Monstera Leaves Turning Yellow? Drooping, Curling, Brown Spots and No Splits — Fixes
Why monstera leaves turn yellow, droop, curl, get brown spots or stop splitting — and why droplets form on the leaf tips.
Monstera leaves are big, so problems are easy to spot. Work through the symptoms below — most issues are solved by adjusting watering and light.
Yellow leaves — suspect overwatering first
The most common reason monstera leaves turn yellow is watering too often. Monstera roots rot easily when they stay wet, especially in cool seasons. Let the top 5 cm or so of soil dry before watering.
- Lower leaves yellowing and soil always damp → overwatering. Water less often and empty the saucer
- Yellow leaves with crispy edges and bone-dry soil → underwatering. Water thoroughly
- Only the oldest bottom leaf is yellow → normal aging
Drooping leaves
If the soil is dry, the plant is thirsty — a thorough watering usually revives it within a day or two. If the soil is wet and the plant still droops, roots or stems may be rotting. More water makes it worse: unpot the plant, cut off black mushy roots and repot in well-draining mix. If big leaves are simply pulling the stem over, add a support.
Curling leaves
New leaves emerge rolled up and open over a few days — that is normal. Mature leaves curling usually point to thirst, very dry air, strong direct sun or heat from a heater. Check the soil first, and move the plant away from air-conditioner or heater drafts.
Brown spots and brown tips
- Crispy brown tips or edges → underwatering or dry air
- Brown spots with yellow halos that spread → possible bacterial or fungal leaf spot. Remove affected leaves and keep water off the foliage; misting can spread disease
- Yellowing that starts at the edges and turns tan to brown → possible anthracnose. Remove affected leaves and improve airflow
- Lots of tiny pale speckles with fine webbing underneath → spider mites. Rinse both sides of the leaves in the shower and keep checking
Leaves not splitting
The famous splits and holes only appear once a monstera is mature — young plants normally have solid leaves. If a mature plant keeps producing unsplit leaves, it usually needs more light. Move it to a brighter spot and give it a moss pole to climb; leaves get larger and split more readily.
Water droplets on leaf tips
Droplets on the leaf tips the morning after watering are called guttation — the plant pushing out excess water through tiny pores. It is not a disease. If you see it almost every day, though, the soil is staying too wet; water a little less often.
Watering needs vary a lot with pot size and light. Use the watering calculator on GreenPic's monstera page to find the interval for your home and get reminders.