New Monstera is a plant of tropical rainforests from southern Mexico to Panama that is adapted to warm and humid conditions. Though the tremendously beautiful foliage needs minimal care to grow, it suffers a lot in the other regions due to its particular climatic preference.
As the leaves are the most attractive and major part of new Monstera, these are affected in the long run. Browning is a common case here.
Well, in this article I’m going to discuss the causes and subsequent treatments related to brown leaves on new Monstera. Let’s highlight the main aspects- incorrect watering, fungal and pest attacks, improper soil and climatic conditions, and transplanting shock.
So, let’s start without further ado.
| Reasons | Solutions |
| Incorrect Watering | Water once every 7 to 14 days, not more than this. |
| Fungal Infestation | Trim off affected parts and apply a proper fungicide. |
| Pest Attack | Remove pests and egg masses and apply pesticides. |
| Improper Soil Conditions | Allow proper drainage and add lime or sulfur to balance out the soil pH. |
| Transplanting Shock | Water your plant right after transplanting and wait to recover. |
| Unfavorable Temperatures | Allow 8-10 hours of sunlight and avoid freezing conditions. |
| Low Humidity | Practice misting water around the plant. |
What Causes New Monstera Leaves Browning [Problems and Fixes]
1. Incorrect Watering
Watering is a sensitive issue that is overlooked by gardeners most of the time. Most of the time, the leaves of the shrubs are affected by incorrect watering. So, this can be a big reason behind the new Monstera leaf damage and browning.
An overwatered new Monstera shows the signs of brown spots and droopy and yellow leaves. Brown crispy leaves are an indication that your plant needs some water. However, wilting is the most common and initial symptom of improper watering. So, check your soil conditions to take the necessary steps.
Let’s check what you can do in such a condition.
Control Measure
In the case of pot-planted new Monstera, it’s a bit difficult to suggest a particular watering schedule. Watering will depend on pot size, pot type, soil, and environmental conditions.
So, it’s better to test your soil on your own. You can check your soil by simply touching it at the top level. If moisture is found at a level of 2.5 cm to 5 cm from the surface, you may not need to water.
On the other hand, while planted in the landscape, it’s suggested to water every 7 to 14 days. There needs to be a gap between each watering to allow the soil to be dried completely. This will reduce the chance of overwatering.
If your new Monstera is overwatered, shift your plant to a sunny place as soon as possible. Then allow the extra water to drain out by poking the drainage hole. In the landscape, you can spread some sawdust to soak up extra water from the plant base.
A watering can or sink can be used to add water to your new Monstera. Normally filtered water is good for these plants. It’s better to use water that is left overnight.
2. Fungal Infestation
Houseplants and shrubs are very much susceptible to fungal attacks. No matter how generously you care, this problem keeps prevailing often in your garden. Monstera brown leaves have a close connection to this.
You may notice some large brown patches with a yellow halo at different parts of your Monstera leaves. This one is the most typical sign of a fungal attack differentiating it from other damage symptoms. You may also observe mushy roots with rooting signs in your plant.
Problems regarding fungal infection in new Monstera need to be treated quickly. Here are some of my suggestions that may help in dealing with this.
Control Measure
The initial step is to isolate your plant and prune off the affected leaves and roots as these may carry fungal inocula. In the case of severe root damage, repotting is the best option. This will primarily decrease the spreading of disease.
Let the cut ends dry properly before overhead watering. This will prevent fungal spore dissemination through openings. If possible, try to avoid this particular watering method. Instead of that, you can water your plant at the base. This will work in the same manner.
If the infestation is severe, you need to start using chemicals. In the case of direct foliage damage, you can pick a spray fungicide. But it’s better to treat root rots with some powdered formulations. (Our Pick: Bonide 811 Copper 4E Fungicide)
Preventive Measure of Fungal Infestation
Preventive steps can reduce the chance of fungal infestations to a large extent.
