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The Daily Insight

Can you cut Monstera roots

Author

William Taylor

Published Mar 06, 2026

Over time, your monstera plant will grow aerial roots from its stem. Do not cut off these aerial roots—they are there to support the plant. When any aerial roots that are not supporting a climbing plant are long enough, gently train them back into the soil to take up additional nutrients.

Can you cut Monstera roots when repotting?

How can you trim the underground roots of your Monstera? Remove your Monstera from its pot, brush away the soil, and gently break up the root ball. You can cut back up to one-third of the plant’s roots without risking damage. After pruning, repot your Monstera in its old container with fresh potting soil.

Can I cut off air roots?

If you’re one of them, feel free to cut them off. You will not harm the plant. In the same way that pruning of soil roots will not harm your plant (and actually promotes root branching), pruning of aerial roots will in no way harm your plant. If you want to remove them fully, cut as close to the main stem as possible.

What happens if you cut a monstera aerial root?

Cutting the aerial roots from your Monstera Deliciosa will not damage the plant and the roots will grow back in no time. You can also leave them be but it can be an eyesore to some people. These air roots can grow out of control and can look unruly cables.

Can I cut the roots off my cheese plant?

It can start out green, but unlike normal roots, will eventually become covered in a brown, woody layer. What is this? Monstera aerial roots can grow quite thick in the wild, but in the home, they tend to stay thin. They can grow pretty long and stick out in all directions as your plant looks for support.

Can you put monstera aerial roots in soil?

It’s not really something that will work. I mentioned how these roots have different functionalities and they don’t really work the same way, so if an aerial root is buried in soil, it may start rotting, which you absolutely want to avoid. What you can do, however, is to double pot your monstera.

Do monsteras like being root bound?

No, the Monstera Adansonii does not like to be root bound. Without the ability to get the water and nutrients into the soil that it needs, this plant won’t grow to its full potential. Young plants should be repotted once a year, and as it gets older, it can be repotted every two years.

What can I do with leggy Monstera?

Once diagnosed, a leggy Monstera can be fixed by pruning back the leggy growth and ensuring that the plant gets enough sunlight moving forward. Any time your plant starts to look less-than-healthy, it can be nerve-wracking. Fortunately, leggy is an easy issue to fix. So don’t fear!

Why is my Monstera so leggy?

A leggy monstera plant is a result of a lack of light. Having inadequate lighting for the plant causes it to stretch and move towards where it can receive as much light as it requires. As a result, this gives the plant its leggy appearance which is characterized by long stems and sparse foliage.

Do monsteras like small pots?

Monstera love to be cramped in their pots. They will grow huge regardless of their pot size. If you pot your monstera into a huge pot it not grow any faster or larger, most likely it will get root rot from all the excess wet soil, or it will direct more energy to root growth instead of growing any leaves.

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Should I repot monstera after buying?

Upon purchasing, if the pot is too small, proceed to repot the Monstera so that it may grow adequately. After that, every year or every 2 years and preferably preferably in spring, repot your monstera plant in a pot of a very slightly larger size. Monstera roots hate having too much water.

Do monsteras like to be crowded?

Monsteras are forgiving plants that don’t mind being a little cramped. However, because they grow rather vigorously and have an extensive root system that appreciates space to grow, it is essential to be mindful of when to upgrade into a larger pot.

Do monsteras like to be misted?

Monstera Deliciosa enjoys a humid environment, which is why we recommend frequent misting of its leaves. Alternatively, you can place your plant close to other plants, which increases the humidity of the air around them.

Where can I cut a monstera plant?

You’ll want to cut directly below a node or aerial root. My cutting was a vine length of 6 leaves and 6 nodes/aerial roots. , you’ll want to cut each leaf & node into individual segments on either side of the node/aerial root. You should be left with leaves with an attached node/aerial root like this.

Why do monsteras have Fenestrations?

Monsteras are famous for their natural leaf holes, hence the nickname. … Plants such as Haworthias and Lithops have developed leaf fenestrations for other reasons—their leaf tips are transparent to allow light down into the plants when they are buried by the frequent sand and dust storms of their native South Africa.

How do you prune Monstera to encourage growth?

Start by cutting any old or diseased leaves at the base of the stem. If you’re pruning to encourage growth, cut where you want the plant to grow. If you want it to grow taller, cut at the top. When you’re ready to actually prune your monstera, remember that pruning encourages growth, so make your cuts wisely.

How do you keep Monstera from getting too big?

Pruning long stems is the best and only way to keep a Monstera fuller and more compact. Any stem can be pruned at any point. New growth will then emerge at that point. So, generally, it best to prune some of the stems back to within a few inches of the pot.

Can I make my Monstera bushier?

You can change the shape of your Monstera deliciosa by pruning it or changing its environmental conditions. Pruning involves cutting off some parts of the plant, while environmental changes include altering light levels or container size or staking the plant.

Can you propagate Monstera without aerial root?

Unfortunately not. You will never be able to grow a Monstera deliciosa from a cutting without a node. Nodes contain the structures needed to create new growth. A Monstera leaf can stay fresh in water for a long time and may even grow roots, but new stem and leaf growth can only come from a node.

When can I plant my Monstera cutting?

First you followed our propagation tips, and now you want to know when your new Monstera is ready to plant. Wait until the largest fuzzy white roots are long enough to branch into many smaller roots. When these small feeder roots are at least 3 inches (8 cm) long, it is time to plant your Monstera cutting in soil!

Can Monstera live in water forever?

You can leave a Monstera deliciosa growing in water for quite a long time, but it will never reach its potential in size or health unless it is eventually moved to soil. A Monstera left in water will survive, but it won’t thrive in this environment.

Is Terracotta good for Monstera?

Porous Pots Unsealed terracotta, clay, or concrete pots are porous, which means that the material contains tiny holes that air and water can travel through. … This is a great pot type to use for Monstera because they prefer airflow and good drainage. It’s an even better choice if you tend to overwater!

Why does my Monstera have no holes?

If your young plant does not have holes in its leaves the reason can be that it is premature and needs to mature more. If it doesn’t naturally split, the problem may be insufficient sunlight. … Using a well-balanced fertilizer or pruning older leaves will also encourage your Monstera Deliciosa to form holes.

Why are Monstera leaves curling?

The most likely culprit is thirst or dryness. If your monstera’s leaves are curling and even a little crunchy, that’s a sure sign that it might not be getting enough water or that the environment is too dry. However, dumping a bunch of extra water on your plant might not solve the problem!

What kind of soil do monsteras like?

Plant your Monstera in a container with drainage holes and use a good quality potting soil with peat moss that drains easily. The plants thrive in dense, nutrient-rich soil, but don’t do well in potting soils with bark or compost. If your container doesn’t have drainage holes, make a few in the bottom.

Can you split a Monstera?

Early spring is the best time to split or propagate your monstera because spring is when monsteras grow. They’ll be more likely to recover from root stress and start growing again. If you want to split, do it in late winter or early spring.

Is it normal for Monstera leaves to droop?

This is almost always totally normal, and easily fixed. Your Monstera prefers soil that is consistently moist. … If you accidentally let your Monstera’s soil dry out completely, you may see leaves go limp, droop, and possibly start to brown.