The most frequent queries I’ve been asked by my readers and followers are included below, along with a brief explanation.
What are Monstera aerial roots?
Even indoors, Monstera deliciosa plants eventually have very long aerial roots. What do they do, exactly? Understanding how they fit into nature is crucial.
Simply put, aerial roots are plant roots that develop above the soil’s surface.
In the wild, Monstera deliciosa plants grow higher and more aerially to reach stronger light and to cling to tree trunks for support.
Outdoor aerial roots can cling to walls, trees, and other constructions. Watch the one below as it scales a wall.
Here is another illustration of a Monstera in the Cleveland Botanical Gardens climbing a tree.
What do you do with aerial roots on Monstera?
The thick, brown, cord-like aerial roots on my own plant grew so much that they piled up in a huge heap on the living room floor. My plant got difficult to rotate, so I just cut the roots back until they were no longer in contact with the ground.
Your plant won’t be harmed by this. Just keep in mind that more aerial roots will inevitably erupt, necessitating further trimming.
I don’t totally remove the aerial roots since I like the way they look. However, doing so won’t hurt your plant in any way.
Some may give them direction so they can begin to grow in the dirt in their pot. Although there is no danger in doing this—I myself don’t—doing so frequently enough can make it more difficult to repot your plant in the future.
People have also questioned whether they ought to put their Monstera aerial roots in tiny containers of water.
Although it is possible, it is not absolutely necessary. You don’t need to bother about watering or even misting your aerial roots if you use excellent watering techniques.
Can you propagate monstera aerial roots?
You cannot develop a new Monstera plant from merely an aerial root; I’m not sure where the idea comes from.
Starting with a cutting with a node will allow you to grow a new plant (where the leaf meets the vine). View the image below.
On my own Monstera deliciosa plant, you can see the developing “eye” where the arrow is in the photo above.
Simply cut the vine where the two red lines are, on either side of the node, and plant it either directly into moist potting soil or in water to root.
How can I train Monstera roots into a moss pole?
Although you don’t have to train your Monstera on a moss pole, you may just fasten your vine to the pole.
The aerial root that is growing into the moss is visible above where I tied the vine with a green twisty tie in the image below.
It will be simpler for the aerial roots to develop into the moss if you water your moss post.
Why are the aerial roots on my Monstera growing?
The presence of aerial roots on your monstera plant is natural and not a sign that anything is wrong. The monstera plant is a climbing plant in its natural environment.
The plant’s climbing behavior is only partially manifested in the form of aerial roots. They are there to aid in its expansion. They may be an aesthetic nightmare, but they’re not dangerous.
Should you remove your monstera plant’s aerial roots? or just let them be? I’ll address all of your concerns about what to do with the aerial roots of the monstera plant below.
Can I remove the air roots from Monstera?
Your Monstera naturally has aerial roots. No need to chop them off, please. As long as you use a clean, sharp blade and cut them back if they are blocking the path, it is acceptable.
The main plant of your Monstera won’t suffer if the aerial roots are cut off. These roots are designed to ascend, not to absorb nourishment.
For additional information on what to do with the aerial roots of your Monstera, keep reading!
What can you do with air roots from Monstera?
A gentle, damp cloth or a fast shower with lukewarm water can be used to clean your monstera’s leaves, especially the oldest ones on the plant, to eliminate any dust accumulation.
Only two fertilizer applications will be required for your monstera throughout the entire year: one in early spring and one in late summer.
Your monstera plant will eventually develop aerial roots from its stem. These aerial roots are there to support the plant; do not cut them off. If any aerial roots are too short to support a climbing plant, train them back into the soil to absorb more nutrients when they are long enough.
Can a Monstera be planted using only its aerial roots?
Unfortunately, if all you have is an aerial root, it is not possible. You’ll need a portion of Monstera stem with at least one node for successful propagation. It should ideally also have one or two leaves.
It’s quite acceptable if the node on your Monstera cutting has an aerial root sprouting out of it. This area of the cutting has the potential to produce roots, giving you a brand-new Monster deliciosa houseplant.
Did you realize? You can read the complete Monstera propagation guide to learn everything there is to know about growing Monstera.
Can I plant aerial roots of Monstera in soil?
The functions of Monstera aerial roots are well known to you. We are now faced with this crucial question. What should you do with these aerial roots—cut them, let them alone?
Because the aerial roots of Monstera are not ugly, I avoid cutting them. The plant now resembles itself in the wild considerably more thanks to them. However, I do this when they are quite long and sprouting everywhere:
- I reroute the aerial roots of Monstera into the soil so that they can aid in water and nutrient absorption, just like they would in the wild. However, since the stem of your plant is still in tact, it is not required.
- Attach them to the stem: You can attach the aerial roots to the stem or moss pole using twist ties or gardening tape. Particularly if they are really long, it helps to make them less unruly. You may easily alter the leaves on a bushy plant to disguise the stems.
- Let them develop: I frequently leave them alone because they don’t bother me much and this helps to create the impression of a naturalistic tropical rainforest. Simply make sure you have adequate room.
My approaches won’t be liked by everyone. You can cut the aerial roots of Monstera if you belong to that group. Your plant won’t suffer any damage from them. To avoid stressing your plant, however, we advise pruning roughly 30% at once. You can choose the very long, unkempt ones and discard the shorter ones.
