There are many reasons: “why is Monstera leaf not unfurling”? Don’t worry too much. Let’s determine the specific cause first, then join us to fix the problem with the following solutions.
How long does it take Monstera leaves to unfurl?
There is no one-size-fits response to this question because it is heavily influenced by your surroundings. Your Monstera houseplant might take anywhere from 1 to 7 weeks to completely unfurl, according to us. Depending on how old the leaf is and what sort of Monstera plant it is, the new leaf may unfurl at a faster rate, like under a week, if you’ve supplied the ideal atmosphere as well as adequate Monstera care. The humidity level, watering frequency, quantity of sunshine, pests, age, and nutrition content are all elements that influence how long it takes for a Monstera leaf to unfold.
Why is the Monstera leaf not unfurling – The possible reason
You observe the leaves of the Monstera when it is young but cannot be unfurling. A fungus may attack it. Leaves shrink, shorten, and gradually become withered. The leaf margins are bent, inward, and clustered. Infected leaves become brittle and thicker, often turning from light green to dark green, then yellowing and falling off.
Leaf curl is a disease, mainly caused by a virus or fungus Taphrina. In addition, the cause of the disease is some insects that specialize in sucking plastic, such as aphids, thrips, etc. It is a virus spread by plant fluids, mechanical contact, and mainly by aphids, white spots, thrips, etc.
Suppose it is the fungus Taphrina Deformans Berk. The fungus survives as spores on the bark of trees in winter, around buds. Early in the breeding season, the spores will infect new leaves as they emerge from the buds in the cool spring weather. The fungus then produces many new spores that spread from plant to plant. Leaf curl disease thrives in cool, wet weather, and it mainly spreads through rain and wind.
The best way to prevent and treat Taphrina Monstera is to remove affected leaves from the plant and destroy them. You can also try spraying the plant with a fungicide, but this is not always effective. If you think your Monstera Deliciosa has Taphrina Monstera, it is best to consult with a certified plant pathologist or horticulturist for diagnosis and treatment options.
Some other reasons why Monstera leaves not unfurling
Of course, you can’t count for some other reasons that can make Monstera leaves not unfurling, including too much water, lack of water, too much sunlight, lack of fertilizers, and dehydration.
1. Too much water makes Monstera leaf to be not unfurling
It is the leading cause of leaf curl because when there is too much water, the soil will not aerate, which is a favorable environment for harmful fungi to grow. After a few months, the roots begin to blacken and rot. When the roots can no longer supply water and nutrients to the plant, the leaves appear yellow spots, leaves curl. Monstera does not like waterlogging and will quickly die of roots if regularly waterlogged.
2. Forget watering; make Monstera leaves curl.
Some Monstera, usually small pots, quickly dry out, especially in the summer. When there is not enough water, the roots will wither, and the leaves will fall to prevent water loss. Contrary to watering the fruit a lot, lack of water also prevents the leaves of the Monstera plant from furling. You need to check whether watering is suitable for the plant’s growth needs or not.
3. Too much or lack of sunlight can cause unfurling leaves
For the best plant growth, you should place the tree near the window balcony because this is where they will receive enough sunlight. Monstera do not absorb enough sunlight, and the leaves curl; the tops grow slowly. Monstera does not like solid and direct light. So you need to put the plant in a suitable location to receive light.
4. Dehydration can be one of the reasons
Fix: can be soaked in water as shown below. Prune old leaves with scissors to reduce drainage. If a tree’s leaves cannot strip, it is only possible to plant it in moist sand, leave it in a cool place, and wait.
5. Lack/excess of fertilizers
To know if the plant lacks/excesses nutrients, you need to observe the changes in the appearance of the leaves. If you see some symptoms in old leaves, the elements lacking in the plant can be mobile, such as N, P, K, Mg, Zn, and will not be reused, such as substances Ca, Fe, B. When there is N deficiency, the whole plant shows dark green color and slow growth; old leaves have no spots. The leaves become yellow and easy to fall.
Some measures to help plants open leaves
The ground under the tree needs to be clean and cool, especially in the winter, so that the roots do not get too wet. Some measures you should take are detecting bugs, checking to water and fertilizing,
Detect bugs and destroy them far away from the tree
When fertilizing, pay attention to applying the correct dose at the right time and not using excess nitrogen. Too much nitrogen fertilizer will make the leaves grow well. The stem is soft. It is a condition for thrips, whiteflies, etc., to spread diseases faster.
Regularly check the tree to monitor the appearance and development of pests to take timely measures, especially 25 – 30 days after sprouting. The stage determines the level and rate of problems—disease incidence of plants.
Pay attention to watering and fertilizing plants
Because the disease causes damage mainly in the hot season, it is necessary to increase the amount of water for irrigation. Do not let the plant lack water or dry soil. Pay attention to treating the soil thoroughly before planting. Avoid fertilizing a lot of nitrogen fertilizers.
Related Post: When to repot Monstera? How to replant houseplants
Steps to help the leaves of the Monstera quickly unfurl and stay healthy
5 steps can help your Monstera’s leaf unfurl quickly
- Clean the tree
- Adjust watering mode
- Kill bugs and insects
- Limit nitrogen fertilizer
- Treat leaf curl by biological measures
Step 1: Clean the tree
The ground under the tree needs to be kept clean. Especially in winter, people should clean up the stump to avoid infected trees.
Step 2: Adjust the watering mode
Check to see if Monstera is getting too much or too little water to adjust the watering accordingly.
Step 3: Kill bugs and insects
Regularly spray insecticides with sucking insects such as thrips. Use insect traps, predominantly yellow glue traps, to kill insects that sting plants.
Step 4: Limit nitrogen fertilizer
Avoid applying too much nitrogen fertilizer. If too much fertilizer makes the leaves grow well, the leaves are soft. It is a condition for thrips, whiteflies, and creeks to spread diseases faster. Therefore, it is advisable to fertilize organic fertilizers and use biological products.
Step 5: Treat leaf curl with biological measures
Use Fungus Killer to prevent leaf curl disease and curly top on plants. Along with superior technology, we have brought a particular product to treat curly tops, curls, shriveled fruits, and green wilting, effective for plants. The product contains Chitosan and Nano elicitor active ingredients, creating a unique product compared to other products on the market. In addition, you can mix this product with pesticides and foliar fertilizers.
When the tree suffers from leaf curl disease, curly top: Mix 20 – 50ml in 20 – 25 liters of water and spray evenly on the trunk – branches – leaves, stumps, and the soil under the canopy. Spray 2-3 times each time, about five days apart, to re-spray the tree for effective results.
