Monstera Aerial Roots: Should You Cut Them, Train Them, or Leave Them Alone?

By Marcus Williams · May 26, 2026

Monstera Aerial Roots: Should You Cut Them, Train Them, or Leave Them Alone?

If your Monstera deliciosa is sending out long, brown, rope-like roots from its stem, congratulations — your plant is healthy and behaving exactly as it should in nature. But those aerial roots can become unwieldy in a home setting. Here's the complete guide to understanding and managing them.

Why Monsteras Grow Aerial Roots

In their native Central American rainforests, Monsteras are hemiepiphytes — they start on the forest floor and climb upward using trees as support. Aerial roots serve three critical functions:

Anchoring: Roots grip bark and branches to support the climbing stem
Nutrient absorption: Roots absorb moisture and dissolved minerals from humid air and rain runoff
Backup survival: If the main root system is damaged, aerial roots can sustain the plant

Approach 1: Leave Them Alone (Recommended for Most People)

Best when: Your Monstera has room to grow and you don't mind the wild look.

Simply let the aerial roots grow naturally. They'll eventually reach the soil and begin functioning as regular roots, providing additional nutrient uptake. This is the lowest-maintenance approach and lets the plant behave as nature intended.

Pros: Zero effort, plant benefits from extra root mass
Cons: Can look messy, roots may grow across walkways

Approach 2: Train Them Into the Pot

Best when: You want the benefits of aerial roots without the visual clutter.

Gently guide long aerial roots toward the soil surface
Push the root tip 2-3cm into the potting mix
Use a hairpin or bent wire to hold it in place until it anchors itself
Within 2-3 weeks, the root will begin absorbing nutrients from the soil

Pro tip: You can also direct aerial roots into a glass of water or a moss pole for a cleaner look.

Approach 3: Cut Them Off

Best when: Roots are obstructing pathways, damaging walls, or the plant is too large for its space.

Use clean, sharp scissors or pruning shears
Cut close to the stem node (within 1cm)
No need to apply wound sealant — Monsteras heal quickly
The plant will likely produce new aerial roots from the same node within weeks

Important: Cutting aerial roots will NOT harm your Monstera, as long as the plant has a healthy underground root system. Think of them as optional extras, not essential organs.

Using a Moss Pole

The most popular training method mimics the Monstera's natural climbing behavior:

Insert a sphagnum moss pole or coir totem into the pot
Secure the stem to the pole with soft plant ties
Keep the moss pole moist by misting or pouring water into it
Aerial roots will embed into the moist moss and begin absorbing nutrients
Result: Larger leaves, more fenestrations, and a tidier appearance

What NOT to Do

Don't bury aerial roots deep in soil: They're adapted to surface conditions and may rot if buried deeply
Don't tie roots too tightly: They need to expand as they grow
Don't pull roots off: Always cut cleanly rather than tearing, which can damage the stem

Signs Your Monstera Needs More Root Support

Excessive aerial root production (the plant is searching for more support/nutrients)
Leaning or toppling (the root system can't anchor the growing plant)
Smaller new leaves (the plant needs more nutrient uptake area)