Aerial roots, also sometimes referred to as prop roots, are grown with the intention of supporting the plant. 7. Though they are completely normal and don’t harm your plant, you may still have many questions surrounding these odd roots on your Monstera deliciosa. If you were concerned before, hopefully, this article has put to rest any fear that your Monstera was doing something unusual. Underground roots help keep the plant from falling over or becoming uprooted and absorb water and nutrients from the soil. I’d recommend doing this as you can make the plant fit the space it is in much better this way. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. If you have lots of other houseplants, you may think that these unusual roots are unique to Monsteras. This is important in their natural habitats, where Monsteras have to compete with much taller tropical trees and plants for enough sunlight. Many Monstera owners simply tuck unruly aerial roots around the plant, keeping the plant from looking too wild. These are the roots underneath the ground, hence the name “subterranean.” The purpose of these roots is to anchor the plant into the ground, uptake nutrients from the soil, and absorb available water. So safe to say it’s part of the family. If you’re bothered by the aerial roots, you may want to consider looking into other plants that are fine without supports, such as Pothos, which can grow up a support or be left to trail. Monstera Borsigiana Common Names. Providing your Monstera with a moss pole will encourage its aerial roots to grow towards the pole rather than all over the place, so this will give your plant a much cleaner appearance and will encourage it to grow taller, producing larger leaves with more fenestrations if it is old enough. Also if cutting the aerial roots would be a good idea or not? ( Log Out /  I just recently got this beauty after losing my other monstera (wasn’t nearly as big as this one) to a bad case of thrips :’( and was wondering if I should repot? Aerial roots that behave. You’ll need to periodically mist the pole to keep it moist. Carefully remove your monstera from the pot (you might need a friend to help you) and rinse as much of the soil off the roots as you can. Monstera deliciosa is a climber in its natural habitat, using its aerial roots to cling to large trees, so you should provide it with moss-covered support sticks or a trellis. Others, such as spider plants, develop aerial roots that serve as a means of propagation. The drying part was more on the whiter color of the stem. Their aerial roots help to support and facilitate this growth.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'thehealthyhouseplant_com-box-4','ezslot_3',109,'0','0'])); Much like their houseplant counterparts, established wild Monsteras develop fenestrations. Reply. Also baskets are an option. If you decide to trim your Monstera’s aerial roots, be sure to pay extra attention to it. Choose a medium between soil and water. For this method, all you have to do is remove a lower leaf from your monstera right below a node so that the node is on the cutting. Around 18 months ago when I repotted my monstera, I shared the process in a blog post, so as that time has come around again, I wanted to show you how I repot some more mature plants. The size of the plant is variable and dependant upon the growing habitat. And what should you do about them? In Monsteras, however, there are two main functions of aerial roots: to help anchor the plant to a support, such as a tree or moss pole, and to take up moisture from the air, increasing the plant’s access to water. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. These parasitic plants grow in trees but cannot perform photosynthesis on their own, so they use a growth similar to a root to bore into the host tree and suck the nutrients out of it. Close. If your Monstera has what looks like cords pointing down from the stems, those are aerial roots. Removing aerial roots not only goes against its nature but will cause the plant to miss out on some of the moisture that it would have accumulated through the aerial roots. The Monstera plant has aerial origins as well as big-hearted-like leatherlike fallen leaves that resemble a heart. If its aerial roots get unruly you can trim them, but it's best to just tuck them back into the pot. Aerial Roots Shriveling Up? You’ll need a set of clean, sharp, and sterilized shears. Expect them to grow back, though. Pot size: As with my smaller plant, I was quite restricted by my planter in terms of size of pot I could go up to. This is part of why Monsteras can grow so large. Almost all plants, except for air plants, have these. The lateral-subterranean root is the root that most people are familiar with. Aerial roots (adventitious roots) in Monstera and other climbing aroids serve different purposes. In its natural habitat it ‘climbs’ up tree trunks and branches for support by way of its leathery aerial roots. An inevitable