Plant care guide
Monstera Adansonii Root Rot: Trim, Repot or Restart
Updated
Why does my Monstera adansonii have root rot?
Monstera adansonii root rot follows mix that stays wet, often from water left in the saucer or a pot that is too big. The vine wilts or yellows while the mix is damp, and the roots in the pot turn brown to black and soft. Aerial roots along the stems are normal climbing roots, not a sign of rot.
What to do first
Unpot the plant, wearing gloves, and cut away soft, dark roots. If firm roots remain, repot in fresh, chunky, well-drained mix and water only when it has dried. If most roots are gone, take node cuttings from firm green vine and root them.
Monstera adansonii grows fast, so a vine that stalls and wilts in damp mix is easy to notice. NC State Extension’s Monstera adansonii profile recommends moist, well-drained soil and warns that overwatering can result in root rot. UF/IFAS Extension’s Swiss cheese plant article says to water when dry and not to leave water in the saucer, because root rots can occur.
The good news is in the vine. UF calls propagation as easy as taking a stem cutting with a node, so a badly rotted plant can often be restarted from healthy stems.
Confirm it is rot
If leaves are yellowing and you have not checked the roots, start with our Monstera adansonii yellow leaves guide. It sorts water, light and cold. Here we assume the mix has stayed wet and the vine is getting worse.
Aerial roots are not rot. NC State explains that in the wild this plant climbs trees using aerial roots. UF notes those roots latch onto a moss pole. Roots growing from the stems above the mix are normal.
Rotted roots are. Slide the plant out and look at the roots in the mix. University of Maryland Extension’s root rot page describes brown to black, soft roots with an outer layer that pulls away from the core. University of Wisconsin–Madison Extension’s houseplant root rot page adds that rotted roots may smell bad, and that plants often wilt even though the soil is wet. Maryland notes that Phytophthora can also turn the lower stems black, brown or mushy.
Wear gloves. NC State says the sap can cause skin irritation, and the plant is toxic to people and pets if eaten.
Some roots still firm: trim and repot
- Remove the old mix completely. Wisconsin advises against reusing mix or drainage water from a rotted plant.
- Cut off soft, dark roots with clean scissors. Clemson Extension’s disorders factsheet says that if only a few roots are infected, cut them out and repot in sterile soil.
- Choose a pot that fits the roots you kept, with drainage holes. Virginia Cooperative Extension’s watering guide warns that a pot that is too large leaves roots in mix that stays too wet.
- Use an open mix. UF suggests an orchid mix would be ideal for this plant.
- Water once, then wait until the mix has dried before watering again.
Most roots gone: restart from cuttings
Maryland advises taking cuttings only from healthy tissue. UF says a stem cutting needs at least one node, or roots already growing from it. Long vines can make several new plants.
- Cut firm, green lengths of vine, each with at least one node. Leave soft or dark stem behind.
- Root them in water or a moist, airy medium. Iowa State University Extension’s stem tip cuttings guide names perlite as a good rooting medium. For water rooting, change the water once or twice a week.
- Pot water-rooted cuttings when the roots are about 2.5 cm (1 in) long, as Iowa State suggests. Expect a short adjustment period.
Our Monstera adansonii propagation guide covers node cuttings step by step. Discard the rotted base with its mix.
Keep the new roots healthy
- Empty the saucer after watering, as UF advises. Virginia’s guide warns against leaving pots in water for more than 60 minutes.
- Water less in autumn and winter. Virginia advises watching plants closely then, because they use less water.
- Keep it warm. NC State advises avoiding drafts and temperatures below 10 °C (50 °F). UF gives 13 °C (55 °F) as its limit.
- Raise humidity without wetting the mix. NC State suggests a humidifier or a tray of wet pebbles. UF says to set the pot just above the water level.
Our care guide covers light and climbing support. For rot in other plants, see our root rot guide.
References
- NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Monstera adansonii
- UF/IFAS Extension Charlotte County: Holey leaves, when holes in leaves are a good thing
- University of Maryland Extension: Root Rots of Indoor Plants
- Clemson Cooperative Extension HGIC 2251: Houseplant Diseases & Disorders
- University of Wisconsin–Madison Extension: Root Rots of Houseplants
- Iowa State University Extension and Outreach: How to Propagate Houseplants by Stem Tip Cuttings
- Virginia Cooperative Extension: Properly Watering Container Houseplants (SPES-804)
How this guide was put together: NC State Extension, UF/IFAS Extension, University of Maryland Extension, Clemson Cooperative Extension, University of Wisconsin–Madison Extension, Iowa State University Extension and Virginia Cooperative Extension guidance.