Use razor-sharp, disinfected pruning scissors to remove these adventitious roots. Rubing alcohol with a concentration of 70 to 90 percent is ideal for cleaning gardening implements. You don’t want to infect your plants with diseases.
Should aerial roots be submerged in water?
Generally speaking, you shouldn’t submerge aerial roots of Monstera in water. Although it’s true that they can absorb moisture, they are normally not made to be submerged all the time.
You run a higher chance of causing damage to your plant when you submerge these roots in water. The aerial roots could start to decay.
Through overwatering, this might even indirectly injure underground roots. A Monstera starts to rely on its aerial roots as its primary supply of moisture when they have such easy access to regular water. Due to this, underground roots won’t develop as much and won’t be able to penetrate the soil deeply enough.
When that occurs, the underground roots are unable to absorb soil moisture from the routinely advised watering. Too much time spent with damp soil might cause those underground roots to decay.
You might have seen some claims that submerging aerial roots in water promotes development if you’ve been looking online. This is not supported by any scientific data, and it is most likely the result of correlation rather than causality.
However, some people do choose to submerge their aerial roots in water. But maintaining this precise balance can be challenging. Simply said, the possibility of decay makes this method less worthwhile.
The truth is that aerial roots don’t require any watering at all. They don’t even require misting. Simply simply, for maximum outcomes, keep those roots outside in the fresh air!
How is Monstera the aerial root trained?
You must fasten the Monstera to the moss pole once it is in the pot with the plant!
This will be a little simpler if your plant is still a young one. Tie the Monstera’s stem to the pole without pulling or bending excessively, making sure the nodes touch the wet moss. As a result, the aerial roots will be encouraged to encircle and grow into the moss pole.
This technique might need to be repeated whenever there is fresh growth. You can cut or loosen the ties once the aerial roots of the Monstera are securely fastened to the moss pole.
Your Monstera might not want to bend as much to attach to the moss pole if it is already pretty mature. This will require that you go extremely gently. Once the stem is up against the moss pole, tighten the ties every week to continue dragging it in that direction.
If the aerial roots of the Monstera are particularly lengthy, it can be beneficial for you to prune portions of them back. It will be more difficult to train them onto a support the longer they are. The aerial roots will generate more roots if you cut them close to the node; these roots will then develop into the moss pole.
Mist the Moss regularly.
The moss pole will draw the air roots of Monstera naturally, but only if it is moist. Regular misting of your moss pole will help your Monstera absorb extra moisture for its large, attractive leaves.
Use VELCRO garden tie.
VELCRO garden ties are a fantastic solution for securing your Monstera to the moss pole. There is no need to be concerned about tying a knot that will be strong enough because these plant ties attach to themselves. They are simple to put on and take off, and they won’t harm your Monstera’s stem.
The stems can also be attached to the moss pole using cable tie (zip tie). At least until the support begins to get hugged by the aerial roots. I performed this procedure on my Monstera Adansonii.
Can aerial roots regenerate?
You can, indeed. Your Monstera Deliciosa won’t suffer any harm if the aerial roots are cut, and they will quickly regrow. Although some individuals may find it an eyesore, you can also leave them alone. These air roots have a tendency to grow out of control and resemble wild cables. When cutting the air roots, take care not to harm the Monstera root node. However, remain composed and cut them off.
Can aerial roots be multiplied?
An excellent example of roots you can plant is the aerial roots on houseplants. One of the most well-known examples of this can be seen on spider plants. Spider plants are frequently cultivated in hanging baskets, where they produce plantlets that dangle from peculiar, wiry stems that extend from the plant. There are numerous aerial roots on each plantlet. By cutting off the plantlets and placing them with their roots buried in the soil, you can propagate the plant.
Windowleaf plants are indoor plants that utilize aerial roots in a special way. Windowleaf vines climb trees in their natural environment, reaching high into the canopy of the rainforest. Aerial roots are produced, which spread outward until they touch the ground. The strong stems are held in place by the stiff roots, which serve as guy wires. These plants can be multiplied by cutting off a piece of stem just below an aerial root and planting it in a pot.
Some aerial root plants cannot be planted in soil. Epiphytes are plants that use the structural support of other plants to grow on them. The purpose of their aerial roots is to remain above ground, where they can collect nutrients from the air, surface water, and debris. An illustration of this kind of plant would be epiphytic orchids. When to water your epiphytic orchids depends on the color of the aerial roots. Aerial roots with little moisture are silvery gray in appearance, whereas those with lots of moisture have a green tint.
Why don’t the leaves on my Monstera split?
The rate of leaf fenestration increases with plant age. If a mature Monstera is not splitting, attention is not being given to the plant to the same extent as it would in its natural environment. Monstera may fail to split as a result of inadequate lighting, poor soil drainage, and inadequate dietary requirements.
Why aren’t there any holes in my Monstera?
Why are there no holes in my monster leaves? Young leaves typically lack cuts. When mature leaves are devoid of fenestration, it may be a sign that there is insufficient light, too little moisture, nutrition, or air temperature. Young leaves don’t have cuts; older leaves eventually develop them.