The most practiced and effective preventive measures to control fungal attacks are spaced planting, proper watering, and necessary sun exposure. These help a lot in eliminating disease occurrence.
Home Remedies
Some home remedies work great against fungal infestations. Here I got some easy and effective ones for you. Keep reading.
#Recipe 1: Baking Soda Spray
Ingredients-
- 50 ml of baking soda.
- 5 ml of bleach-free liquid soap.
- Two gallons of warm water.
Steps-
- Mix all the ingredients together.
- Shift the mixture into a spray bottle and apply it to the affected areas.
#Recipe 2: Garlic Pepper Spray
Ingredients-
- 2 medium-sized garlic bulbs
- 8 medium-sized hot peppers
- 20 ml of canola oil
- 20 ml of lemon juice
Steps-
- Crush the garlic and pepper together and strain the juices
- Add canola oil and lemon juice to this
- Pour this into a garden sprayer and apply it to your foliage.
3. Pest Attack
Insect pests can strike at your garden at any time. Covert attacks of these minute enemies can make your new Monstera to suffer a lot. The most common insect pests are aphids, mites, scale insects, and mealybugs.
The presence of insects can be traced by their feeding signs. Most of the time you can notice some tiny yellow spots which can turn brown at a later stage. This will cause Monstera new leaf browning before unfurling.
Well, some prompt actions can save your new Monstera in the long run. Here are my suggestions for you to combat pest problems.
Control Measure
As most of the time pests are found on the lower surface of leaves, you can easily remove these by handpicking. Jet spraying of clean or soapy water also works finely. If you prefer using soapy water, avoid soaps with high bleach content.
Insecticidal soaps and horticultural oils are a great fix to deal with insect pests in an organic way. (Our Pick: Safer Brand Insect Killing Soap Concentrate)
Home Remedies
#Recipe 1: Alcohol Spray
Ingredients-
- 1 litre of 70% isopropyl alcohol.
- 2 litres of water.
Steps-
- Mix water and alcohol together.
- Apply this to your new Monstera leaves by spraying.
#Recipe 2: Neem Spray
Ingredients-
- 100 gram dried neem leaves
- 1 litre of water
Steps-
- Add water to neem powder and let it sit for 1 hour.
- Strain this mixture and shift it to a spray bottle to apply to your plant leaves.
4. Improper Soil Conditions
Plant health has a deep connection with the soils they grow. If there are some problems in the soil, plant roots, stems and foliage can face severe stress conditions.
Being adapted to a different climatic condition, the new Monstera is very much affected by the soil. This grows well in airy, well-drained, and light soils with a pH ranging between 5.5 to 7.0.
Intense edge browning from the margin of older leaves is a common sign that there’s some issue with the soil. These are often observed.
However, with some management practices, you can easily overcome this issue. Here I have mentioned some.
Management
First of all, keep loosening your base soils often to provide aeration. Be careful not to injure the roots and stems. Always check whether the drainage hole is working properly or not. These little factors help a lot in the long run.
To increase the pH level, add lime to your soil. Grounded agricultural limestone works great in such a case. A dose of 150 to 200 grams of lime is enough for the one-meter square of soil.
On the contrary, elemental sulfur works great in reducing soil pH. The recommended dose is around 90 to 95 grams per meter square of soil.
If the soil gets too compact over time, you may need to report your new Monstera. To provide a good potting medium to grow you can add sphagnum moss, vermicompost, sawdust, or other decomposed materials to your regular soil. Make sure to maintain a 1:1 ratio of these matters and garden soil.
Last but not the least, add a balanced fertilizer to combat nutrient deficiency as well as nutrient toxicity. Here is an excellent option for you. (Our Pick: Espoma Organic Indoor Plant Food)
5. Transplanting Shock
Transplanting shock is very common in houseplants. As the new Monstera needs several repotting, this kind of shock is not unusual.
The preliminary sign of shock is wilting soon after transplanting or repotting. If not treated properly your whole foliage may turn brown.
