Climbing philodendron species are endowed with a system of terrestrial and aerial roots. The task of the roots is to stabilize the soil and to supply it with water and nutrients. You can read here which functions the aerial roots fulfill and how they are treated professionally.
Green aerial roots should never be cut off
Aerial roots are doubly useful
As a philodendron gains height, aerial roots sprout from the leaf nodes of its shoots. In tropical habitats, they wrap themselves around the bark of jungle giants so that the plant can climb towards the light. Since a philodendron does not burden the tree as a parasite, it is nicknamed tree friend.
At the same time, the adhesive organs take water and nutrients from the rain and the air in order to contribute to the supply. In contrast to other epiphytic tropical plants, such as orchids, the brunt of the philodendron's supply rests on the earth's roots.
Care tips for aerial roots
Given their key role in the lush growth of your philodendron, aerial roots should not be neglected when it comes to maintenance. How to do it right:
- Spray aerial roots with soft water once or twice a week
- Do not cut off too long, vital root strands
- Instead, redirect to the climbing aid
If you cut back your philodendron extensively, the aerial roots on the clippings will naturally also be removed. An aerial root that has grown too long should only be shortened outside of a pruning measure if it has completely died.
Aerial roots do not like smooth, dry soil
In order for the aerial roots of a philodendron to find a hold on the climbing aid, the surface structure should resemble that of tree bark. Therefore, moss sticks and poles wrapped with coconut mats (€21.90) are popular as climbing aids. Although the subsoil is sufficiently rough, the aerial roots still cannot find a footing at the beginning. How to solve the problem:
- Coat the bars on the climbing frame with a 5 cm thick layer of sphagnum
- Then tie the aerial roots loosely
- Spray the moss daily with soft water
After a while, the aerial roots have anchored themselves so firmly with the climbing aid thanks to the moist moss layer that the binding material can be dispensed with.
tips
Climbing philodendrons can easily be propagated with cuttings. Unlike its relative Monstera, a cutting doesn't need to have an aerial root to turn into a majestic tree friend.