Why is My Monstera Turning Brown?

If you've joined the Monstera club like many others in the past few years, you know the joys of owning one when it's healthy. Monstera is a low-maintenance and highly rewarding house plant. Its shiny, hole-covered leaves rise and unwrap themselves like a scroll. Even the sparsest of monstera deliciosa can quickly become lush given the right conditions. But what if your leaves started turning brown? What causes brown Monstera leaves, and what can be done about it? 

Overwatering 

This one is most likely the culprit. Dark brown spots or patches on your leaves likely mean the plant is getting too much water and causing root rot. If you think this is the cause and your Monstera is pretty severely brown, consider repotting it in fresh, dry soil. Make sure when you do water it that the top 1-2 inches of soil are dry. To prevent the roots from rotting in the future, try setting your plant in the kitchen sink when you water it. Leaving it there for 10-15 minutes after watering allows the soil to properly drain, rather than sitting in excess water. 

Under-watering

Light brown edges on the leaves means your monstera deliciosa needs more water. Consider watering more often, or just giving it more to drink once. The dead edges will remain dead, so feel free to trim the leaves in the shape they would grow to remove the dead parts. 

Too Much Sun

Be sure to keep your Monstera in bright indirect sunlight, direct sunlight can burn the leaves. Damage to your Monstera from too much sunlight will initially look like yellow or paler green leaves before they begin to brown. But it's certainly not equipped for full sun in a south-facing window. Maybe your Monstera was doing well, but summer came around and the sunlight became too much for it. If this happens, move the plant 4-5ft further away from the window and reassess.

Not Enough Humidity

Frankly, your monstera deliciosa would rather be in a tropical forest right now. But that doesn't mean it won't adapt to your home. If the air in your place is too dry, this could cause the leaves to start browning. Solution: mist your plant down every few days with water. Wipe down the leaves every once in a while with a banana peel to keep their pores open and accepting moisture. And maybe give it a warm shower here and there. 

Plants are living things. So not only do they need care, but the care they need changes. Pay attention to your Monstera and try to learn its signals. We guarantee if you do, it won't be the last one you have. monstera deliciosa can be a rewarding, tropical feature in your home. Check out ours below: