Why are Monstera Deliciosa leaves turning brown & How to Fix Them

One of the signs that you may be concerned about the health of your Monstera tree is when the leaves of the Monstera plant turn brown. What causes leaves to turn brown, and how to take better care of the tree? Follow the article below with Dig Nursery.

Why is Monstera leaves turning brown?

There are some more reasons that make Monstera leaves turn brown, including too much water, extreme lighting conditions, low humidity, shortage of water, fungus or disease, and poor quality of water.

Monstera leaves turn brown due to too much watering

You have overwritten your Monstera Deliciosa, for example. Suppose you notice dark brown spots on the leaves. Most problems with leaf brown are related to over-watering, as it is difficult for growers to assess the plant’s water needs properly.

Exactly! The biggest mistake is that they tend to stick to a fixed schedule instead of observing the plants and testing the soil. The amount of water required depends on several environmental factors. 

Monstera does not like to sit on moist soil. Avoid watering too often. Provide drainage by using pots with drainage holes and loose, aerated soil. Waterlogged plants will eventually fall to root rot. Your plant will not absorb nutrients and moisture from the ground and will die from dehydration resulting in yellow leaves or rims. A severe case of root rot can lead to the death of your plant. 

Monstera plant leaves turning brown because of underwatering
Monstera plant leaves turning brown because of underwatering

Excessive lighting conditions

Tropical plants such as Monstera should not be under direct sunlight. In their native climate, they receive bright but filtered sunlight when planted in the forest, and the forest canopy blocks direct sunlight most of the day. Exposing the plant to direct sunlight can burn the leaves and turn brown. Unfortunately, these burned leaves can not recover. The south window is too bright for your Monstera.

It would help if you moved it to a place with better lighting conditions. You only need to move about 1m from the window to avoid burning the leaves. Another way is to use blinds to diffuse sunlight. Too much sunlight is a big problem, especially in summer when the sun is shining. It is the day of operation. In winter, your plant can withstand direct sunlight for several hours.

Extreme lighting conditions weaken and brown the leaves
Extreme lighting conditions weaken and brown the leaves

The tree is short of water

The precise, light brown edges on your Monstera mean watering. This tropical plant also does not like to be watered. It does not thrive in dry soil because the plant’s ability to absorb nutrients is impaired. I always recommend letting the soil dry out a bit. A little before watering again, but don’t leave it too long, or it will dry out. 

Because of a lack of water, the leaves of the Monstera plant are turning brown
Because of a lack of water, the leaves of the Monstera plant are turning brown

And don’t let it dry completely. If you’re having trouble watering your Monstera, it’s best to establish a realistic soil-based watering schedule. Remember that water needs change with the seasons and the environment. You can not observe daylight during the cold winter months. Another reason the soil is too dry could be hard ground is the way to go.

If your Monstera is small, bring it to the pot to water it thoroughly. Water the plant slowly but deeply to ensure no dry roots on the soil. The roots in this area will die because of a shortage of water. But in the end, drain the water and water the tree regularly.

Plants with fungus or disease

Your plant has a fungal infection when the brown spots on the leaves have a yellow halo or ring around them. Wet foliage encourages fungal growth.

So never leave Monstera leaves wet for too long. Your plants also need air circulation to prevent fungal growth. If your plant has brown fungal spots, I recommend that you remove the infected leaves as soon as possible. Avoid spraying the tree for the next few days.

Plants infected with fungus or illness will progressively turn brown
Plants infected with fungus or illness will progressively turn brown

Poor quality of water

You should always test the tap water quality in your area before using it on Monstera or any other plant. In general, the fluoride in tap water can harm your plants and cause the leaf tips to turn brown. If you use water softeners or tap water classified as hard water in your area, I recommend using rainwater or distilled water whenever possible.

Monstera brown leaves because of poor quality water

Monstera brown leaves because of poor-quality water

Low Air Moisture

Monstera Deliciosa is native to humid climates and thrives in them. If the margins of your plant’s leaves have started to brown, it’s possible that your Deliciosa is unhappy with the humidity since the interior air moisture is quite low.

