You love your Monstera Deliciosa, but lately, it looks like it’s growing alien tentacles. These thick, brown, woody vines are crawling over the edge of the pot, snaking across your floor, and maybe even trying to attach themselves to your living room wall. You are left staring at the pot wondering: What on earth am I supposed to do with these? Do I bury them? Do I chop them off? Will I kill my plant if I touch them?
Take a deep breath—we’ve all been there! Every Monstera parent eventually has to deal with aerial roots. In the wild jungles of Central America, Monsteras use these roots to grab onto giant trees and climb toward the sunlight. Inside your house, they are just confused, searching for a tree that doesn’t exist. Let’s break down exactly what your options are so you can tame your indoor jungle without hurting your plant.
Quick Diagnostic Cheat Sheet
| What to Do with Aerial Roots | Best For | The Result |
| Bury them in the soil | Big, top-heavy plants | Provides structural support and extra nutrients. |
| Cut them off completely | Small spaces & neat aesthetics | Keeps the plant looking clean; perfectly safe to do. |
| Attach them to a moss pole | Maximizing leaf size | Mimics their natural habitat, triggering massive, fenestrated leaves. |
1. Option A: Burying the Aerial Roots in the Soil
This is one of the most popular and beneficial options for indoor Monsteras. Because these plants get extremely heavy as they grow, they naturally want to tip over. Tucking those long aerial roots back into the planter gives the main stem a set of sturdy “kickstands” to lean on.
How to do it safely
Gently grab the aerial root and bend it down toward the dirt. Be careful—older roots can be stiff and might snap if you force them. Tuck the tip of the root under an inch or two of potting soil. Over time, that thick brown root will actually sprout fuzzy white underground roots, absorbing extra water and nutrients to feed your massive plant!
2. Option B: Cutting the Aerial Roots Off
If your Monstera is sitting on a desk or a tight shelf, you might not have the space for a bunch of wild, trailing roots. Many plant parents are terrified that chopping them off will kill the plant. Don’t panic: indoor Monsteras rely almost entirely on their underground root system to survive.
How to do it safely
Grab a pair of sharp pruning shears or kitchen scissors and wipe the blades down with rubbing alcohol to sterilize them. Snip the aerial root off right near the main stem. Your Monstera won’t even notice it’s gone, and it will immediately make your plant look much tidier.
3. Option C: Training Them on a Moss Pole
If you want your Monstera to grow those huge, majestic leaves with lots of holes (fenestrations), you need to mimic its natural jungle environment. When a Monstera’s aerial roots grip onto a textured, vertical surface, hormones in the plant trigger it to produce much larger foliage.
How to do it safely
Insert a sturdy moss pole or coco coir pole into the back of your Monstera’s pot. Use soft plant velcro or twine to gently tie the main stem to the pole. As new aerial roots emerge, point them toward the damp moss. They will eventually grab onto the pole all by themselves, turning your messy houseplant into a structured, climbing masterpiece.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will cutting aerial roots kill my Monstera?
No. Cutting off aerial roots is completely safe for indoor Monsteras. While they help the plant climb and absorb trace amounts of moisture in the wild, your indoor plant gets all the water and nutrients it needs from its potting soil.
Can I propagate a Monstera from just an aerial root?
No, an aerial root alone will not grow into a new plant. To successfully propagate a Monstera, you must cut a piece of the main stem that includes a “node” (the thick bump where leaves and aerial roots emerge). The aerial root is just a bonus that helps the cutting root faster in water.
Why are my Monstera’s aerial roots drying up and turning crispy?
This is very common indoors. Because the air inside our homes is much drier than a tropical jungle, aerial roots often dry out, shrivel up, or stop growing entirely. It doesn’t mean your plant is unhealthy; it is simply adapting to the low humidity of your living room.