Treat aerial roots properly (window leaf)

Why do aerial roots grow on the window leaf?

Monstera species thrive in the tropics as evergreen climbing plants. With increasing size, the roots of the earth no longer cover the need for water and nutrients. For this reason, after a while, additional aerial roots will sprout between the leaf axils. These serve as supply lines and detention organs in equal measure, so that they play a key role in growth.

Truncation is only allowed in exceptional cases

In view of their function as lifelines, the aerial roots should not be removed. As long as a root strand is full and vital, you weaken the constitution of one Monsteraif you use the scissors here. The exception to the rule is if an aerial root wants to anchor itself in the ground behind the baseboards or if it comes to grips with neighboring houseplants. Furthermore, cutting off is allowed if a root has completely dried up and has died.

Please use a sharp knife disinfected with alcohol for the cut. Cut off the affected aerial root directly on the stem axis. Ideally, you dab the cut with something Rock flour(€ 12.33 at Amazon *) or charcoal ash to regulate the flow of sap.

Prevention is better than cutting off - this is how it works

Extremely long aerial roots indicate that the cultivation of a Monstera is not going in a regular way. If your window leaf lacks water, nutrients or a climbing aid, it sends its roots out desperately in search of them. How to effectively prevent this behavior:

• Regularly water the substrate with soft water
• Spray the leaves and aerial roots with water every 2 to 3 days
• Every 2 weeks in summer, every 4 to 6 weeks in winter fertilize
• Offer the window leaf a climbing aid proportional to the growth

If a window leaf is cared for with appropriate care, it sees no reason for the growth of unnaturally long aerial roots.