What To Do With Monstera Air Roots – A Complete Guide To Encouraging

ByRimon Chowdhury Updated on

Have you ever looked at your gorgeous Monstera deliciosa and thought, “What in the world are those strange, brown tentacles growing out of the stem?” You’re not alone! Those wild, wandering growths are one of the most common things new plant parents ask about.

It’s easy to feel a little confused. Should you cut them off? Tuck them in? Are they a cry for help or a sign of a happy plant? Don’t worry, my friend. I’m here to promise you that by the end of this guide, you’ll understand exactly what these roots are and feel confident about what to do with monstera air roots for a stronger, healthier, and even more beautiful plant.

We’re going to dive deep into the purpose of these amazing roots, explore the very best options for managing them (that don’t always involve pruning!), and turn them from a source of confusion into one of your plant’s greatest assets. Let’s get those roots working for you!

First, What Exactly Are Monstera Air Roots?

Before we decide what to do with them, let’s get to know them. Those growths are called adventitious roots, but we simply call them aerial or air roots. In the jungles of Central America, Monsteras are climbers, using trees to get closer to the sunlight filtering through the canopy.

These air roots are their secret weapon! They have two primary jobs in their native habitat:

  • Climbing and Anchoring: They latch onto tree bark, rocks, and other surfaces, providing the stability a vining plant needs to grow dozens of feet tall.
  • Absorbing Moisture & Nutrients: In a humid rainforest, these roots can absorb water and micronutrients directly from the damp air and rain-soaked bark, supplementing what they get from the soil.

So, when you see air roots on your houseplant, give yourself a pat on the back! It’s not a sign of trouble. It’s a sign that your Monstera is healthy, maturing, and trying to behave just as it would in the wild. It’s looking for something to climb!

The Big Question: To Trim or Not to Trim?

The most common impulse is to grab the scissors and snip off these unruly roots for a tidier look. You can, but the real question is, should you?

Honestly, my first piece of advice is almost always to leave them be or, even better, to work with them. Trimming them is purely a cosmetic choice and offers no real benefit to the plant. In fact, you’re removing a tool the plant uses for stability and supplemental feeding.

Think of it this way: the plant is spending energy creating these roots for a reason. By working with its natural instincts, you’ll be rewarded with a more robust and vibrant plant. Let’s explore the much better alternatives to trimming in this complete what to do with monstera air roots guide.

What to Do with Monstera Air Roots: Your 4 Best Options

Instead of reaching for the pruners, let’s look at how to make these roots work for your plant. Here are the best practices for handling them, from the simplest solution to the most effective.

Option 1: Guide Them Back Into the Pot

This is the easiest and most direct method. If the air roots are still young, green, and flexible, you can gently guide them down towards the potting mix. Don’t force them, but gently aim them downwards.

Once they touch the soil, they will often burrow in and transform into regular soil roots. This is a huge win! These new roots will create a stronger anchor for your plant and increase its ability to absorb water and nutrients from the soil. It’s a simple, sustainable what to do with monstera air roots technique.

Option 2: Provide a Moss Pole for Climbing (The Gold Standard)

If you want to see your Monstera truly thrive and develop those iconic, huge, fenestrated (split) leaves, giving it something to climb is the absolute best thing you can do. This mimics its natural environment perfectly.

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A moss pole is the ideal climbing frame. The air roots will naturally dig into the damp moss, providing incredible stability and absorbing moisture. This security signals to the plant that it can support larger, more mature leaves. This is one of the most crucial what to do with monstera air roots tips for any serious Monstera lover.

To do this, simply insert a moss pole into the back of the pot during your next repotting session and use soft plant ties to gently secure the main stem to the pole. Then, guide any new air roots toward the moss. Keep the pole moist by spritzing it regularly.

Option 3: Let Them Grow Freely (The Au Naturel Approach)

Feeling like a hands-off plant parent? That’s perfectly fine, too! There’s absolutely no harm in letting the air roots hang out and do their own thing. It gives the plant a wonderfully wild, jungle-like aesthetic.

Just be aware that they can and will attach to surfaces like walls, shelves, or furniture. While they don’t typically cause major damage, removing them can sometimes peel paint. This eco-friendly what to do with monstera air roots approach requires zero effort and lets the plant express its natural growth habit.

Option 4: Place Them in Water

Here’s a fun and less common trick that demonstrates deep expertise. You can direct a few long air roots into a separate container of water, like a small glass jar or vase placed next to the main pot.

