Monstera Aerial Roots: What to Do

Everything you need to know about Monstera aerial roots—from management to propagation.

The Great Freak-Out

You walk over to admire your Monstera and notice something strange. Long, thick, brownish roots are bursting out of the stem, crawling through the air, and generally making a mess of your carefully curated plant shelf. Is your plant okay? Is it trying to escape? Should you... cut them off?

Take a deep breath. Those are aerial roots, and they are completely normal—and actually beneficial—for your Monstera. But that doesn't mean you have to love them (or their habit of invading neighboring pots). Let's talk about what these roots are, why they appear, and exactly what you should do with them.

What Are Aerial Roots, Anyway?

Aerial roots are exactly what they sound like: roots that grow in the air. In the wild, Monsteras are climbers. They use these roots to anchor themselves to trees and absorb moisture and nutrients from the humid rainforest air.

In your home, your Monstera doesn't need to climb a tree, but that evolutionary instinct is still strong. Those crazy roots are a sign your plant is healthy and looking for ways to support itself. It is essentially trying to "grab" onto something for stability.

Key takeaway: If your Monstera has aerial roots, it's happy and growing.

The Options: What You Can Do

You have three main choices when it comes to managing aerial roots. None are "wrong"—it just depends on how you want your plant to look and grow.

Option 1: Tuck and Train (Recommended)

The most natural approach is to gently guide the aerial roots back into the pot or onto a moss pole. This mimics how the plant grows in nature and encourages larger, more stable growth.

• Into the soil: You can carefully tuck the roots into the potting mix. They will eventually underground and help the plant absorb more water and nutrients. This is a great option if you don't have a support structure.

• Onto a moss pole: If you want that tall, tree-like Monstera, encourage the roots to attach to a moss pole. As the roots make contact with the moist pole, they will cling to it, supporting the stem as it grows upward. This often leads to larger leaves and more frequent fenestrations because the plant is growing in its natural, upright form.

Option 2: Cut Them Off

Yes, you can cut aerial roots. It won't kill your plant. However, there are a few things to keep in mind:

• Do not cut the main stem. Only cut the roots themselves, as close to the stem as possible without damaging it.
• Cut cleanly. Use sterilized scissors or pruning shears to prevent infection.
• Accept the trade-off. The plant will simply grow new ones. If your Monstera is determined to climb, it will keep sending out roots. Think of it like trimming your hair—it grows back.

Pro tip: If you find cutting roots unsatisfying, you can trim them back partially to keep them neat without removing them entirely.

Option 3: Propagate (The Ultimate Eco-Friendly Move)

This is where those "weird" roots become your best friend. Aerial roots are a huge head start for propagation.

1. Identify a node: Find a section of stem that has at least one aerial root and a leaf. The node is the slightly swollen area where the root meets the stem.
2. Cut below the node: Take a cutting with about 2–3 inches of stem below the root.
3. Place in water or soil: Pop that cutting in a jar of water or directly into a small pot with moist soil. Because it already has a root, it will establish much faster than a rootless cutting.
4. Wait: In a few weeks, you'll have a brand new Monstera. You can eventually plant it back with the mother plant for a fuller look, or keep it as a separate plant.

Humidity: The Secret Weapon

Monsteras grow aerial roots aggressively when the air is dry because they are desperate for moisture. If you want to reduce the quantity of aerial roots or encourage them to attach to a pole, increasing humidity helps.

• Mist the roots: If you want the roots to stick to a moss pole, mist the pole and the roots regularly.
• Use a humidifier: Grouping plants together creates a microclimate with higher humidity.
• Pebble tray: Place the pot on a tray filled with pebbles and a little water (ensure the pot sits on the pebbles, not in the water).

Normalizing the Weirdness

Let's be real: aerial roots can look a little chaotic. But they are a badge of honor for a healthy Monstera. Instead of seeing them as a problem, try to see them as a sign that your plant is thriving and ready to grow big and tall.

If the look truly bothers you, the cleanest aesthetic is usually a moss pole with the roots tucked in and trained upward. It keeps everything neat while honoring the plant's natural growth habits.

Quick FAQ

• Will cutting aerial roots kill my plant? No. It may stress it slightly, but a healthy Monstera will recover and likely grow more roots.
• Can I put aerial roots in water? Yes! If you have a long root that you want to propagate, you can place just that root in water to encourage it to grow more roots before taking a cutting.
• My aerial roots are brown and crispy. This is usually due to low humidity. Try misting them or increasing the ambient moisture.

Related Articles:

• Monstera Support: Moss Pole vs Trellis vs Stake
• When Will My Monstera Fenestrate?