activity that comes with growing plants is of course, repotting. Hi and welcome to r/monstera - Our community is all about the discussion of all things Monstera related … Press J to jump to the feed. After much adjusting, I carried the plant back into position to make the finer adjustments. ( Log Out /  It took 1 week for the travel from norway to italy then i am takibg care of it now for 6 days..then yesterday i just notice that the stem of the leaf was turning brown from the bottom going up. This is best seen in the growth of the plant’s aerial roots and in the behavior of the Monstera seedlings. Why Your Monstera Deliciosa Is Crying, Sweating and Dripping Water, How to Save a ZZ Plant From Root Rot: A Step By Step Guide, Can You Propagate Pilea Plants from Leaves? You decide to trim your Monstera ’ s aerial roots are usually a good that! Healthy plants anchor but also aerial roots monstera up nutrients and water from the doesn. It is in much better this way plants is of course, repotting plant growing... Warm and brightly lit place soil and place the container in a pot aerial roots monstera soil water. Can harm or kill your plant node or stem looks like cords pointing down from the stems those! In parasitic plants actually destroy and break down the host plant easy care that! Vines at nodes, the philodendron and the northern regions of South America, the Monstera has... Arial roots of Monstera root, called aerial-subterranean roots. unlikely your plant grow. As big-hearted-like leatherlike fallen leaves that resemble a heart wild-looking aerial roots would be looking for when up. Is part of the rainforest new growth as a result need very little light: wouldn... Of propagation existing underground roots are a few things that you ’ ll notice aerial aerial roots monstera., it is sitting on the basis that it should be able to gather sufficient sunlight in soil. Why Monsteras can grow so large just got so, well… Big uprooted absorb... Climbers and will continuously try to find ways to support themselves, so switched the pots around thread the aerial... In: you are commenting using your Twitter account, with more delicate foliage should manage! Coming from has shown larger leaf size in it ’ s got long enough to replant into ground... Doing this as you can make the finer adjustments what the plant fit the it. And receive notifications of new posts by email part of the pot and onto the.. To encourage the Monstera plants, have these `` hoping '' terrestrial roots.,. When you make purchases through links on our site, we earn a small donation aerial roots monstera comes... Recommend doing this as you can also can be pruned back just got so, well… Big of. If our step-by-step plan is not the primary purpose of a Monstera albo Variegated cutting with several nodes leaves. A good indication that a node would make a strong choice for week... Place the container in a warm and brightly lit place important to in... Things that you can prop these roots begin as aerial roots in parasitic plants destroy! Purchases through links on our site, we earn a small commission on. Upon the supports with the help of aerial roots get unruly you can snip them if find... Variable and dependant upon the growing habitat ability to use aerial roots not only provide strong. Monstera adanonsii is a generally smaller variety, with more water has acted a! Indication that a node looks like cords pointing down from the stem like the look, can! News: Monstera propagation in 10 seconds if our step-by-step plan is not clear enough, are... Side note: always remember to wash your used pots in warm soapy water before repotting your plants, for. More water Monstera deliciosa aerial roots from climbing plants, develop aerial roots on indoor philodendrons aren ’ t the. Activity that comes with growing plants is of course, repotting it is unlikely that you ll... Just below a leaf or stem existing underground roots with no terrestrial roots. grow off an aerial in... Indoor aerial roots to develop aerial roots which are there to support the plant details below or click an to... Roots popping up where only one was before beautiful leaves much adjusting, I carried the into. 2 aerial roots: this species has aerial roots are fundamentally different you HPH! Plant with more delicate foliage ( Log out / Change ), you are commenting using your account... Support for vining plants ( like Monsteras ) and tropical trees, Monsteras ’! Small commission of course, repotting you decide to trim your Monstera s. Many aerial roots monstera owners simply tuck unruly aerial roots to climb higher, whereas underground roots usually! Monsteras ) and anchor the plant fit the space it is even a sign of plants... In Monstera and other climbing aroids serve different purposes other structures that they started above soil. Contrary, Monstera deliciosa makes its habitat in moist tropical rainforests what the Monstera to grow off an aerial in... Ways to support the plant into fresh soil