Monstera plants are a perennial favorite among indoor plant lovers, and with their impressive large, glossy leaves they make any interior look stunning. But sometimes, Monstera owners may encounter an issue—their leaves can be smaller than normal. If this has happened to you, it is important to investigate why your Monstera small leaves before trying corrective measures so you can ensure the health of your plant in the long term. In this blog post, we’ll provide insight into some of the possible reasons behind small monstera leaves as well as advice on how to get big monstera leaves.
Causes of monstera small leaves
Some Monstera might show small leaves that look different from your usual Monstera leaf. A couple of things can cause this.
Lack of sunlight
One of the main reasons for Monstera leaves going small is not enough sun. Monsteras are a kind of tropical plant and need plenty of bright, indirect light to thrive – without enough light, their leaves tend to stay small and narrow in shape. If your Monstera isn’t getting enough sunlight, try moving it closer to a window or light source and watch it grow. You might also want to consider investing in a grow light to give your Monstera the right amount of energy it needs.
Overwatering
Monstera Overwatering is often the problem when a Monstera plant starts showing smaller than usual leaves, among other unhealthy signs. When Monstera plants get watered too much, soil gets overly wet, stopping air from getting to the roots. This can lead to root rot, a really bad and potentially fatal problem for the plant.
Root rot messes with the plant’s ability to absorb water and essential nutrients, leading to a visible decline in the plant’s health. Signs are monstera yellowing leaves, leaf drop, and diminished leaf size. Moreover, root rot on monstera can make them more likely to get other issues, like monstera pest infestations and problems from cold temperatures.
Poor drainage is part of the problem of root rot, as it lets water hang around the roots, creating a perfect environment for rot to start. When your Monstera plant shows signs of trouble, it’s really important to act fast to lessen harm and potentially save your plant.
Here are steps to take if you think your Monstera has root rot due to too much water:
- Repot the Plant: Choose a pot with better drainage to stop water from hanging around in the soil. A well-draining potting mix also helps.
- Prune Damaged Roots: Remove any dead or decaying roots to stop the rot from spreading to the healthy roots. Be gentle during this step to avoid causing additional stress to the plant.
- Apply a Fungicide: Treat the plant and its remaining roots with a good fungus killer to kill any remaining rot-causing fungi.
- Adjust Watering Schedule: Water your Monstera less often and make sure the top layer of soil dries out between waterings. Too much water is the root of this problem, so this step is really important to the plant’s recovery and future health.
By quickly sorting root rot caused by too much water, you can help your Monstera plant get back its vitality, leading to the production of larger, healthier leaves. Nutrient Lack
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Nutrient deficiency
When it comes to Monstera plants, lack of nutrients can cause small leaves. Lack of nutrients can happen because of not good soil or bad watering habits.
If you notice small leaves on your Monstera plant, the first step is to check your care routine and see if you might have missed some nutrients.
If you’re unsure what’s causing the issue, it might be helpful to take a soil sample and check if it’s lacking nutrients. Nutrients that Monstera plants need to grow include nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and calcium. Once these nutrient levels have been sorted, you’ll notice an improvement in your plant’s overall health and an increase in leaf size.
Underwatering
Not watering enough, unlike watering too much, can also cause issues for your Monstera plant. When the soil is always very dry, it messes with the roots’ soaking up water and crucial nutrients effectively. This lack can cause leaves to go yellow and dropping off for your monstera, also stopping leaf growth leading to super small leaves.
Not watering enough may be because of:
- Not watering enough, leading to a constant dry soil situation.
- Too big pot, which can spread water too thinly and leads to quick evaporation before the roots can soak it.
- Bad soil quality that doesn’t hold water well, causing fast soil drying.
If you think your Monstera plant isn’t getting enough water, you need to act fast. The next steps can make your plant better:
- Thorough Watering: Give the plant a good soak until water leaks out from the holes at the bottom. This makes sure the water gets deep into the soil, wetting all the roots.
- Increase Humidity: Monstera plants thrive in a humid environment. Often spraying the leaves can make the air around more damp and help the plant get better.
- Fertilize Regularly: Use an even feed once a month to supplement the soil’s nutrients. This can help the plant get better and grow healthy, larger leaves.
By dealing with not watering enough quickly, you can help your Monstera plant’s recovery, helping it grow better and bring back its characteristic big, bright leaves.
Inappropriate Pot
Monstera plants can have small leaves if not put in the right pot. Wrong pots for Monstera include those that don’t have enough holes for water to drain, or pots that are too small which stop roots growing. This limits the air movement and doesn’t let right watering needed for leaf growth.
In this case, you need a bigger pot so the root system can spread out and the leaves can grow properly.
Repot your Monstera now to prevent small leaves and an unhappy plant.
Inadequate fertilizer
When it comes to feeding Monstera’s small leaves, not enough feed is the main cause. Not enough feed can lead to nutrient deficiencies, which in turn your monstera will stop growth and reduce the size of your plant’s leaves.
To avoid this, make sure you’re using enough feed but not too much as this can burn the roots. It’s best to use a weak feed, about half strength, and feed only once per month during the growth period. To choose the right fertilizer for your plant, you can refer to the article Best Fertilizer for Monstera.
Water Quality
Water with too much chlorine and fluoride can damage the leaves of your plant, making them smaller and less bright. Water that has been softened over a long time can also stop its growth.
