The foliage of the Monstera Deliciosa is its crowning glory! Playful, sculptural and vibrant, its leaves grow in abundance, creating beautiful silhouettes and adorning your space with dimensionality and deep, emerald hues. So we know how upsetting it is when your Monstera’s leaves take a hit and begin to show troubling yellow tones. It’s the most common ailment for Monsteras, and it’s an easy fix! Read on to get your plant’s luscious split leaves back on track.

Underwatering

Far and away, the most common cause of yellowing Monstera foliage is overwatering. It can be so tempting to water your Monstera frequently (i.e. multiple times a week) because we all love to commune with our plant friends, but this is not what your plant usually wants. Monsteras should be watered only when their topsoil is fully dry to the touch. You can probe its topsoil weekly, by lifting a portion of its decorative moss and pushing your finger two inches down into its soil. If those two inches are dry, you can give the Monstera a good drink- but if they are still dry, hold off.

If you find that your plant’s soil is very soggy and wet, and has been for a week or more, you can lift it out of its ceramic pot while keeping it inside its interior plastic nursery pot. Check its overall moisture. If it is very wet, keep it outside of the ceramic pot until the moisture has dried entirely before watering again and returning it to its ceramic pot.

Environmental Dryness

The yellowing caused by environmental dryness looks different than the yellowing caused by overwatering. It causes browning at the edges of the leaves, which gradually merges into a central, yellowing leaf. The brown edges are a very good indicator of dryness. If you notice these signs, incorporate misting the Monstera a few times a week into your plant care routine, either with plain water, or with water boosted with Potion Magique.

Insects

Spider mites can cause yellowing, unhealthy foliage, though this is one of the less common ailments that Monsteras face. Spider mites can be eradicated by hosing off your plant or placing it under your shower head while it’s running, to remove any mites clinging to its foliage, and then applying an insecticide.

Extra Support

If your Monstera Deliciosa continues to experience yellowing foliage after receiving appropriate care, it may very well be that the yellowing is just a result of the natural, occasional yellowing and leaf shedding that all living plants experience. But our Plant Doctor service can also help to diagnose the issue and get your plant back on track. Reach out to the Plant Doctor via your Léon & George account, and you can expect a helpful response within two to three business days.

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Monstera Deliciosa

A fabulous statement plant with sculptural, swiss-cheese foliage and a low-maintenance disposition! The Monstera Deliciosa is an ideal easy-care plant for a joyful, textural space.

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Monsteras With No Splits: What Gives?

This stylish and iconic plant from the art deco era has made a comeback in a big way and is more popular than ever. Though extremely beautiful, it can be picky and quickly expresses any neglect it might encounter.

One of the most common questions we get with this plant is around the splits in its leaves: what causes them, and why do they sometimes not appear? Rest assured that there’s absolutely nothing wrong with a Monstera with no splits, and know that most likely your plant does not have splits either because it is too young or because it does not get enough light. But let’s dig a little deeper to learn more.

Why Do Monsteras Have Splits?

The splits in the leaves of the Monstera Deliciosa are a naturally occurring feature called fenestration. There are many different theories around what causes fenestration but the most likely one is that the plant creates these holes in the leaves to allow more light to pass through to the lower leaves on the plant.

Why Won’t My Plant Produce Holey Leaves?

Have you ever seen a small or young Monstera? Most likely most of its leaves did not have holes on them. You may have even not recognized this plant as a Monstera! Monsteras grow leaves with more holes as they mature, so it’s perfectly normal for a young plant to not have any.

What about those enormous leaves with many holes? To accomplish this feat, your plant will need plenty of bright indirect light. Often when a Monstera is showing little to no holes, it’s because it’s not getting enough light. Other signs that your plant might need a little more light is if it looks leggy and has lost its “bushy” look, or if it’s wilting or showing signs of malnourishment.

Ready to take a deeper dive into caring for and growing your Monstera Deliciosa? Check out our complete care guide with repotting, pruning, and more, or have a quick read through the 10 commandments of Monstera care!

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Monstera Deliciosa

A fabulous statement plant with sculptural, swiss-cheese foliage and a low-maintenance disposition! The Monstera Deliciosa is an ideal easy-care plant for a joyful, textural space.

SHOP NOW