Monsteras are the hippest houseplants these days—and for all the right reasons! Treat ’em right and they’ll grow into a green curtain, lighting up your rooms with their lush leaves. But keeping monsteras fit as a fiddle ain’t always a piece of cake. You might see some yellow leaves or some pesky bugs here and there. No need to panic—I got your back! I’m gonna run you through these 15 common Monstera problems (complete with photos)! Follow these simple hacks and your monstera will be doing a happy dance in no time.
Yellow Leaves
Yellow leaves in your Monstera are pretty common. It’s usually because the plant’s getting too much or too little light and water, or maybe not enough nutrition. Here’s how to figure out what’s up:
- Light: Monsteras can’t handle too much sun, so if they’re getting direct sunlight, the leaves might turn yellow. Make sure to place it somewhere with indirect light all day.
- Water: If you’re watering your monstera too much, the leaves might go yellow from root rot. But if it’s too thirsty, the leaves can turn yellow too. Just touch the soil and only water it if it feels dry.
- Nutrition: If your monstera isn’t getting the right nutrition, its leaves might turn yellow. So make sure to give it some plant food regularly.
Browning Leaf Tips
Brown leaf tips are another common Monstera problems. It could be from not watering it right, too much heat, or direct sunlight.
A good way to fix this is to check your watering routine. Make sure you’re watering your monstera often enough, letting the top inch or two of soil dry out between waterings. Also, keep an eye on where you put your plant so it doesn’t get too much direct sunlight or heat.
Sometimes, browning leaf tips can happen because of too much plant food. If that’s the case, ease up on the fertilizer and give the soil a good rinse with fresh water.
Also, check regularly for bugs like aphids or mealybugs. If you see any, use some bug spray to get rid of ’em and try to keep your plant clean and healthy.
Follow these steps and your monstera will dodge common problems like browning leaf tips, looking fab for years to come!
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Wilting
Wilting is common among Monstera plants and it can be due to loads of stuff like lack of water, temperature changes, soil that’s too soggy or too dry, not enough nutrients, root rot, and pests. But don’t worry, there’s stuff you can do to sort it out.
- Drought stress: Check the soil before watering your plant. If it feels dry, then it’s time to give your plant some water, but be careful not to drown it because this can cause root rot and other monstera issues.
- Temperature fluctuations: Make sure your plant’s in a spot that’s not too hot or too cold, ideally somewhere between 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit (18-24 degrees Celsius).
- Drafts: Drafts might mess up wilting your monstera plants because they can dry out the leaves and roots. If your monstera plant is wilting, check to make sure it is not in a drafty location. If it is, shift it to a place where it will be protected from those drafts.
- Incorrect soil moisture: When you water your plant check the soil for drainage. If the soil’s too soggy or too dry, put your plant in soil that drains better.
- Nutrient deficiencies: Feed your plant with balanced liquid plant food once a month during the growing season so it’s getting everything it needs.
- Root rot and pest problems: If you think root rot might be the problem, look for decay signs near the roots and put your plant in fresh soil if you need to. To get rid of bugs, give the leaves a gentle wash every few weeks with a mild soapy solution.
Yellow Spots
Sometimes monsteras get yellow spots on their leaves. This can happen if you’re not watering it right and could mean more serious problems are on the way, like whole leaves turning yellow or brown, or crispy edges.
To deal with this, check your watering routine to make sure you’re not giving it too much or too little water. Wait until the soil is totally dry before you water again, and try to keep the air around your plant moist by misting it every day or getting a humidifier. You need to water more than once a week is considered too much water, and watering less than once every two weeks is considered too little water. Too much sun can also cause yellow spots, so keep your monstera out of direct sunlight.
No Fenestration
No Fenestration is a condition that can occur in Monstera plants when new leaves do not develop properly due to not enough light. Therefore new leaves on Monstera plants may not develop properly or come out right if they are not getting enough light. This condition is called No Fenestration. This often happens when a plant’s outgrown its pot or is somewhere too shady. A common sign of No Fenestration is new leaves going yellow or not growing right.
To fix this, make sure your plant’s getting enough light, either by moving it to a sunnier spot or giving it artificial light. Also, if the plant’s in a pot that’s too small, put it in a bigger one to help new leaves and stems grow. Finally, you can prune to get rid of yellow or damaged leaves and let new ones grow.
Related: When do Monstera leaves split? How to encourage it splitting
Lack of New Leaves
A common problem with Monsteras is when they don’t grow new leaves. This can be caused by not enough light, water and nutrients, poor drainage, compaction or too much pruning.
To sort this out, make sure the plant’s getting plenty of light and water. Also, use plant food that has essential stuff like nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium to help new leaves grow. Check the soil regularly, as bad soil can stop the plant from taking in nutrients, leading to no new leaves. Only prune when necessary, such as to remove dead or diseased leaves, or to control the plant’s size. Too much pruning can stress the plant out and stop new leaves from forming.
Leaves Curling
Monstera leaves curl for a variety of reasons, including too much or not enough water, lack of light or too much direct sunlight, extreme humidity or not enough humidity, and temperature fluctuations.
To stop Monstera leaves curling, make sure you’re giving the plant enough water and light. Water your monstera when the soil is dry or just a bit damp. Don’t drown it, which can lead to root rot. Put your monstera somewhere with bright, indirect sunlight and away from direct sunlight. Keep an eye on temperature changes, try to keep humidity levels around 50%, and check for bugs often.
If your monstera’s leaves are already curling, you can try to adjust the above stuff to sort them out. If it’s still a problem, you might need to prune away the dodgy leaves and keep an eye on the plant’s surroundings for any other issues.
