All About Monstera Leaves: Holes, Yellowing, and More

Monstera plants are striking for their large, beautiful, deeply cut leaves. These tropical plants are popular houseplants, because they are easy to care for and their foliage can add an urban jungle feel to your home. Many species develop an expected split in their leaves or "fenestration," but not all do. However, more significant problems with monstera leaves to look for include drooping, curling, yellowing, browning, or dying leaves.

Why and When Monstera Leaves Split or Get Holes

The exact reason the leaves develop fenestrations is a mystery, but scientists have a few theories involving age, light, and water.

Age

Monstera develop fenestrated leaves as they mature. Young monstera plants naturally have small, solid, heart-shaped leaves that increase in size as the plant grows. Usually, a healthy monstera will begin to develop the characteristic deep cuts once it has reached at least three feet in width and height.

You will also notice that once a young monstera begins to develop fenestrations, it happens slowly, and the number of splits on each leaf will increase with time. So, patience is vital if you have just purchased a small plant and are waiting for your first split leaf. Your plant may need more time.

Light

The splits in the leaves allow light to pass through to the plant's lower leaves. Without the splits, the climbing habit of monsteras would cause upper leaves to shade lower leaves, which could slow growth and impact the plant's overall health.

Water

Fenestration allows rain to pass through the leaves instead of accumulating on the leaf surface. Plants generally don’t like having consistently wet leaves, and slits allow water to reach the roots on the ground more easily. 

What to Do When Monstera Leaves Are Not Splitting

If you've had your monstera for some time and it is still not growing split leaves, it may not receive enough light. Monstera plants need consistent bright, indirect light to grow split leaves as they mature. A plant grown in low light conditions will not grow fenestrations and will push out small leaves to conserve energy. If you lack natural light, consider giving your plant a grow light.

Why Monstera Leaves Turn Color, Droop, or Curl

Leaves are the best indicators of a plant's health. They can turn yellow, brown, droop, or curl to tell you what's happening with the plant.

Yellowing Leaves

The main reason that monstera leaves turn yellow is overwatering. These plants should only be watered when the top two to three inches of soil are dry. Soil should be damp but not soggy. In winter, allow the plant to dry out a little more between waterings.

Provide enough water so liquid flows from the drainage hole at the bottom of the pot. If you have a catchment tray at the bottom of your pot, discard any excess water since monstera cannot keep their roots continuously wet. This condition is called “wet feet,” which causes root rot and can kill the plant.

Prune yellow leaves occasionally, and it is best to avoid removing more than one-third of the plant at once to avoid stress. Cut the leaf stem close to the main stem using sterilized scissors or pruning shears.

Browning Leaves

Browning of leaves can be caused by low humidity and dry soil, which cause leaves to be brown on their edges, then followed by complete yellowing. Try placing a humidifier near your plant. Monstera also can't handle too much direct sunlight, or leaves will burn or scorch, turning brown.

Leaf Droop

Leaves that aren't getting enough light will start to sag. Other environmental factors can also cause leaf droop, like underwatering, root rot, and low humidity. 

Leaf Curling

A leaf can curl upwards or downwards, each a symptom of something different. If leaves curl upwards, it usually indicates that the leaves are drying out, and much like how a toothpaste tube can be curled to squeeze more out, the plant is also pushing its hydration to the plant stem and roots to keep it alive.

However, leaves curling downwards are like a plant with a frown telling you it's being stressed from being too hot or cold or lacking nutrients, often caused by compacted soil. Keep plants away from hot radiators or air conditioning vents to correct this problem.

A plant that has outgrown its container and has compacted soil and root-bound conditions can have difficulty pulling nutrients from the soil, so repot it if it becomes too small for its container. Also, keep your plant on a regular fertilizer schedule during the growing months.

How to Keep Monstera Leaves Healthy

The best way to ensure your monstera plant develops solid and healthy leaves with plenty of fenestrations is to provide lots of bright, indirect light. Keep your plant potted in a well-draining potting mix, and remember to water it regularly.

Fertilize consistently during the spring and summer to maintain a vigorous growth habit. Don’t forget to regularly inspect your plant for signs of pests or disease, as both can hinder the growth of an otherwise healthy plant. 

Another trick for encouraging monstera to grow larger and more fenestrated leaves is to provide a moss pole or trellis to climb. While moss poles are not necessary for growing these plants indoors, they mimic the plant's natural growing environment, resulting in larger leaves and healthier foliage.

Also, keep in mind that some plant leaf yellowing is normal. As the plant ages, its oldest leaves at the bottom naturally age, become yellow and die off to make way for new foliage.