South America is considered the homeland of the monstera. This vine, which is accustomed to a humid and warm climate in its natural environment, readily decorates the interior of a living room under appropriate conditions. However, in home cultivation, monstera is not common. Why can't you keep this plant at home? It was previously thought to be carnivorous. Today, many are convinced that this flower is a vampire. But this is not true. It, in the process of breathing at night, takes air from the room, like any other plant. The leaves of the monstera are large, and therefore it absorbs oxygen a little more. That is why the room where the flower is located needs to be ventilated more often. Monstera is not a vampire, it does not take the vitality of a person.
Disease symptoms
There are several symptoms that may indicate that your pet is sick. Many of these signs indicate not only ailments, but also insufficient plant care.
Dark spots
In certain cases, dark spots on the leaves of the vines are evidence that the plant is cold. To remedy the situation, the location of the vine is changed to a warmer one.
In addition, the formation of dark spots on the leaves is often a consequence of the fact that the plant is too waterlogged. In this case, it is necessary to check the root system for rot formation.
Monstera - can I keep it at home?
Readers sometimes ask why the monster cannot be kept at home. And indeed - why? I do not know who and when examined the monster for the presence of the properties of a vampire or for toxins, but personally I did not notice anything like that for her. The only factor that makes you think about whether to keep a monster in the house is its size. A beautifully formed monstera tree grew in my house for several years, until I had to part with her because she, and not me, became uncomfortable - the monster no longer had enough space in my modest apartment. I gave the plant, which had grown too large, to my friend, and she placed it in the lobby of her restaurant, which the monstera still decorates today. But if you are sure that keeping the monster in the house is harmful, well ... there are many other plants that are just as good. Well, for those who, like me, believe that the monster can be kept at home, I recommend, just in case, not to place it in the bedroom or in the nursery.
Pests
In addition to diseases caused by fungus and insufficient care, insect pests can often attack the monster.
Ivy scale
This pest spreads at high speed on shoots, adventitious roots and monstera leaves. Very often, the scabbard is hidden on the inner surface of the leaf and looks like a brown plaque, which is firmly pressed against the leaf.
Signs of damage to the plant shield are: depressed appearance, loss of decorative qualities, yellowness and loss of leaves. Also, the detection of a sooty fungus that occurs on the honeydew formed by the parasite will tell about the wrecking of the scale insect. To eliminate it, wipe the sheet with a cotton pad soaked in soapy water or a piece of soft cloth. As contributing factors will help high humidity with a simultaneous decrease in temperature.
With a high degree of damage, it is almost impossible to fight this parasite. You can try removing the affected areas and treating the plant with a systemic insecticide.
Spider mite
This insect mainly lives on the underside of the monstera's leaf plate. The harm from it lies in the appearance of a cobweb that dries the leaf. The presence of a spider mite may also indicate pale green dots on the leaves, gradually merging into a large spot. Affected leaves take on a pale green color, and then die off.
In order to overcome the spider mite, Fitoverm is widely used, and to prevent its appearance the plant should be regularly sprayed with water and kept in a room with humid air.
The opinions of plant care specialists always boil down to the fact that it is easier to carry out preventive measures than to subsequently fight parasites.
As folk remedies for the control and prevention of spider mites are used infusions of onion peel, garlic, tobacco dust, soap solution. It is allowed to insist and use all these funds at the same time. To create an infusion, a tablespoon of the product is dissolved in a three-liter can of water and insisted for two days.
Seed propagation of monstera.
How to propagate a monster by seed? Wet sphagnum moss is placed in bags with a lock, seeds are added, the remaining volume is filled with air and the lock is closed. The percentage is approximately 5% moss with seeds, 95% air. Crops are kept in a bright and warm (25-28 ºC) room. Seedlings appear in two weeks or a month later, and after the development of two leaves in the seedlings, they are planted in containers with a substrate of this composition: one part of sand, leaf and sod land each. Seedlings are grown at a temperature of 25 ºC in bright diffused light, replanted annually in a new pot.
Care Tips
One of the main conditions for caring for a monster is protect it from drafts and mechanical damage.
- Temperature. The optimum temperature for moderate growth and development of monstera is 16-18 degrees Celsius. It should be borne in mind that with an increase in temperature, the growth rate of a plant may increase.
- Lighting. For monstera, lighting close to tropical conditions is preferable. It is better to choose partial shade or diffused light, avoiding direct sunlight.
- Air humidity. The plant needs humid indoor air. If this is a problem, then spraying the leaves with water or periodically wiping them with a damp cloth will come to the rescue.
- The soil. Monstera grows well when planted in peat or garden soil with sand and humus. It is also necessary to use drainage.
- Top dressing. Feeding monstera is done by applying fertilizers once a week in the autumn-summer period. For this, special mixtures for indoor plants are used.
For information on how to save a sick monster, see the video below.
Proper care and timely prevention of diseases reduce the risk of monstera wilting. The leaves affected by spots, yellowness, cobwebs and the unhealthy appearance of the flower indicate that it is contained in unfavorable conditions, and you are doing something wrong. How to pay attention to symptoms in time and correct the situation, read below.
Why do monstera leaves turn yellow: what to do?
Yellowing of foliage can be the result of waterlogging of the plant, lack of watering or nutrients, improper lighting or dry air, the use of inappropriate soil.
Did you know?
In Thailand, a pot with a monster is placed near the patient's bed, as the flower is believed to help restore health.