Root Rot
Monstera root rot is one of the common problems for people growing this tropical plant. Root rot happens when a plant’s roots get waterlogged and start to decay, usually because of too much water or soil that doesn’t drain well. Signs include wilting leaves, yellowing leaves, and growth getting stunted.
To help stop Monstera root rot, it’s important to only water the plant when you need to and let the soil dry out between waterings. Also, using a pot with proper drainage holes and the right soil mix will help keep roots from getting too soggy. If root rot has already kicked in, you can try repotting the Monstera into fresh soil and chucking away any roots that are affected. It’s also important to cut back on the water and let the soil dry out between waterings.
Leaves Turning Black
Monstera leaves turning black can be caused by too much direct sunlight, too much or not enough water, or bugs like mealybugs and spider mites.
To deal with this common problem, change your watering schedule to make sure the plant’s getting enough water and cut down on its exposure to direct sunlight. You should also check the plant for signs of bugs and treat it with a safe insecticide or neem oil if you need to. Pruning damaged leaves can also help your Monstera get better from this common issue.
Leaves Browning
Brown spots might show up on the leaves because of too much direct sunlight, not enough humidity, or too much water.
The best way to stop Monstera leaf browning is to make sure your Monstera’s getting enough light, but without strong direct sunlight; keep the humidity levels up, and only water your plant when the soil is dry. If you see any brown spots on your Monstera’s leaves, use a soft cloth to gently wipe them off and make sure that it’s getting enough light and humidity to stay healthy. Also, you might want to think about repotting with fresh potting soil, as this can help to give your plant a boost and give it the nutrients it needs.
Bugs
Bugs are one of the biggest headaches for Monstera plants. Some of the usual suspects include mealybugs, spider mites monstera, aphids and monstera scale insects. All these bugs chow down on plant sap and can wreck leaves, stems and roots if you don’t deal with them.
- Mealy Bugs: Mealy Bugs are small, white oval-shaped bugs that usually hang out on the stems and leaves of Monstera plants. To show them the door, use a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol to wipe away any you can see. You can also spray insecticidal soap or neem oil on areas they’ve invaded.
- Spider Mites: Spider mites are small, red-brown bugs that make webs on Monstera plants. To get rid of them, you can spray a mix of dish soap and water on the plant or use an insecticidal spray.
- Aphids: Aphids are small green bugs that feed on the sap of Monstera plants. They can turn leaves yellow and mess with growth. To handle aphids, use an insecticidal soap or neem oil solution to spray the affected areas.
- Scale Insects: Scale insects usually hang out on the stems and underside of Monstera leaves. They chow down on plant sap, which can turn leaves yellow and mess with growth. To get rid of scale insects, you can put an insecticidal soap or neem oil solution on them.
It’s important to check Monstera plants regularly for signs of pests and sort them out as soon as possible to prevent more damage. If the infestation’s really bad, you might have to chuck the plant to avoid more problems.
Stunted Growth
Stunting happens when the plant’s growth slows down or stops, often because of things like not enough light, bad soil, and too much water. Stunting can also be caused by bug infestations or too much plant food.
The best way to stop stunted growth is to give the plant what it needs. Make sure Monstera plants have enough light, water, and plant food. Make sure the soil drains well and isn’t too soggy or dry. Also, check for bugs now and then to make sure any infestations are dealt with quick.
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Leggy Growth
Leggy growth happens when the plant’s not getting enough light and stretches towards the nearest light source.
To get your Monstera to grow fuller, give it bright indirect sunlight or artificial lighting within 6-10 inches from its leaves. You can also turn your Monstera every few days so all sides grow evenly. If you’ve got leggy growth, you might need to cut the stem and plant it again in a bigger pot with fresh soil for extra support. You can also get leggy plants to bush out by pinching off the ends of their stems.
Tearing Leaves
Tearing leaves can be down to a bunch of stuff, like too much light, dry air, not watering right and even bugs or disease. It’s important to figure out what’s causing it to deal with it right.
One big thing in stopping tearing leaves is to give the plant the right amount of light. Too much direct sunlight can dry out leaves and make them yellow, which can lead to tearing. It’s best to give Monstera plants indirect light because this lets them do well without getting sunburn.
It’s also important to make sure the air around your Monstera’s humid enough because dry air can make leaves tear. You can increase the humidity around your plant by misting it often or using a humidifier.
On top of light and humidity, not watering right is another common reason for tearing leaves in Monsteras. Watering your plants too much or not enough can both lead to leaf damage. The best way to make sure your Monstera’s getting the right amount of water is by testing the soil moisture with a moisture meter. If it reads wet, wait a few days before you water again.
Finally, bugs and disease can also cause tearing leaves in Monsteras. Check the plant often for signs of bugs or disease and take steps to get rid of the bugs or treat any diseases as soon as you can.
Unbalanced growth
Unbalanced growth is a common problem for Monstera plants. This can make the plant look lop-sided, with some stems growing longer than others and going in weird directions. Unbalanced growth usually happens because of not enough light or water. To stop this, try to give your Monstera even amounts of both light and water. If you see that the plant’s leaning towards a light source, rotate it so all sides get the same amount of light. Also, prune any stems that are growing too long. This will help promote balanced growth and keep your Monstera looking even and good-looking.
Even though Monstera are pretty tough, low-maintenance plants, they can still have problems now and then. If you see any of the 15 common Monstera problems mentioned above, don’t wait to do something. By figuring out the problem and dealing with it quick and right, you can keep your plant healthy and doing well for years to come. For more info about looking after Monsteras (and other indoor plants), make sure to check out Famiplants.
