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What To Do With Monstera Aerial Roots – A Quick Guide!

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Monstera aerial roots are the integral and important parts. Those roots that are in the lower part of the trunk, when they grow, direct them into the ground to let them take root there. In essence, the monstera aerial roots act as the other organ of nutrition and like the support device.

Indeed, no one substitutes support for a wild monstera in living nature, so they grow until they find something to rely on.

 When spraying, do not forget to spray the aerial roots. With dry air and a lack of light, it is the monstera aerial roots that first suffer. Continue to read this article to understand what to do with monstera aerial roots.

What To Do With Monstera Aerial Roots
Aerial roots of my monstera via Reddit

How to Recognize Monstera Aerial Roots

Before deciding what to do with the monstera aerial roots, they need to be recognized. An inexperienced grower may decide that these are not roots but new stems. Aerial roots form on the stems as the plant grows.

As a rule, they grow opposite the leaves and have a slightly thickened and lignified structure. Such processes are colored not green, like the main stem but light brown. Often, these monstera aerial roots grow to impressive lengths, spreading to the floor near the pot. 

What To Do With Monstera Aerial Roots 2 1
Monstera deliciosa ‘Albo-Variegata’ via Wikimedia

What to Do with Monstera Aerial Roots

Gently tying them to the stems during the formation of the plant helps to reach the shoots of the soil where they can take root. Near the flower pot where the monstera aerial roots are located, you can put several small containers filled with soil.

Such roots can be directed into these containers, and over time they will take root in them. After rooting, the gardener will have several young exotic plants.

Next to the flower pot with the monstera aerial roots, you can put several containers filled with frozen water. This will promote rooting in the water.

When using this method, the novice gardener should remember that it is necessary to change the water every three days for good development. In special flower shops, you can purchase plastic supports made to decorate the appearance of vines.

The monstera aerial roots are easily fixed in support, and the air outgrowths are brought into the support through small holes. But sometimes gardeners improve the appearance by partially cutting off untidy growth and sticking outshoots in different directions.

It is important to remember that it is impossible to cut off all the processes when using this method. In this case, the plant will not be able to continue its development and will soon die.

Why Does The Monstera Need Aerial Roots

It will not be so easy for a novice gardener to recognize the aerial roots, which can be mistaken with the new stems. They grow opposite to the monstera leaves.

They have a dense structure and are prone to lignification. Unlike the main stem, they are colored not deep green but brownish. Such roots often grow to an impressive length, located on a horizontal surface on which a flower pot stands.

Monstera aerial roots contribute to additional moisture. The tropical liana monstera naturally grows in the hot tropics, which often have heavy rains, and the air is oversaturated with life-giving moisture.

Thanks to its well-developed aerial roots, the plant can receive moisture from moist soil and the air. The moisture obtained in this way has a beneficial effect on the development of an exotic plant.

There is a direct relationship: the longer and denser such roots, the healthier and stronger the monstera will grow. When creating favorable conditions for the development of a flower, sometimes an obstinate beauty can please with the unusual flowering.

The correct development of the monstera will become impossible if it is deprived of this adaptation. The interesting thing is that such roots are important not only for the growing plant but also for its owner.

The experienced gardener will always be able to determine the condition of the monstera in one or another phase of its development.

Where To Put Monstera Aerial Roots So As Not To Harm The Plant

1. Tie up along the trunk

Monstera aerial roots are an additional source of moisture because there are no heavy rains at home, which a tropical plant loves so much. The more roots a vine has, the larger and healthier it will grow. 

But when grown at home, aerial shoots often spoil the overall picture. One way to solve this problem is by rooting aerial roots in the pot. You can tie them neatly to the stems as they form and direct them into a pot of soil so they can take root.

To make the descending roots look more aesthetically pleasing, they can be wrapped in wet moss. This option will speed up the rooting process and add moisture.

If it is not possible to place the roots in the main pot, you can place more pots with soil next to it and direct the shoots into them. Then you will form a few more young plants.

2. Place the containers of water next to monstera and direct them there

Next to the flower pot where the monstera is located, you can place containers filled with frozen water. These actions will help the plant to take root in the water. For proper development, water must be changed to freshwater once every three days.

3. Special support

The overgrown monstera must be fixed on the support, having made holes in advance to secure the air processes. The holes can be filled with earth or constantly sprayed with frozen water, remembering that the vine needs sufficient moisture.

The main sign that the plant has enough moisture will be the collected drops of water at the ends of the leaves.

Some owners of an amazing plant are advised to save themselves from problems and cut off the aerial roots. But experts believe that this should not be done in any case. This can lead to loss of plant vitality and yellowed leaves.

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Conclusion

Monstera aerial roots are very necessary because they help the plant to receive additional nutrition. They cannot be removed since the plant will immediately weaken and its development and become slow. 

The monstera aerial roots should be directed into the plant pot or into another container filled with nutrient earth to create a prettier look and nutrition of the plant. There are various reasons what to do with monstera aerial roots, and now you have full information.