Aerial roots are the adventitious processes of the root system that originate on the stems of plants.

Basically, they serve: for additional moisture supply, removal of oxygen from the atmospheric environment, a fulcrum of the plant's terrestrial organs, a source of sunlight, for photosynthesis (they act as leaves), flood protection, an attachment tool to other supports, vegetative reproduction.

Which plants have aerial roots?

Basically, such an additional root system is characteristic of tropical flora that live in humid latitudes near the equator.

Among the most prominent representatives are the following indoor plants: orchids, monstera, ficus, pandanus, ferns, banyan trees.

Do you need to prune aerial roots?

The appearance of shoots in exotic representatives of the plant world is a natural process and bring them a lot of benefits. They enrich the flower with moisture and additional valuable substances necessary for harmonious development. Therefore, cutting the roots to give a more aesthetic appearance is a big mistake.

The only exceptions are dry and rotten processes, due to which the flowers may die. Such roots must be removed.

What to do with aerial roots?

To regulate the number of naughty processes it is necessary:

  • will take care of the location of the flowerpot away from heating appliances. Indeed, as a result of such a neighborhood, the plant releases an aerial root system to obtain sufficient moisture;
  • carry out moderate watering. The flower will stop growing additional "tentacles" and their number will decrease;
  • transplant the indoor dweller into a larger flower pot. If it was not transplanted for a long time, then the root system has already grown enough and does not fit;
  • choose the right substrate at the planting stage so that the density of the earth does not interfere with the root processes;
  • will take care of feeding the flower with complex fertilizers.

You can remove the interfering processes: bending them to the stem and rooting them into the ground, put water next to the flower pot and immerse the processes there, place them in a hollow pipe support dug into the ground.

Output

The root system is the main indicator of the health of plants, and aerial roots are not a sign of plant diseases.

In order for these indoor fauna to grow and look exotic, it is necessary to properly handle the shoots, observing certain rules for caring for the plant. With proper care and attention, these room dwellers will delight their owners.