Hi everyone I need your help.
I put my varigated monstera cutting in barely damp sphagnum moss and put that on the heat mat.
2 days ago I noticed the tip of the aerial root rotted so I cut out the rotten part (slightly more) to prevent further problem.
Today it rotted and squishy so I had to cut it again ='(
The stem is very healthy but I'm so worried about what if whole the aerial root rot and it makes stem rot too.
Now it only has 1/3 length of the original aerial root.
I'm not sure will my monstera cutting grow roots even though the aerial root snapped.
Please give me an advice!!
Thanks in advance!!

Welcome! Where do you live? Do not worry about aerial roots. Not what you need for propagation. IMO, you do not need a heat mat. I have never used one. Gene

gasrocks said:Welcome! Where do you live? Do not worry about aerial roots. Not what you need for propagation. IMO, you do not need a heat mat. I have never used one. Gene

Thanks for your welcoming and advice =)
I'm in Melbourne!
People strongly recommend to use propagation heatmat to accelarate process but now I'm thinking it made rotten root because it' too hot so it's cooked ='(
As your opinion, I turned it off.
I hope it works.

Now I know the aerial root is nothing to worry about but don't you think rotten aerial root can make stem rotted?
Thanks again!!!

I do all my Monstera cuttings in a glass of water and have not lost one so far. But other people do it different ways. Gene

gasrocks said:I do all my Monstera cuttings in a glass of water and have not lost one so far. But other people do it different ways. Gene

Actually I put it in the water just few hours ago, but I just put it back as I was too scared
it might make it worse ='(

I might cut the aerial root off at the stem.

gasrocks said:I might cut the aerial root off at the stem.

That sound interesting =)
What should I do then?
Should I have to sterilize the end of the part, dry out few minute, and put it in the water do you think?
Luckily it has 2 nodes so I have another change to save her =)
It is time to be brave =)
Thanks really appreciate your advice!

I am sure others here will add their advice.

Gene is correct about the aerial root being irrelevant. It has turned brown for any number of possible reasons other than root rot. In any case, it is not diseased and it is not something that will infect the rest of the plant.

Relax with your cutting; it is not that fragile. As long as the node where the new roots will emerge is kept in contact with damp sphagnum moss, it will be fine. And do be patient as it will take a while for roots to form and develop.

WillC said:Gene is correct about the aerial root being irrelevant. It has turned brown for any number of possible reasons other than root rot. In any case, it is not diseased and it is not something that will infect the rest of the plant.

Relax with your cutting; it is not that fragile. As long as the node where the new roots will emerge is kept in contact with damp sphagnum moss, it will be fine. And do be patient as it will take a while for roots to form and develop.

Hi Will =)
Now I understand aerial root is irrelevant.
Thanks for your advice.
I hope it stops further rotting.
Here's one more question.
Do you think I'd better left aerial root as it is or cut it?
TIA

There are lots of discussion on Monstera in this wonderful site, try look at some of them before you make your decision.
For example
The thread "Where will a new leaf grow out from this monstera cutting?" in Houseplants forum

tofitropic said:There are lots of discussion on Monstera in this wonderful site, try look at some of them before you make your decision.
For example
The thread "Where will a new leaf grow out from this monstera cutting?" in Houseplants forum

Hi Tofi, it was really good suggestion.
Thanks.
I read that you attached and impressed of your reply =)
It was super helpful!!
But there's bit difference between those 2 cases, as my monstra has rotten aerial root but that one had alive one even it had some more root emerged from there.
I also check the others discussion but I couldn't find any of the similar case ='(

If you don't mind could you give me your suggestion?

Thanks

People have different opinion based on their experiences, in my case I never cut any aerial root on any of my propagules, (including any phylodendron, anthurium, ficus, etc.etc...) unless it is too long that it will be difficult to bury or potted them.
to my opinion based on my limited knowledge regarding plant, many tissue contains some food storage in them, including aerial roots, any cuttings need to use all their resources before they settled, in this case aerial root serves double functions; an absorbing tool and food storage. cutting them away means only reducing their resources. so I would not cut them.
Monstera cutting grows easier and faster in water rather than sphagnum moss or dirt, I believes so, and seems many member in this site also have the same experiences.

If that is mine I would cut the died/dehydrated part of the root (red line) and that's all, put it in a clear jar of water, aerial root immersed, half of (the upper part) of the stem will be above water. put on bright warm place, change water periodically (let say every 4 days, depending whether water get strange coloration), and wait patiently (this will not be a quick process).

