5 Common Care Mistakes That Will Kill Your Monstera
Monstera are amazing houseplants. Some vine and climb up tall moss poles, while a few are upright growers. Most have very similar needs to thrive, but missing some of these can cause problems. Experienced gardener Sarah Jay covers a few monstera care mistakes you should avoid.
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It’s no wonder why monsteras are so beloved. They have a particular aesthetic that harkens back to the midcentury modern era. Their fenestrated leaves are unique among other houseplants. But monstera care mistakes are easy to make if you don’t know what you’re doing.
2025 was deemed the Year of Monstera by the National Gardening Bureau. The Swiss cheese plant has exploded in popularity over the last few years, and it’s common to see one in homes all over the world. Healthy ones are quite stately, and yours will thrive easily once you ensure you’re caring for it properly.
You can grow a small plant to its full six to eight-foot size over time. While they may seem dramatic, they’re not as sensitive as some houseplants. With a little correction, yours can bounce back from monstera care mistakes quickly.
Let’s discuss the most common monstera care mistakes and how you can fix them before they become serious problems.
Improper Lighting
One of the most common monstera care mistakes is not providing enough light (or providing too much). Getting the light wrong is an easy mistake to make. Monsteras are particular and need bright light, but not direct sunlight. These conditions mimic those they’d receive in the wild.
Since most people grow their monsteras indoors, keep them out of south or west-facing windows that receive full, direct sunlight. Instead, offset the plant’s container from a sunny window. A sheer curtain diffuses direct sunlight and provides the brightness monsteras need. In the same vein, set them near but not directly under grow lights.
Outdoors, they need constant cover, but they can handle a little dappled sunlight. Remember this if you keep yours outside for part of the year or all year in the tropics.
Incorrect Watering
There are two tenets to watering your monstera the right way: considering the time of year and the frequency of watering. Monsteras, like all plants, have an active growth phase and a dormant period. These phases are direct responses to the light and precipitation changes that occur as the seasons shift.
When monsteras are actively growing in spring and summer, they need more water than they do in fall and winter as they enter dormancy. Ensure the top one to two inches of soil dries between watering, and you’ll be watering it correctly. You’ll notice your plant doesn’t take in as much water in winter while it’s dormant, so you won’t have to water as much.
Among the other common monstera care mistakes, this one can be the most damaging if not handled promptly. Too much water leads to root rot, which is a difficult condition to mitigate. You can try to remove the plant from its pot and snip off any rotted and browned roots, leaving white ones. Then, repot it.
Too little water leads to slowed growth and crispy, yellowed leaves. Stick to the one to two inches of dry soil rule to keep things in the best conditions possible. Thankfully, monsteras are good at letting you know when they need water. Look for a slight wilt, and give them a little water.
Using the Wrong Soil
The condition of the soil you provide for your monstera is directly related to how much watering you need to do. Unlike the easier houseplants, like pothos and philodendron, monsteras need coarse and well-draining soil. A regular potting soil amended with some orchid bark is perfect.
If you provide a soil that compacts easily or doesn’t drain well, you can create conditions that lead to root rot, fungal growth, and even strange conditions like saline buildup. As with the other care tips, look to the plant’s natural habitat to inform the best conditions for it in your home. Avoid the common monstera care mistakes at the soil level, and watch yours take off.
Too Much or Too Little Humidity
Another one of the most common monstera care mistakes is not providing the right humidity. Some species of monstera are more sensitive and need higher rates of humidity than others. But generally, at 50 to 60% humidity, most are happy.
One of the best ways to avoid common monstera mistakes related to humidity is to place yours in a space that isn’t in proximity to a vent or a cold window. These settings dry the air. If you live in a home that tends toward dryness, a humidifier or a pebble tray placed near the monstera container should help. Remember to change out the water in the pebble tray as it evaporates.
One fun trick people like to do with their monsteras (and their other houseplants) is to place them in the bathroom. The warm, humid air there tends to make them very happy.
If you can’t fit them in your bathroom, shower them now and then. Just throw them in the shower and spray them with gentle lukewarm water. Then dry them off and place them back where they receive optimal lighting.
Not Checking for Pests and Diseases
You might think that a houseplant isn’t susceptible to pests and diseases. However, this is one of the most common monstera care mistakes. Indoor plants are often exposed to spider mites, mealybugs, and other scale insects, along with aphids and fungus gnats. Indoor diseases happen, too.
Keep a quick check of your entire plant in your routine. You can do this when you water, or when you shower your monstera (if that’s something you choose to do). As you check, use a damp cloth to wipe down the leaf surfaces to remove any dust that may have accumulated.
Look out for leaf spots, wilt, and powdery mildew. If you see a small portion of the plant has one of these, simply snip the area off with sterile, sharp pruners. Shower the monstera if it takes on aphids or spider mites. Use alcohol (70% or less strength) to remove scale. Repot plants that have been infested with fungus gnat larvae.
