Monstera plants are renowned for having large, gorgeous leaves with fenestrations. However, those leaves can be sensitive, and the first area you’ll notice issues when a monstera is dissatisfied with its surroundings or care are the leaves!
Curling leaves are one of the many signs that a monstera needs a change. In order to narrow down the possible causes of monstera leaf curl, you may need to do some detective work and use the method of “elimination.”
In order to limit exposed surface area and water loss through transpiration, monstera leaves typically curl. This typically indicates that water loss is a problem for whatever cause, such as heat stress, underwatering, damaged roots, or fluid loss as a result of insect infestation.
A monstera leaf can curl in a number of various ways, which might help you identify the underlying problem.
Monstera Leaves Curling Inwards
If the tips of your monstera plant’s leaves are curling inward or upward, it can be a sign of inadequate watering, a lack of humidity, or even an insect infestation.
Monstera Leaves Curling Under
For many of the same reasons, monstera leaves can curl inward toward the base, though occasionally this may be a sign of heat stress or underwatering if the leaf lacks turgor pressure. This may be the case if the leaves feel flimsy, weak, or appear to be drooping.
Monstera Leaves Crinkling
Most typically, crinkled, brittle leaves indicate underwatering or low humidity, especially if they have dry or browning margins.
The probable causes and methods to determine why your monstera is stressed are listed below if you notice any of these symptoms, including puckering, curling under, or upward leaf motion.
How come my Monstera is drooping?
Learning to spot warning signals that your monstera is unhappy is among the most crucial aspects of monstera care. Most of these signals will be easiest to spot in the leaves. Consequently, what should you do if you find that your monstera leaves are curling?
The main offender is probably thirst or dryness. Your monstera may not be receiving enough water or the surroundings may be too dry if its leaves are curling and even seeming slightly brittle.
However, flooding your plant with additional water might not be the best solution! It’s crucial to identify the cause of your monstera’s drying out so you can address the underlying issue rather than just applying a Band-Aid repair that will only work momentarily or, worse, make matters worse!
What to do if you find your monstera leaves curling and drying out, as well as three reasons why your monstera may be too dry, are given below.
Why are the leaves on my Monstera declining?
The Monstera prefers persistently moist soil. Make sure your plant is not being overwatered or overgrown. Water according to a regular schedule when the top 2-3 inches of soil are dry.
You can see weak, drooping, and perhaps even turning dark leaves if you unintentionally let the soil on your Monstera plant dry out completely. A thorough soak is necessary if the soil is very dry over the entire container.
How to soak-water your Monstera is as follows:
- Without the saucer, put your plant in the sink or bathtub. Pour roughly 3 to 4 cups of water into your basin. Check to see if the water is warm.
- Give your plant at least 45 minutes to absorb water through the drainage hole in the bottom of the pot.
- After giving your plant a soak, feel the soil’s top to see if the water has gotten to the top 2-3 inches.
- If the soil on your Monstera doesn’t feel completely saturated, water it a little from the top to hasten soaking.
- Drain the sink or tub once the soil of your plant is evenly moist, and then leave it to rest while it completely drains. Put the plant back in its proper place on the saucer.
As a tropical plant, your Monstera will flourish in more humid conditions. By regularly spraying the leaves of your plant, using a pebble tray, or placing a humidifier close by, you can raise the humidity level in the area around it.
How can you prevent the leaves on Monstera from curling?
In response to high water loss, Monstera deliciosa and other Monstera species curl their leaves to minimize surface area and minimize evaporation. Although it is a common adaptation of Monsteras and many other houseplants, it is also a symptom of stress in your plant.
Monstera leaf curling can be brought on by any factor that increases water loss or decreases the amount of water reaching the leaves. Let’s examine each cause one at a time. I’ll go through the signs to watch out for as well as what you can do to fix the issue and get your plant back to full health.
Underwatering
Your Monstera will respond by curling its leaves if you haven’t been watering it sufficiently. It is one of the most frequent reasons for Monstera leaves to curl, therefore look into it first. Search for extremely dry soil, crispy, brown leaf edges and tips, and drooping. Due to the lack of water, the plant container should feel much lighter than usual.
Giving your Monstera a good watering is the straightforward answer in this situation. Till water freely runs out of the drainage holes on the pot’s bottom, thoroughly soak the soil.
Try to establish a pattern of regularly examining your Monstera to see whether it needs watering. Every few days, check the leaves for damage and the soil’s dryness. Water when the top 1-2 inches of soil feel dry to the touch.
Avoid scheduling your plant’s watering because the amount of water it needs will change depending on a number of circumstances, such as the plant’s pace of development, the season, the surrounding temperature and humidity, and the size of the plant in comparison to the pot. You may get some wonderful advice on how to maintain your houseplants in top shape by reading my guide to watering houseplants.
Try putting a reminder on your phone every few days to assist you check your plant on a regular basis if you frequently forget to water your houseplants.
Low Humidity
In the understory of tropical rainforests, where there are constant temperatures and high amounts of humidity, many of the common houseplants that we grow are bred.
Many houseplants struggle to survive in our normally much drier houses because of the low humidity. When the humidity is low, monstera leaves frequently curl.
Although more resilient than some other common houseplants, Monsteras thrive in humidity levels above 40% and generally develop leaf curling, brown leaf tips, and leaf margins in environments much lower than this. Some less common Monstera species need very high humidity levels to stay healthy and attractive.
Following are some ways to tell if an issue with underwatering or low humidity-caused curling of Monstera leaves;
- Examine the soil. Underwatering is rare if the soil is still wet.
- If the issue is solely caused by low humidity, your Monstera is not likely to wilt.
- To keep track of the humidity levels in your house, use a digital hygrometer/thermometer. Low humidity is not the problem if humidity levels are consistently above 40%.
