Monstera leaves develop black or brown patches when leaf tissue degenerates. We can figure out what’s wrong with your Monstera based on the color, texture, and placement of the spots.
Overwatering
To start, overwatering is the primary cause of the most prevalent kind of black spot on Monstera leaves. Dark brown or black patches of varied widths at the leaf’s margin or center are signs of overwatering damage. The spots frequently have a yellow ring around the edges and are velvety to the touch. Additionally, overwatered leaves curl.
Additionally, it’s critical that you examine the stem and roots for dark mushy areas as soon as possible if your Monstera exhibits signs of overwatering. Monstera houseplants are most frequently killed by root and stem rot.
Dehydration
The tips and margins of your Monstera’s leaves may develop spots if there is not enough moisture. Leaves that have been overwatered appear limp or curled. Dehydration damage, as opposed to overwatering, results in lighter-brown, crispier-looking leaves from the outside in. This is the simplest technique to distinguish between the causes.
Dehydration harm can be caused by underwatering, low humidity, or a combination of the two. Increase the frequency or volume of irrigation. If you live in a dry area or have the heat on in the winter, you can also use a humidifier to raise the humidity in your home. See our guide to humidity.
Sunburn on Monstera leaves
If burned, monstera leaves have the potential to turn black. On the upper surfaces of leaves closest to the light, sunburned areas that are dry and black or brown form. The obvious sign of sunburn is a silvery gray or bleached color to the foliage.
Direct sunlight from a window or positioning your plant too close to a grow lamp can also cause sunburn. Monsteras naturally grow in the shadow, so unless they are carefully acclimated, the heat from direct sunlight is too much for them. In our article, you can read more about the ideal lighting for Monstera.
Increase the distance between your plants and potentially harmful light sources, only give your Monstera indirect sunlight, and never let your Monstera outside to sunbathe. Check out our guide on the best grow lights for Monstera if your plant requires more light.
Frost Damage
Monstera should never be kept outside throughout the winter in cold locations because they are tropical plants. Houseplant Monsteras are therefore more susceptible to sustain cold damage during shipping or transportation. Get your Monstera back into the warmth as quickly as you can if it accidently comes into contact with frigid conditions within your home.
Frost damage is disastrous because any area of the plant that freezes through will perish as its cells rupture. The leaves and stems of frozen plants will turn black or brown, first appear scorched, and possibly even become moist. It may take several days for the effects of cold injury to fully manifest.
Mechanical Damage
When the physical structure of a monstera leaf is harmed, it can occasionally turn black. Examine your leaves for any rips or tears that can kill the tissue to look for this problem. Mechanical damage will only cause black spots in the torn sections, not throughout the plant as a whole.
Splits, as opposed to rips or tears, occur when a Monstera leaf unfolds. Learn more about the splits in Monstera leaves.
Fungus or Pests on Monstera leaves
Leaf spots caused by bacteria or fungi are small, uniformly sized, brown, damp circles with yellow borders. In my experience, fungal growth is frequently misdiagnosed as the cause of Monstera spots when it is actually overwatering or another pest.
Some sources advise against ever wetting Monstera leaves because doing so will result in fungus. Technically speaking, this is untrue because plants frequently experience wetness in the wild with no ill effects. In actuality, water on leaves might propagate an already established fungus. Water droplets dripping down the leaves of your Monstera or a neighbouring plant can spread spores of a fungus.
Small brown or yellow patches can also be caused by common Monstera pests, such as thrips or spider mites, which siphon the juice from the leaves. In order to recuperate, your Monstera needs an insecticide treatment if it has pests.
Will Monstera’s dark patches disappear?
Black stains on your Monstera Deliciosa do not necessarily indicate that it will pass away soon. If given the right care, the resilient houseplant Monstera Deliciosa can recover from problems like black spots. Black patches on your Monstera Deliciosa may be the result of overwatering, underwatering, sunburn, inadequate fertilization, or sunburn.
My Monstera plant has black patches; how do I get rid of them?
