When your pothos grows white whiskers, congratulations, you are not far from a pot-busting explosion of growth

When gardening enthusiasts care for pothos and succulents, they often notice that many aerial roots have grown on the stems. What exactly are these aerial roots for? Do they need to be cut off? Today, Huahua will explain to everyone exactly how to deal with the aerial roots of pothos and succulents!

When pothos grows aerial roots, it will easily burst out of the pot!

Pothos often grows aerial roots, especially pothos on a moss pole and hydroponic pothos. So what exactly are these aerial roots for? How should they be handled? Keep reading with Huahua!

1. What is the purpose of pothos aerial roots?

(1) The aerial roots that pothos grows can absorb moisture from the air. Over time, you will find that the more aerial roots grow, the more vigorous the pothos becomes.

(2) After the aerial roots grow longer and extend into the soil (or water), they will grow more fine roots and gradually develop into the main roots of the pothos. The pothos will then further grow more side buds, promoting a pot-busting explosion of growth.

2. Should pothos aerial roots be cut off?

(1) After cutting off the aerial roots of pothos, the leaves are very likely to split and become damaged.

(2) If pruned improperly, and combined with poor ventilation, the wounds are prone to infection, and in severe cases can cause the pothos to rot.

3. How can you encourage pothos to sprout aerial roots?

Whether pothos grows aerial roots is mainly related to environmental humidity. The more humid the air, the easier it is for pothos to grow aerial roots. Gardening enthusiasts can usually spray water around the pothos more often to increase air humidity.

When succulents grow aerial roots, you must be careful in these 2 situations!

Succulents also often grow aerial roots. Unlike pothos, the situations in which succulents grow aerial roots are more complicated, and judgments need to be made according to the specific circumstances.

1. Aerial roots grow after the roots and stems rot

If problems such as rot occur in the roots and stems of a succulent, it cannot absorb water from the soil, so the succulent will grow aerial roots in order to survive. In this case, it is recommended to trim the roots or behead and leaf-propagate.

2. Aerial roots grow when the plant is top-heavy

After many succulents become leggy, they will grow into a "big-headed doll" and topple to one side. At this time, in order to maintain balance, the succulent will grow aerial roots on the stem. In this case, you only need to insert a stick into the pot to support it.

3. Aerial roots grow after lignification

After a succulent becomes lignified, it will gradually form an old stump, and the stem's ability to store and transport water declines, so the succulent can only grow aerial roots to absorb moisture from the air. Such aerial roots can be left alone, or the plant can be beheaded and re-cuttings taken.

4. Aerial roots grow during the acclimation period

For succulents in the potting-acclimation or seedling-recovery period, the main roots are in a shrunken state and have poor vitality. Growing aerial roots is a sign that the succulent wants to live. There is no need to worry about such aerial roots; they will gradually recede after some time.

5. Aerial roots grow when the air is humid

Air that is too humid around the plant will also stimulate succulents to grow aerial roots. Succulents also have a desire to grow. The aerial roots grown in this situation only show that the succulent is very vigorous, and they do not need to be handled either.

That is all for the little knowledge about aerial roots.

If you still have other questions about aerial roots,

You are welcome to leave a message for Huahua with your questions~

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