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What’s going on with your Monstera leaves? Are they turning yellow and falling off the plant? What causes Monstera leaves to turn yellow?

If you’ve been noticing that your Monstera leaves have been turning yellow, you’re not alone! This is a common problem with these plants, and there are many different reasons it might be happening. In this blog post, I’ll go over 7 possible reasons why your Monstera leaves are turning yellow, as well as solutions to help get them back to their healthy green state!

7 Reasons Your Monstera Leaves Are Turning Yellow

The Monstera is one of my absolute favorite plants in the home! But, whether you’ve had your plant for years or just a few months, it can be unsettling when leaves start turning yellow and dying. You may begin to panic that your baby monstera has an incurable disease!

There are many different causes for these leaves to turn yellow, and you must know what they could be to take care of them accordingly. But why not take a deep breath and read on? This blog post will give you seven reasons why your Monstera leaves turn yellow. I hope this knowledge helps put some of those worries at ease!

1. Watering Issues

This one is pretty straightforward. Overwatering is the primary common reason for yellow monstera leaves.

Proper watering is a significant step in any plant care, including your favorite Monstera Deliciosa. When you notice Monstera leaves turning yellow, always check the soil moisture and root rot in the worst-case scenario.

Too much soil moisture, caused by overwatering, stresses your plant. Monstera does not do well in prolonged wet soil. The excess water will lead to rotting of the roots, yellowing the leaves, and eventually, death of the plant. Always ensure the soil remains damp and not completely wet by watering your plant only when the top 2-3 inches of soil are dry. Drainage holes in the bottom of the pot may be helpful if you are a new plant parent worried about root rot.

The yellow monstera plant leaves can also be a result of under-watering. If there is not enough moisture in the soil, the plant fails to accumulate sufficient nutrients needed for photosynthesis. As a result, the leaves lack chlorophyll, making them turn yellow. You may also find some yellow and brown spots on the leaves.

2. Improper Lighting

If your home’s lighting is poor, this might be another common reason why your Monstera leaves are turning yellow. The monstera plant is native to America’s tropical regions with low to bright indirect sunlight. The monstera leaves can quickly burn if exposed to direct sunlight for an extended period. On the other hand, too much light exposure may also scorch the plant leading to yellow leaves.

On the other hand, lack of sunlight will slow growth and cause the Swiss Cheese Plant leaves to turn yellow. Avoid such issues by moving your plant accordingly. Preferably, please place it in an area it can receive a few hours of bright morning sunlight or use magic mirrors to reflect light into the room. During the winter months, I supplement all of my plants with a grow light.

We have multiple Haus Bright LED Grow Light Bulbs in our house.

Signs that there is too much light:

Monstera leaves can get sunburned if exposed to too much direct sunlight. The affected leaves may have discolored, browned, or bleached leaf tips. Leaf wilting and drooping can be caused by bone-dry soil. You can prevent this by removing sunburned leaves and keeping your Monstera away from direct sunlight.

Signs that there is too little light:

Monsteras love bright but indirect light. They will tolerate living in low light, but they will grow very slowly and possibly very leggy, and the leaves will have little to no holes or slits in them. Remember to rotate it every so often to get light on all sides. During the winter and fall, I use a plant light to supplement less sunlight to keep my Monsteras happy.

Fun Fact | What are the splits in Monstera leaves called?

Monsteras are famous for their natural leaf holes, hence the nickname “Swiss Cheese Plant.” The technical term for plants having holes or clear parts in their leaves is called “leaf fenestration.“

These are part of the plant’s natural growth cycle, and they will occur naturally as the plant ages and grows larger.

3. Pests and Disease

Unfortunately, pests can be a common problem for plant owners. Like any other plant, the Monstera plant can also be attacked by pests and disease, causing its leaves to turn yellow. Sap-sucking insects like spider mites, mealybugs, and aphids feed on the plant, causing the monstera leaves to turn yellow. The yellow leaves and fronds form because the insects drain moisture off your plant.

If you have pests, you will need to pay close attention to your Monstera’s leaves. Monitor your plant constantly and address any signs of pest or disease infection. One way of doing so is by spraying the affected plant or part of the plant with soap and water solution, insecticidal soap, rubbing alcohol, neem oil, or any other recommended pesticides from your local nursery.

Common monstera diseases include anthracnose, fungal leaf spots, and powdery mildew. You should also spray the infected parts or remove the infected leaves.

4. Humidity and Temperature

Your home’s temperature or humidity level may not be warm enough for this type of houseplant. Monsteras are tropical plants, so low humidity, and hot temperatures can also cause Monstera leaves yellowing.

Low humidity causes browning of the edges of the leaves, and eventually, the entire leaf turns yellow. To increase the plant’s humidity, regularly mist the leaves with water or place a water-filled tray with stones beneath the plant’s pot.

Similarly, extreme temperatures or sudden temperature changes cause leaves to drop, and your Monstera leaves are yellow. Place your plant in a warm or ideal spot with tropical temperatures, preferably 65-80° F (18-27°C.) You will always want to place your plant away from cold drafts and dry heat vents.

5. Transplant Stress

If you’ve just repotted your Monstera plant and its leaves start turning yellow, this might be caused by transplant stress. Plant stress might be because of transplanting at the wrong time of the year, moving the plant to a different soil type, root damage, or wrong soil pH. A plant could also get stressed out by any big temperature drops, exposing the roots for too long before re-planting or rapidly moving them to a different location. Some plants can be susceptible to environmental changes.

As a result, the plant may need to recover and adapt to the new changes. Meanwhile, you can pamper the plant by ensuring it has enough drainage enough water, putting it back to its earlier location, or removing the dead leaves.

6. Fungus Infection

Dark brown or black splotches with a yellow ring or “halo” indicate your Monstera has fungus. If a plant stays wet for a long time, the fungus can grow. Sometimes, a new plant will have these dark brown spots if it isn’t given quality care while at the store or greenhouse. Therefore, you will want to remove all brown Monstera deliciosa leaves and make sure the remaining leaves stay dry. You will also want to cut off the affected stems to prevent spreading.

7. Natural Monstera Leaves Yellowing

Not all monstera leaf yellowing should concern you. Some monstera leaves turn yellow naturally due to old age. When the plant is pushing out new growth and new leaves, yellow monstera leaves will start to form at the bottom of the plant. The plant naturally sheds off the old leaves while focusing its energy on new growth. In this case, you don’t have to worry about your Monstera’s older leaves turning yellow, especially during the growing season.

FAQS

Should I cut off yellow Monstera leaves?

If you suspect your leaves are yellowed due to overwatering, pests, or fungal infection, chop them off immediately.

As long as your plant has some leaves, it’ll be able to photosynthesize and hopefully recover.

Will Yellow Monstera leaves turn back to green?

In general, yellow leaves won’t go green again. They’re pretty much a burden to the plant now, so you can chop them off without hurting your plant.

How do you prune yellow Monstera leaves?

If your Monstera leaves have turned yellow due to overwatering, you can prune them off at the stem. I like to use a sharp knife or plant shears when I am pruning my plants.

Final Thoughts

The most important thing is to keep an eye on your plants. Most problems can be fixed if they’re caught early.

Monstera Leaves Turning Yellow? Here’s 7 Reasons Why!