Why Your Monstera Is Drooping: 9 Reasons

Why Your Monstera Is Drooping: 9 Reasons & Simple Fixes

The magnificent Monstera, with its iconic split leaves, is a favorite among houseplant enthusiasts.¹ When this usually vigorous plant suddenly starts to look deflated and its glorious leaves begin to droop, it can be a concerning sight. Drooping is your Monstera’s way of signaling distress, and understanding the cause is the first step toward recovery.

Here are the top 9 reasons why your Monstera might be drooping and how you can nurse it back to health.

1. 💧 Underwatering (The Most Common Culprit)

Monsteras are tropical plants that like to be consistently moist, but not soggy. If the soil becomes bone dry, the plant can't transport water up to the leaves, causing them to lose turgor pressure and droop.

• 🔍 How to Check: Stick your finger about two inches deep into the soil. If it feels completely dry, you are likely underwatering. The pot might also feel very light.

• 🛠️ Simple Fix: Give your Monstera a thorough soak until water flows freely from the drainage holes. For extremely dry soil, you may need to use the "bottom-watering" method: place the pot in a tray of water for 30 minutes to allow the soil to rehydrate slowly. Establish a more consistent watering schedule going forward.

  
  

2. 🌊 Overwatering & Root Rot (The Deadly Threat)

Paradoxically, overwatering can also cause drooping. When the roots sit in saturated soil for too long, they begin to rot and can no longer absorb water or nutrients, starving the plant—even though it’s sitting in water!

• 🔍 How to Check: The soil will feel perpetually wet or soggy, and you might notice a sour or foul smell. Drooping is often accompanied by yellowing leaves.

• 🛠️ Simple Fix: Stop watering immediately. Allow the soil to dry out significantly. If you suspect severe root rot, you must repot. Gently remove the plant, trim away any slimy, black, or brown roots, and repot in fresh, well-draining soil. Always ensure your pot has excellent drainage.

  
  

3. ☀️ Too Much Direct Sunlight (Sun Stress)

While Monsteras need bright light, direct, harsh afternoon sun can scorch their leaves and lead to dehydration, causing them to wilt and droop in distress.

• 🔍 How to Check: Drooping is often accompanied by yellow or brown scorched patches on the leaves.

• 🛠️ Simple Fix: Move your Monstera to a location that receives bright, indirect sunlight. An east-facing window is often ideal, or a few feet away from a south or west-facing window.

  
  

4. 🥶 Temperature Shock (Drafts)

Monsteras prefer steady, warm temperatures, ideally between $65^\circ\text{F}$ and $80^\circ\text{F}$ ($18^\circ\text{C}$ and $27^\circ\text{C}$). Exposure to cold drafts from open windows, air conditioners, or heaters can shock the plant and cause its leaves to slump.²

• 🔍 How to Check: The drooping is usually sudden and localized to the side facing the cold source.

• 🛠️ Simple Fix: Move your plant away from all drafts, vents, and exterior doors. Maintain a consistent temperature.

  
  

5. 🏡 Low Humidity (Dry Air)

Originating from the tropical rainforests of Central and South America, Monsteras thrive in high humidity.³ Very dry air, especially common during winter when the heat is on, can cause the leaves to lose moisture faster than the roots can supply it, resulting in a droop.

• 🔍 How to Check: Leaf edges might feel crispy, and new leaves may struggle to unfurl properly.

• 🛠️ Simple Fix: Increase humidity! Use a humidifier near the plant, place the pot on a pebble tray with water, or group it with other plants.⁴

  
  

6. 🪴 Needs Repotting (Rootbound)

If your Monstera has been in the same container for a couple of years, it may have become rootbound. This means the roots have completely filled the pot and are circling, making it difficult for the soil to retain water and for the roots to properly absorb moisture and nutrients.

• 🔍 How to Check: Roots are visible coming out of the drainage holes, or when you lift the plant, the root mass retains the pot's shape perfectly.

• 🛠️ Simple Fix: Repot your Monstera into a container that is 1 to 2 inches larger in diameter than the current one. Use a fresh, chunky aroid mix that drains well.

7. 🐛 Pests (Sucking Sap)

Pests like spider mites, thrips, or mealybugs can attach to your Monstera's leaves and stems, sucking out the vital sap.⁵ A severe infestation can weaken the plant, leading to drooping and general poor health.

• 🔍 How to Check: Inspect the undersides of the leaves and the stem joints for tiny webs (spider mites), sticky residue (honeydew), or small cotton-like masses (mealybugs).

• 🛠️ Simple Fix: Treat the plant immediately. Isolate it and wipe the leaves down with a solution of neem oil or insecticidal soap. Repeat the treatment weekly until the pests are gone.

  
  

8. 🌿 New Plant Stress (Acclimation)

Did you just bring your beautiful Monstera home? Plants often experience a period of shock when moved from a stable nursery environment to a new home.⁶ This sudden change in light, temperature, and humidity can trigger temporary drooping.

• 🔍 How to Check: The drooping occurs within the first few weeks of bringing the plant home, and no other symptoms (like wet soil or pests) are present.

• 🛠️ Simple Fix: Be patient! Place the plant in its ideal, stable location and give it a couple of weeks to adjust. Resist the urge to overwater or repot immediately.

  
  

9. 💨 Needs Support (Physical Weight)

Older, larger Monsteras can develop heavy vines and leaves. If they lack a moss pole or other support, the sheer weight of the foliage can cause the upper stems and leaves to sag or droop over the sides of the pot.

• 🔍 How to Check: Drooping occurs mostly on mature, larger leaves and the stems look healthy but simply bend downward.

• 🛠️ Simple Fix: Provide support! Install a sturdy moss pole and gently secure the main stems to it using soft plant ties. This mimics their natural climbing habitat and allows them to grow upward.

  
  

Key Takeaway

Most Monstera drooping issues boil down to watering mistakes or a lack of environmental stability. Start your troubleshooting by checking the soil moisture first—it will point you toward the most likely issue.