In the hope of seeing your Monstera grow signature heart-shaped leaves, many gardeners tend to overwhelm the plant with excess fertilizer, water, and sunlight, resulting in yellow leaves in Monstera adansonii.
Although it sounds terrible, it does not mean you cannot revive your plant.
Read on to learn more about the different causes of yellowing leaves on Monstera adansonii and how to treat them effectively.
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Is it Normal for Monstera Adansonii Leaves to Start Yellowing?
Just like a yellow traffic light indicates “Caution,” the appearance of yellowing leaves on Monstera may indicate dangers ahead.
The tropical Monstera adansonii plant naturally thrives in warm and humid conditions with ample indirect sunlight, an ideal moisture level, and minimal plant food.
You would know this by the healthy set of lush, green heart-shaped leaves with multiple holes.
However, if the growing condition is severely altered, the plant leaves may turn yellow, including an aging plant that exhibits decayed, yellowed leaves.
Although you cannot do much about an old plant, you can revive yellowing on young plants.
Your only option is to treat it before it progresses throughout the plant and does more damage.
Causes of Yellowing Leaves in Monstera Adansonii [With Quick Fixes]
Let us start with diagnosing each problem that may cause yellowing leaves, followed by their treatment.
1. Improper Watering
Monstera adansonii can be picky when it comes to watering.
Excess watering clogs the roots that and prevent oxygen supply throughout the plant. An overwatered plant primarily exhibits brown tips with soft and limp leaves.
On the other hand, underwatering will prevent the roots from transporting nutrients from the soil to the plant, resulting in crispy brown leaves with curled edges.
Moreover, waterlogging may also invite fungi and harmful organisms, causing pest infestation.
Immediate Steps of Revival (Overwatering Problem)
- Immediately cut back on watering until the plant revives.
- Place your plant under bright, direct sunlight to let the water evaporate.
- Check for root rot, and discard the plant if the entire root ball is mushy.
- Revive a slightly rotted plant by trimming the infected roots and transplanting them to a new potting mix.
Immediate Steps of Revival (Underwatering Problem)
To identify an underwatered plant, insert the finger into the soil and check whether it feels dry and hard, at least 3″ under.
- Do not suddenly start to drown it in water to compensate for underwatering. Instead, gradually increase the amount intake to 1.5 liters.
- Consider deep watering the plant only after the plant seems to revive.
- Shower the plant until water runs out through the drainage holes to moisten the potting mix thoroughly, or submerge the pot in a container with water to help it naturally soak moisture.
2. Improper Lighting
Direct exposure to sunlight or high-intensity indirect light can damage the leaf, causing sun scorch and yellowing.
You would mostly witness tip burns, faded spots, patchy brown signs, and overall yellowing.
On the contrary, too little lighting may encourage faded foliage due to excess moisture, similar to overwatering.
Because Monstera adansonii lacks variegation, it does well in moderate lighting to achieve green leaves.
Immediate Steps of Revival
- Move your plant to the south or west-facing window but keep them at least 6 feet away to avoid intense sun rays.
- Apply a shade curtain to prevent direct sunlight from scorching your plant’s leaves.
- Use a grow light with the right color spectrum to compensate for the lack of sunlight (8-10 hours a day), especially during winter.
Note: The plant will recover within a few weeks but not without collateral damage; it may lose the yellowed leaves.
3. Excess Fertilizing
An imbalance in essential macronutrients may also cause yellow leaves in Monstera adansonii.
Affected roots are less likely to absorb moisture and are prone to diseases. You would notice slowed growth, with the lowest leaves turning yellow.
On the other hand, a nutrient deficiency may also cause yellowing, but the exhibited signs slightly differ.
Nitrogen and Potassium deficiency can lead to yellowing in older leaves, while a lack of phosphorus may darken them.
Immediate Steps of Revival
- Leach off excess fertilizer with water and drain the pot several times to remove salt contents.
