Monstera Sunburn can take away all the allure from the plant, with dull and yellowing leaves. Don’t worry! You can reverse the damage!
Thanks to their big and enormous leaf size, if you are not careful with the sun exposure, monsteras might get scorched, and that leaves them looking lacklustre. However, the good news is that you can bring them back to their original, green glory, in no time!
How To Save Monstera Sunburn?
1. Relocate Your Plant
Location is important; so that your monstera gets a balanced light to save it from sunburn while also providing bright indirect light so it can thrive.
Direct sunlight can exacerbate the burn, so ensure they are not getting any, till you see the leaves getting back to their “all green” form.
Pick a spot near an east facing window, where the plant can be in bright and indirect light, all day long.
2. Prove Shade Using a Cloth
If you are not able to find the exact spot for your monstera, consider using a shade cloth. This will help to diffuse direct sunlight, and provide protection from leaf burn without sacrificing light quality.
3. Adjust Watering
Over-watering can stress the plant, while under-watering, during recovery, can hinder its ability to heal. To keep your plant free from the chances of sunburn, ensure the soil is moist, but not soggy.
For this, water when the top half inch of the soil feels a little dry to the touch. Also, use room-temperature and non-chlorinated water to avoid additional stress on the roots.
4. Increase Humidity
Monsteras love humidity and thrive best in it. Additional humidity around the plant will speed up the recovery and growth process, making sure they get the green leaves in no time!
Use a humidifier that can create a more favourable environment, aiding in leaf recovery. You can also keep its pot on a pebble tray filled with water, or group 4-5 monstera plants together to create a micro climate.
5. Prune Damaged Leaves
Go for selective pruning, and carefully remove burnt or scorched leaves using sterilized pruning shears. This practice will encourage the growth of new and healthy foliage in your Monstera plant.
Tip: Make clean cuts near the base of the affected leaves to promote healing and prevent disease entry.
6. Provide Nutrient Support
After you prune the plant, feed it with a balanced liquid blend (10-10-10), diluted to 1/2 of its strength. Do it once in 5-7 weeks for constant supply of nutrients, while keeping the dangers of overfeeding at bay.
7. Use Aloe Vera Gel
For mild burns, apply a small amount of pure aloe vera gel to the affected leaves. This will help soothe the damage in the foliage. Aloe has healing properties, but remember that can only benefit mildly scorched plants.
Keep an eye on your plant for signs of new growth or further distress and adjust care practices. Ensure that the stress hasn’t made the plant more susceptible to pests, as that will further deteriorate monstera sunburn, hindering its recovery further.
