Monstera plants are beautiful and known for those amazing, huge leaves. So it very frustrating when the leaves curl.
The good news is that curling Monstera leaves don’t mean they’re goners. A little adjusting in their care routine and they can easily recover. They’re good at bouncing back.
So if your Monstera leaves have started to look like little green tacos don’t give up. I’ll take you through the reasons they’re curling and also how to turn them around so you’re plant looks healthy and can start thriving again.
The Basica of Monstera Plants
Before looking at why your Monstera is getting those curled leaves it can help to understand how it works. Monsteras are native to the rainforests of Central America and grow under the canopy of larger trees. They love to climb and and can reach as much as 70 feet tall with leaves spanning 3 feet wide.
Your Monstera probably won’t reach those jungle proportions but it still has that tropical DNA leftover. Which will become important later on when diagnosing the problem.
Monstera aren’t particularly fussy either but they do have some requirements when it comes to how you care for them. And if you don’t meet their needs that’s when the curling leaves happens.
A lot of Monstera owners miss the warning signs too. What begins as a slight curl at the edge of a leaf can quickly before many deformed leaves if you don’t act. Thankfully though Monsteras give you clear signals they’re unhappy, unlike something houseplants that suffer in silence.
And if your Monstera’s leaves are curling keep an eye out for other warning signs. For example if your Monstera is drooping our guide can help you figure out the the cause and fix it.
Why Leaf Signals Matter
Your Monstera can’t phone or text you when it’s unhappy. But a curled leaf is an obvious message.
Curling is one of the most common distress signals and it shows something is definitely off in how you’re caring for your plant. But once you identify the problem there’s a good chance it’ll bounce back.
When my own Monstera started curling I assumed it was thirsty. Dumping a ton of water on it wasn’t a good idea. It was actually overwatered. Which goes to show that our instincts when it comes to caring for plants can be way off. Which is why it’s a good idea to understand each potential cause of the issues.
7 Reasons Your Monstera’s Leaves Are Curling
1. Underwatering
As is so often the case – underwatering is the biggest cause of problems with plants. In this case it’s curled leaves. They’re actually trying to hold on to water.
What’s happening:
When the soil gets too dry Monstera roots can’t get enough water. So it reacts by curling its leaves to reduce their surface area and minimize any water loss through transpiration. Basically it’s a Monstera going into survival mode. Very clever but not something you want your plant to be doing on a regular basis.
How to fix it:
- Stick your finger 2 inches into the soil. If it’s completely dry then it’s time to water
- Water thoroughly until the water flows from out of the drainage holes
- Empty the drainage tray after 15 minutes (never let them sit in water)
- For very dry soil try bottom watering by putting the pot in a few inches of water for 30 minutes
Once you’ve done all that and your plant is on the way to recovery you will want to get a consistent watering schedule in place. Always check the soil first rather than watering on autopilot.
Most Monsteras need watering once the top 2 to 3 inches of soil feels dry to the touch. That will usually be every 7 to 10 days in the average home.
2. Overwatering
Overwatering can also cause leaf curling. I know, it’s confusing. But it’s all about getting the balance right.
How you tell underwatered from overwatered leaves is the overwatered ones will often curl downward and develop yellow edges or brown spots alongside the curling.
When the roots of your Monstera sit in soggy soil (from overwatering) they actually start to rot and can’t transport water to the leaves anymore. So too much water is just as bad as too little.
Signs your Monstera is overwatered:
- Downward curling leaves
- Yellowing, especially starting at lower leaves
- Soft, mushy stems near the soil line
- Soil that stays wet for days after watering
- A subtle rotting smell from the soil
The fix:
First, stop watering straightaway. That’s the easy part. After that you need to let the soil dry out fully before you water again.
If things look really bad with lots of yellow leaves or a strong smell you will probably need to repot it with fresh soil.
I saved an overwatered Monstera of mine by this easy method: gently removing it from its pot, washing off the old soil, trimming it’s black and mushy roots and then repotting it in a fresh soil mix. It’s simple but it works.
3. Low Humidity
As I touched on earlier, Monsteras are tropical plants. That means theu naturally grow in 60 to 80% humidity. Most of our homes humidity is around 30 to 40%, especially with heating or air conditioning running. And that lower humidity causes the leaves to curl inward as moisture evaporates faster than the plant can replace it.
Humidity solutions that actually work:
- If you have multiple plants then group them together as they create a mini humidity area
- Use a humidifier near your plant (this is the most effective solution)
- Place the pot on a pebble tray with water (just make sure the pot isn’t sitting directly in water)
- Mist leaves occasionally (though this only helps temporarily)
Aim to get your humidity levels to around 50 to 60%. This will make your Monstera happy. You’ll not only see its leaves uncurl but you might notice faster growth and larger leaves over time.