In the end which ever the course you take for this case, please update the post in the future as it might help other as a references in the future

tofitropic said:People have different opinion based on their experiences, in my case I never cut any aerial root on any of my propagules, (including any phylodendron, anthurium, ficus, etc.etc...) unless it is too long that it will be difficult to bury or potted them.
to my opinion based on my limited knowledge regarding plant, many tissue contains some food storage in them, including aerial roots, any cuttings need to use all their resources before they settled, in this case aerial root serves double functions; an absorbing tool and food storage. cutting them away means only reducing their resources. so I would not cut them.
Monstera cutting grows easier and faster in water rather than sphagnum moss or dirt, I believes so, and seems many member in this site also have the same experiences.

If that is mine I would cut the died/dehydrated part of the root (red line) and that's all, put it in a clear jar of water, aerial root immersed, half of (the upper part) of the stem will be above water. put on bright warm place, change water periodically (let say every 4 days, depending whether water get strange coloration), and wait patiently (this will not be a quick process).

In the end which ever the course you take for this case, please update the post in the future as it might help other as a references in the future

Thanks agian for your effort, time, advice and everything =)
I had left the healthy part of the aerial root, only cut out the died part at the first time, but after few days it also rotten (squishy) so I cut out bit more and this is now.



I wouldn't mine do anything to save it but it keeps rotten whatever I did.
Now it turned squishy and soft.
And that's why I was scared what if it keeps rotting and ruin the stem.

And about the update, course I'll do =)

Oo...yes indeed many case will need a case-to-case approach, in that case perhaps it is better to cut off the roots.
may be it will be better for water propagation on this one.
I see other grower in US also grow many of Monsteras as well as many other aroids, perhaps she can give her opinion on this subject too, even though she grow monstera in her great green house, I hope she will have great advice.
Gina @Gina1960 can you share your advice or any opinion on this case

@Tofi, I agree with you. I would not cut the root off completely, I never cut my roots unless they are severely damaged for some reason. I would cut it back only to the line of where any rot starts, dip it in a fungicide, and plant the plant in soil with the node just covered. I don't understand why you initially placed the plant into sphagnum moss to root. Unless it is a plant that will live in moss, I would not ever do that because any roots that do form, when you try to extract them from the moss to plant the plant in soil, you will damage. Monsteras will grow as total epiphytes. Some plants in the rainforest do not begin their lives on the forest floor in soil at all and never see soil. They begin in the understory and canopy when birds and insects drop their seeds into a place suitable for germination, and they begin life in trees in leaf litter as total epiphytes. But this would not be a good set up for a houseplant.

I also never root in water for the same reason. If I plan to grow a plant in water, it goes in water and never comes back out. The roots developed in water do not serve the plant well when placed directly into soil. The plant has to develop another 2nd set of a different type of roots to deal with soil and the water roots become unnecessary. I don't see the benefit of all these extra steps. Especially on a plant as expensive as I am sure yours must have been.

It has been my personal experience that cuttings like yours will do fine just placed in a good soil mix that is fast draining and containing a lot of chunky mix like orchid bark, coarse perlite, even aliflor. And these cuttings are not particularly fast to start new growth. Their first mission is to develop new roots, not put out a lot of nice new leaves. The leaves they have will provide their energy to do this, so a good bright light source for optimum photosynthesis is key. You will know your plant has developed the root system able to sustain it when it does start making new leaves. Don't keep digging it up to look!

Isn't it good to hear from more than one person? I hope so. I have lots of philo. Many old and large ones. I am constantly cutting off aerial roots. They can be bothersome. Plant does not miss them. Cuttings I root in a jar of water. Bit of rooting gel. Has never failed. I guess a Philodendron is a Philodendron however, I grow then as house plants in WI. Gina grows hers outdoors in FL. Two different extremes, IMO. I am willing to bet the care needed may not be the same in those two opposite cases. Gene

@gasrocks, @tofitropic, @WillC,
I made and am posting a pictorial tutorial here on the Philodendrons and other aroids forum of how I propagate my Monsteras (both variegated and not variegated). Why don't all three of you do the same? If a person like @Haema1120 has a number of well explained ways to choose from, with photos, perhaps they can choose the best way for them according to what manner of plant material they have received to grow, and in their own individual conditions. Because, as we all know, there is more than one way to skin the cat

I am sure you can add a lot of valuable info to any discussion on Philodendrons. But, if I am asking about house plant care I probably would ask someone, lean toward someone who grows them as house plants not someone who grows them year round outside in the tropics.

Care is the same up to a certain degree. The plants I propagate will be kept potted until quite large, then planted in the ground, so culture will be the same whether its in a house or a greenhouse. And I wish I DID live in the tropics. The USA has no true tropics, except for the island of Puerto Rico. Even Key West, the southern most point in the continental USA, has reached 40F before, making it the only true zone 11 place here in the US.