Along with leaves facing down, some other signs of a Monstera lacking support includes: if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'thegrowingleaf_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_2',109,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thegrowingleaf_com-large-leaderboard-2-0');While the lack of water is a significant factor in downturned Monstera leaves, the lack of sunlight is just as important. If your plant lacks potassium, the leaves will begin to discolor and curl at the tips. Use one that is just a few inches larger than the one that the plant has been living in. A monstera plant grows towards the sunlight. Additionally, the lack of structural support can cause downturned leaves. Cold water can shock the roots and cause leaves to droop. Typically this is every one to two weeks. When a plant is leaning, its telling us that its exhausted from using all that energy to grow in one direction. This will give a chance for the plant to recover faster. Monstera deliciosa plants are fairly pest resistant, especially when grown indoors. You can do this by staking the plant or by tying it to a nearby support. They have large, holey leaves, which has led to them being nicknamedswiss cheese plants. If the pests themselves are not visible, they may leave weblike residues, spots, or calluses where they have negatively affected the plant. One of the most common reasons for Monstera leaves pointing down is due to gravity. If your monstera is starting to sag or lean, there are a few things you can do to help it stand up straight again. Likewise, if its being overwatered, you may want to remove the rootball and allow that soil to dry. Regularly dust your Monstera with a rag, feather duster, or even makeup brush. Hopefully these tips will help you keep your monstera looking nice and perk! You may also detect a rotting smell from the soil, and this can signal the presence of root rot, which is very bad news indeed. If you started your Monstera in a small pot and its outgrown it; something as simple as an upgrade in container size will solve your leaf problem. Follow the vine back to the main stem. To water from the bottom, half fill a basin with water and stand your plant in it for 10-20 minutes. You should continue to re-pot your monstera every two years until it reaches a pot of 8 inches (20.3 cm) in diameter. Both of these areas are ideal sunlight conditions for your plant. If an eastern facing window isnt an option for you, try a grow light like the EZORKAS 80 Watt Dimmable Grow Light for Indoor Plants. Wiping your Monstera leaves regularly with a damp cloth can help you identify pests early. Not only will the leaves droop, curl and turn upside down, but the stems will start to bend. If soil is not arid enough, monstera leaves may curl or flip because the soil consistency isnt allowing water or nutrients to flow with enough ease. Therefore, too much direct sunlight on the plant can cause problems, including leaves facing down. The added support to cling to will give your plant the extra help it needs for the stems and leaves to grow strong and stand up. You can just put your Monstera into a lukewarm shower for several minutes to wash the leaves. Underwatering your monstera causes undue stress on the plants entire infrastructure. Excessive fertilization can cause root problems and leaf wilt. Why is my monstera not standing straight? While Monstera is tolerant of lower levels of light, it will often grow leggy as a result. Wilting leaves combined with wet soil usually mean that root rot has set in and the roots can no longer absorb water. If the leaves on your monstera are curled tightly upwards and inwards, with some leaf browning or crispy edges, then it is very likely that there is not enough humidity. You should consider 13 Alternatives To Using Distilled Water For Plants. Additionally, the lack of structural support can cause downturned leaves. Proper lighting 5. This triggers the plant to think that its dying from underwatering and shrinking its leaves surface to avoid further transpiration. Native to the rainforests of southern Mexico and Central America, this tropical plant can grow several feet tall, both in the wild and as houseplants. Low light will cause your plant to become stretched, with sparse foliage, and more prone to drooping and languishing. Use of this site is subject to our terms of use and privacy policy. Should I remove leaves that are turning yellow? If your plant is looking a little droopy, there are several things you can do to perk it up. Typically, average indoor temperatures and humidity will suffice. If overwatering isnt the problem, your plant may be getting too much sun. If your Monstera is losing leaves, the stress the plant must be under is severe. Otherwise, the health of your plant is in jeopardy. The three main reasons your monstera may be bending, drooping, or curling are inadequate water supply, incorrect amounts of sunlight, and improper soil drainage. If the soil is deficient in any of these nutrients, or has too much of any of the nutrients, your monstera is going to struggle. What Animal/Insect/Bug/Pest Eats Holes in Hibiscus Leaves? It doesn't appear like that pot has drainage holes in the bottom which can cause major issues due to lack of proper aeration at root level. Several drainage holes are preferable. As soon as they are happy with their growing conditions, your Monstera deliciosa will gain size quite rapidly. Move your plant to a shadier spot and see if the leaves improve. In winter, allow the plant to dry out a little more between waterings. Its leaves are dark green, long and oval with a pointed tip. Once your plant is in a pot that size, you should not need to re-pot again. It is also not always Hey! My name is Alexander Picot. While its fun and sometimes more cost effective to Do It Yourself. Now 33, I've always had a green thumb (even though my parents thought otherwise) and love to share my knowledge with others. If it is not, then its time to give your plant a thorough watering. If a monstera plant is over or under-watered, its leaves may curl, flipping, or bend in response. That