One of the most frequent causes of black stains on Monstera leaves is root rot. Overwatering, which leads to root rot, is a common mistake made by well-intentioned plant parents. Fortunately, even after getting too much water, Monstera can be revived.
Additional indicators of overwatering include:
- yellow leaves or stems
- soft, mushy stems
- very squishy, damp ground
Remove your Monstera plant from its pot and clean off the roots if you think it has been overwatered. Remove any bad roots using a clean pair of scissors that are mushy, dark brown, or black (healthy roots are light tan).
After cleaning the pot with soap and water, add brand-new, fresh potting soil. To improve drainage, mix in a few handfuls of perlite or gravel. The finest pots to assist drain extra water are those with drainage holes.
Trim the Monstera’s damaged leaves, then put it in the fresh soil. Reduce your watering frequency and keep it in a location with bright, indirect sun so that it can dry rapidly. For faster drying, move the plant closer to the window.
To avoid overwatering, always verify with your finger or a moisture meter that the top layer of soil is dry before watering.
Remember that your Monstera will require less watering if it is located in a colder or darker place rather than a warmer or brighter one.
Why is the fresh leaf on my Monstera fading to black?
How dry should I let the soil get before watering is the proper question to ask. And for the love of plants, please refrain from using a moisture meter!
Why? Because the majority of them are useless garbage, and because many customers have come to me after using a moisture meter to kill their plant,
Simply feel the earth with your finger. Depending on the size of the pot, let the top inch or two grow before adding water.
A drainage hole must be present in your pot. Not having a drainage hole is not an option.
And always, ALWAYS water your lawn thoroughly. Soak the ground completely, then let the water drain completely.
Overwatering doesn’t mean what most people assume it does, so you should get rid of that concern!
Overwatering causes an unreasonable anxiety in most people. Ironically, they really drown as a result of their dread. Learn the truth about overwatering. You might be shocked.
Why are my Monstera’s new leaves brown or black before it unfurls?
Before they have even begun to unfold, a plant’s new leaves will be brown or black, indicating a severe imbalance in soil moisture.
Either your soil has become excessively dry, or your plant has been left moist for an extended period of time. To learn how to water a houseplant correctly, be sure to read my blog post on under- and overwatering.
Can I put my Monstera outside in summer?
Most definitely! It will prosper outside! If you decide to move your indoor plants outside during the hot summer months, there is one thing you must do without fail.
Plants must be hardened off otherwise their leaves will burn. Many people are unaware of this and believe falsely that their plants dislike being outdoors.
Once you’ve prepared your plants for the outside, your Monstera or any other houseplant you decide to spend the summer outdoors will grow with startlingly stunning results. No plant was ever intended to be indoors, after all!
Why is my Monstera deliciosa wilting?
The most frequent causes of this are either extremely dry or extremely moist soil.
As soon as you notice your plant wilting, check the soil’s moisture level. Has the ground dried completely? If so, water it thoroughly and thoroughly straight away.
On the other side, if your Monstera plant has wilted and the soil feels extremely wet when you go to feel it, your plant may have experienced root rot.
Take the plant out of its pot and examine the roots if the soil is really damp and it appears like it is wilting. The roots have they rotted? Does the earth have a faint rotten odor?
It might be wise to remove the dead roots at this time, take out as much soil as you can, and repot the plant in new soil.
Why is my Monstera getting yellow leaves?
The soil being too dry is perhaps the most frequent cause of yellowing Monstera leaves.
Feel the soil if you see that the lower leaves are becoming yellow, especially the oldest ones. The oldest leaves will turn yellow first if the soil is extremely dry (totally dry).
From my experience, this is the most typical cause, however there are quite a few additional causes for the yellowing of your houseplant’s leaves.
What are the best Monstera support ideas?
Making your own is the best and most affordable option if you’re seeking for the best moss pole for Monstera. I’ve bought moss posts online, but they’re pricey and not very useful.
Don’t miss my DIY Moss Post tutorial so you can create your own superior post at a lower cost than anything you can buy.
If you only have one or two Monstera deliciosa vines in a single container, I think moss posts work best. Due to space restrictions, it is less useful if you have more vines.
I would suggest a bamboo tripod if you have numerous vines in one pot, like I do for my largest plant. Put three strong bamboo stakes within the pot and knot them together at the top. This offers a lovely, reliable assistance.
Why are my variegated Monstera leaves turning brown?
I’ll direct you to my blog entry about variegated Monstera deliciosa for this one. There are a few causes for this, and I go into more depth in the article I just linked to.
How are black spots on leaves treated?
Black leaf spot must be eliminated using a two-pronged strategy. Black leaf spot should be treated initially since its spores spread by the wind and splash from leaf to leaf after watering.
There are several effective fungicides available, many of which make the claim to be organic. If your garden is huge, you might choose to buy it as a concentrate to mix in your tank sprayer because they come in convenient bottle sprayers.
Another option for treating black leaf spot is neem oil. It is an evergreen tree oil that has been extracted. It’s 100% natural and has produced some impressive outcomes as a powerful fungicide for gardens.
Those of you who favor Grandma’s answers to gardening issues might want to try this: For your sprayer, combine one heaping tablespoon of baking soda with a gallon of water. Voila! Add a drop or two of horticultural soap or oil. By altering the pH of the leaf surface to a level where the fungus can’t survive, you have a strategy for curing black leaf spot. The solution sticks because of the oil or soap, which costs around four cents per gallon.
Preventative measures and ongoing care are the following steps in eliminating black leaf spot. We’ve already discussed the first. In the spring, make routine garden inspections. Plant tissues with black patches will spread swiftly. Prior to the temperature reaching sixty, begin preventative spraying. Read and carefully follow the instructions on the label of the method you chose. A light weekly dose should be sufficient for Grandma’s recipe. Spray away until the black spot fungus can be eliminated naturally without it.
On cloudy days, avoid watering your plants. Black leaf spot can only be eliminated with strong sunlight and sufficient airflow.
During an outbreak, all contaminated debris needs to be thrown away. Even though it may not look good, impacted plants should be pruned, and in the fall, all garden waste should be disposed of or burned. The spores can survive overwintering on plant matter but not in bare soil.
The good news is that the host plant is rarely killed by black spot fungus. Although eliminating black leaf spot requires a lot of work, the benefits are ultimately worthwhile.
How can you tell if your Monstera plant needs more water?
One of those problems where there are a variety of potential causes (such as nutrient deficiency). But your monstera’s leaves could turn yellow if you overwater it or submerge it.
What’s the difference?
Overwatered: The older leaves or the leaves toward the bottom of the plant will yellow first if your monstera is receiving too much water.
Underwatered: If your monstera is very dry, yellowish leaves will begin to appear on the entire plant, possibly beginning with the younger, more delicate leaves.
Do I need to spray my Monstera?
Monstera Deliciosas may tolerate low to high levels of indirect, dappled light. Their leaves may burn and scorch if exposed to direct sunlight for an extended period of time. Low light conditions will inhibit growth.
Make sure your Variegated Monstera Deliciosa gets enough of bright indirect light if you have one.
Water
You should spritz your Monstera Deliciosa frequently and water it once a week. In the winter, when you may only need to water your plant every two weeks, let the soil dry up in between waterings.
Humidity
Because Monstera Deliciosa prefers a humid atmosphere, we advise often wetting its leaves. To boost the humidity of the air around your plant, you might also place it close to other plants.
Additional care information
From a stem and leaf cutting, you may quickly reproduce your monstera deliciosa in water. Make sure to make the cut just below a stem node.
The Monstera Deliciosa’s huge leaves are readily covered in dust over time. Use a moist towel to routinely wipe them.
Troubleshooting
Yellowing leaves may indicate that your Monstera Deliciosa has experienced moisture shock or has received too much light.
Browning leaves are a sign that your plant has been receiving insufficient light or has been exposed to low humidity.