so happy you're rescuing your old monstera.

Oh, that poor darling! Thank goodness you've found it in time.

Your plant needs repotting in fresh soil, but first it needs a really good drink. I recommend immersion therapy. Remove the plant from its pot, place it in a larger bucket and fill the bucket with water to the top of the soil. Place the bucket n a sheltered place away from wind and direct sun.

The plant will need to stay in the bucket for four or five days so that the roots can get comfortably juiced up and start feeling loved again.

The final step is to rehome it in a pot one or two sizes bigger, using fresh potting mix or indoor plant mix. Can you get a lift to a garden centre, or order online?

Monsteras are amazing survivors. Mine, in my courtyard, endured a 13-year drought here in Melbourne. Thought I'd lost it, but once normal rainfall resumed it came surging back like a triffid and is now huge and healthy! Good luck with yours.

You can save it! Take it home and see what you can do then. It is struggling to survive.

I saved a very small cutting from a gorgeous tree and it was doing well. In the heat it looked dead but it now has green leaves.

Wow, thank you all so much!

I cant get the entire plant home as i have come on the train,,it is about 4 feet wide although starved and withering with only a few branches.

The best thing i can do is take a cutting. I will most definitely follow advice about soaking whilst i am here, but can't realistically hoist this daddy home in my hands.

I am so happy to hear i can save at least something!

Where there's life, there's life! 😂🪴

How do i get the new sprig to move on?

OP, keep your cutting in a cup and change the water every 3-4 days until roots start to appear.

Are you still with your rel? If so, I urge you to take the whole plant home. It's yours, you bought it, and it will prey on your mind if you don't. A plant on a train is a good conversation piece, in my experience. It attracts interesting people and repels the wrong ones.

@SaveThePlants , I have a monster monstera that started as a small houseplant over 30 years ago. Every few years it gets so large and unwieldy, not to mention trying to grow through the ceiling, I have to perform surgery - take 3 or 4 massive cuttings - the leaves are huge - and start again.

If you take a cutting be sure to include the aerial roots - assuming there are any - and keep cutting and aerial roots in water until you have a nice new pot of compost ready. Then keep it well watered, but not saturated, until it shows you it’s happy by making new growth.

I’ve done this several times now and virtually all of the cuttings have always ‘taken’.