Monstera care requirements
Symptoms to look for in Monstera
Circular brown or black spots edged with a yellow halo on Monstera's large leaves, sometimes appearing first on leaves that get sprayed during humidity misting, with affected leaves dropping early if untreated.
Common causes in Monstera
Monstera owners often mist leaves directly to boost humidity (it prefers 60%+), but wet foliage sitting damp for extended periods is exactly what fungal and bacterial leaf spot pathogens need to take hold, especially in low-airflow spots.
How to treat leaf spot in Monstera
Remove and dispose of affected leaves rather than composting them. Stop misting the foliage directly and switch to a humidifier or pebble tray instead. Apply a fungicide or bactericide labelled for houseplants if spotting is widespread.
Preventing leaf spot in Monstera
Raise humidity with a humidifier or pebble tray rather than misting leaves directly, water at the soil level instead of overhead, and space plants out for good airflow.