What's Wrong with My Monstera?

Monstera roots evolved clinging to rainforest bark, not sitting in waterlogged soil. When they suffocate and rot, the plant pulls nutrients back from the oldest leaves first. Yellowing moves up from the bottom.

A Monstera's wide leaves transpire fast. When the pot runs dry, moisture gets pulled back from the oldest leaves. They yellow and crisp at the edges before newer growth shows stress.

A healthy Monstera sheds its oldest, smallest leaves as it pushes out bigger, more fenestrated ones. If only the lowest one or two are yellowing and the rest of the plant looks fine, no action needed.

Rot from waterlogged soil has climbed through Monstera's nodes, the growth points where new leaves and aerial roots emerge. Once the stem is mushy past the base, the rootball is gone. This is time-critical.

Monstera evolved in humid rainforest understory and wants 50-60%+ humidity indoors. In drier air, leaves curl inward to conserve moisture. Crispy brown edges usually appear at the same time.

Bone-dry soil triggers cupping. Monstera's broad leaves reduce their exposed surface area to limit water loss, so curling shows up visibly before many houseplants would react. The curl progresses from the tips inward.

Round black spots ringed with yellow halos are classic leaf-spot disease. Monstera's wide leaves pool water in the fenestration splits after overhead watering or misting, creating prime conditions for fungal and bacterial growth. It spreads leaf-to-leaf if untreated.

Fine webbing on leaf undersides and between stems, plus stippled or speckled leaves. Dry indoor air invites them, and Monstera's thick leaves can hide an infestation until webbing appears around the nodes.

White cottony clumps in leaf axils and around the nodes where aerial roots emerge. They suck sap and leave sticky honeydew trailing down the stem.

Small black flies that lift off when you water or brush the soil. Their larvae live in the top inch of damp substrate, and the moisture that chunky aroid mixes hold creates pockets where they breed.