Pothos Aerial Roots – Your Complete Guide to a Climbing, Thriving
Have you ever looked at your gorgeous, cascading pothos and spotted them? Those funny little brown nubs or wiry whiskers sticking out from the stems. If you’ve found yourself wondering, “What are those, and is my plant okay?”—you are in the exact right place.
Let me put your mind at ease, my friend. Those aren’t a sign of trouble. In fact, they are the complete opposite! You’ve just discovered your plant’s secret superpower.
I promise that by the end of this guide, you’ll not only understand what these features are but also feel empowered to use them to your advantage. We’re going to dive deep into the world of pothos aerial roots, exploring what they are, the incredible benefits they offer, and exactly how to manage them.
Get ready to unlock a new level of connection with your plant and learn how to help it grow into the lush, climbing masterpiece it was born to be.
What's On the Page
- 1 What Exactly Are Pothos Aerial Roots? (And Why They’re a Good Sign!)
- 2 The Amazing Benefits of Pothos Aerial Roots for Your Plant’s Health
- 3 Your Complete Pothos Aerial Roots Care Guide: To Trim or To Train?
- 4 How to Encourage Pothos Aerial Roots to Climb and Thrive
- 5 Solving Common Problems with Pothos Aerial Roots
- 6 Sustainable Pothos Aerial Roots: An Eco-Friendly Approach
- 7 Frequently Asked Questions About Pothos Aerial Roots
- 8 Embrace Your Pothos’s Wild Side
What Exactly Are Pothos Aerial Roots? (And Why They’re a Good Sign!)
First things first, let’s demystify these little oddities. Those bumps, nubs, and sometimes long, stringy growths are called adventitious roots, more commonly known as aerial roots. The word “adventitious” simply means they form from a non-root part of the plant, like a stem or leaf node.
In their native tropical rainforests, pothos (Epipremnum aureum) are climbers. They spend their lives vining up massive tree trunks, reaching for the sunlight that filters through the dense canopy. Their pothos aerial roots are the specialized tools that make this journey possible.
Think of them as a combination of tiny grappling hooks and straws. They have two primary functions in the wild:
- To Anchor and Climb: Their main job is to grip onto surfaces—like tree bark, rocks, or in our homes, a moss pole or wall—and secure the plant as it grows upwards.
- To Absorb Moisture and Nutrients: They can also absorb moisture directly from the humid air and nutrients from the organic matter on the surfaces they cling to, supplementing the main root system in the soil.
So, when you see these on your houseplant, it’s a fantastic sign! It means your pothos is healthy, mature, and feeling secure enough to express its natural, adventurous instincts. It’s trying to climb!
The Amazing Benefits of Pothos Aerial Roots for Your Plant’s Health
Far from being a problem, encouraging and working with these roots can lead to a healthier, more impressive plant. Understanding the benefits of pothos aerial roots is the first step toward becoming a true pothos whisperer. Here’s why you should learn to love them.
Stronger, More Stable Growth
When a pothos is allowed to climb, it feels supported and stable. This security signals the plant to invest its energy in growing bigger, stronger stems and, most excitingly, larger leaves. A trailing pothos will often produce smaller leaves over time, while a climbing one can develop leaves that are shockingly large and lush.
Enhanced Nutrient and Water Uptake
While the roots in the pot do the heavy lifting, the aerial roots provide a secondary source of hydration, especially in a humid environment. If you provide a moss pole that you keep damp, the aerial roots will burrow into it, drawing up extra moisture and creating a more resilient plant that’s less prone to drying out.
A Natural Indicator of Plant Happiness
A pothos that is stressed, under-watered, or not receiving enough light will focus its energy on basic survival. It won’t waste resources producing aerial roots. Seeing a healthy number of these little nubs is a clear signal from your plant that you’re doing a great job and it’s happy in its environment.
Propagation Made Incredibly Easy
This is one of my favorite pothos aerial roots tips! Each aerial root nub is a potential root system in the making. When you take a cutting for propagation, choosing a piece of vine that already has a few of these nubs gives you a massive head start. They will often convert to soil or water roots much faster, dramatically increasing your propagation success rate.
Your Complete Pothos Aerial Roots Care Guide: To Trim or To Train?
Okay, so we know they’re good. But what do you actually do with them? They can sometimes look a little unruly, especially on a long, trailing vine. This is where every pothos parent faces a choice: should you trim them off or train them to climb?
Option 1: Trimming the Aerial Roots
Let’s get this out of the way: yes, you can trim them. Cutting off the aerial roots will not harm your pothos. For some, the clean, smooth look of a vine is more aesthetically pleasing, and that’s perfectly okay! Your plant will continue to thrive from its main root system in the pot.
How to Trim Pothos Aerial Roots Safely:
- Use a clean tool. Always use sharp, sterilized scissors or pruning snips to prevent introducing any bacteria. A quick wipe with rubbing alcohol is perfect.
- Cut close to the stem. Snip the aerial root off as close to the main vine as you can without nicking the vine itself.
- Don’t worry about the stump. The tiny remaining part will simply dry up and callous over.
Option 2: Training the Aerial Roots (The Expert’s Choice)
While trimming is fine, I always encourage gardeners to try training their pothos to climb. This is where you truly start working with your plant’s nature. This is the secret to unlocking that “jungle look” and is one of the most important pothos aerial roots best practices.