4. Temperature Extremes
Something that unexpectedly affected one of my Monsteras is when I moved it closer to a window for more light. Within days the leaves started curling.
It had nothing to do with the light but was in fact a cold draft from a nearby door. Just a bad spot for a plant that doesn’t like too cold (or too hot) temperature. Either one of those can cause leaf curling.
The ideal temperature range:
Monsteras do best between 65 to 85°F (18 to 29°C). They’ll start showing stress below 60°F (15°C) or above 90°F (32°C). Watch out for:
- Cold drafts from doors, windows or air conditioning vents
- Radiators or heating vents nearby
- Direct contact with cold windows in winter
- Sudden temperature changes
I’ve found that something as simple as moving your plants 3 to 4 feet away from cold windows in the winter can make all the difference. It’s also worth checking if your plant is too close to a heating or cooling vent. Again it can be as simple as moving it a few feet away.
5. Light Issues
Both too much and not enough light can cause your Monstera’s leaves to curl. If there isn’t enough light then it can’t photosynthesize properly. If there’s too much direct sunlight then the big leaves will curl to protect themselves from burning.
Signs of bad lighting:
- Leaves curling inward and plant leaning heavily toward it’s light source is a very clear sign that’s it’s not getting enough light
- Leaves curling with yellow or brown patches means there is too much direct sun
- Slow or no new growth despite proper watering means insufficient light
If you’re looking for the perfect spot for your Monstera then it wants bright and indirect light. My Monstera does really well about 6 feet from a south facing window with sheer curtains filtering the light. I’ve found east facing windows work well too.
If you only have very sunny windows then try using a sheer curtain to diffuse the direct light.
6. Fertilizer Problems
If your Monstera leaves (or leaf) is curling and has brown, crispy edges this can be a big sign of fertilizer burn. I had never experienced this until I accidentally did it to a beautiful Monstera a few year said.
I stupidly used fertilizer at full strength instead of diluting it. And brown, crispy leaves with a lot of curling was the result.
But if you go the other way and don’t give it enough fertilizer then you’re looking at nutrient deficiencies which can also lead to poor growth and curling.
Getting fertilizer right:
- Use a balanced houseplant fertilizer diluted to half the recommended strength
- Fertilize only during active growing season (which for Monstera is spring through to early fall)
- If you are worried it might be fertilizer burn then flush the soil thoroughly with water
- Always water before fertilizing to prevent root burn
My routine that seems to work well: fertilizing once a month during growing season at half strength and not at all during winter. If you’ve never fertilized your Monstera and it’s been in the same pot for over a year then nutrient deficiency could definitely be the cause of any curled leaves.
7. Pest Infestation
Sometimes curling leaves are down to pests. There are some nasty bugs and insects that will suck the life out of your Monstera. Spider mites in particular love Monsteras and can cause significant leaf curling before you even notice they’re there.
Common Monstera pests and solutions:
- Spider mites: Tiny speckles and fine webbing. Treat with insecticidal soap or neem oil and focus your attention on the undersides of the leaf/leaves
- Thrips: Slender insects that cause silvery patches. Use sticky traps and insecticidal soap
- Mealybugs: White clusters of cotton like build up. Remove with alcohol soaked cotton swabs
Always isolate affected plants immediately so the pests don’t spread. I’ve found that regularly wiping down leaves every month with a damp cloth can prevent most pest issues before they have a chance to even begin. Basically be proactive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will curled Monstera leaves uncurl after I fix the problem?
It depends on how severe and how long the problem has been going on for. Newer curled leaves often bounce back within a week after you have treated the issues (like watering or moving away from temperature stresses). Severely damaged leaves might not fully recover. Try not to worry though as your Monstera will put energy into new growth once conditions improve.
Should I cut off curling Monstera leaves?
Only remove leaves that are significantly damaged, yellowed or brown. Even partially curled leaves are still photosynthesizing and giving energy to your plant. I usually wait until the plant has produced a few new healthy leaves before removing any old damaged ones.
Can repotting cause leaf curling?
Absolutely. Monsteras often experience “transplant shock” after being repotted and curled leaves is a common symptom. This usually sort itself out in 2 3 weeks as the plant adjusts to its new container. To minimize the shock of being moved only repot when totally necessary (so when rootbound) and try to disturb the root ball as little as possible.
Final Thoughts
The most important thing you can with curling leaves on your Monstera is to react quickly. A little curling caught early is much easier to fix than leaving it to develop into more severe damage. Check your plant weekly, not just for watering but for any subtle early signs something might be off.
And be aware of how your home environment is constantly changing. Light levels vary from season to season, your heating system might be turning on and off, the humidity fluctuates etc. What worked perfectly in summer could need some adjusting come winter.
If you do everything right and make the necessary care adjustments then most Monsteras will bounce back quickly.