What are they and what should you do about them?
Many common and trendy varieties of houseplants produce them, including many monstera, pothos, and philodendron.
In the right environment, theyre hard to miss," notes Hancock.
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Here are five main things to know about aerial roots.
Placing a trellis or amoss polenear these plants encourages the aerial roots to latch onto it.
Banyans are a classic example of this, notes Hancock.
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Banyan is a fig tree variety that develops additional trunk-like stems from aerial roots.
These plants are very sturdy; the aerial roots help keep them grounded so they dont fall over."
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Banyan tree with aerial rootsIgnacio Palacios / Getty Images
What Kinds of Plants Grow Aerial Roots?
A wide variety of plants produce aerial roots if environmental conditions are right, says Hancock.
But you could also commonly find aerial roots on other vines like English ivy and climbing hydrangea.
According to Hancock, in a humid environment, a lot ofFicusspecies develop aerial roots, includingFicus benjaminaandFicus lyrata.
Keep your eyes open around your houseplantsyou may start to notice aerial roots in many of your plants.
What Should I Do (And Not Do) to Aerial Roots?
There are several things you shouldnt do to your plants that have aerial roots.
The appearance of aerial roots does not mean that a plant needs repotting.
Repotting to bury aerial roots typically isnt beneficial to the plant."
Also, dont remove the aerial roots of climbing plants, unless they are growing out of bounds.
Removing the aerial roots may also backfire, as it often triggers more aerial root growth.
Others, such as spider plants, produce small baby plants with roots on them that can be replanted.
But beyond these exceptions, it is not possible to propagate a plant with only aerial roots.
Youll need astem cutting with a node for plant propagation.
It is optional and depends on the plant.
What Do I Do With the Aerial Roots of a Philodendron?Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.
