10 Reasons Why Monstera Is Turning Yellow And How To Fix It

You could end up over/under-watering your Monstera if you have been watering it thoughtlessly. When watering the plant, you need to ensure that your plant requires water. You should not be watering your plant just because water is essential. You should only water your plant if the soil feels dry. 

Another thing to note is the watering schedule. If you have a fixed watering schedule, there should be flexibility because how much and how often you water your Monsters depends on the seasons. For example, during summer, your Monsters need more water than winter. 

Now that you know over-watering is damaging, do not overthink how much water you should use and make the mistake of underwatering your Monstera. Insufficient water can cause yellow leaves on Monstera, like excess water. These plants are fast-growing and use up a lot of water during their growing period.

We mentioned above that you should only water your plant after the soil is dry. Dry soil does not mean it should be crackly and crumbly. It should be slightly moist without being overly soggy. Also, observe the leaves. An underwatered Monstera plant looks lifeless because its leaves point to the floor. The leaves should be upright and lively if you water them correctly. 

Speaking of water, the type you use also affects the quality of the monstera. You do not need to use special water for your plant, but chemically treated tap water may be unsuitable. Chemically treated water has a high concentration of heavy metals, fluoride, and other additives, impeding the plant’s ability to absorb water and oxygen.

If unsure, you can always conduct a water test to determine the levels of chemicals, minerals, and metals in your water. Once you confirm that the chemicals in the water are causing the yellow leaves, you can use many other water types for plants. 

Monstera is a tropical plant that prefers medium to high humidity year-round to absorb moisture from its leaves and aerial roots. However, the average household humidity level is low, especially in winter. So, if you want your plants to thrive and not end up with yellow leaves, you should maintain ideal humidity levels.

The humidity level should be between 40% to 60% for your Monstera to stay healthy. Anything below or above this level causes Monstera yellowing. There are many ways to maintain these humidity levels, and they are discussed below.

Another cause of monstera leaves turning yellow is temperature stress. Temperature stress occurs when your plant has to deal with temperatures below and above its preferred range of 65-85 degrees Fahrenheit. They can survive below 60 but will not be as healthy as they should.

However, If the temperature falls below 50, your Monstera will die as it cannot handle cold temperatures, so avoid keeping your plant in a drafty room or outdoors where the temperature is cold and unstable. On the other hand, very hot temperatures above 90 degrees can also stress the plant, so do not keep your plants near heat vents either.

Just like water, too much sunlight can turn vibrant, glossy green monstera leaves yellow. One of the ways to grow and care for your monstera is by maintaining the ideal light conditions. These plants prefer bright, indirect light. Direct, bright sunlight can burn the leaves. Burnt leaves will stop producing energy for the plant and will eventually die. 

The solution to this, however, is not to stop providing your monstera light completely. Too little to no sunlight can result in yellowing leaves because your monstera cannot photosynthesize enough food. So, take note of the light your monstera is receiving and make changes accordingly.

Another cause of your cheese plant turning yellow is nutrient imbalance. Your monstera could suffer from a nitrogen, phosphorus, or potassium deficiency if you have not fertilized your plant in a year or so since planting or repotting it. Your plant could have used all the nutrients in the current potting mix and may require supplemental fertilizer.

But if you have been fertilizing your monstera, maybe you need to slow it down. Overfertilizing your monstera alters the soil's acidity, resulting in a salt burn, which manifests as yellow leaves. You might also notice slow growth and a white crust on the top of the soil.

Pests are the biggest nuisance you might have to deal with while growing and caring for your monstera. Monsteras are susceptible to ants, aphids, thrips, scale, spider mites, and sap-sucking mealybugs. You will see the damage left by these pests in the form of sporadic holes in the leaves, white webbing on the underside, a sticky substance on the surface, etc. These pests are also responsible for yellow leaves.

If these pests are not killed early on, they will reproduce and eventually take over the entire plant. They will accelerate the yellowing, especially if other conditions like improper watering, poor soil condition, nutrient deficiency, and more are present.

Imagine being in a confined space where you cannot move your hands, legs, or face. It can be stressful and dangerous. This is exactly what happens to your monstera if it is rootbound. A sign that your monstera is root-bound is if its roots are growing out of the hole in the bottom of the pot.

This means that the roots do not have space to grow and, therefore, cannot absorb water or nutrients from the soil, which can cause leaves to turn yellow. Rootbound monstera has negative impacts on growth and health.

