Why is my monstera not growing? 12 Popular Reasons And Fix

Having trouble with indoor plants can be a real headache, especially when it seems like nothing is happening. You might be scratching your head, thinking what’s up: Is the soil too dry? Are you giving it too much or too little water? Or is it just something about your home that’s putting the brakes on its growth? Don’t worry – this blog post is here to help you figure it all out! We’ll go over 12 common reasons why is my monstera not growing, and what you can do to get it back in action. Keep reading for some tips and tricks from experts and fellow green thumbs to help you master indoor gardening.

Why is my Monstera not growing?

If your monstera isn’t growing, there could be a whole bunch of reasons why. Maybe it’s gone into sleep mode because it’s not getting enough sunlight or because you’re overwatering or underwatering it. Crummy soil that doesn’t have enough nutrients might also be holding it back. Plus, annoying bugs can cause health problems for your monstera and make it stop growing.

A few other things could be getting in its way, like low humidity or too much direct sunlight – remember, monsteras prefer a bit of shade. Overdoing it with fertilizer and not enough air movement can mess up your monstera’s growth too. Finally, it might be in shock from being repotted; this can happen when plants are moved to bigger pots or different soil. If any of these issues are causing your monstera to stop growing, it’s time to start fixing them so your plant can start thriving again!

Dying monstera adansoni

Reason 1: Your Monstera is in sleep mode

Remember that the time of year can affect whether your Monstera is growing. Is it active or in sleep mode during its growing season? Every year, plants go into sleep mode in the winter as part of their life cycle.

When the winter sunshine is scarce, plants go into sleep mode to save energy and nutrients. Depending on where it is, your Monstera’s exact sleep period varies, but most Monsteras start winding down for the winter in October.

If sleep mode is why your Monstera isn’t growing, don’t stress. It’s actually good for your plant. The best thing to do is wait for spring. During winter, your Monstera needs less water and fertilizer, so adjust your care routine. As soon as the days get longer and it gets warmer, your Monstera will start growing again.

Reason 2: Not enough sunlight

If you think your Monstera isn’t growing because it’s not getting enough sunlight, the first thing you should do is check its light situation. Monsteras need bright, indirect light to do well and should get at least 4 hours of it every day.

If your Monstera isn’t getting enough natural light, think about using artificial lights made for plants. Put the Monstera somewhere that gets a few hours of indirect sunlight every day, like by a bright window or skylight. If you can’t give it enough natural light, use plant lights to make up for it. Just be sure to put them far enough away from your Monstera so they don’t burn it. And don’t forget to turn the Monstera every few days so it gets light from all sides.

You may also like: Monstera light requirements: How much does they need

Reason 3: Overwatering

If your monstera isn’t growing, you might be overwatering it. Monsteras need soil that drains well and a good watering schedule to do well, but if you’re giving it too much water, you could be causing root rot and slowing down its growth. To avoid overwatering, wait until the top inch of soil is completely dry before giving it more water. When you water your monstera, make sure to give it a good soak and spread the water evenly, keeping in mind that monstera roots need air to soak up nutrients and water. If you think you’re overwatering your monstera, you can make the soil drain better with a mix of perlite and peat moss. Also, check that you’re using a pot with plenty of holes in the bottom to let out extra moisture.

Monstera overwatering cause soft or mushy stem

Reason 4: Underwatering

Not giving your monstera enough water can lead to slowed growth and can even kill the plant. Signs that your monstera isn’t getting enough water include droopy leaves, yellow or brown spots on the leaves, and wilting. Monsteras need a steady supply of water to grow the right way. If your monstera isn’t getting enough water, it won’t be able to get nutrients and moisture from the soil.

To stop your monstera from stopping its growth because of not enough water, make sure to water it regularly. When you water your monstera, make sure to get the water all the way down to its roots. Also, check the soil before you water it. If the soil is dry, give it water. If it’s still damp, you can skip watering it. Monsteras need a steady supply of water to grow and do well. Don’t let the soil get totally dry or your monstera will suffer and won’t be able to reach its full potential.

Reason 5: Bad soil

If your monstera isn’t growing, the soil could be the problem. Monsteras need a potting mix that drains well and is made specifically for tropical plants to do well. If the soil is too heavy or doesn’t drain well, it can suffocate the roots and slow down growth. Think about repotting your monstera into a potting mix that drains well, and make sure the pot has holes in the bottom.

To keep your monstera healthy, give it the right kind of fertilizer every few weeks during its growing season. The right soil, enough light, and regular watering will help your monstera reach its full potential. If you follow these steps, your monstera plant will be happy and healthy.

Monstera small leaves due to incorrect soil pH

Reason 6: Not enough nutrients

If your monstera plants aren’t growing because they’re not getting enough nutrients, you can give them more by fertilizing them. Monsteras need a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer to grow and do well. During the growing season (spring through fall), give your monstera a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer once a month. Make sure to follow the instructions on the fertilizer label for dosage and application so you don’t give it too much or too little. Monsteras are heavy feeders, so it’s important to keep up with regular fertilizing to make sure your monstera gets enough nutrients to grow.

Once you start fertilizing, your monstera should start growing again. If you have any questions about monstera fertilizer, you can ask at your local garden center or a monstera expert for help. With the right nutrients and care, monsteras can be beautiful indoor plants that will bring life to your home!

Reason 7: Pests

If your monstera isn’t growing, it could be because of bugs. Common Monstera pests, such as spider mites on monstera and mealybugs, eat monstera plants and can stop them from growing the right way.

To keep your monstera safe from bugs, it’s important to check for them regularly. If you think there might be bugs, ask a local plant shop or plant expert for advice on the best ways to get rid of them. Treating monstera plants that have bugs the right way is key to getting them back to growing healthy again. Taking steps to prevent bugs, like checking your monstera for bugs regularly and using the right bug killer if you find any, can help keep your monstera growing and doing well. Don’t let bugs stop your monstera’s growth – take action today!

Spider Mites on Monstera

Reason 8: Low humidity

Monsteras need high humidity to do well, so if the air around them is too dry, they won’t grow. To make the humidity higher for monstera plants, you can mist the leaves regularly or put a humidifier close by. If you live somewhere with naturally low humidity, one good way to give your monstera extra moisture is to put it with other plants.

This will help make an environment with higher humidity and give the monstera a better chance to do well. If you’re not sure about the humidity in your home, you can use a humidistat to check it and make sure it stays in the right range.

Reason 9: Too much direct sunlight

If you notice your plant not growing as it should, one of the possible reasons could be too much direct sunlight on Monstera. Monsteras need bright, indirect light to do well, not direct sunlight. Direct sunlight can make the leaves get scorched and turn yellow before eventually falling off.

To avoid this, move your monstera somewhere with brighter, indirect light or use sheer curtains to filter the light. By doing this, you will be giving your monstera the perfect environment to grow and be healthy.

Monstera leaves curled due to too much sunlight

Reason 10: Overfertilizing

If your monstera isn’t growing despite enough light and regular watering, it could be because you’re giving it too much fertilizer. Fertilizer gives plants the nutrients they need to grow, but for monsteras, too much fertilizer can cause damage.

To avoid this damage, follow the instructions on the fertilizer label and only give it fertilizer once a month during the growing season. Too much fertilizer can burn monstera roots, slow down its growth, and even kill it. To help your monstera get back to normal, make sure to use less fertilizer and give it plenty of time to recover before you start giving it regular fertilizer again. With a little extra care, your monstera will soon be on its way to healthy, strong growth.

By following the instructions and not giving your monstera too much fertilizer, you can help make sure that your monstera reaches its full potential. With regular care and attention, monsteras can do well in any environment and bring years of beauty and joy to their owners. So keep a close eye for signs of too much fertilizer and keep to a regular fertilizer schedule to keep your monstera healthy.

Reason 11: Poor air circulation

Monstera plants need plenty of air moving around to do well and grow. If your monstera isn’t growing, it might be because there’s not enough air moving around. Air that doesn’t move much because of too many plants close together or not enough air flow can lead to bacterial and fungal diseases, which can stop monsteras from growing.

To make sure that your monstera has enough air moving around, make sure not to crowd it with other plants, and put it somewhere where there’s plenty of air flow. Taking good care of monstera plants is super important for their health and growth.

Reason 12: Poor air circulation

If you’ve recently repotted your Monstera and it’s not growing like you thought it would, it could be because of shock from repotting. Shock from repotting happens when a plant gets stressed out after being moved from its old container to a new one. This can happen if the pot is too big or too small, or if the potting mix you used isn’t right for monsteras.

To stop shock from repotting, only use a pot that’s a bit bigger than the old one, and don’t repot more often than you need to. Also, use a soil or potting mix made especially for monstera plants to make sure they have all the nutrients they need to recover and start growing again.

If you’ve noticed that your monstera isn’t growing, there could be a bunch of reasons from watering it wrong and not enough light to giving it too much fertilizer or shock from repotting. By understanding the possible reasons, you can take the steps you need to make sure your monstera gets the right care and everything it needs to grow healthy and strong. With the right amount of care and attention, FamiPlants sure that your monstera will soon be doing great. Good luck!

Hi, I'm Cathleen Clemens. I graduated from Cornell University with a degree in plant science. I gained detailed knowledge about various kinds of plants and how to properly care for them. My experience has enabled me to easily detect any issues such as pest infestations, nutrient deficiencies, or signs of diseases in the plants.

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