Why Does My Monstera Have Brown Spots

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.

Why do the leaves on my Monstera have brown spots?

Overwatering is the most frequent cause of brown stains on Monstera plant leaves.

Root rot can be brought on by too much water, and one sign of it is very dark brown blotches on the leaves.

But occasionally, it’s important to take the plant out of its pot, clean and shape the roots, and repot it.

Utilizing brand-new, spotless potting soil and a sterilized or fresh container with plenty of drainage holes is crucial.

Should I trim the brown-spotted Monstera leaves?

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 do the spots appear on my Monstera?

The brown spots primarily point to a problem with how much water your plant is receiving. If the marks are dark brown, overwatering can be the cause. The opposite is true—light brown spots on crisp leaves indicate that your Monstera Deliciosa is dry. The scorching of leaves can also be brought on by excessive heat and sunlight. In addition, brown spots on Monstera Deliciosa are also brought on by pest infestation or pathogen attacks.

Finding the issues gets easier if you are aware of Monstera Deliciosa’s fundamental requirements. So, the requirements for a healthy Monstera are as follows.

How are brown leaf spots handled?

Are the plant leaves on your houseplants displaying brown spots? Black and brown stains on plant leaves and stems that have been sopped in water are frequently an indication of a bacterial or fungal disease. Change the watering schedule and avoid letting plants sit in water that is too much. That alone can frequently halt the spread of the illness. Any soft, discolored stems or leaves should be cut off and thrown away. Repot the plant in fresh potting soil in a container that is a little bigger than the remaining roots, trimming off any decaying roots.

Avoid overwatering

You should first take your Monstera Delicioa plant out of the pot and clean the unhealthy roots if you have any suspicions that it has been overwatered.

Then, because they are decaying, remove any black roots with a pair of scissors (healthy roots are slightly tan color).

After cleaning the plant pot with soap and water, add fresh soil. To help the soil dry up more quickly and cut down on the amount of times you need to water your plant, add a little amount of gravel or perlite to it.

To help drain the extra water in the pot, add drainage holes to the container holding your plant. On your Monstera Deliciosa, you should also remove any damaged leaves by pruning.

How frequently do I need to water Monstera?

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 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.

How can I tell if my Monstera is about to die?

A monstera plant frequently dies as a result of low humidity, being underwatered, and cold weather. Monstera are tropical plants that require thorough watering every 7 days, temperatures between 60F and 85F, and regular misting. Drought-related death of the monstera is indicated by brown, curled, or drooping leaves.

It is crucial to mimic the environment of a dying monstera, including humidity levels of around 30 percent, temperatures between 60 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit, direct sunlight, and a watering cycle that involves thorough soaking followed by a brief period of drying out for the top inch of the potting medium.

Continue reading to find out the causes of your monstera plant’s (Swiss cheese plant) demise and how to put the answers into practice to bring it back to life.

What do brown plant patches mean?

The fungus that causes these patches normally develops as a result of overwatering your plant. Cutting off the diseased leaves and allowing the soil on your plant to dry out could help. Future watering should only be done until the top two inches of soil feel dry.

What does fungus-caused leaf spot resemble?

Spots are often brownish, though they can also be tan or black. There are frequently concentric rings or black edges. Black dots in the spots, either in rings or in a central cluster, could be fungal bodies. Blotches can be created by the spots combining or growing larger over time.

How do bacterial leaf spots appear?

Bacterial leaf spots typically take the form of water-soaked, brown to black lesions that are frequently surrounded by a yellow halo. The underside of the leaf frequently develops water-soaked (or also referred to as greasy) patches first. On Begonia and Pelargonium, Xanthomonas lesions have a v-shape and extend inward from the leaf margin. Necrotic lesions can be angular or oblong. In some hosts, spots may combine to provide a blighted appearance.

“Look-alike” diseases: Depending on the host, several fungal leaf spots can be mistaken for bacterial infections. Particularly for the layperson, there is no practical method to distinguish between these two. When bacteria-caused lesions are submerged in water and magnified, a visible stream of bacteria may emerge; however, streaming may not always be seen if the pathogen is dormant. Similar to this, fungal spores may be seen if the right circumstances have been present for sporulation, albeit the absence of spores does not rule out fungi as the source. Consequently, it is best to have a plant disease clinic diagnose unhealthy plants (NCSU Plant Disease Clinic).