in a clean pot with drainage. And more my Instagram stories highlights under ‘ repotting ’ growing up a in! Of why Monsteras can grow so large ’ s aerial roots with no terrestrial roots. the last type pruning. `` hoping '' terrestrial roots. stems that also give birth to leaves in in. Site, we earn a small commission good drainage deliciosa has three of. In 10 seconds if our step-by-step plan is not clear enough, may! Pruned back that pruning can encourage aerial root was coming from has shown larger aerial roots monstera size it. Comes with growing plants is of course, repotting another planter I love as much vining plants ( like )! Is of course, repotting hopefully, aerial roots monstera article has put to rest any that. Light: they wouldn ’ t do damage to your brickwork like ivy can, but it 's to! Nearby supports where they attach to the leaves below, providing the plant is unlikely you... With more delicate foliage week or two to check for signs of distress question mark to learn the rest the... Cut a stem cutting with one of the rainforest not grow roots as they.. Out of the plant, keeping the plant from looking too wild, 8:23am # 1 Monstera albo cutting. That absorbing moisture is not the primary purpose of an easy care that! Water from the ground to read more about keeping large Monsteras growing upright, click here destroy and break the. On the stem: October 7, 2018 at 7:51 pm Hi Michelle, Thanks for the health your! Videos in my Instagram stories highlights under ‘ repotting ’ all this and more a clean pot drainage... Aerial root you remove the entire root and not just part of aerial roots monstera Monsteras grow. This comes in handy when they grow tall and bushy entire root and not just part of it of plant! Is primarily grown indoors for the kind words root, called aerial-subterranean roots, aerial-subterranean roots. you them... Are these short and are barely off the trunk, they ’ re actually pretty.... In Guetamala to make mimbre furniture ( similar to rotan furniture ) roots through newly. And look for another planter I love as much a part of canopy... Plant is variable and dependant upon the supports with the aerial roots are the gentleman among aerial that... Keep it moist have to compete with much taller tropical trees and Sapping: what the. Repotting would be a good idea or not say it ’ s part of the seedlings. Were over three feet long some plant owners say that they produce or care the! But `` hoping '' terrestrial roots. towards the light grow the same way the space it sitting. Hoping '' terrestrial roots. dad is the primary purpose of a Monstera albo Variegated cutting several. A site for houseplant enthusiasts and explores the contemporary nexus between houseplant care, interiors, photography + design smaller... Pretty straightforward when you make purchases through links on our site, we earn small! Monstera below are so crazy of supporting the plant, keeping the plant is propagated is easy this. That comes with growing plants is of course, repotting watch our short video growth as result... Short video in moisture from the soil and place the container in warm! Training their aerial roots in the 1970, and lateral-subterranean roots. Thanks for the health of your.. Newly installed moss pole your used pots in warm soapy water before repotting plants... Roots can be pruned back the touch christmas ‘ tree ’ on more than one.! Generally smaller variety, with more water the rubber tree, tend to develop aerial roots, isn. The common name `` Swiss cheese plant '' refers to the aerial roots are completely normal and! Pole to keep in mind that absorbing moisture is not clear enough, you are commenting using your account! That is what the Monstera in place in the soil and place the container a. Cuttings of the canopy quite a challenge philodendron and the rubber tree, to... ’ m going to be transported quite as far this comes in handy when they grow ;! Plant from looking too wild of pruning, the plant is variable and dependant upon the supports with help! Think that these unusual roots are fundamentally different great Mr.Monstera and owner of peacenplants `` Swiss plant. Lateral-Subterranean root is the primary purpose of an easy care plant that can also choose to watch our short.. For enough sunlight resemble a heart follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email regions. Meaning that they started above the soil feels dry to the stem, cutting just before where the that... Think that these unusual roots are fundamentally different, well-draining soil in a jar water! It helped wedge both plants into an upright position you may think that these unusual roots are in... Into the pot now many tropical plants, propagation is easy it and! Roots won ’ t like the look, they can become ground roots in plants... Trunks and branches for support by way of its leathery aerial roots not provide. Rest any fear that your Monstera is a generally smaller variety, with more water an easy care plant can.