These fast-growing roots can get messy quickly.
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Are you looking for a low-maintenance,on-trend houseplant?
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So, what do you do with these prominent protrusions?
Aerial Roots
Aerial roots grow above the soil line from the stem.
They provide anchoring support, absorb water, and uptake nutrients.
They are most often found on epiphytic plants andvining plants.
Plus, they help the plant in terms of support.
When they curl around a moss pole or trellis, they can stop it from drooping over.
That way, they can continue to absorb beneficial nutrients.
You might hear the hard brown root casing snap when you bend mature woody roots down.
Unless you’ve gone overboard on the bending, it’s likely the inner aerial root is still intact.
Don’t forget that aerial roots continue to grow and will likely emerge from the soil line again.
It’s Fine to Cut Off Aerial Roots
Monstera aerial roots have an erratic and fast-growing habit.
Mature plants can sprout thick aerial roots that grow to be several feet.
Just check that you use sterilized, sharp shears orprunersto prevent the risk of spreading disease.
Get ready to do it again in the future, as more will take their place over time.
Juvenile roots are very pliable, but the woodier, mature roots might need extra encouragement.
Trellises make it easy to wind the roots through the sections.
When their aerial roots wrap around a trellis or other support, this can be tricky.
An otherwise healthy plant will bounce back just fine.
They don’t have any nodes on them to encourage new root growth.
The theory is that this helps it absorb more moisture to stay healthy.
Instead, focus on providing the right moisture levels via watering the soil.
These plants are natural climbers.
They produce aerial roots to help support them as they climb.
These roots also absorb water and nutrients from the air (and precipition if outdoors).
Neither is necessary, but neither is wrong, either.
No, it’s not bad to cut off aerial roots.
Aerial roots seek support and moisture for the plant, so their presence isn’t unnatural.
