The majority of climbing plants, including Monsteras, have aerial roots that enable them to climb up trees or other surfaces. Some orchids and monsteras grow up using other structures as supports after attaching to them with their aerial roots. This is significant since Monsteras must fight for sunlight in their natural environments with much taller tropical trees and plants.
The aerial roots help Monstera in the wild climb taller trees so that its leaves may get to the sunshine in the upper canopy, which hardly ever reaches the ground. This helps explain in part why Monsteras can get so big. In the rainforest, Monsteras would not be able to get enough sunlight if they couldn’t use aerial roots to climb up trees.
Additionally, aerial roots remove moisture from the atmosphere, giving the plant more water. Aerial roots are distinct from lateral-subterranean, or underground, roots since they almost exclusively serve to support the Monstera as it grows larger. In addition to absorbing water and nutrients from the soil, underground roots assist in preventing the plant from toppling over or being uprooted.
It’s crucial to remember that an aerial root’s principal function is not to absorb moisture. Don’t disregard your plant because you think the aerial roots should be able to absorb enough water.
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.
You can do this, but it really isn’t 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.
Are aerial roots typical for Monstera plants?
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.
Is it okay to remove the aerial roots of 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!
Should aerial roots of Monstera be submerged in water?
I’ve seen several sources advise you to put a bowl of water in the planter for your Monster deliciosa and trail its aerial roots in there. According to the theory, this is because aerial roots may actually absorb moisture. However, submerging them in water nonstop won’t likely accomplish much more than cause them to deteriorate and perhaps put your plant in risk.
However, you can frequently spray the aerial roots of your Monstera. Again, there is no scientific evidence that this makes a significant difference, but it won’t hurt. In addition, since these tropical plants prefer their surroundings to be moist, make sure the air humidity is not too low.
Please feel free to leave a comment below if you have any additional queries regarding Monstera aerial roots or if you would want to discuss your own interactions with these magnificent tropical houseplants.
Can aerial roots be planted in soil?
You can, indeed. The roots will continue to expand in the soil as a result and will have a function to absorb water and nutrients. Due to the lack of rain indoors, they are unable to absorb moisture when hung in the air, therefore they serve little purpose unless you periodically water or mist them.
With aerial roots, how do you repot Monstera deliciosa?
Because it is a tropical jungle plant, the Swiss cheese plant needs rich, nutrient-dense soil that retains moisture without becoming soggy. Peat moss is a fantastic addition to a typical, high-quality potting soil.
A pot with many of drainage holes and a depth deep enough to fit a stout stake should be chosen. The soil mixture should fill the bottom third of the pot. Lightly press the stake into the center. Very tall and mature cheese plants will require assistance from a second person to support the upper sections when being potted.
The original soil line on the plant should be slightly below the location of the new line when the base of the plant is placed within the container. The area around the aerial roots and base roots should be filled in. Utilizing plant ties, secure the stem to the stake by compacting the potting material around the stake.
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.
Long aerial roots on Monstera can be propagated in what ways?
This technique works well for tiny cuttings and will appeal to the curious control freaks among us because you can monitor root development over time. Slice a stem just below a leaf node, then submerge it in a glass of fresh water. Water should be changed frequently as you wait for the roots to develop. You have the option of taking the cutting with or without an aerial root attached. The two images below demonstrate the roots that formed in a glass of water after 4-6 weeks, one from an aerial root and the other directly from a leaf node where, over time, an aerial root would have formed.
a cutting’s roots growing after removal without formed aerials. Just above the spot where the parent plant’s material was cut, the roots are starting to show up level with the leaf node.
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.
How can a Monstera be made bushier?
Owners of Monstera deliciosa adore this plant for its big, glossy leaves, simple maintenance requirements, and the tropical feel it adds to a space. Additionally, they are fantastic for those who want to make a statement with a large plant but don’t want to spend a bunch. When given the proper care, monsteras can grow astonishingly quickly, although they don’t always take on the shape that their owners desire.
How is a Monstera shaped? Your Monstera deliciosa’s shape can be altered by trimming it or altering its surroundings. Pruning is removing a portion of the plant, whereas environmental modifications involve adjusting the plant’s light conditions, container size, or stakes.
I’ll give you a quick summary of why Monsteras develop the way they do and what to anticipate from this plant when allowed to grow organically in the sections below. I’ll also provide you with training advice so you can develop your Monstera in a particular way and some techniques for doing so.
It Has Been Two Years
Repotting every two years, preferably at the start of the growing season, is a decent general rule of thumb, though it should be noted that this is merely a recommendation. Younger plants may develop considerably more vigorously and require repotting more frequently, thus this rule does not apply to them.
But for older plants, this is a terrific approach to maintain a routine that enables you to replace their pots, examine their roots, and replenish their soil. This is crucial for huge Monsteras because it may take many people to take them out of their pots and replant them in new ones.
The Roots Are Growing Out of the Drainage Hole
Although two years is the standard, these quickly growing plants can require more frequent repottings. Check the drainage hole on your Monstera to see if it needs to be repotted; if roots are sticking out, your Monstera has outgrown its container!
If so, consider upgrading your pot size before replanting. The Monstera will have plenty of room to breathe thanks to this. Repotting is necessary since an overgrown Monstera will become rootbound, which may lead to issues later.
The other choice is to prune the plant’s roots if you’re worried about expanding the pot size. This will stifle growth, which is something to take into account if available space is a problem.
The Soil Won’t Hold Much Water
When watering your Monstera, you may notice another sign that it needs to be repotted. Pull the Monstera out of the container and look at the roots if you find that the water you add to the plant seems to drain from the drainage hole too rapidly. You’ll probably discover that the plant has become root-bound.
A plant that is rootbound has roots that have expanded to the point that they completely fill the pot, leaving little to no space for soil. Due to an imbalance in the ratio of roots to soil, water cannot be properly absorbed by the remaining soil and will eventually run out of the pot. This is bad for the health of the plant because it prevents the roots from soaking up the water that ought to soak into the soil.
If you examine the roots and see that this has occurred, prepare to use a larger pot. To ensure that all of the roots have access to the new soil after transplanting, you should try to carefully untangle the roots. While tangled roots won’t completely destroy a plant, they will have an impact on the soil’s ability to retain moisture and the plant’s ability to obtain all the nutrients it requires.
There Isn’t Any New Growth
If your Monstera deliciosa is otherwise happy and healthy but isn’t putting out any new growth, it could be time to repot it. There are several reasons a Monstera won’t produce new leaves, including insufficient light or water, low humidity, and a lack of nutrients, so be sure to examine your plant before making a determination.
A Monstera that has stopped growing but hasn’t experienced any stressors, such being transferred, is frequently too big for its pot. If this is the problem, it can be quickly determined by looking at the roots. Repotting is necessary if there are more roots than soil or if the roots are severely entangled and tied together.
In this circumstance, repotting is a fast technique to guarantee that the Monstera resumes producing new growth. Place the Monstera back where it was after repotting it in a bigger pot with new soil. It will resume growing if the time of year is favorable!