will result in your Monsteras leaves curling up. Read all my blogs and reviews about houseplants. I am compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. You can check to see if youve overwatered your monstera plant by placing your fingers 1-2 inches (2.5 5 cm) down into the soil. I have more than 100 houseplants varieties and I love spending my time with my twin boys and two pet dogs!I've been collecting houseplants for most of my life, starting at age 11 when I adopted a Monstera Deliciosa from a friend.From there, it spiraled into an obsession of sorts; I would read about houseplants all day long so that someday, I could help my friends, family, and neighbors to love plants too.I am documenting my experiences with different types of houseplants and their care on this blog. If you suspect your monstera is not receiving enough water: To ensure your monsteras leaves can collect adequate moisture, clean them off with a damp cloth to remove any dust or film that may have collected naturally. Visible roots (most likely meaning the plant is root-bound, leading to stress on the roots). To use a single plant stake, hammer a stake roughly six inches into the ground right next to the plant. Monstera Leaves Curling Due to Overwatering If the soil still seems damp a week after watering, you're probably overwatering. The soil that your Split-Leaf Philodendron ( Monstera deliciosa) is planted in looks extremely dry. The following table lists some plants that have commonalities to monstera plants in aesthetics, as well as care needs and/or benefits. One or more of these issues can cause major damage to your plant over time but can be resolved quite easily if you know what to look for. If the leaves are still drooping after youve adjusted your watering schedule, it may be that the plant is getting too much sun. Monsteras thrive in slightly damp soil, so underwatering the plant causes it to dry out too much. Alternatively, you should use filtered or. Monstera deliciosa will usually show no adverse effects in relation to these conditions as long as temperatures remain between 65 and 85 degrees and humidity levels above 40%. A high oxygen producing plant that requires minimal watering and indirect light. Because one of the most common problems that cause your Monsteras leaves to curl up is underwatering. If the soil is moist but your plant is still droopy, try gently tapping or shaking the pot to loosen the roots and encourage new growth. Once your Monstera is settled in, it will be back to its beautiful self in no time! Using a wide-based drip tray filled with water works well. If your Monstera plant is on the larger side, gravity begins to take over and cause it to grow sideways, leaving your plant with leaves downturned, and sometimes, stems trailing on the floor. Moss poles are ideal for this. If youre new to owning a Monstera plant, you probably dont know exactly how a healthy plant is supposed to look or act. 1. When light is perfect, the foliage will be at 45. By dividing your peace lilies, you can create more plants and encourage growth! Close observation is always the first and most important means of defense. One or more of these issues can cause major damage to your plant over time but can be resolved quite easily if you know what to look for. Humidity and air quality play a big factor in this as well, as the broad leaves of the monstera leaves collect moisture there. The leaves of a monstera can droop for a variety of reasons, including lack of water, too much sun, or even pests. If the soil is too wet, on the other hand, let it dry out for a bit before watering again. indirect bright, filtered light from east-south facing windows, Firstly, you should check if there are any other signs such as. Both methods work wonderfully to hold a Monstera plant upright and allow its leaves to flourish. 3. Hi, I'm Eric the blogger behind ReadyToDiy.com. How do you stop Monstera leaves from curling? First, check to see if the soil is dry. The older big leaf has some light bleaching. Using a moss or coco coir pole promotes the growth of large, mature leaves. How to check if the leaves curling is due to underwatering: if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,600],'bloomsprouts_com-box-4','ezslot_2',132,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-bloomsprouts_com-box-4-0');Also read:Monstera Water Requirements: How often should you water a Monstera? If your Monstera stems are drooping, it is probably because they are not getting enough light. A successful option used by many plant parents is, A monstera plant grows towards the sunlight. When plants have too little water, leaves turn brown and wilt. Sometimes, theyre facing downwards because they lack the support they need to face up. Roots that are root-bound dont hold onto the soil, which means they cant retain any water for timely absorption.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'bloomsprouts_com-leader-2','ezslot_13',137,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-bloomsprouts_com-leader-2-0'); How to fix leave curls due to root-bound: Along with all of the care we might do wrongly, there is another natural cause why Monstera leaves might curl up. the window, is too far away, it may make your plant lean a lot as it desperately reaches for more rays. If you have a pot that is too small to accommodate the root ball that forms underneath the soil, the plants growth will slow significantly and can cause the stalks and leaves to bend down, rather than up. