How to transfer water root to soil.

by Sam
(Manchester)

Please ignore the dirty water, I changed it last week 😅

I put a water vessel under a monstera’s aerial roof and it’s growing quite well but now I either cut the node putting out the root and repot it, or I stick it in the soil and let it continue growing but I think it would dry out and eventually die so I don’t know how to proceed from here. what should I do?

Comments for How to transfer water root to soil.

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Feb 20, 2022

Whenever
by: Jacki Cammidge, Certified Horticulturist

Whenever you use this method of rooting aerial roots, it's important to transfer the result carefully.

There are several ways you can proceed. The best way in this case is to simply start adding soil to the vessel, eventually filling it and replacing the water. As the roots fill the soil, it will make it easier for the plant to adjust to being in soil, rather than straight water. Keep watering it, as you're right, you don't want it to dry out just yet.

Eventually, you can cut the new plant off, and let it grow on its own. This would be a good time to also pot it into it's own pot, with drainage.

Time frame; approximately a month or two of adding potting soil to the water until the vessel is full of soil. Then another few weeks of growing it in the now soil filled vessel. Then cut it off to survive on its own. This will be the most dangerous time for the plant. Keep it in a clear plastic bag to provide more humidity, and if there are lots of leaves, cut one or more off to take the burden off the root.

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