Hello all!
This plant has grown sideways for years, and is turning into sort of a nuisance. I'd like to cut it into three parts--top, middle and bottom cuts. I plan to put all three together in another pot, with fresh soil. Then I can get them growing UP, at least for awhile, and have a fuller pot.
It's such a big old plant, I'd really like some advice before I do major surgery. Is this plan likely to work, and will the three parts root and grow?
Any advice? I'm pretty new at caring for Monstera.
Thank you!

I'm confused. You say its been growing sideways for years, but you are new to caring for Monstera. Have you not had it for all those years?
Yes, you can chop it and it will likely do ok if you are careful. If you don;t want it to go sideways again, you will need to give it a support to grow up to let it climb the way its supposed to. Or you will end up with 3 plants going sideways instead of just one

Gina1960 said: I'm confused. You say its been growing sideways for years, but you are new to caring for Monstera. Have you not had it for all those years?

Looks like it might be a photo from a nursery, before the plant was brought home.

I volunteer at a non-commercial greenhouse. I've always been afraid of the "monsters" and had no idea how to grow them. This one has been there since I've been there, growing sideways and slowly becoming less attractive and more problematic. It's about ready to either tip over or break.
A few months ago, someone dropped off a terribly overgrown, neglected, tangled mess of one. (Sorry, I don't have a picture.) We cut it in segments, I stuck a few top cuts and about six totally bare segments of stem into a pot. Putting the cart before the horse, I then started reading about them and watching some YouTube videos. Surprise! All the bare sticks have sprouted, I've repotted to thin them out, and found amazing, vigorous roots. I finally realized these plants are just big vines with prop roots, so I've tied up the new sprouts to start them growing straight.
So, that success and new knowledge have emboldened me a bit and I'm thinking of re-starting the sideways monster to get it growing upward, at least for as long as I can. But, I'm a bit hesitant to start, and welcome any advice and suggestions that might help me do a better job of it.
Volunteering at the greenhouse has been a wonderful experience, especially for someone without a lot of space at home! We keep the mature plants going, also propagate smaller plants to give away to Vets, families and employees. I'm good with small succulents, have become the main caregiver for an Adenia glauca (formerly sickly),but never knew what to do with the Monsteras.
Sorry for any confusion, and thanks for good advice!

MsDoe said: I volunteer at a non-commercial greenhouse. I've always been afraid of the "monsters" and had no idea how to grow them. This one has been there since I've been there, growing sideways and slowly becoming less attractive and more problematic. It's about ready to either tip over or break.
A few months ago, someone dropped off a terribly overgrown, neglected, tangled mess of one. (Sorry, I don't have a picture.) We cut it in segments, I stuck a few top cuts and about six totally bare segments of stem into a pot. Putting the cart before the horse, I then started reading about them and watching some YouTube videos. Surprise! All the bare sticks have sprouted, I've repotted to thin them out, and found amazing, vigorous roots. I finally realized these plants are just big vines with prop roots, so I've tied up the new sprouts to start them growing straight.
So, that success and new knowledge have emboldened me a bit and I'm thinking of re-starting the sideways monster to get it growing upward, at least for as long as I can. But, I'm a bit hesitant to start, and welcome any advice and suggestions that might help me do a better job of it.
Volunteering at the greenhouse has been a wonderful experience, especially for someone without a lot of space at home! We keep the mature plants going, also propagate smaller plants to give away to Vets, families and employees. I'm good with small succulents, have become the main caregiver for an Adenia glauca (formerly sickly),but never knew what to do with the Monsteras.
Sorry for any confusion, and thanks for good advice!

Sounds like an awesome place!
There must be some neat stuff there. Any other pictures?

I'll see if I can get some more snapshots when I'm there next week.
The organization has a residential program for substance abuse and mental health treatment, plus help to get homeless vets off the streets. It feels great to be able to hand off a plant to these folks. They seem to enjoy walking through the greenhouse and taking a small plant with them back to their room. Some like to linger and talk plants, some have come back to help. Many have paid a high price for their service, it's an honor to be able to offer a little plant therapy.
The employees are often pretty stressed, and will take a few "mental health" moments in the greenhouse on their lunch break. Many have office plants to discuss.
I feel a bit guilty about enjoying it so much, but it really has been a great place to volunteer.

Sounds like you guys do some great work.

MsDoe said:
A few months ago, someone dropped off a terribly overgrown, neglected, tangled mess of one. (Sorry, I don't have a picture.) We cut it in segments, I stuck a few top cuts and about six totally bare segments of stem into a pot. Putting the cart before the horse, I then started reading about them and watching some YouTube videos. Surprise! All the bare sticks have sprouted, I've repotted to thin them out, and found amazing, vigorous roots. I finally realized these plants are just big vines with prop roots, so I've tied up the new sprouts to start them growing straight.

That's awesome!

I have two to deal with, ~15- year-old and already pulled 5 good 2+ year-old cuttings, all doing well.
Leaving some dead stumps and maybe 10 new starts in ancient soil. Time to re-start (too late for pictures).

Second is my~ 40 year-old, currently sprawling across my porch and down 2 steps with leaves way bigger than my hand, almost both my hands.

Monstera deliciosa is kind of like a weed in its natural habitat. If it gets dismembered LOL the pieces usually mostly reroot themselves and start over. That is why I cannot understand everyone's angst over 'rooting their variegated monstera cuttings'. They tend to make something easy into something hard (probably because it cost them a lot of $$$ so they think if it was expensive its in some way harder...? I have no idea...)
If you can, after you do the chop and prop, try and set the container near a wall in the greenhouse. In maybe the most out of the way place like a corner. The plant does not actually need a tree or a post or totem to attach to in order to climb. They attach to walls quite easily. Just prop it up out of the way and let it do its thing.

Humboldt, here's a snapshot of everybody's favorite String of Hearts, doing quite well in the greenhouse.

WOW that is a serious STring of Hearts!