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'gardeningwithallie_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_7',174,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-gardeningwithallie_com-large-leaderboard-2-0'); Due to their origins in the tropical rainforest, monstera deliciosa plants prefer warm, humid environments. These chemicals will kill off beneficial microbes living within your soil, preventing them from decomposing organic material and making it available for your roots to absorb. Your Monstera is a tropical plant, so it will thrive in more humid environments. There are a few things you can do to prevent this from happening: First, check to see if your plant is getting enough water. Knowing where your plant originates from can tell you a great deal about what conditions it needs and these plants come from the south of Mexico and Central America where they thrive in damp tropical forests. Although Monstera deliciosa plants are relatively simple to care for, there are some care steps to follow to avoid negatively affecting your monsteras health. Move your plant to a brighter spot and make sure to provide it with some support so that it does not fall over. Therefore, knowing the reasons will help you spot which one applies to your Monstera plant and understand how to fix it. If your Monsteras leaves are drooping, its a sign that something is wrong. Because of their climbing nature, having nothing to attach their aerial roots to will also cause the plant to bend. Overwatering will drown the roots of your monstera, which can lead to fungal diseases, such as root rot. So, you are likely to see a combination of things happening all at once. Allow the soil to continue to drain in the sink for 1-2 hours, then put the plant back into its pot. I'm here to share my experience and help you have more success and enjoyment growing plants. If your plant is old enough for splitting, try putting it in an area that will get more light. I hope that you will enjoy these easy-to-follow tips and grow your own houseplant collection! Terms of Service | Privacy Policy, Copyright 2023 Bloomsprouts All Rights Reserved, link to How To Divide Peace Lily Plants (Spathiphyllum), link to Peace Lily Leaf Tips Turn Brown: 5 Common Reasons & How to Fix it. Why are monstera leaves pointing down? If the roots are weak or damaged, they wont be able to support the plant properly and it will continue to sag. The most common sap-sucking insects that you may encounter on your monstera are spider mites, aphids, and thrips. You should mist the pole occasionally to increase humidity. Although not as common as under-watering, it is possible to overwater your Monstera plant. This can cause it to look like it is falling over and very lopsided. If you suspect a temperature issue, you could use a digital thermometer to record the minimum and maximum temperature over a few days and move your plant as needed. This nutrient facilitates vigorous growth of the Monstera and, together with the other nutrients, is essential for overall health and growth. Plants that lack light fail to produce those slits in the leaves that is so much a characteristic of the delicious monster. This method works great for a medium-sized Monstera deliciosa that can be moved easily. Be sure you're not over or underwatering your plant. If you find your Monstera leaves drooping, the first thing to think about is watering problems. If you want your monstera to grow upward, it needs something to grow on and some help staying vertical. GardeningWithAllie 2023 The educational gardening experience content on GardeningWithAllie is written by or reviewed by our team of gardening experts to ensure that its in line with the latest evidence-based information and gardening experiences. Upon bringing your monstera plant home, you should immediately re-pot into a larger vessel to stimulate growth. To fix this problem, start by repotting your Monstera into a larger pot with fresh soil. The rest of this article will dive deeper into the characteristics of monstera plants, what causes them to bend, droop, or curl, and what you can do to fix it. Over-fertilizing will cause crusty build-up on the edges of your pot or even on the surface of the soil. One of the most common problems that monstera owners face is drooping leaves. The reason why the leaf of your Monstera plant may be pointing up is likely due to an imbalance in the light it is receiving. So, are your Monstera leaves supposed to droop? Over-fertilizing can lead to leaves curling or flipping. While they do prefer moderately moist soil, overwatering your monstera can cause root rot and serious wilting. Nutrient Imbalance. How do you make a leaning plant stand up straight? You can also try repotting your plant in fresh potting mix. The top two inches should be dry but after that, the soil should remain cool and moist. For Monstera, this is especially important. Check the tops and undersides of leaves regularly as it is always easier to deal with plant pests if you attack them before they have had a chance to become established. To diagnose the problem correctly, you will need to buy a hygrometer. Another sign your plant is getting too much sunlight is wilting. With that said, Happy Gardening! Your Monstera leaves facing down could be because of one of the following reasons: The lack of water is the most common reason Monstera leaves begin to droop and face down. Monsteras are climbing plants, so they have not evolved to support their own weight with their stems the way that most plants have. First, check the soil to see if it is dry. The big leaves are pointing down and away from the light, and the newest leaf is still quite light green even and feels kinda floppy when it should have hardend off by now. Monstera roots are a combination of underground and aerial, meaning that some of their roots grow above the ground. Without drainage holes, moisture retention around the roots will cause them to suffocate and rot. Gradually, the soil will absorb water through the process of capillary action. Lets take a closer look at each of these possibilities. Without that, the aerial roots have their oxygen supply cut off. Otherwise, the roots will sit in soggy soil and could rot, causing the leaves to droop. Will Creed Horticultural Help, NYC Well, in this case, you might be causing the leaves to curl by overwatering instead. Along with the content I write here, there is also a unique collection of gardening topics covered by some of our close friends. Most of the time, monstera deliciosa will thrive without regular fertilizing. GoodKingOmelas 3 yr. ago Monstera Leaves Pointing down When you see a Monstera leaf pointing down, it's usually an indication that the plant is not getting enough light.
