Ok plant friends - should I cut this whole leaf off or trim the white or leave it be? This is a Thai Con and has a lovely speckled leaf hardening off right now. I know the white browns due to lack of chlorophyll but I also really don’t like seeing big ‘ol brown spots on my plant. What would you do?
As a perfectionist myself, I understand the urge to get rid of any unsightly leaves, especially when they've browned. If your monstera has a lot of healthy leaves (i.e. not working off of just 3) there's no harm in removing one.
3 likes BUT I challenge you (and all other plant owners) to let the leaf be and appreciate it with its flaws. If you cut this guy off, and another leaf gets a brown spot, and you cut that one off, and another leaf gets a brown spot, you'll just be shedding the plant of all its usable leaves
4 likes My general rule of thumb is removing a leaf if 50% of it is brown or yellow, AND if the plant is producing new leaves. At that point I don't want my plant to be directing energy at a leaf that has a good chance of dying completely (I want it to go to growing new leaves) and I know for sure that there will be a "replacement" coming for the one I just took off. Of course, it's your choice. Beautiful variegation by the way! 😁
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Well said!
2 likes Thanks for all the great advice! It’s still a baby with only 3 mature(ish) leaves. I’ll leave it be and work through my discomfort of having a brown leaf… 😬 it makes sense that the rest of the leaf is still doing work to help out the rest of the plant.
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I would just trim the piece that is browning NOT the whole leaf as other parts of it are still doing their job 😊
2 likes Never would have thought of this! OP just for extra caution I'd leave a small border of brown so that you're not creating a fresh wound on the leaf, which could encourage more browning. Disinfecting your shears with alcohol is also advised when cutting any part of your plants :)
3 likes Good idea! I’ll try that. After disinfecting my scissors of course 😊 Thanks!
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