What to do with aerial roots of plants: why they are formed and can they be cut off
For novice gardeners, aerial roots in orchids or monsteras can cause confusion.
A logical question arises: what to do with them? Some try to push the roots into the pot so as not to disturb the aesthetics. Others trim them, and still others mulch them.
In fact, these three options are not suitable. All you need to do is leave the roots alone.
Their appearance is a natural phenomenon that does not harm the plant in any way. Aerial roots, on the contrary, are beneficial to the flower.
They appear in many plants: aquatic and climbing flowers, succulents, some types of orchids.
Aerial roots are formed for various reasons: lack or excess of moisture, search for “support”, deficiency of mineral salts.
The latter is typical for mangroves in tropical forest conditions. And in the Indian banyan (Ficus benghalensis), for example, they gradually reach the ground and turn into support roots.
Through aerial roots the plant receives the missing moisture, nutrition, air. Therefore, there is no talk of removing or mulching them. It is better to leave everything as is.
