A lush monstera plant with little to no new growth coming for a while may look healthy, but it is not! Learn why your plant isn’t growing and how to fix this!
Your monstera might look like it’s thriving with big glossy leaves, but if it’s not putting out fresh growth, it’s quietly waving a red flag. Growth isn’t just about making your plant prettier; it’s proof that it’s healthy. Without it, your monstera slows down.
But here, you’ll learn exactly why your plant is stuck in “survival mode” and the steps to get it back to producing those iconic leaves again!
Things that Affect Monstera Plant Growth
Note: In most cases, the growth and production/maintenance of leaves in Monstera go hand-in-hand. It is due to the sheer size of the previous leaves that the lack of growth is masked.
1. Incorrect Sunlight Settings
Fulfilling the sunlight requirement of Monstera can be a bit tricky! It thrives in moderate brightness, which may vary slightly from variety to variety, as variegated ones require more light.
Harsh sunlight, especially afternoon rays, will scorch the plant and increase the soil temperature above the preferred limit. Too little sunlight can hinder the photosynthesis process, leading to reduced energy and slower growth.
Bright, indirect light for 6–8 hours a day is ideal. For variegated types, a few hours of mild direct sun can improve the color contrast.
If you have placed your plant in the balcony with no immediate protection, in front of a south-facing window or a gloomy room, promptly shift it to an east-facing window for the right amount of light. You can also use grow lights!
2. Underwatering Problems
Monstera, also known as Split-Leaf Philodendron, is a tropical plant, and like those in this category, it also requires lots of moisture around. A lack of water will not allow nutrients to be transported along the plant efficiently.
If you see wilting, yellowing of leaves, and brown tips on the foliage with some crispness, your plant is dying of thirst, and it’s time to amp up the watering frequency to once every 10-14 days. A rule of thumb is to saturate the soil when the top quarter feels dry to the touch.
During warmer months, your plant may need water more frequently due to faster evaporation.
Pro Tip: Although it responds well to top watering, you can also do it from the bottom to prevent overwatering and ensure even absorption.
3. Overwatering Issues
In contrast to the previous issue, overdoing the watering process is equally as harmful! Even though monstera likes constant moisture, waterlogged roots will lead to fungal infections and root rot, in worst-case scenarios, killing the plant!
As mentioned before, water only when the top 1-2 inches of the soil feel dry. Again, choosing the wrong pot or one that lacks drainage holes forces the excess water to pool at the bottom. Use terracotta pots for optimal seepage and air circulation.
Pro Tip: Place a saucer below your pot, and with the amount of water collected in the bottom, you can assess and tweak the watering quantity.
4. Dry Environments are the Culprits
Did you know that Split-leaf philodendron is not actually a philodendron but a woody, climbing vine that is found naturally in thick rainforest jungles? Due to this, it has evolved to live in high humidity levels.
Even in indoor settings, the monstera plant needs 60-80% humidity to grow optimally. So growing it in dry rooms, near air vents, or cold drafts can affect its healthy growth!
If there is no option of natural air moisture, then using a humidifier and regular misting are good ways to increase humidity. You can also group plants to create a microclimate or place your monstera on a pebble tray filled with water.
5. Not Attending to Its Nutritional Needs
Monstera usually doesn’t mind growing in a regular gardening mix, but it may not have adequate nutrients to ensure constant growth. That’s when fertilizers can save the day!
To ensure healthy growth, use a balanced liquid fertilizer of NPK ratio 10:10:10 diluted to half its strength. You can also use a foliage-specific fertilizer with micronutrients like magnesium and calcium to encourage fenestration and deeper green tones.
Note: Apply the fertilizer concoction every month and a half during the active growing season. Halt it completely in the winter.
6. Sizable Pot Equals Large Size
Monstera are big boys, reaching 6-8 feet indoors with broad leaves often exceeding 2 feet in length! Just imagine if the visible portion of this plant is this large; how large will the root system be? For this, the plant also needs a large pot.
Growing monstera in small pots leads to a scarcity of space and root boundings. Due to this, your plant will cease to grow. If you spot roots poking out of the drainage holes of the pot, repot into a container larger than the previous one. You can also try these things!
Note: Repot the monstera in spring to allow it to adjust to the new environment. Water the plant thoroughly to reduce transplant shock.
7. Support for Growth
When Monstera plants reach colossal sizes, they need sturdy support. Without this support, the plant may flop over, damage its stems, and put unnecessary stress on its root system.
Any regular trellis suitable to the plant’s size, a moss pole, or a stake will do. Use zip ties and jute thread to train the plant. Moss poles also help mimic their natural climbing environment, offering humidity and something to grip as aerial roots grow.
If you need inspiration to make your plant look more beautiful with a creative trellis, check out our top picks for a DIY trellis!
8. Not Pruning Your Monstera
Old, damaged, or overcrowded leaves can drain energy from the plant.
If you think that leaving monstera leaves alone, even if they are old, spent, clearly damaged, or infested, will not stop the plant’s growth, spoiler: you’re wrong. In fact, overgrown leaves should also be pruned to channel the energy.
For pruning, just take a pair of sterile shears or scissors and cut away the faulty foliage portions. Next, snip away leggy or older growth right above nodes.
9. Not Cleaning the Plant
Sometimes the silent killer lies right on the plant as a layer of dust! How so? Well, debris or residue on leaves can clog up stomata and also interfere with the photosynthesis process. Plants kept near open windows tend to be victims of this.
Since monsteras have broad, fenestrated leaves, they catch dust easily. Wipe it off using a damp cloth regularly. Do not leave excess water on the leaves, as this invites fungal infections and leaves calcium residue on the foliage. Here’s another hack you can try!
10. Panicking and Stressing the Plant
You need to understand that your monstera needs a break every now and then. That is why it reduces growth in its dormant period, which lasts during colder months. Do not unnecessarily increase fertilization, watering, or humidity during this time.
Repotting or transplanting can also lead to shock, in which the plant freezes up and doesn’t grow as usual. As it adjusts to its new environment, it will start growing again. During this time, patience is key.
With the right care and attention, your monstera will be back to putting out fresh, fenestrated leaves in no time. Just stay consistent and let the plant do the rest!
