I acquired this plant from my old roommate, and it was thriving with me for a year. About a month ago, it got all floppy and started yellowing. Some leaves also have black spots? As soon as i noticed it I repotted it but it didn’t help. Gave it some plant food but I genuinely do not know. Pot has drainage, I water it about once a week? It lives in a bright window. (I am new to the plant mom world) but it was doing fine for a while so I don’t know what changed. I am not typically a green thumb but my other plants are fine! Any advice you have to save this poor guy would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!
by bonesinthetank
12 Comments
Plants grow and die!! It’s all apart of the process. I have a monstera who lost 3 leaves before it produced 1. It’s a give and take. If all of them start to die, then you have a problem. But if it’s only a few, I wouldn’t worry. 🙂
I’ve given advice to several people about the same issues for their monsteras before, check my post history for the steps needed to save your monstera!
Check for root rot!
Did you happen to look at the roots when you repotted? Or see any black spots at the end of any of the stems?
Your pot seems way too big for your plant so the yellowing might be caused by over watering. If the root ball (bunch of roots) are much smaller than the pot and you’re watering once a week, the roots are sitting in the mushy, damp soil which causes them to rot.
For example, pretend your fist is the root ball….you want to find a pot that your fist can fit snug (not too big or small) so your roots will be able to absorb water properly without sitting into water for too long.
Also before you water this plant, use a stick or your finger and stick it all the way down into the pot. If it comes up bone dry, water it enough so the soil is moist but not too damp. If it’s still wet/moist hold off on watering, because if you’re not letting the soil stay dry in between watering you’re risking over watering your plant, which could cause your roots to rot.
Too much light! This is a low maintenance plant and yours is far from dead, get it 6 feet from direct light. Give it some support (look up Monstera support posts they are all so cool!) and some houseplant food. Cut off that dead leaf at the base. I don’t let mine dry the whole way out between watering, once the top 1 and 1/2 inches of the topsoil are dry, water again.
Are you saying it doesn’t have roots?
Are you checking at the bottom of the pot before you decide to water?
Please don’t take the advice of moving it away from light. These can take pretty bright indoor light. Less light means the plant can’t process water as fast.
This is t root rot or any disease.
The black spot is only in one leave, you probably moved it recently to direct sunlight and it got burnt.
The yellow leaf is normal senescence, which means the older leaves are leaving (heh).
And the young-damaged leaf probably struggled against something mechanical when growing and/or opening.
not sure if anyone else mentioned the miracle-gro plant food? how much and how often are you feeding? that’s a strong concentrate that must be diluted
Soil based issue for sure. Thats all peat potting soil by the looks it. You need a substrate suitable for aroids.
Hi, I’m betting you turned it around.
Mosteras absolutely have a “front” that wants to face the light and yours is backwards with the leaves facing indoors. It could be something as simple as that being why the sun burned the underside of the leaf because its not used to getting sun from the back. Still worth taking some advice here on the potting (maybe repotting) and watering, but I’m thinking the direction is the main issue with the leaf burn, just give it a 180!
In my opinion its time to chop and pop. Cut a leaf below the node and stick in water. The roots aren’t providing enough, and this gives the plant a new chance to thrive.
I’m gonna guess root rot from not enough drainage in the soil.
Once a week could be too much if the soil is still wet from the previous watering.