I have a monstera deliciosa in a large terracotta pot near my front door that is apparently thriving, but the mass of aerial roots that hang down and spread out for up to a metre and trip up visitors are giving me (and the visitors) the shits.
Can I cut back the roots without damaging the plant?
I wouldn’t cut them all off, but I have done trim jobs in the past. without any apparent side effect.
How much did you trim off though?
Like, if I was to take around 15cm off the longest ones (around 40 or 50cm long) would that affect them do you think?
Don’t worry, these really are not sensitive plants. Monsteras are just about impossible to kill or even injure. If you cut the entire plant into three inch lengths every section will produce a new plant. Pruning a few roots certainly won’t kill it.
I usually prune mine with a machete (seriously). The adventitious roots can be pruned without having any discernible effect on the plant. I usually take the roots on mine back flush with the trunk which discourages reshooting. If you just trim them they will often die back anyway but usually they just start re-growing from the point you cut them and in 12 months you’re right back where you started.
What Blake said. In this particular case, you can take off and nuke the whole plant from orbit, but even then you can’t be sure.
I just wanted to pop in to say that when I saw the OP’s title, I’m thinking, “Why would anyone want to cut off aerial routes? The Berlin Airlift happened over 57 years ago. What, is there a new Cold War or something?”
And then I realized it was Monday, and I hadn’t fired up my coffee machine yet (at 9:23AM).
Tripler
Yes. Put AAA all around the terra cotta pot, and protect your visitor’s feet.
Well, you and the visitors should stop eating the roots. That should clear the shits right up.
Thanks folks.
