Monstera, due to its beautiful tropical foliage and low maintenance requirements, is one of my most favorite houseplants. However, I've noticed that Monstera is highly sensitive to changes in environmental factors. If your Monstera plant is turning yellow, black, or brown, read this guide. It discusses the main reason causing the monstera to turn yellow, brown, or black and how to deal with these conditions.
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Monstera Plant Turning Yellow, Brown, Black
One of the signs that your Monstera plant is dying and needs revival is it's discoloration. Here are a few common color types and how you can recover from them.
Why Does Monstera Plant Turn Yellow?
Monster plants can turn yellow for many reasons, but the most common reason is improper soil moisture. Overwatering and poor soil drainage result in excessive moisture in the soil, causing root rot, and eventually, your monstera plant turns yellow and becomes droopy.
Also, your plant turns yellow if it has a pest attack, like spider mites. Additionally, the monstera plant grows well in moderate indirect sunlight. If the plant is kept in poor lighting conditions for a long period, it starts turning yellow due to glucose deficiency. The old monstera leaves at the bottom turn yellow and are replaced by new growth. This is a natural process, and there is no need to worry about it.
Taking Care
Yellow leaves caused by overwatering can be turned green if treated in time. Therefore you should follow a flexible watering schedule. Water your monstera plant when the upper 2-3 inches of the soil are completely dry. In winter, you should water the monstera plants every 15 days. Also, regularly look for the blocked drainage holes, and screw extra holes in the pot if needed.
Add well-drained compost in the pot every year to enhance the drainage of the potting soil. If you observe any mites on the plant leaves, wash the leaves with horticulture soap or 70 percent rubbing alcohol to kill 95% of mites. Place your plant where it receives moderately bright indirect sunlight, especially in winters. Do not place the plant close to glass windows since it can cause a sunburn.
Why Does Monstera Plant Turn Brown?
Monstera plants turn yellow due to overwatering. If this condition is not controlled, the leaves will turn crispy and brown. The excessive moisture absorbed by plants reaches the leaves' cells, makes them swell, and causes them to burst. These parts of leaves appear brown and crispy.
Exposure to direct sunlight makes the monstera plant leaves turn brown—Monstera plants like indirect sunlight. Also, indoor monstera plants turn brown due to low levels of humidity. The monstera plants like a moderate level of humidity and dry air can cause them to turn brown. Fungal or pest attack and underwatering can also be the reason if the monstera plant is turning brown.
Taking Care
Both underwatering and overwatering can cause monstera plants to turn brown. This happens when we follow a strict watering schedule. Since the water needs of plants changes with changing environmental factors, we should water the plant accordingly, if we want monstera plant to recover quickly.
The soil dries up quickly in hot summers, and we may need to water a plant twice a week. In general, you should water the monstera plant when 2-inches of topsoil are dried completely. If you observe a pest or fungal attack, immediately prune those parts to prevent the disease from spreading. You can use a fungicide or plant-friendly pesticide if the condition is worse.
Keep in mind the fungus grows on wet leaves, so always water the plant at the base and make sure water drops are not stacked on the leaves. Never place your plant near a glass window since glass intensifies the heat coming from the sun. Move your plant to a place where it gets enough indirect sunlight.
Why Does Monstera Plant Turn Black?
If any of the above-mentioned conditions, including improper sunlight, underwatering, overwatering, and low humidity level, are not controlled, they will eventually make your plant turn black. Plus, pest infestation and fungal attacks can also cause the monstera plant to turn brown.
The dead leaves and leggy stems, if not pruned on time, will turn back. Physical damage to plants can also make them turn brown. Pets like cats and dogs can bite the plant and physically damage the plants while playing around.
Taking Care
Immediately take action if your plant is turning yellow and brown. Cut down the black leaves and stem since this condition cannot be reversed. If the soil is waterlogged or nutrient deficient, repot the plant. Water and fertilize the plant according to the temperature, humidity level, and stage of development. Plus, keep the plant out of the reach of pets, especially dogs.
FAQs
Can Yellow Monstera leaves turn green again?
Should I cut off Brown Monstera leaves?
Wrapping Up
Monstera plant is highly sensitive to changing environmental factors. A little carelessness can turn their lush green foliage into yellow, brown, or black color. I hope my experience will help you keep your Monstera happy and healthy.