- Cut back on fertilizing until the plant recovers.
- Avoid fertilizing the plant for at least 4-6 months after repotting to prevent salt buildup in the soil.
- Choose 9-3-6 NPK fertilizer to boost Nitrogen and Potassium contents in the soil in case of under-fertilization.
- Fertilizer every 8 weeks to provide nutrients for even growth.
- Add a micronutrient, iron sulfate, to the fertilizer and apply twice or thrice a year.
4. Temperature & Humidity Stress
Monstera adansonii is a tropical plant that thrives in ideally warm conditions (60-80° F) with humidity levels above 50%.
Similarly, temperatures above 95° F may eliminate humidity from the air, leading to dried and crispy leaves.
Due to excess transpiration, the leaves will lose the green pigments, inviting premature yellowing.
Immediate Steps of Revival
- Immediately relocate the plants away from hot radiators and air conditioning vents.
- Bring it indoors in winter, place it under appropriate grow lights, or use insulation for houseplants.
- If it’s summer, mist the plant leaves regularly to create a humid environment.
- Consider spraying twice a day at room temperature for terrarium-grown plants.
Pro Tip: Introduce mini greenhouse in your garden or backyard to naturally boost humidity levels when the outer temperature rises.
5. Repotting Stress
Generally, repotting with less notice of soil mixture, pot size, root ball, plant growth stage, and weather conditions make Monstera adansonii suffer the repotting stress.
A recently repotted plant also goes under stress when the roots are exposed for too long or excessively pruned.
You cannot do much to treat transplant shock but continue with regular care and give some time to your drooping plant.
Immediate Steps of Revival
- Continue the same watering schedule to keep the soil moistened for roots.
- Avoid fertilizing the plant until it revives.
- Pour a sugar and water solution over the soil to prevent severe transplant shock.
Pro Tip: Consider repotting your plant in spring, summer, and early fall to prevent transplants stress.
6. Infestation of Pests and Diseases
The onset of pest infestation and diseases in Monstera might be a repercussion of excessive air and soil moisture.
The shiny heart-shaped leaves are at constant risk of foreign invasions.
The fungal disease spreads from overly wet soil to the roots and stems.
On the other hand, pest infestations such as mealybug, spider mites, and aphids will suck the plant sap, turning the leaves yellow, and deformed.
Immediate Steps of Revival
- Start with a water hose to wash off the pests from the underside of the leaves.
- Dip some cotton swabs into insecticidal soap or Neem oil and manually rub them on the plant’s leaves.
- When the infection does not subside, prune the infected parts and dispose of them to prevent further spread.
- Use Bonide 811, Garden Safe Fungicide, or Liquid Copper fungicide to treat fungal diseases.
- When the infestation is minimum, trim the affected part and repot it in a fresh potting mix to witness a revived plant.
Tips to Avoid Monstera Adansonii Yellowing
Rather than regretting the yellow leaves of Monstera adansonii, provide them with the basic care to ensure their resilience.
Frequently Asked Questions About Yellowing Monstera
Should you Cut Yellow Leaves Off Monstera Adansonii?
Most yellowing symptoms can be treated by correcting the growing condition.
In case of yellowing from root rot or transplant shock, allow the plant leaves to die before cutting them off entirely.
The plant will absorb essential nutrients from the dying leaf, and cutting it soon would only prolong the damage.
Can Yellow Leaves on Monstera Adansonii Turn Green Again?
As mentioned above, you can revive most yellowing symptoms on Monstera adansonii by correcting the growing condition.
The yellowing caused by over or underwatering, wrong humid conditions, and temperature stress can be corrected.
Follow the treatments mentioned above to find an appropriate solution.
Wrapping up…
Start with diagnosing the trouble to find a cause for yellowing as soon as you witness the discoloration.
However, do not worry because the yellow Monstera leaves can turn green again. The plant will completely recover and regain its signature green, heart-shaped leaves with immediate treatment.