If the yellow leaves on your monstera are mature and the yellowing is accompanied by new growth, there is nothing to worry about. 

Every spring, your monstera enters a new growing period where it focuses more on producing new foliage than keeping old ones alive. When this happens, older growth will lose moisture and energy causing them to droop and go yellow. This is a natural part of your plant's life cycle.

1. Water According to Needs

To solve the issue of yellow leaves on Monstera, the first thing you should correct is your watering habits. You should water your plant according to its needs. This means that instead of using a fixed amount of water at the same frequency, you should water your monstera based on its needs.

This means that some days, especially during summer,  you might need to water daily and increase the quantity. You can cut down this amount and frequency during winter and monsoon season. The best way to know your plant's water needs is to feel the soil. If it feels dry, go ahead and water it. 

2. Let Tap Water Sit for 24-48 Hours  

If your tap water is chemically treated, leave it out for a day or two and then water your plants. This allows some of the chemicals to evaporate. If not, you can purchase a dechlorination water filter that removes the chemical before you water your plant.

You can also use rainwater during monsoon seasons. Just leave buckets outside to catch the rainfall and use it to water your monstera and other plants. There are so many other water types for your plants if you want to use something else.

3. Increase Humidity with a Humidifier or Pebble Tray

For a hands-on approach, you can mist the leaves of your monstera regularly. But if this is time-consuming and inconvenient, use a humidifier or a moistened pebble tray. Place your plant near a humidifier or in the bathroom with natural humidity.

If not, place the plant filled with pebbles and water. The water will evaporate throughout the day and increase the humidity around your monstera. When the pebble tray is empty, top it up with water again to maintain a stable humidity level. 

4. Maintain Ideal Temperature

To determine if temperature stress is indeed the cause of yellow leaves, look at the monstera’s location. Are there any sources of extreme heat or cold temperatures? Is it near a cold draft? Is it near a heater or too close to a south-facing window? If yes, move your plant to a location where the temperature is stable.  

When you move it, avoid placing it near a window in winter, even though there might be sunlight during the day. Cold wind coming from the windows can damage the plants. If you have no other place to put the plants, just place them near a heater or a heat vent.

5. Place Plant Away From Direct Sunlight

Monstera thrives in bright, indirect sunlight. So, if you notice that your monstera is exposed to direct sunlight, move it to another appropriate place. As a general rule of thumb, an east-facing window is the best position for your plant.

A spot near a south- or west-facing window can work as long as the plant is away from direct sunlight. A north-facing window might not provide enough light. And if you are not able to provide enough light to keep your monstera happy, you can use a grow light.

6. Fertilize Correctly

If the cause of yellow leaves is a nutrient deficiency, you should fertilize your plant with a well-balanced, organic fertilizer like a 2-2-2 or one specially formulated for monstera. You may also consider worm casting or top-dressing your plant with fresh soil.

However, if the issue is overfertilization, rinse the excess fertilizer by watering your monstera until the water runs out of the pot's drainage hole and reduce the amount or frequency of fertilization.

7. Deal with the Pests

If your monstera is infested with pests, the best thing to do is to spray the plant down with a direct stream of water to remove them immediately. Wash the leaves with insecticidal soap or spray them with neem oil. Continue treating until there are no more signs of an infestation.

8. Repot Your Monstera 

Although your monstera can handle being root-bound to a certain extent, it does not like being severely root-bound. Severe root boundness can affect its health and growth. You should repot your monstera to avoid negative impacts. If you do not know how to repot your monstera, it is similar to how you planted your monstera in the first place.

The only difference is that you need a bigger pot, and you need to loosen tightly wound roots with your fingers. And remember to use a well-draining potting mix rich in organic matter. A combination of peat moss, perlite, and orchid bark is ideal.

9. Trim Older Leaves and Clear Away Debris

If a leaf on your monstera is completely yellow from aging, prune it using a sterile cutting tool. The leaf will fall off on its own eventually, but trimming it will allow your plant to focus on producing new healthy growth instead of saving the old yellow leaf. Besides, once a leaf has turned yellow, it will not turn green again, even when you improve conditions.

Cut the leaves swiftly to avoid causing wounds that lead to infection. Cut above an existing leaf node to encourage growth below the cut, which leads to a fuller-looking plant.