Hello - first time poster, new crazy plant lady so don’t come for me if I’m doing this all wrong LOL I thought my monstera was actually dying until this summer/fall I had 3-4 new leaves! But it still looks sad to me. Why are my leaves growing down as opposed to fanning out? Also - I’ve seen things online say that air roots are bad and mean something, but wanted to check here first before Google. Thank you in advance!
It looks underwatered. Due to its size, I would suggest buying a wood stake from a box store and using that instead of the small coco coir pole. We might get a better look at if if you removed the twine so we can see what it’s doing. It DEFINITELY needs water
0 likes It’s actually not as dry as it looks :) what would a wood stake do vs the moss poles?
0 likes I think the coco coir is too small for that plant to “climb”. As they get bigger, they need something sturdy to climb up. The way all of the leaves are drooping is what makes me believe it’s under watered. It’s hard to get a really good look at it right now the way it’s bound. You see mine. The leaves are mostly stretching up toward the grow light. If you zoom in, you’ll see I’ve got 5 different stakes in there (she will get broken up in the spring into multiple pots). Also there are lots of aerial roots, they are good for the plant, but if you don’t like them, it doesn’t hurt the plant to cut them.
Here’s my monstera that lives in my office - she doesn’t get as much attention and isn’t staked. There are east and north windows (she’s mostly sitting there to try and deter people from knocking on the glass. Not as great conditions, but still an ok plant.
Oh wow they’re so big and beautiful!! I put a mixed soil on top that makes it look dry af, but she’s got a humidifier on her so the soil is still damp on the top couple inches. You may be right that mine is big enough I need to up the size of the stakes. I loosened it up and bit and it does already look better. Here’s an areal view of it.
There is also a “front” and “back” to the stems. The coco coir pole at the top/right (kinda curly toward the middle) could just be attached to the stem that is at its left. Leave it where it’s at in the pot, but straighten it up and use the twine at a two different places going up the stem. Then take the other stem and find the back, and place your second coco coir pole there and do the same Humidifier is GREAT!
1 likeWhat window is it sitting in? Maybe too much sun? Looks like one of the leaves might be sun burned? Maybe it needs set back a few feet?
1 like I actually just learned yesterday that that’s what those little brown sports could mean! This is an east facing window throughout the winter as much as the summer. But I was definitely thinking of that! The alternative is a corner that feels too dark…what do you think?
monstera love bright light! the spots don’t look like sunburn to me but rather a watering issue, the curled leaves also indicate either under watering or dry air
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Since I see lots of comments about under watered, how long ago did you repot? It’s possible the soil isn’t retaining enough water for the plant access. I know most of the time with these plants “extra drainage” is the goal. But as we know they are heavy feeders as well so perhaps the soil itself cannot hold onto enough of the water and nutrients
1 like This has been in this pot for years and when we repotted it we used a mixture of all purpose and then it was a soil mix with moss (?) it’s been so long I can’t be sure. I will say, if I stick to the “water it until it starts to drain” it feels like I damn near have to pour a gallon of water in there. It is almost time to water, but the top 2 inches of soil are still a little damp.
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It looks like overwatering, possibly due to pot size. Droopy leaves and yellowing bottom leaves are a good indicator. These guys are very sensitive to water, rot easily, and the pot should be close to the rootball size, only an 1” around. Also, make sure soil is very chunky with orchid bark, due not use peat moss or coir as it retains water for too long.
1 like Omg you’re saying the opposite of everyone else but I feel like you may be the one closest to the issue. So you think this could actually be in a smaller pot? I won’t repot anything in the winter but just thinking for when it warms up. I actually just commented above saying I think there is a peat moss mix in there with the basic potting soil 🫣 it’s been that way for a couple years tho and has still grown new leaves. It’s so confusing lol
1 like Actually we might have used a tropical potting mix. I really can’t remember it’s been so long.
0 likes I do think it could be in a smaller pot. Wilting is commonly associated with a dry plant. However, if your soil is still damp and there is yellowing or browning leaves, that means the roots are too wet and aren’t functioning- they can’t bring water up to the stems and leaves to make them upright. I do not recommend waiting until spring to repot. For the health of the plant, take it out and check the roots for root rot. They do rot quickly. If you wait, it will likely decline further and possibly die. Reporting in winter will not harm the plant, the practice to repot in spring is because a plant can recover more quickly in the growing season. Trust me, repotting now will save it- you definitely want to check those roots.
1 like If you used miracle grow tropical soil, they add wetting agents to that soil to retain moisture. I do not recommend it for any indoor plants unless they are plants that like to stay damp. Monsteras do not.
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