Yes, you should remove the brown plant tips. However, this does not need you to remove the entire leaf. Just remove the burnt tip instead. The leaf automatically corrects itself to keep its original structure and form.
How often should you water a Monstera?
When monstera is actively developing in the summer, it needs to be watered once a week. It can go up to three weeks without water during the winter, when plants are resting.
Should you remove the Monstera’s brown tips?
Your Monstera should have any damaged leaves removed. Trimming dead leaves helps your plant’s health in addition to improving its appearance.
- Unable to photosynthesize are dead leaves. Any brown or black areas on your Monstera’s leaves are no longer able to supply the plant with energy.
- Dead leaf sections have no protection against rot and infection in comparison to healthy leaves. Dead plant cells provide nutrients that are consumed by bacteria and fungi. For instance, you can notice mold growing on dead leaves that have been left on the plant or in the soil. To help defend the remainder of the plant against these diseases, remove any dark or damaged tissue.
It is possible that only the ripped edge of a leaf will become brown to seal a cut if there is only very minimal damage, such as accidently ripping or torn a portion of the leaf. Leave minor imperfections alone if they don’t affect other parts of the plant or interfere with your pleasure of the plant’s aesthetics.
Monstera damage to the roots and stems can be more serious than damage to the leaves because it prevents the plant from transporting water and nutrients. Visit our soon-to-be-available guides on stem damage and root rot.
Why are my Monstera’s leaf tips becoming brown?
I’ve received a lot of urgent inquiries from folks regarding cultivating Monstera deliciosa, so I’m here to help! I’ve prepared solutions to 14 urgent, frequently asked questions that will prevent your plant from dying and promote the growth of your Monstera!
Aerial roots, growth issues, and diverse leaf flaws are just a few of the topics covered. You might discover the solution to one of your queries if you continue reading!
(Scroll down to the bottom of this post to get a free, ad-free version of this post.)
Can Monstera deliciosa live in water?
Hydroponically, virtually any plant can be grown. But you require more than simply water. A complete fertilizer, such as Dyna-Gro Grow, should be added.
This fertilizer can be used for foliar feeding, hydroponics, and watering your soil. The packaging advises adding 1 teaspoon of Dyna-Gro Grow to a gallon of water for non-recirculating systems for hydroponically growing plants.
They advise using 2-3 tablespoons per gallon if you have a sophisticated system that circulates the water.
Does Monstera need a lot of light?
You shouldn’t typically anticipate your plant to thrive if it is not placed right in front of a window. The better, the larger the window. Additionally, the better, the closer to the window.
Mine is positioned as near to my window as it can get without the leaves brushing the glass. When you move merely one or two steps away, the light intensity decreases suddenly.
A window’s proximity can make a significant difference. These naturally thrive in shaded or filtered light, while some sun is acceptable.
However, I wouldn’t put these plants in direct sunlight. My enormous Eastern window is operating flawlessly. Western exposure is also acceptable.
If your window is a good size, north will also be effective. You might need to use blinds to block off the light from southern exposure because it might be too much sun.
However, it’s crucial to keep your plant as near a window as you can without touching it.
How can I make Monstera grow faster?
I’ve been asked by a lot of people why their plants aren’t flourishing, and the answer is LIGHT.
The care of plants cannot be rushed. Place your Monstera in a bright area for the quickest growth—it must be directly in front of a window!
Warm temperatures, a great, well-drained potting media, and excellent fertilizer are additional requirements.
For a complete list of the conditions that these plants require, including a fantastic potting soil formulation to speed up growth, see my Monstera deliciosa care post. I also cover repotting and how to use my unique support system to help your Monstera deliciosa.
The fertilizer Dyna-Gro Grow comes highly recommended. It is my go-to all-purpose, premium fertilizer and I use it on all of my tropical plants. You won’t be let down!
Check out my comprehensive piece that will address your issues if your Monstera is simply not growing: Why Your Monstera Isn’t Growing: 9 Vital Factors.
Can you cut Monstera air roots off?
In the wild, Monsteras may scale trees using their aerial roots. Over time, you’ll notice that your plant will grow a lot of air roots.
I’d advise leaving them alone if at all possible unless they are a big pain in the neck or are blocking your path. If some of the roots are getting in the way, they can be cut back.
You can also try to reroute the aerial roots so that they might begin to establish themselves in the ground.
Give it time if your plant lacks aerial roots. They won’t start to show up till a specific age of the plant.
Check read my post on Monstera Aerial Roots for a thorough explanation of the subject and the answers to many frequently asked questions.
Inconsistent Soil Moisture
Your leaves may be turning brown at the very tips if the soil is drying out too much overall or if it is being watered inconsistently and improperly.
Never allow the soil to entirely dry out. And when you do water, be sure to water deeply to prevent any soil patches from drying out. This is very significant!
There are additional causes for brown tips, so be sure to read my comprehensive page on Monstera brown tips, which covers a number of causes and remedies.
Fungus Issues
Brown patches on the leaves of your plant with a yellow “halo around the brown spot” are a classic sign of a fungus.
The Instagram user who posted the image above recently bought her plant from a big-box hardware shop. When she bought the plant, she had stated that it was extremely damp.
Long-term, overly damp circumstances, especially when combined with poor air circulation, are conducive to fungus growth. If you’re buying a plant from a nursery that doesn’t take good care of its plants, proceed with extreme caution.
It is preferable if you identify any fungal leaf spots on your plant early and remove any affected leaves. To be safe, avoid misting the foliage for a time.
There are other potential causes for your plant’s brown, crispy leaves in addition to these two primary causes.
Searching for a Monstera to buy? Visit Etsy to see the Monstera assortment (link to Etsy). On Etsy, you can pretty much find any kind of plant, making it a fantastic one-stop store for plants.
