Monstera houseplants are known for their broad, beautifully fenestrated leaves. Their capability of growing to gigantic sizes in their native habitats earned them the name “Monstera”, meaning monster. As the plant grows in size, you may have noticed roots growing above the soil on your Monstera- these are aerial roots.
Although they may look strange, aerial roots on Monstera are completely normal. Aerial roots are roots that grow above ground and help with plant support and absorption of necessary nutrients.
Continue reading to learn more about aerial roots, what they mean for your Monstera, and what to do about them.
Related Articles: Monstera Deliciosa Care Guide and Monstera Adansonii Care Guide
What are aerial roots?
As their name implies, aerial roots are roots found growing ABOVE the soil. These roots are adventitious, meaning they do not grow underground like they are supposed to. When they first grow, aerial roots appear like knob-like growths on the stem and are white in color. Over time, they increase in length and turn a brown color.
Aerial roots on a Monstera are not a bad sign. You can make some changes to your Monstera’s environment to make sure it is getting everything it needs, but nothing needs to be done about the roots specifically. Trim them of if you prefer, although that is not necessary.
Why does my Monstera have aerial roots?
Aerial roots on Monstera serve many purposes. Tropical plants (besides Monstera) frequently grow these roots because they allow them to absorb plenty of water from their humid atmosphere.
Some purposes of aerial roots on Monstera include:
- Absorption of moisture and nutrients: Monstera are native to tropical areas with high humidity. Aerial roots could grow if the plant is not being watered enough as a way to provide the plant with more moisture from the atmosphere.
- Structural support: In the wild, Monstera grow over 60 feet tall. As you can imagine, the plant needs additional support to reach this height. Aerial roots help vining plants (like Monstera) anchor on to supporting structures as they grow. The roots also grow downwards until they make contact with the soil, providing support for weaker stems.
- Assist with air exchange, especially for plants in habitats with waterlogged soil. Aerial roots have small pores that help the plant take in air as needed.
- Access to more sunlight: In rainforests, sunlight at the lower levels is rare due to the canopy of tall trees. As a result, tropical plants like Monstera use their aerial roots to climb along trees to higher levels for access to more light.
Monstera are epiphytes, meaning they do not damage or harm other trees that the aerial roots grow along.
Aerial roots are not specific to Monstera- they can be seen on many other houseplant species. They tend to appear as the plant ages and grows larger to provide more support. They are not as common in younger Monstera plants when the plant is still small.
How do aerial roots differ from underground roots?
As you saw, aerial roots assist mainly with structural support as a plant climbs up a surface and with absorbing humidity and nutrients from the air. On the other hand, underground roots absorb nutrients from the soil, allowing the plant to grow.
Underground roots are a different type of root than aerial roots and they are not interchangeable. Aerial roots cannot turn into underground roots even if they are covered in soil and planted underground.
Types of roots on Monstera
There are three main types of roots: lateral-subterranean, aerial and aerial-subterranean, as described below.
- Lateral-subterranean roots: this is the “typical” root that people know of- the ones that grow underground and allow the plant to absorb moisture and nutrients from the soil. Most plants have these roots (notable exceptions include air plants).
- Aerial-subterranean roots: as the name suggests, these are a mix between aerial and subterranean roots. They start off as aerial roots above the soil, then grow into the ground as they become longer.
- Aerial roots: these are the roots that grow in the air, above ground. Aerial roots are not unique to Monstera and serve different purposes in different plants. In parasitic plants, aerial roots suck nutrients out of the host plant. In other species, aerial roots promote propagation, so that if a segment is chopped off, the plant has the means to continue to survive.
When do aerial roots form?
While Monstera houseplants do not need to compete with other trees to receive sunlight and water resources like they do in the wild, they still develop aerial roots indoors.
When aerial roots first appear, they may look like small knobs on the Monstera stem. As time goes on, they grow longer and turn a darker brown color. Aerial roots may grow to several feet long in Monstera.
Aerial roots forming could also mean that your Monstera needs a few tweaks in it’s environment- mainly in regards to watering, humidity or sunlight.
Monstera care: watering
If your Monstera is not receiving enough water, it sends out aerial roots in search of more moisture. Water the Monstera when the top layer of soil feels dry. Pour enough to moisten the soil without soaking it.