To benefit your Monstera and other houseplants, there are several ways to raise the humidity levels in your home.
- Due to plant transpiration, group your plants together to produce a humid environment.
- Underneath your Monstera, use a humidity tray. It works great to use a drip tray with a wide base and water in it. Make sure the pot’s base is just above the water’s surface by placing a few scattered stones there.
- To quickly and simply raise the humidity, use a humidifier. You can maintain your preferred humidity level with several models. This humidifier is an excellent choice for indoor plants.
Curled Monstera leaves – will they uncurl?
Depending on the cause, curled Monstera leaves may or may not uncurl. These causes include new growth, excessive fertilizing, and a lack of water. The leaves will uncurl for the previously mentioned first two reasons. The plant will gradually recover after the issues are fixed. On dry plants, controlled watering usually works. The curled leaves on the new growth will uncurl.
The water in the plants’ systems will be restored when they receive water replenishment, improving nutrient circulation. For the majority of leaf curl issues with Monstera plants, water usually works. Providing you’re using the proper kind of water, that is. Use filtered water that is free of chlorine and the majority of other chemicals. Allow the water to settle overnight if you’re using unfiltered water so that any chemicals will either settle at the bottom or evaporate.
Curled leaves do they uncurl?
If your rubber plant is putting on new growth, it could be one reason why its leaves are curling. This is one issue that is completely normal and not a cause for alarm. New, immature leaves on the rubber plant are tightly curled as they grow, but as they mature, they will uncurl.
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.
How are Monstera leaves kept upright?
Right now, Monstera Deliciosa is a stylish and well-liked houseplant, and it’s simple to understand why. The room’s broad, glossy, dark-green leaves have a tropical feel to it, and under the correct circumstances, they develop swiftly. In fact, this plant’s potential for growing too large for some homes is one of its only drawbacks. When a Monstera grows large, it often tips over or leans to one side.
How can a Monstera Deliciosa be kept from leaning over? Staking a Monstera Deliciosa with a support like a moss pole, trellis, or garden stakes is the best way to keep it growing upright. These natural climbers can be trained to climb these poles by being connected to them, and they will be supported as they do so.
Although a Monstera won’t be harmed by not growing upright, most people like them to be as straight and tall as possible for aesthetic and spatial reasons. To help you keep your Monstera looking the way you want it to, I’ll go into further depth below why why this occurs in the first place.
Why are the leaves on my plant wilting?
Curled-down plant leaves may be a sign of overwatering, pest infestation, nutrient deficiencies, or even excessive sunlight. Each issue requires a different approach, such as the application of pesticides, modification of the required care, or complete repotting of your plant.
Should I trim the Monstera leaves that are wilting?
Pruning is a crucial component of any plant care regimen. Pruning gets rid of leaves that no longer help the plant but are still consuming its resources. As a result, the healthy leaves and new growth can be supported with more energy! You may manage a plant’s size and shape via pruning. Therefore, remember to prune your monstera!
Additionally, pruning can help your plant grow and allow you to manage where it produces new leaves (and in the case of some plants, branches).
Because your monstera occasionally needs a little additional assistance getting rid of dead or dying leaves, pruning is especially crucial.
However, pruning is primarily a useful method for managing a monstera’s size. This plant grows really big! If you live in an apartment with 8-foot ceilings, this is crucial because monsteras can grow up to 30 feet outdoors and 10 feet indoors.
How frequently should a Monstera be watered?
Monstera deliciosa and Monstera adansonii are the two varieties of Monstera that are grown as indoor plants. In addition to having entirely enclosed leaf holes, Monstera adansonii differs from M. deliciosa by having longer, tapering leaves. Leaf holes on Monstera deliciosa eventually mature, move toward the edge, and then open up.
Though they hardly ever flower or produce edible fruit inside, they are one of the few aroids that produce edible fruit, especially Monstera deliciosa, which is a member of the Araceae, the Aroid Family. Although the indigenous peoples of Central America had been familiar with monsteras for a very long time, the botanical community only became publicly aware of them in the early 20th century, like many aroids.
thrives in direct light that is bright to medium. Although it cannot tolerate strong, direct sunlight, it can become accustomed to it.
Water every one to two weeks, letting the soil dry out in between applications. In brighter light, water more frequently, and in less-bright light, less frequently. Pro tip: Water that has been filtered or set out overnight before use is beneficial for monsteras.
Although normal room humidity will do, humid circumstances are preferred. Use a fine-mist mister or humidifier to increase the humidity level in the room.
Most houseplants enjoy temperatures between 65F and 85F. (18C-30C). It’s ideal to keep the temperature above 60F. (15C).
Use a potting mix that drains effectively. As needed, include elements like perlite or lava rocks to improve soil aeration.
The Monstera is a calm and often pest-free plant. Treat pests as soon as they show up by wiping down the plant frequently and weekly applications of a natural insecticide like neem oil.
SYMPTOM: Edges of leaves that are turning brown and crunchy. CAUSE: Overwatered, thirsty, or high salt buildup
How can you cheer up Monstera?
The Monstera favors direct, bright sunlight. If you can provide the light that this tropical plant receives in its natural habitat, it will flourish. This plant enjoys bright, indirect sunlight because it grows on the ground beneath big trees in highly sunny regions in nature. In the summer, take careful to limit your exposure to direct sunlight to prevent burns on those huge, gorgeous leaves. The Monstera can endure low light because it typically grows close to the ground, but it will grow considerably more slowly as a result. For the plant to be able to grow, it needs light. The leaves of the Monstera will turn yellow if you keep it in a place that is too dark. If you observe this, it’s a warning that you need to relocate the plant to a more well-lit area.