Giving the plant a very thorough watering every month or so (in between shallower waterings) will help to flush out built up minerals, which, if never flushed out, will rapidly manifest as brown crispy leaf tips. Brown crispy tips will appear every so often but usually on the oldest leaf of a Monstera.
Snip off yellow, dry, or dead leaves near the base of the stem. Whenever you see leaves that aren't healthy, use your sanitized shears or scissors to cut off the damaged leaves.
Keep them in a shady spot to give them a chance to recover: even plants that look terminally crispy can often revive and re-sprout with this treatment. Larger pots should be heavily watered, then allowed to drain – one deep watering is better than daily sprinkles.
You can cut off the leaf blade of your leading leaf but be sure to leave the petiole intact, since that's where the next new leaf will emerge (see below). Your main stem still looks healthy so I think the plant can continue growing – just don't expect these leaves to “look nice” again.
Should I cut off damaged Monstera leaves? If your leaves are showing significant damage, you should absolutely cut them off! Chop back any leaves that have a lot of black or brown on them, as it can't heal these areas, and they're also no longer producing any energy for the plant.
Pruning Your Monstera
Remove dry or dead leaves all year round, but save any major pruning for the spring and summer months. When pruning your Monstera, use sharp, clean shears and cut any excessive growth at the base of the stem.
Severe wilting, extensive yellowing, or widespread leaf discoloration are tell-tale signs that your Monstera may be on its last legs.
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.
Yellow leaves aren't just a Monstera's cry for help; they're a deadweight. Cut them off close to the main stem, but don't go ninja on the nodes – those are the starting blocks for new leaves.
Discoloration: Sunburned leaves may appear bleached, yellowed, or browned, with visible spots or patches.
Those crispy leaves are never going to return to normal, and trimming helps to remove dead or shriveled foliage that are taking up real estate in your houseplant. Cutting back stems also encourages new growth below the point of the cut, resulting in a denser canopy.
Once leaf scorch has occurred, there is no cure. The dehydrated portions of the leaf will not turn green again, but with proper water management, the plant may recover. Prevention of scorch needs to begin with winter watering.
Adjust your care accordingly and prune off the crispy leaves or browning tips. Use a pair of plant snips to prune off entirely brown leaves or to prune off browning edges. Avoid removing more than 30% of the affected leaves at one time. Pruning the leaves can help your plant focus its energy on new and healthy growth.
Avoid strong direct light as it can give the monstera scorched or yellow leaves. Don't forget they are used to the dappled light of the rainforest floor.
It can be tempting to try and propagate from your mother plant using just a leaf but this is not possible. However, a Monstera plant can easily be propagated using stem cuttings from the original plant.
Keep a consistent watering schedule–water when the top 2”-3” of the soil are dry. If you accidentally let your Monstera's soil dry out completely, you may see leaves go limp, droop, and possibly start to brown. If the soil is extremely dry all the way through the pot, a thorough soak is in order.
Simply get a sharp pair of secateurs and cut at the node, not at the leaf. (If you are looking for some high-quality secateurs, here are two great options depending on your budget: option 1 and option 2.) After pruning back apply a liquid fertiliser like Thrive Indoor Plant Food to help your Monstera grow new leaves.
A: Monstera plants don't like to dry out too much. Their soil should be moist but not soggy, which can be achieved by watering the plant once every 1-2 weeks. When the top inch of the soil feels dry, it's time to water your green companion.
Pruning your Monstera helps maintain its shape and encourages healthy growth. Trim yellow or brown leaves, as well as leggy stems. Make clean cuts just above a leaf node.
Humidity. Monstera Deliciosa enjoys a humid environment, which is why we recommend frequent misting of its leaves. Alternatively, you can place your plant close to other plants, which increases the humidity of the air around them.
Sign #1: Dark brown spots on the leaves
Dark brown spots are a telltale sign of root rot, which is caused by over-watering. This issue needs to be treated quickly to prevent spreading! What to do: If you notice these spots and the soil feels wet, carefully remove the monstera from its pot to inspect the roots.
Curling leaves: If the leaves on your monstera are curling at the ends or tips, this can be an early sign that the plant is getting too much sunlight, or not enough water. Scorched leaves: Scorched marks or dry, patchy brown spots may mean your monstera is getting too much sunlight.
Signs that your Monstera needs water include yellow Monstera leaves, which can indicate that the plant is underwatered or stressed. Additionally, if the leaves start to droop or curl down, it's a strong signal that the soil is too dry. Another common sign is the Monstera leaves turning brown.
Since eggshells offer a source of calcium, plants that love this nutrient will benefit best from this hack, such as roses and African violets. 'Monstera, philodendrons, and other plants in this family are also particularly calcium-loving,' Mo says.
Browning on edges usually indicates overwatering, not always but usually. Before you water again, tip the pot over and stick your finger in the drain hole. Is it very wet? Maybe it's not fully drying, maybe it needs a terra cotta pot to help it dry faster, maybe it needs a faster draining soil.