The roots will happily grow in the water, providing a constant source of hydration to the plant. This is especially helpful if you sometimes forget to water! It also creates a fascinating visual and is a great way to boost humidity right where the plant needs it.

The Benefits of What to Do with Monstera Air Roots Properly

Understanding the benefits can really motivate you to manage these roots with care instead of just cutting them off. When you know how to what to do with monstera air roots, you unlock some amazing advantages for your plant.

  • Increased Stability: A Monstera with its air roots anchored in soil or a moss pole is a sturdy Monstera. This prevents the dreaded “flop” where a top-heavy plant starts to lean or fall over.
  • Enhanced Nutrient & Water Uptake: By allowing roots to enter soil or a damp moss pole, you’re essentially giving your plant extra mouths to feed with, leading to more efficient growth.
  • Promotes Larger, Fenestrated Leaves: This is the big one! A climbing Monstera is a happy Monstera. The security from climbing tells the plant it has the support it needs to produce those massive, iconic split leaves we all desire.
  • Natural Propagation Aid: An air root attached to a stem with a node (a small bump where leaves emerge) is a fantastic head start for propagation. Cuttings with established air roots tend to root much faster in water or soil.

A Guide to Safely Trimming Air Roots (If You Absolutely Must)

Okay, so maybe a root is growing straight into a walkway or it’s just aesthetically driving you crazy. If you must trim, it’s important to do it correctly to minimize stress on the plant. Follow these simple steps.

  1. Use a Sterile Tool: Always, always clean your pruning shears or sharp scissors with rubbing alcohol before and after you cut. This is one of the most critical what to do with monstera air roots best practices to prevent introducing bacteria or fungus into the fresh wound.
  2. Make a Clean Cut: Snip the root off close to the main stem. Avoid tearing or crushing it. A clean cut will heal faster.
  3. Monitor the Plant: Your Monstera will be fine, but keep an eye on it for a day or two. A tiny bit of sap might emerge from the cut, which is normal. The plant will quickly callous over the wound.

Remember, this is purely for looks. You are removing a part of the plant that it’s trying to use to its advantage.

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Common Problems with Monstera Air Roots (and How to Fix Them)

Even with the best care, you might run into a few small issues. Here are some of the most common problems with monstera air roots and their simple solutions.

My Air Roots Are Getting Long and Unruly!

This is less of a problem and more of a sign of success! It means your plant is thriving. Refer back to our four best options: guide them into the soil, give them a moss pole to climb, let them be, or direct them into water.

The Tips of the Air Roots Are Dry and Brown.

This is usually a sign of low humidity in your home. The root tip dries out before it can find something to latch onto. It’s not harmful to the plant! You can either ignore it or increase the ambient humidity with a humidifier or by misting the air around the plant (and the moss pole, if you have one).

My Monstera Isn’t Growing Any Air Roots.

If your plant is young, just be patient! Air roots are a sign of maturity. If you have an older plant with no air roots, it might be a sign that it needs a little more light to encourage vigorous growth. They typically appear on healthy, actively growing plants.

Frequently Asked Questions About Monstera Air Roots

Can I use monstera air roots for propagation?

Yes, and they give you a great head start! For successful propagation, you need a piece of the main stem with a node. If that cutting also has an air root attached, it will often transition to a soil or water root much more quickly, speeding up the entire process.

Do air roots damage walls or furniture?

They can. The little tendrils are designed to grip tightly. When you pull an attached root off a painted wall, it’s common for a bit of paint to come with it. It’s best to guide them away from surfaces you don’t want them to attach to.

Why are my monstera’s air roots so thin?

The thickness of air roots can vary based on the plant’s maturity and growing conditions. Younger plants tend to have thinner roots. As the plant gets older and larger, it will produce thicker, woodier roots to support its weight.

Should I mist my monstera’s air roots?

You can! Misting the air roots, especially if you’re trying to encourage them to attach to a moss pole, can be beneficial. It raises the local humidity and keeps the roots pliable and healthy. It’s a great addition to any what to do with monstera air roots care guide.

Embrace the Roots!

So there you have it. Those wild, wandering air roots are not something to fear or fight. They are a wonderful sign of your Monstera’s health and a powerful tool you can use to help it grow stronger, bigger, and more beautiful.

By understanding their purpose and learning to work with them—whether by guiding them to soil, providing a pole, or simply letting them roam—you’re partnering with your plant’s natural instincts. You’re not just a plant owner; you’re a true gardener.

Now go take a look at your Monstera with fresh eyes, and decide which path is right for you and your leafy friend. Happy growing!

Rimon Chowdhury
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