Utilizing the following methods You can easily keep your humidity high Each day sprinkle on the foliage of Monstera Deliciosa with clean water however, ensure that they remain dry. In the lower part of the pot put pebbles in the tray. Put your plants in your bathroom for five minutes before turning on the hot water.

Guard your plant against air drafts caused by radiators and air conditioners in addition. Because your Deliciosa is next to an air conditioner or radiator, even if the air humidity is normal. A humidifier is also a good option to improve indoor humidity if your budget allows it.

Monstera Transplant Shock

It’s thrilling to watch your Monstera mature into a giant plant. You’ll have to repot them eventually because they can no longer fit in a smaller container.

Your Monster may suffer an injury throughout the transplantation process if you don’t complete the procedure appropriately. Some of the roots are incredibly sensitive, and they can be harmed even with careful caution.

Furthermore, your Monster’s root system will need some time to establish itself in its new habitat. Transplant shock is the term for the drooping and browning of your Monster leaves during this period of transition.

If your plant is already suffering from transplant shock, the only way to cure it is to provide it with the best therapy possible.

  • Make sure your plant has plenty of drainage holes
  • Remove any dead leaves and stems to enable the growth of new ones
  • For a few months, don’t fertilize your plant. Fertilizing your plant might make it even more stressed
  • If you’ve relocated your houseplant to a new location and it’s gone brown, it’s possible that it’s not receiving enough light or humidity there. Simply return your plant to its old location before transplanting it
  • Make sure your plants are getting enough water. At this stage, overwatering your Monstera might harm it

Physical Damage

I know you like your Monstera, and it may seem adorable to touch them every morning, but be careful not to harm them physically.

Your Monstera would ultimately become brown as a result of this. (Oooh! I was thinking to myself, “You’re so guilty of this.”

While repotting or altering location, your Monstera may be injured. So be cautious when performing this type of thing.

Your pet is another potential source of bodily harm. It may seem strange, but your poet may have harmed this green beauty.

Tip to fix it:

  • Avoid touching your plants, especially the young ones, too much. It can be difficult, but give it a shot!
  • While transplanting, pay close attention to the processes
  • Make sure your pets can’t get to your Monstera’s location. Furthermore, keep in mind that Monstera is somewhat poisonous to both pets and people
  • You may put the plant container on a shelf to keep it out of reach of pets
  • Another option is to teach your pets to stay away from the houseplants

Caring for Monstera plants when leaves turn brown

To make Monstera green and healthy again, let’s do some solutions below. Watering enough water, pruning leaves, ensuring the right light conditions, 

Water the plants just enough

It would help if you watered when about 2-3cm of the top layer of soil is dry. You should do this every 7-10 days. If your soil hasn’t dried in 7-10 days, chances are your plant is in a low-light location, and you need a pot, and Monstera potting soil has better drainage. Use a hygrometer like this one to know precisely how thirsty the wind is.

Prune leaves regularly for trees

Monsteras are known to be very large! They can grow up to 20-30m outdoors, and indoors they can also increase to taller than the ceiling height. If your Monstera is turning brown, there are a few things you can do: First, you can prune it to make it smaller, and then you can propagate the cuttings! 

It is how to prune and shape it. Be sure to use sharp pruning shears. If your Monstera grows too much horizontally, you can also split it into two or more plants.

Ensure the right lighting conditions for the plant

Bright, indirect sunlight usually means being near an East or South facing window. Please place them in the most brilliant light you can find where the light doesn’t hit the leaves, as this can cause sunburn.

As a general rule, your Monstera needs to be in a place with light. If the sun is hot, it will burn the leaves. Otherwise, the leaves will not separate if there is a lack of light. 

Related Post: Why are my Monstera leaves curling inward? Fix the reasons


Sylvia Matlock

Sylvia Matlock

Sylvia Matlock graduated from the Art Institute of Chicago, which shows in everything she does, from adding depth, texture, and color to selecting the best plant for the job. She curates plants, garden accessories, indoor and outdoor furnishings, and gifts for the retail store. Plants suited for the site or environment are used in landscape design and installation for commercial and residential customers.


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