Problems with monstera
Identify what's wrong by where it appears and what you can see.
Where is the problem?
Start by selecting the part of the plant where you see the problem.
Start with the symptom
Or pick from the symptoms most often seen on monstera.
Common problems with monstera
The problems recorded on monstera, the most common first.
14 problems
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Overwatering
Yellow, limp leaves in soil that stays wet. Roots short of air rot and stop drinking. -
Fertiliser burn
Brown, crisp leaf tips and edges after feeding. Salts in the compost draw water from the roots. -
Fungus gnats
Small black flies around pots. Their larvae feed in wet compost and on seedling roots. -
Mealybugs
White, cottony insects tucked into leaf joints and under leaves, with sticky honeydew. -
Root rot
Wilting and yellowing in wet soil; roots brown, soft and falling apart. -
Sun scorch and sunscald
Bleached, papery or brown patches on the leaves and fruit that face the sun. -
Too little light
Pale, stretched growth that leans towards the window. No amount of feeding fixes it. -
Transplant shock
A wilted, stalled plant in the days after moving. Usually recovers within one to two weeks. -
Aphids
Small, soft insects clustered on new growth and under leaves, leaving sticky honeydew. -
Nutrient deficiency
Pale, yellowed or purpled leaves in a telling pattern. Read which leaves first, then feed. -
Root damage
Wilting and stalled growth with nothing wrong above ground. Roots have been cut, crushed or disturbed. -
Scale insects
Brown or white bumps stuck to stems and leaf veins, with sticky leaves below.