How often should I water Monstera deliciosa?
One of the most frequent inquiries I receive is this one. “How frequently should I water [fill in any plant]?
For a plant that is growing in soil, the answer is… it depends! Because it all depends on your circumstances, I am unable to tell you how frequently.
Should I trim my plants’ brown tips?
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We’ve experienced our fair share of brown, decaying leaves as we’ve learned how to properly care for various home plants over the years. We weren’t sure at first whether to take them out or leave them. Here is what we’ve discovered works the best.
Do you need to remove the dead leaves? Yes. Your indoor plants should have brown and withering leaves removed as quickly as possible, but only if they are more than 50% damaged. By removing these leaves, the plant looks better and the healthy foliage that is left can receive more nutrients.
Even though it might appear straightforward, there’s more to it than merely cutting those leaves off. To keep your plant healthy, you must assess how much of the leaf is dying and then carefully remove the damaged areas.
Yellow monstera leaves can mean it’s either getting too much water, or not enough nutrients.
Yellow leaves can also signify a variety of things. You’re probably overwatering your monstera if the leaves are turning yellow. Make sure your plant receives lots of indirect sunshine so the top few inches of soil may dry out quickly before watering.
Considering that your monstera may also be lacking in nutrients, this is an excellent moment to start using a liquid fertilizer in your usual care. Because Monstera Plant Food is made to be used with every watering, you won’t need to keep track of a fertilization schedule, which is why we adore it!
Dark brown spots on monstera leaves is a good indication of the plant getting too much water.
If your monstera plant has dark brown stains on its leaves, it may be because of overwatering, which is rotting the roots. (Read 4 Signs Your Monstera Is Over-Watered for additional information.)
Trim off any roots that appear mushy or brown with clean, sharp pruning scissors after carefully removing the plant from the pot. Repot the plant into a clean container (either a new one or the old one that you’ve cleaned out) with fresh, dry soil after removing as much of the old, damp dirt from the root ball as you can.
Make sure your monstera receives enough of light, and reduce watering while the plant is healing. You can also remove the damaged leaves with pruning.
Make sure the soil feels dry before watering to prevent root rot, and think about obtaining a moisture meter like this one to check the moisture content of the root ball before watering.
Light brown spots and crispy edges on monstera leaves means the monstera needs more water.
Your monstera plant may be thirsty if the edges become a light brown color and become “crispy.” Give the earth a drink and think about watering a little more frequently if it feels dry. The dead edges can be removed because they won’t recover.
Additionally, avoid placing your monstera in direct sunlight as this might burn the leaves! Move your monstera a little further into the space or to a better location altogether if you observe the sunshine directly striking your leaves.
A drooping monstera can mean it needs more water or more light.
Another symptom that could imply a variety of things is drooping monstera leaves. Your monstera may be overwatered or underwatered in this situation.
Look at the earth to determine which it is! It’s likely that your plant needs water if the soil seems dry. Give your plant a chance to dry out if it feels moist before watering it once more. Make sure it receives plenty of indirect sunshine so it can successfully do this. Consider repotting into a pot with greater drainage and a faster-draining soil if you notice your soil remains wet for an extended period of time.
Your monstera might need additional light if the soil looks to be healthy and watering doesn’t seem to be the problem. (Read 4 Signs Your Monstera Needs More Light for more information.)
Read our instructions on watering your monstera here. Watering is typically the most challenging aspect of taking care of any plant.
Where are brown Monstera leaves cut?
Fortunately, trimming a monstera is not too difficult. Since they are a hardy plant, they don’t need to be meticulously pruned. In other words, even if you don’t perform a great job, your plant will probably be alright.
You’ll want to remember a few things, though:
1. Put on gloves. When pruning or propagating your monstera, be sure to use protective gloves because the sap is poisonous and can cause severe skin irritation.
2. Use a tidy, sharp instrument. You can avoid crushing or damaging the stem by using sharp pruning shears or a knife to make the cut. Your plant is also shielded from hazardous microorganisms by clean tools. Bacterial diseases can even spread to your other plants and are difficult to treat. (Protect your monstera from insects, fungi, and bacteria with our Houseplant Leaf Armor!)
Instead of slicing the stem off, just give it a good snip or chop while cutting. The cleanest cut will be made as a result.
3. If you can, prune in the spring, especially if you want to promote growth. Growth spurts occur in the spring and summer for the majority of plants, including monstera. Pruning in the spring will yield the best benefits and hasten the recovery of your plant. You should prune in the spring because that is when your cuttings will grow the fastest if you intend to propagate them.
4. Arrange the slices. Starting at the base of the stem, remove any outdated or diseased leaves.
Cut where you want the plant to grow if you are pruning to promote growth. Make a top cut if you want it to grow higher.
When the time comes to actually trim your monstera, keep in mind that pruning promotes growth so choose where to make your cuts. You can safely reduce the plant’s size if you’re pruning to manage your monstera’s size. Just remember that it will eventually need to be done again because it will grow back.
5. Be sure to cut below a node if you’re propagating. Don’t be concerned if you’re only trimming to reduce the size of your plant or get rid of dead leaves. However, if you want to grow your cuttings from them, make sure that they have a node, which is a tiny knob that develops on the stem opposite a leaf. When your cutting begins to grow, these will subsequently develop into aerial roots!
Try our new Houseplant Propagation Promoter!
6. Prevent unintentional proliferation. When you’re done pruning, be careful to dispose of your cuttings in the trash if you’re not going to propagate them because if you place them in a compost pile or somewhere else where they can root in the earth, they’ll start to grow roots.
I’m done now! Don’t be afraid to prune your monstera; it’s an essential yet easy component of care for this plant. This plant develops rapidly and bounces back quickly from pruning. Good fortune!