So, it’s advised to take necessary steps against transplanting shocks as soon as possible. Keep going through to check what the deal is.
Management
Add water to the plant base right after transplanting. Keep the roots moist for at least 7 days. But be careful not to make them soggy. So, have a good check on your drainage channel.
Here is a bonus trick for you. Add some table sugar to the water before applying. This is proven to boost the recovery process. So, you can practice this one without any hesitation.
After that, have some patience and let your new Monstera recover on its own. It’s better to avoid any kind of chemical use during this period.
Sometimes trimming off some old roots promotes the regeneration process, which also helps in the overall plant growth and recovery.
6. Unfavourable Temperature
As new Monstera grows by clinging to big trees in the Tropical rainforest, they mostly prefer shade conditions. So, too much light and prolonged heat exposure can easily cause sunburn.
Similarly, being adapted to humid conditions, these plants are also very much susceptible to cold. These can’t tolerate chilling breezes. So, cold burns are a common issue in the new Monstera.
Due to too much exposure to the sun, the leaves of the new Monstera can be burnt from the edges. This is the typical symptom of sunburn. Along with this, you may also notice some yellowing surrounding these burnt areas.
On the other hand, cold drafts can turn your new Monstera leaves black from the margins.
So, if you notice new Monstera leaves turning brown, yellow, or black from the edges, it’s high time to take action against these temperature conditions. Let’s check what you can do in such a case.
Control Measure
New Monstera needs 8 to 10 hours of mild sunlight every day. So, do not let your plant be there more than that. Also, avoid the scorching heat by placing them in shady conditions.
If your plants have already faced sunburn, water them properly and cut off the burnt or brown parts.
Did you know the new Monstera can also suffer from cold drafts due to your air conditioner? Yes, this happens too. So, keep your plants away from direct cold breezes from such sources.
At night time do not let your plant stay close to the window as night temperatures fall quickly. This will prevent cold drafts. You can also use room heaters to provide warmth during freezing winters.
7. Low Humidity
As Monstera is grown in highly humid conditions, drops in humidity levels affect their growth a lot. Mostly the leaves are seen to turn brown. In fact, the aerial stems in Monstera can also turn brown in such a case.
However, some easy practices can help new Monstera to adapt to different climatic conditions by manipulating the humidity level. Let’s check what the deal is.
Management
A humidifier can easily tell you the humidity level around your plant. Normally, a new Monstera needs 70 to 80% humidity to grow.
If the humidity level falls down, you can mist some water around your plants to create an artificial humid condition.
Read More- 8 Plant That Looks Like Monstera Without Holes
FAQs
Why are my Monstera leaves turning brown?
Answer – There can be several reasons. But the most prominent ones are pest and pathogen attacks. Apart from this, unfavorable weather conditions also cause brown leaves in the new Monstera.
As these plants are native to a particularly humid region, they can suffer a lot even with a few changes in the environment. However, follow my previous instructions to get rid of this issue.
How do you fix brown leaves on Monstera?
Answer – There is not much hassle. Proper monitoring will get half of your job done. So, keep checking for the criteria mentioned before. Start working on the initial stages of damage.
The use of proper doses of chemicals and adopting the right methods will help a lot in fixing brown leaves on Monstera.
Should I cut off brown Monstera leaves?
Answer – Trimming off the old and damaged leaves is a good practice in the new Monstera. This encourages better growth and suppresses disease dissemination.
You can initially cut off the affected leaf portions. If damage is severe, the entire leaf may need to be removed. This might be a bit heartbreaking, but trust me, it’ll improve your overall plant growth.
Conclusion
It’s time for the wrap now. Here I have discussed all the possible do’s and don’ts to combat the browning issue in new Monstera leaves.
You have nothing much to do. Just follow the watering schedule I advised and provide your plant necessary weather conditions. For diseases and pests, stick to the basics that I mentioned.
Finally, keep observing your plants regularly and note down the changes. Come back to my articles for solutions. You can also comment below for any queries. All the best growers!
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