By giving your pothos a surface to attach to, you are fulfilling its deepest botanical desire. The reward is a plant that is not just surviving in your home, but truly thriving.
How to Encourage Pothos Aerial Roots to Climb and Thrive
Ready to give it a try? It’s easier than you think! This simple how to pothos aerial roots guide will get you started on creating a stunning vertical accent with your plant.
Step 1: Choose a Support Structure
You need to give the roots something to grab onto. There are several great options:
- Moss Poles: This is the gold standard. They hold moisture, which actively encourages roots to dig in and absorb water. You can buy them or make a DIY version.
- Coir (Coconut Fiber) Poles: A great alternative to moss poles. They provide a fantastic, fibrous texture for roots to grip.
- Wooden Planks or Trellises: A simple cedar or bamboo plank offers a beautiful, naturalistic look. A small trellis works wonderfully, too.
- Wall Hooks: For a more minimalist approach, you can use small, clear, self-adhesive hooks to guide vines up a wall without providing a central pole.
Step 2: Position the Support
The easiest time to add a support pole is during repotting. You can place the pole in the new pot and arrange the plant around it. If you’re adding it to an existing plant, gently push the stake into the soil, being careful to avoid damaging the main root ball as much as possible.
Step 3: Gently Guide and Secure the Vines
Don’t force anything! Gently wrap the pothos vines around the pole or position them against your trellis. Make sure the nodes with the aerial roots are facing and touching the support. Use soft plant ties, jute twine, or velcro strips to loosely secure the vine in place until the roots take hold on their own.
Step 4: The Secret Ingredient—Humidity!
This is a pro tip that makes all the difference. Pothos aerial roots are activated by moisture. Regularly misting your moss or coir pole with water will signal to the roots, “Hey! This is a great place to attach!” You’ll be amazed at how quickly they start to burrow in once you do this.
Solving Common Problems with Pothos Aerial Roots
Even with the best care, you might have questions. Here’s a quick troubleshooting guide for the most common problems with pothos aerial roots.
“My aerial roots are getting super long and wiry!”
This is a cry for help—a cry for something to climb! Long, searching roots mean the plant is actively looking for a surface to grab. It’s the perfect time to introduce a pole or trellis. They are literally reaching out for support.
“The roots are dry, brown, and crispy.”
This is usually caused by low humidity. The plant sends out a root, it finds the air too dry to be useful, and the plant simply abandons it. It’s not a sign of poor plant health, just a reflection of its environment. You can trim them off for aesthetics or simply leave them be. Increasing humidity can help new roots stay viable.
“They’re attaching to my wall and might damage the paint!”
This is a valid concern! Pothos roots can be surprisingly strong and can pull off paint or damage drywall when removed. If your plant is getting too friendly with your walls, it’s best to redirect it onto a dedicated support like a trellis or use wall-safe hooks to guide its path.
“My pothos doesn’t have any aerial roots.”
Don’t panic! This could be for a few reasons. The plant might be young and not yet mature enough to start climbing. It could also be perfectly content in its current trailing state, especially if it’s getting plenty of light and water from its pot. A lack of roots isn’t necessarily a bad sign, just a different growth stage.
Sustainable Pothos Aerial Roots: An Eco-Friendly Approach
As gardeners, we love the planet. Embracing sustainable pothos aerial roots practices is a wonderful way to extend that love to our indoor jungle. This means choosing materials and methods that are kind to the earth.
Instead of buying plastic trellises, consider using natural, untreated branches from your own garden for a rustic look. You can create a DIY eco-friendly pothos aerial roots support by wrapping a sturdy stick in natural sphagnum moss or jute twine.
Ultimately, the most sustainable practice is simply working *with* your plant. By giving it a support to climb, you’re creating a stronger, more self-sufficient plant that is less susceptible to pests and diseases, reducing the need for other interventions down the line.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pothos Aerial Roots
Should I put my pothos aerial roots in water?
You can, but it’s not necessary. If a long aerial root happens to find its way into your plant’s water reservoir (for semi-hydroponic setups) or another nearby glass of water, it will likely convert into a water root. However, you don’t need to go out of your way to direct them into water. Their primary function on the stem is for climbing.
Is it bad to cut off pothos aerial roots?
Not at all! As we covered in our pothos aerial roots care guide, trimming them is perfectly safe and will not harm the plant. It’s purely a cosmetic choice. Just be sure to use a clean cutting tool.
Do aerial roots mean my pothos needs to be repotted?
Not necessarily. Aerial roots are a sign of a plant’s desire to climb and mature, not a direct indicator of being root-bound in the pot. To check if your pothos needs repotting, you should inspect the drainage holes for roots poking out or gently slide the plant out of its pot to look at the root ball.
Embrace Your Pothos’s Wild Side
So, the next time you spot one of those quirky brown nubs on your pothos vine, I hope you smile. You’re not just looking at a weird bump; you’re looking at potential, at a sign of health, and at your plant’s innate desire to reach for the sky.
You now have the complete pothos aerial roots guide to understand, manage, and even celebrate these amazing features. Whether you choose to trim for a tidy look or train for a wild, jungle vibe, you’re making an informed choice that will lead to a happier plant.
Go on, give your pothos the support it’s asking for. You’ll be rewarded with a plant that is not just a decoration, but a dynamic, thriving part of your home. Happy growing!
