Brown leaves and leaf tips on the Monstera

The Monstera (Monstera deliciosa), which comes from Central and South America, is also known as Window leaf known. It is still one of the most popular indoor plants. The tropical plant does not make particularly high demands on maintenance and is popular as a beginner plant. Even if the arum family (Araceae) is extremely easy to care for, it can get brown leaves or leaf tips.

Causes of brown leaves

With good care, the Monstera can develop into a three meter or even higher plant. The heart-shaped leaves, which are up to 45 centimeters wide and sit on 30 centimeter long stems, are very attractive. In young plants, the leaves have entire margins and in older specimens the imposing leaves are deeply incised between the individual leaf veins. Brown discoloration can sometimes appear on the leaf tips. These can also extend over the entire sheet. Various causes are to blame for this brown coloration:

Unsuitable location

Lack of light, also blazing sun or too dry air can very quickly lead to brown leaf tips or leaves on the Monstera. Plants can get too little light, especially in winter. In their homeland, the window leaf grows in the light shade of the leafy roofs of huge trees. Usually the Monstera can also cope with darker locations. However, growth suffers as a result and no more cuts are formed.
In addition, drafts when airing, temperature fluctuations and cold can generally cause brown spots on the leaves. This tropical plant cannot tolerate the cold. This can be remedied by the following measures:

• Avoid drafts
• light to partially shaded location
• avoid full sun
• ideal place on east, west or north windows
• Attach sun protection to south-facing windows in the afternoon
• Minimum distance to window or wall two to three meters
• Temperature from April to September between 20 and 28 degrees
• from October to March 16 to 21 degrees

From June to September the Monstera can also take a partially shaded place on the balcony. However, protection must be provided from the blazing midday sun.

Note: Constant contact with the window pane or wall can also lead to brown discoloration of the leaves of the Monstera. Therefore, keep the appropriate distance to prevent mechanical damage.

Not enough water

If there is a lack of water, there is not enough of it to pass on from the roots of the Monstera to the individual parts of the plant. Ultimately, the leaves initially turn yellow, later brown, wither and die. The moisture in the substrate can easily be checked using a moisture meter or simply with a finger test.

To do this, the index finger is pressed a few centimeters into the earth substrate. If no moisture can be felt there, the plant suffers from drought stress. Too low a humidity level can also cause brown leaf tips and leaf margins. As a resident of the rainforest, the Monstera is used to high humidity. There are various measures to avoid drought stress on the plant:

• Water abundantly in summer and moderately in winter
• The substrate should always be moist, but not wet
• Use of stale, room temperature water
• 50 to 60 percent humidity ideal
• Spray leaves regularly with lime-free water
• avoid dry heating air
• Use a humidifier and hygrometer to check the humidity
• Divert long aerial roots into a container filled with water
• if necessary, dip the root ball in the water
• to do this, put the root ball in a bucket with water
• Dive until no more air bubbles rise

Note: All parts of the Monstera plant contain substances that irritate the mucous membrane. Particular caution is required when children and pets live in the household. Gloves should also be worn when handling this plant.

Avoid waterlogging

Waterlogging is sometimes more harmful than a temporary lack of water. The wet earth is compacted and air can no longer get to the roots. They literally suffocate and are therefore no longer able to transport water and nutrients to the remaining parts of the plant. As a result, the tips of the leaves and the edges of the leaves turn brown. In addition, the roots also begin to rot in the soaked earth.

Waterlogging can result from frequent watering, watering in large quantities, but also from blocked drainage holes in the pot, as well as stagnant water in the saucer. Watering must be stopped immediately so that the substrate can dry as quickly as possible. However, it would be better to immediately repot the window leaf in fresh and dry earth. The procedure is as follows:

• Lift the plant out of the pot
• remove wet substrate
• Carefully rinse roots lukewarm
• Remove already brown, diseased roots
• Cleaning pot with hot water
• Drain holes must be free
• Add five centimeters high drainage to the bottom of the pot
• to do this, use expanded clay, potsherds or gravel
• Pour fresh soil halfway up into the pot
• Insert the root ball
• fill up the rest of the soil
• Do not set the plant any deeper than before
• Leave the pouring margin of two centimeters
• Do not water the window leaf
• first watering after a week
• then water regularly
• Let the surface of the earth dry a little between watering
• Always pour off excess water from the saucer
• optimal use of moisture meter

Note: Light brown spots with a darker border on the leaves are a sign of sunburn. These spots only appear where the sun shines directly on them. A change of location in the light penumbra can help.

Nutrient deficiency or overfertilization

If there is a lack of nutrients, the leaves initially change color and are eventually thrown off. Over-fertilization also leads to brown leaves in the Monstera. The roots burn and the leaves initially turn yellow and later brown and eventually die off. In the case of over-fertilization, there is an oversupply of nutrients. This can be done, for example, when using undiluted liquid fertilizer. In principle, the only thing that helps here is repotting in fresh substrate. During the main growing season, the Monstera regularly needs additional nutrients to ensure healthy growth. The following should be noted:

• Moderately high nutritional requirement
• fertilize every two weeks from March to September
• Use of liquid fertilizer for green plants
• Administration with irrigation water
• Observe the manufacturer's instructions for dosage
• alternatively, use of fertilizer sticks for green plants
• Stop fertilizing from October

Tip: The leaves should be washed regularly with seaweed juice. This gives them a subtle shine. At the same time, the required nutrients, minerals and vitamins are supplied.

Brown coloration due to fungal infection

Brown leaf spots or completely brown leaves on the Monstera can also be caused by a fungus. This is the eye spot disease (Spilocaea oleagina). The spots are round and light brown on the inside, the edge being a little darker. This disease is also known as the peacock eye because these spots are reminiscent of eyes. The pathogens spread very slowly and the fungal spores can be transferred to other leaves. This disease should be recognized early, otherwise the plant can suffer great damage, and in the end it can even perish. Regular checks are important. If there is an infestation, action must be taken as quickly as possible:

• complete cut back
• Administration of tonics
• use of Horsetail brew or liverwort extract
• Always remove affected leaves
• use sharp scissors that have been disinfected in alcohol
• otherwise transmission of further germs possible
• Disposal of clippings in household waste
• do not put on a compost heap, risk of spreading

Usually a cut back is enough. The Monstera recovers and sprouts again.