Aerial roots are roots that emerge from a plant's stems or nodes above the soil level. They are completely normal and, in most cases, a sign that your plant is healthy. Whether to leave them, redirect them, or remove them depends on the species and the conditions you are growing in.
What Are Aerial Roots?
In the wild, many popular houseplants like Monstera, Philodendron, and Epipremnum are hemiepiphytes. They begin life on the forest floor and use aerial roots to anchor themselves to tree trunks as they climb toward the forest canopy. The aerial roots serve two purposes: support and, to a limited degree, moisture and nutrient absorption from the air and the bark they cling to.
Indoors, these same roots will emerge from the nodes (the points where leaves and stems meet) and grow outward from the stem, often heading downward in search of a surface or moisture source.
Should You Leave Aerial Roots Alone?
For most species, the simplest approach is to leave aerial roots alone. They are not harmful, they are not a sign of a problem, and removing them does not improve plant health. For plants growing in pots indoors, aerial roots that are not attached to anything will often die back naturally over time if conditions are dry.
If you find the appearance of multiple loose aerial roots untidy, you can redirect them back into the soil or into a moss pole rather than removing them entirely.
What to Do with Aerial Roots on Monstera
Monstera deliciosa produces some of the most prominent aerial roots of any common houseplant. Long, cord-like roots emerging from the nodes are entirely normal on a mature plant and indicate active growth.
Option 1: direct them into the soil. The most practical approach is to guide any aerial root that is long enough back down into the pot. Once in contact with moist compost, it will root and begin contributing to the plant's overall root system. This gives the plant additional anchoring and moisture uptake.
Option 2: attach a moss pole. If you want to encourage your Monstera to grow upright and produce larger, more fenestrated leaves, a moss pole or coco coir pole is the best tool. Wrap aerial roots around the pole and secure them lightly. Keeping the pole moist encourages the roots to attach.
Option 3: trim them. If an aerial root is very long, trailing across the floor, and you cannot redirect it usefully, you can cut it with clean scissors. This does not harm the plant. New roots will emerge from the same node over time. We would not do this routinely, as letting roots develop naturally is always better, but it is not a crisis if you need to tidy up.
When Aerial Roots Can Signal a Problem
Aerial roots are almost always normal, but there are two situations worth knowing about.
Excessive aerial rooting in a dry environment can sometimes indicate that the plant's root system is struggling. If a plant is producing unusually large or proliferating aerial roots while also declining in overall health, check the pot: the plant may be severely rootbound and the aerial roots are a sign it has run out of space below.
Black or rotting aerial roots are a sign of root rot extending above soil level. If you see blackened, mushy tissue on what should be a firm aerial root, investigate the root system below. Root rot spreads upward as well as through the pot. Check our article on what root rot is and how to prevent it for the next steps.
Can You Propagate Using Aerial Roots?
If a node has a well-developed aerial root already attached, it is an excellent candidate for propagation. Cut just below that node, ensure the root is intact, and either place the cutting in water or plant directly into moist potting mix. The existing aerial root will transition to a soil root relatively quickly, giving the cutting a head start compared to a node without any root development. For more on propagation methods, see our guide on propagating houseplants directly in soil.