Monstera houseplants, commonly called “Swiss Cheese” plants, are well-known for their large, glossy, perforated leaves. Native to tropical areas, Monstera are fond of indirect light, humid conditions, and proper watering. In general, Monstera are low maintenance houseplants and easy to care for. Yellow Monstera leaves are a common problem and can be fixed if caught early enough. Continue reading to find common causes of Monstera leaves turning yellow.
If your Monstera has black spots, check out this guide
Learn how to water your Monstera
For more information about how to care for a Monstera Deliciosa, check out this guide
About Monstera houseplants
This plant species is native to Southern Mexico, where it can be found growing up to 60 feet tall. Monstera are famous for their large, wide leaves with perforations. In addition to giving Monstera their unique look, the perforations serve as a way for leaves to withstand wind and rain, as well as provide the lower leaves with sunlight.
Monstera leaves turning yellow due to age
The most common reason for Monstera leaves turning yellow is age. This is a completely natural occurrence and part of the plant’s life cycle. The plant sheds old leaves and sends energy to new growth.
Older leaves are near the bottom of the plant. If only a few of these leaves are yellow and the new growth appears healthy, nothing needs to be done.
Monstera leaves turning yellow due to incorrect watering
Over watering
Signs of over watering include:
- Several leaves are yellow and limp
- The stalks are turning brown and mushy
- The leaves easily fall off
Over watering is one of the most common causes of yellow Monstera leaves. Too much water leads to root rot, which eventually kills the plant if left unchecked. If several leaves are yellow, instead of just one or two older ones, over watering is a likely cause.
Monstera are not fond of soggy wet soil. Water about once every one to two weeks, and check that the top inch of soil is dry to touch before watering. Add perlite, orchid bark, or gravel to the houseplant soil to increase drainage.
If you suspect your Monstera is over watered, remove the plant from it’s pot and clean the soil off it’s roots, so you can get a closer look. Using a clean pair of scissors, remove any dark brown or black roots that appear mushy as these are rotten (healthy roots are light tan). Make sure you wash the scissors after each cut to avoid spreading the rot.
Wash out the pot with soap and water and fill it with fresh, new potting soil. Add more perlite to the soil to increase drainage. Terracotta pots with drainage holes are best to help remove excess water.
Prune the damaged leaves and replant in the new soil. If the stem is yellow, clip it off where it grows.
Keep the plant in an area with bright, indirect sun so that it dries quickly, and reduce your watering frequency. You may have to move your plant closer to the window for a quicker drying time.
Remember: if your Monstera is in a cooler or darker area, it requires less frequent watering.
Learn more about how to water your Monstera with this complete guide
Under watering
On the other hand, if you notice yellow leaves with brown leaf edges, and the soil is dry to touch, your Monstera may be under watered.
Monstera in brighter, warmer areas require a more frequent watering schedule because the soil dries faster in these conditions.
Water your Monstera thoroughly if this is the case. Pour until you see water drip out the drainage hole at the bottom of the pot. Watering the soil thoroughly like this encourages the roots to spread, leading to bigger plants.
Monstera leaves turning yellow due to insufficient light
In their native habitat, Monstera grow under the shade of other plants. As a result, they thrive under bright, indirect sunlight. If they do not receive enough light, their growth slows and their leaves may yellow. You may notice the plant stretching out in search of more sun.
If your Monstera is not receiving enough light, move it closer to a window or purchase a grow light. However, avoid direct sunlight because that burns the leaves and turns them brown.
Monstera leaves turning yellow due to nutrient imbalance
Improper fertilization causes nutrient imbalances, resulting in yellow leaves.
Fertilize Monstera houseplants once a month with a dilute, water soluble fertilizer during their growing season (from spring to the end of summer). To prevent fertilizer burn, do not fertilize more often than once a month, fertilize during the winter, or use a strong fertilizer.
Over fertilizing leads to yellow leaves. Look for signs of salt buildup in the soil. Fertilizing more than once a month causes root damage from the nutrient excess. If you suspect you over fertilized, flush out the soil with a lot of water to remove the excess salts or repot the plant in fresh soil. Avoid fertilizing for several months.
Since Monstera are tolerant of nutrient poor soil, if you fertilized your plant at least twice in the past year, nutrient deficiency is unlikely. If you have not fertilized your plant at all, try it once and see if the color improves.