In general, water your Monstera about once every one to two weeks and adjust the frequency as needed based on your environmental conditions. If you notice the soil remains very wet for days, decrease your watering frequency and add more perlite to the soil to increase drainage.
A Monstera that is in a very dry or bright lit area requires more frequent watering than a plant in a humid or shaded area. Pay attention to other signs such as dried out bottom leaves for a clue that your Monstera needs more water, and check the soil’s moisture frequently.
Learn how to water a Monstera properly with this article
Monstera care: humidity
Native to tropical rainforests, Monstera prefer humid conditions. If the air is very dry, your Monstera could be shooting out extra aerial roots in search of more moisture. This is especially true if your Monstera is underwatered, as described before.
Increase the humidity around the Monstera houseplant in one of these ways:
- Place a humidifier nearby (any other humidity loving plants will benefit from this as well).
- Fill a tray with pebbles and water. Put the pot on top of the pebbles (make sure the pot does not directly touch the water). As the water evaporates, it increases moisture around the plant.
- Do not keep the Monstera next to any vents or heaters where the air is very dry.
Monstera care: sunlight
Monstera prefer bright, indirect light, similar to what they receive out in the wild. If your Monstera is in the shade, it could require more sun.
Your Monstera may be growing additional aerial roots as it searches for more sunlight. Other signs of insufficient light include spaced out leaves, tall stems, and leaning towards the side where they are receiving more light.
As the stem grows taller, the plant becomes more top-heavy, resulting in aerial roots to assist with stabilization. They help prevent the plant from toppling over.
If this case, slowly transition the Monstera to an area that receives more light over the course of a week (do not immediately move it from a shaded area to a bright, sunny area because that burns the leaves).
An East or West facing window is best because it provides enough light without burning the plant. Avoid north facing windows since they do not provide as much sun.
Natural growth
Remember, aerial roots still occur even if your Monstera is receiving the appropriate light, water and humidity. As the plant grows larger, aerial roots are more likely.
You can chose to leave them on or cut them off if they bother you (it does not hurt your plant to cut them off).
What do I do about aerial roots on Monstera?
Nothing has to be done about the aerial roots- just leave them as is. Check to make sure your Monstera is properly watered and is receiving enough humidity and sunlight.
Provide the plant with a pole to support itself and grow along. Tie the stems gently to the pole with string to encourage aerial root growth around the pole. This encourages the aerial roots to climb up and around the pole in a more organized way, instead of shooting off everywhere and gives the plant a neater appearance.
If the aerial roots are getting in the way, or you do not like their appearance (especially as they grow very long) snip them off carefully. This does not hurt or damage the plant. Use a clean, sharp pair of scissors when pruning- failing to properly sanitize may introduce bacterial or fungal disease into the plant.
Cut right where the root meets the stem. Be aware that pruning may actually encourage more aerial root growth, with multiple roots growing in the same area. Pruning roots frequently may also hinder growth since the plant is unable to support itself as well.
Should I put a Monstera’s aerial roots in water or soil?
Putting aerial roots in water or soil will most likely just cause them to rot. If an aerial root makes it’s way down the the soil, leave it there, but do not go out of your way to plant it there. Aerial roots are meant to be in the air, so that’s where they do best.
Can you grow a new Monstera from aerial roots alone?
Propagating from an aerial root alone is very unlikely- aerial roots are a different type of root than underground roots, so they do not support the plant’s grow in the same way.
However, if a node has multiple aerial roots, it is a sign that it would be a strong choice for a stem cutting. Cut beneath the node to propagate the plant.
Learn more about Monstera propagation here.
In summary for aerial roots on Monstera…
Aerial roots serve numerous purposes, such as: structural support, access to additional sunlight, or absorption of nutrients and moisture from the environment. These roots appear as the plant ages and grows in size.
Provide your Monstera with enough humidity, water as needed, and place it somewhere with bright, indirect sunlight. This promotes healthy plant growth.
You can trim the roots if you prefer but it is not necessary. Tying the stems to a pole provides the roots a structure to grow along and supports growth.
Aerial roots are not the same as underground roots, so they cannot be used to propagate the plant. However, multiple aerial roots from a node are a good sign that the node is a good choice for a stem cutting.
Have any other questions about Monstera aerial roots that I did not answer? Let me know down below!
Check out these other plant species care guides here.
Related Articles
Aerial Roots on Succulents: What they Mean