To get the best health for your Monstera, use clean water when caring for it. Rainwater or spring water is also a great option that can give your Monstera the food it needs to do well. Bottle water can be used too, but avoid tap water when you can.
For an even better plant, consider using a feed made for houseplants like Monstera to add to its nutrition.
Low Humidity
When the dampness level in your home is lower than 25%, it can make your monstera plant’s leaves get smaller. Not humid enough can make the water evaporate faster, causing the soil and leaves to dry out. Not being humid enough also stresses the plant, slowing its growth and size of leaves.
In addition, not being humid enough can also lead to brown bits and dry ends on the leaves.
To create a humid environment for your monstera plant, spray them regularly with water or use a room humidifier. You may also place the plant in a pebble tray filled with water. This will help up the dampness levels around the plant and stop the leaves getting smaller.
It’s also important to keep the air movement in your home at a good level with open windows, as too much stuffy air can cause low dampness levels. Regularly check the soil wetness and change watering as needed to keep your monstera plant happy and healthy!
Temperature shock
Sudden temp changes is one of the most common causes of your Monstera leaves going small. If your Monstera experiences a sudden drop in temperature, it can cause leaves changing color and the size of new leaves may be smaller than before. This is because sudden changes in temp cause stress to the plant.
The best way to avoid this is to keep the temperature pretty steady and to not move your Monstera from place to place all of a sudden. If you know that a sudden drop in temperature is coming, try to give the plant extra dampness and heat by misting or wrapping it in a blanket.
Insect infestation
Your Monstera can be particularly prone to bug problems, which can cause its leaves to become smaller than normal. Insects such as mealybugs, whiteflies and aphids feed on the sap of Monstera plants, causing the leaves to become yellow or brown and eventually shrivel up. Insects can also spread plant sickness between Monstera plants, which can further slow their growth. If you notice that your Monstera’s leaves are smaller than usual, it is likely due to a bug problem or disease.
To prevent this from happening, be sure to regularly inspect your Monstera for pests and take steps to remove them if necessary. Bug-killing soaps and neem oil are effective treatments for controlling bug problems. Additionally, removing dead or diseased leaves can help to keep your Monstera healthy and promote new leaf growth. Keeping a regular watering schedule and ensuring that the soil is well drained can also be beneficial in preventing pest infestation and maintaining your Monstera’s health.
Incorrect soil pH
Having small leaves on a monstera plant can be an indication of wrong soil pH. If the soil is too sour, it can prevent the plant from getting enough nutrients, resulting in slowed growth and smaller leaves.
To correct this issue, you will need to adjust the soil pH until it hits the just-right range of between 6.0 and 7.0. This can be done by adding lime to the soil, which will help raise the pH, or sulfur, which will lower it. Adjusting the soil pH will not only help your monstera’s leaves grow larger, but also improve its overall health and make it tough against sickness. Make sure you test the Monstera soil regularly to ensure that the pH remains at a consistent level.
How to make your Monstera leaf bigger
One of the most common questions asked by Monstera owners is how to make their Monstera leaf bigger.
Luckily, it doesn’t take much effort to grow a big and healthy monstera plant! Here are some tips that you can use to help your plant reach its maximum size potential:
- Provide the right amount of light: Monstera thrives in bright, soft sunlight. Make sure to place your plant near a window where it can get plenty of sunlight without direct sunlight hitting it directly.
- Fertilize regularly: A regular feeding program will help promote healthy growth and increase the size of your monstera leaves. Use a fertilizer that is specifically formulated for Monstera plants. Follow the instructions on the package to determine how often you should fertilize your plant.
- Repot when necessary: As your monstera grows, it may need more space. When this happens, it’s a good idea to repot your plant into a bigger pot with fresh soil. Make sure the new pot has drainage holes so the excess water can escape.
- Prune regularly: It is important to prune your monstera plant in order to maintain its shape and control how big it gets. Pruning will also help encourage thicker leaf growth, which in turn makes bigger leaves.
For example, I recently had to let go of my monstera I also purchased in June 2022. Try moving your plant closer to your east facing window. Open the blinds from sunrise to sunset. Monsteras thrive on light. Turn your plant a quarter turn once per week and check if it needs water at the same time. Does your container have drainage? I use a plastic growers pot for most of my plants and place it into a decorative container. Maybe repot her as well. Even if you repot into the same container, a little refresh of well aerated soil may just perk her up. From spring to fall try a little bit of fertilizer once per month to keep her healthy and well feed. After following these steps, my monstera is healthy and the leaves are a little bigger. Good luck!
Frequently Asked Questions on small monstera leaves
Should I trim small Monstera leaves?
Trimming small Monstera leaves is generally discouraged as it can lead to slowed growth and weird-shaped leaves. should only Prune dead and damaged leaves and encouraging new leaf growth, as well as improving air circulation around the plant.
Why are my mini Monstera leaves small?
Small Monstera leaves are a natural variation of the Monstera plant. They are caused by mutations in the plant’s DNA, resulting in smaller leaves than usual. The small size of these leaves can also be attributed to tough conditions like giving too much water or not enough sunlight exposure.
Concluded, It is not unusual for Monstera small leaves, but there are ways to fix the problem. By providing proper lighting, adjusting watering schedule, fertilizing, pruning and repotting your plant, you can encourage your Monstera to produce bigger leaves. Keep in mind that the process of growing bigger leaves takes time, but it will be worth the effort in the end. For more tips on how to care for your Monstera, visit us at Famiplants!
