---
title: "Good afternoon what are these rope like (I don’t know what to call…"
description: "Good afternoon what are these rope like (I don’t know what to call them) stems that are growing out of my Monstera plant. Do I cut them off or just leave them…"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/lKxUkhzRR_aIJD7o1QvtwQ/d3E0zdA2DYLwvVgryR1UeS"
community: "Pests, diseases and problems"
author: "Tee M"
published: "2025-08-25T19:26:56.540767Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/bLy9RZDeJuSMl3YudIq_Wx4yH6ozXJDdN7Nlg9Ul_4A/vwY0LHukTO-R5cHkQKjwWw.webp?size=large"
---

[Community](https://getplanta.com/community.md) / [Pests, diseases and problems](https://getplanta.com/community/lKxUkhzRR_aIJD7o1QvtwQ.md)

# Good afternoon what are these rope like (I don’t know what to call…

_Posted by Tee M on 2025-08-25_

Good afternoon what are these rope like (I don’t know what to call them) stems that are growing out of my Monstera plant. Do I cut them off or just leave them on? There’s no leaves attached or anything please help thank you.

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/bLy9RZDeJuSMl3YudIq_Wx4yH6ozXJDdN7Nlg9Ul_4A/vwY0LHukTO-R5cHkQKjwWw.webp?size=large)

## 6 comments

### SWDK commented on 2025-08-25

Causes of a leggy stem  
Insufficient light: This is the most common cause. The plant is trying to grow towards a better light source, which results in long, sparse growth with few leaves. Move your plant to a spot with bright, indirect light, ideally receiving 5–8 hours of filtered sun daily.  
Lack of support: As a vining plant, your mini monstera expects to climb. Without a moss pole or trellis to attach its aerial roots to, it will produce long, searching vines.  
Normal growth habit: In their natural habitat, these plants climb up trees and don't produce large, split leaves until they reach a certain height. Your plant may just be in its exploratory phase.

A "rope-like stem with no leaves" on your mini monstera (also known as Rhaphidophora tetrasperma) is likely a leggy vine stretching for more light. These plants are natural climbers and often produce bare stems as they seek something to attach to and grow upwards.

#### Tee M replied on 2025-08-26

Thank you so much.

### maheen commented on 2025-08-25

hi! this looks like an aerial root. you can tuck them back into the pot.

#### Tee M replied on 2025-08-26

Thanks!

### Candy commented on 2025-08-25

Those look like aerial roots. You can cut them off, tuck them back into the soil, or if you give your monstera a moss pole for support, they will attach to the moss pole. They are not vines that will produce leaves.

#### Tee M replied on 2025-08-26

Thanks!

---

_Source: the Planta community (https://getplanta.com). Reading is open to everyone. To post, comment and like, get the Planta app: https://getplanta.com/download_