Monstera Leaf Yellowing: Diagnose and Cure the 5 Common Causes

Seeing the signature green of your Monstera turn a sickly yellow is stressful, but it's a common issue! A yellow leaf is simply your plant's way of sending a distress signal.

Diagnosing the problem requires detective work, as the location and pattern of the yellowing tell you exactly what the underlying cause is. Here are the five most common reasons your Monstera leaves are turning yellow and how to cure them.

Photo: Gemini

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1. Overwatering (The Most Common Culprit)

This is the number one reason Monstera leaves turn yellow, usually leading to the deadly root rot.

• Diagnosis: Yellowing starts on the lower, older leaves, often followed by brown, mushy spots.¹ The soil will feel perpetually wet or soggy, and the stems might feel soft near the base.

  
  

• The Cure:

  1. Stop Watering Immediately. Do not water again until the top 2-3 inches of soil are completely dry.

  2. Improve Drainage: Ensure your pot has working drainage holes. If the issue persists, you must repot the plant into fresh, dry, chunky aroid mix and check the roots for rot (mushy, black roots should be trimmed away).

  3. Adjust Routine: Only water when the top layers of soil are dry.²

     
     

☀️ 2. Insufficient Light (Chronic Under-Lighting)

If your Monstera doesn't receive enough energy (light) to sustain its large leaves, it will cannibalize the older ones.

• Diagnosis: Yellowing is often scattered and happens gradually on the older, inner leaves. The plant will also produce small, solid leaves with no fenestrations (holes).

• The Cure:

  1. Move the Plant: Relocate the Monstera to a spot that receives bright, indirect sunlight for several hours a day.³ An East-facing window or a slightly shaded South/West window is best.

     
     

  2. Clean Leaves: Wipe dust from the leaves regularly so the plant can maximize light absorption.⁴

     
     

🍽️ 3. Nutrient Deficiency (The "Even" Yellowing)

If the plant is hungry, it can't create enough chlorophyll, causing paleness or yellowing across the plant.

• Diagnosis: Yellowing may appear evenly across the entire plant, or new leaves may emerge pale and stunted. If the yellowing is only between the veins (interveinal chlorosis), it often indicates a magnesium or iron deficiency.⁵

  
  

• The Cure:

  1. Start a Feeding Schedule: During the growing season (spring and summer), apply a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer once a month.

  2. Micronutrients: If the deficiency is severe, switch to a fertilizer that includes essential micronutrients like magnesium and iron.

🌡️ 4. Natural Aging (Patience is a Virtue)

Sometimes, yellowing is not a sign of sickness but just part of the Monstera's life cycle.⁶

• Diagnosis: Yellowing is confined to one single, oldest leaf at the very base of the plant. The rest of the plant looks healthy, and the leaf will eventually turn brown and fall off.

• The Cure:

  1. Do Nothing: Let the plant reabsorb the leaf's nutrients naturally.

  2. Prune: Once the leaf is completely yellow or brown, prune it off cleanly near the main stem using sterilized shears.

❄️ 5. Cold Shock or Drafts

Monstera are highly sensitive to sudden temperature drops and cold drafts.⁷

• Diagnosis: Yellowing or browning appears suddenly on leaves exposed to a cold air conditioner vent, an exterior door, or a cold window pane during the winter.

• The Cure:

  1. Relocate: Move the Monstera away from all cold drafts. Maintain a temperature above 65F (18C)

  2. Avoid Cold Water: Ensure the water you use during winter is room temperature, not ice-cold.

Remember, a single yellow leaf is rarely an emergency. By checking the location of the yellowing and the moisture of the soil, you can diagnose the problem and get your Monstera back to its lush green glory!