Monstera leaves turning yellow due to transplant shock
Transplant shock occurs when a plant that was repotted experiences stress. If the roots were damaged during the move, the plant cannot absorb the water it needs. Plant shock can cause leaf drop, wilting, change in color or even death if severe.
If you recently re-potted your Monstera, shock may cause yellow leaves.
Shock also occurs when a plant from the nursery is brought home. In nurseries, plants are in their ideal conditions and are cared for by experts, which is difficult to replicate at home.
Cut back the yellow leaves and place the Monstera somewhere where it receives bright, indirect light. Give your plant a few weeks to recover.
Shock may also occur if the surrounding environment is changed. If you recently moved the Monstera to a new room in your house, return it back to it’s original spot so that it can receive the same temperature and lighting it did before.
Learn more about plant shock
Monstera leaves turning yellow due to pests
Infestation from pests such as mealy bugs, spider mites or scale can change leaf color.
Check your Monstera and any neighboring houseplants for signs of insects (especially check the undersides of leaves because they love to hide in there). If you notice any pests, misshapen leaves, or sticky webbing on the houseplant, immediately quarantine it.
Wash the plant under a stream of water, such as a hose or shower head, to dislodge the insects. Spray the plant with neem oil, rubbing alcohol, or an insecticidal soap. This helps remove the pests without damaging the plant.
Repeat this process once every few days for a few weeks to completely remove the infestation.
Related article: Monstera adansonii Care Guide
Monstera leaves turning yellow due to the weather
Low humidity
If you notice the leaf tips turning yellow and brown, the air may be too dry. Since Monstera are native to rainforests, they prefer humid conditions. Increase the humidity by placing a humidifier nearby or keeping the pot on top of a pebble tray with water (but make sure the pot does not sit in the water directly).
Note: do not mist the leaves directly to increase humidity. If large puddles of water remain on the leaves for extended periods of time, it may lead to bacterial leaf disease.
Cold temperatures
Monstera are fond of warmer temperatures and do not do well with cold air or sudden temperature changes. Avoid keeping this houseplant next to a drafty window or an AC vent where it can be exposed to a blast of cold air.
Move the plant to a warmer location of your house to prevent yellowing leaves that fall off.
Can Yellow Monstera Leaves Turn Green Again?
Unfortunately, once the plant’s leaves turn yellow they do not go back to their green color. You can trim them off to improve the plant’s appearance. If a lot of the plant’s foliage has turned yellow, trim a small amount at a time to avoid disturbing the plant too much.
General Monstera plant care to avoid yellow leaves
Monstera’s ideal conditions are summarized below:
| Sunlight | Bright, indirect light. Do not like direct sunlight |
| Water | Once every 1 to 2 weeks. Check that the soil is dry before watering |
| Temperature | 65 – 85 °F (18 – 30 °C). Do not keep in temperatures below 60 °F (15 °C), and avoid sudden temperature changes from hot to cold |
| Humidity | Thrives in humid conditions (however, do not mist the leaves because that can cause bacterial disease) |
In summary for Monstera leaves turning yellow…
Yellow Monstera leaves are a common problem many plant owners face. In general, Monstera are pretty resilient and bounce back if the mistake is fixed soon enough. While the yellow leaves cannot turn green again, you can ensure the new growth is healthy by fixing the problem.
6 common causes of your Monstera turning yellow are:
- Age
- Improper watering
- Insufficient light
- Improper fertilization
- Transplant shock
- Pests
- Low humidity
- Cold temperatures
- If only the older leaves are yellowing, this is a natural process as the plant ages and nothing has to be done.
- If the soil is wet and your plant has yellow, mushy stems, it is likely over watered. Reduce your watering frequency and replant in new, dry soil.
- If the soil feels dry to touch and the Monstera has yellow/brown dried leaf tips, you may be under watering the plant. In this case, give it a good drink.
- Take note of how much light your Monstera is receiving, and adjust it’s position accordingly. This houseplant thrives under bright, indirect light.
- Fertilize no more than once a month with a dilute fertilizer during the spring to summer. If you fertilized too much and notice salt buildup, flush out the soil with water.
- If you recently brought a Monstera home from the nursery or you replanted it, give your plant time to adjust to it’s new environment. If you moved it to a new location in your house, move it back to the original spot.
- Check closely for any signs of pests and get rid of them with the steps listed above.
- Monstera are fond of warm temperatures and high humidity. Avoid suddenly changing the temperature or keeping it out in the cold.
If only a few leaves are yellow, prune them off. If several leaves are yellow, leave some on so that your plant can still photosynthesize.
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