Excess or lack of moisture
Leaf problems arise as a result of a large amount of moisture, leading to rotting of the root system. Despite the fact that the plant is able to remove excess water on its own through the mouths, you need to reduce watering to allow the earth to dry out, and the roots to be saturated with oxygen. In a critical situation, the plant is transplanted by removing the rotten roots. The next watering is carried out only after three days.
Yellowing of the lower leaves indicates a lack of moisture. In this situation, new ones grow small in size and at the same time are painted in a dark green color.
If watering and spraying regularly is not possible, it is recommended to install a prop filled with moss. The moistened moss will gradually release moisture to the plant, which will eliminate its lack or excess.
Important!
When the soil dries up, the greens weaken. First, the lower part turns yellow, and then the whole plant. If you don't take action, the flower will die.
Lack of nutrients
If the leaves of a monstera turn yellow, the reason may lie in a lack of nutrients. It is important to stick to the top dressing schedule. In spring and summer, the plant needs soil fertilization every 2 weeks. In the summer season, humus is added to the top layer for large bushes.
Incorrectly selected soil
After purchasing a flower, it is recommended to transplant it, since the soil in which the monstera is sold contains a growth stimulator and fertilizers, the absorption of which can harm the plant for a long time. The soil for transplanting is recommended to be neutral or slightly acidic; it is better to purchase a ready-made composition in a store.
Dry air
Lack of air humidity leads to the fact that the leaves of the monstera turn yellow and black. More often, such troubles occur during the cold season, when the room is heated with appliances.
Did you know?
The monster is often called “crybaby” and the plant is assigned the ability to predict the weather: on the eve of rainy weather, drops of moisture appear on its leaves.
Lack of light
In such a situation, the greens can turn yellow and fall off. It is better to keep the pot closer to the window, only then the flower will be beautiful.
Direct sunlight
An excess of light negatively affects the growth of the plant: the green mass first turns yellow, and then turns pale. It is best to place the pot near an east or west facing window. This kind of lighting is enough.
Symptoms of monstera disease
Obvious symptoms of plant diseases are yellow or darkened leaves, the appearance of spots on them, drying of the edges and their curling. Pay attention to the following signs:
- pale color and round holes - direct sunlight falls on the plant and burns it, move the pot to partial shade;
- pale color - there are not enough microelements, the flower needs to be fertilized with a special top dressing;
- putrefaction - excess moisture or too low air temperature, limit watering and place the monster in a warmer place.
Other symptoms, and what to do if they are detected, are discussed below.
Leaves turn yellow
A similar phenomenon often speaks of waterlogging of the soil in which the flower is contained. Watering the monster during this period should not be until complete recovery, and then reduce the amount of water or the frequency of watering.
If, in addition to yellowness, the leaves fall en masse, then the humidity in the room is too low, and the temperature is high. In the summer, the monster needs to be periodically sprayed with water, and in extreme heat, place a container of cold water next to the pot. The cause can be fusarium disease, chlorosis, and pests.
The leaves turn black (darken)
There are several reasons for this:
- scale insects - are destroyed by special means bought in a flower shop, the flower is washed with water;
- unbalanced watering - if there is little water, the leaves are yellow at first, and then darken, and if there is a lot, blackness appears on the greenery immediately; decay can be wet or dry;
- anthracnose disease.
Dry at the edges
If monstera leaves dry around the edges, this may be due to:
- too dry air - you need to spray the plant;
- cramped pot - the roots of the flower should be freely placed in the ground;
- waterlogging of the soil - while the leaves turn yellow, and the tips of the leaves begin to dry;
- draft and location under the air conditioner.
Curl up
Curling means the plant is too hot. Do not be surprised if this happens in winter - at this time the flower is in a state of hibernation and should be in a room where the air temperature ranges from + 15 ° C to + 20 ° C.
Monstera - leaves turn yellow and dry. Other diseases with photos and their treatment
In home cultivation, monstera, delicious or beautiful, prevails. She is very demanding on the conditions of detention. Otherwise, her leaves dry, turn yellow and blacken completely or around the edges. Why is this happening and what to do? The causes of plant disease can only be established by specialists. Today they willingly share their experience in growing a flower and effective treatment of its diseases.
Why do monstera leaves turn yellow? What to do? How can a disease be cured?
The leaves of a plant can turn yellow from dry air. However, this factor can only work in combination with other unfavorable growing conditions. If the monstera did not transplant and did not move, and her leaves turn yellow and dry, this indicates a change in the temperature and humidity conditions of its content. In the summer, the leaves of the flower need to be sprayed frequently, but not increased watering. It may sound paradoxical, but with the onset of heat, the flower begins to drink less water, and therefore it can be poured.
Description of common diseases of monstera and their effective treatment - in more detail in the article ...
Yellow spots on monstera leaves may appear when the flower is planted in heavy soil.
... The soil for the plant should be loose, light, without humus. This flower is not used to fertile soils, and therefore can react to a large amount of nutrients by yellowing the leaves. Heavy soil does not allow air to reach the roots. The leaves of the monstera turn yellow, as the roots experience oxygen starvation. The problem can be solved by transplanting the flower into the desired soil, but at the same time its root system must not be disturbed.
Leaves turn yellow if monstera is poured especially in winter
... What to do? If the yellowing of the leaves is not massive, then you can get by by adjusting the watering. Water the plant regularly and with warm water. The soil in the pot should be slightly damp, but not dry. If water accumulates in the pan, it is immediately removed. Low room temperature and excess moisture leads to root rot. How to define it. Rotten roots are reflected in the turgor of the leaves. He falls. The plant stagnates and throws out small leaves. You can solve the problem if you transplant the vine with the removal of rotten roots.
Why else do monstera leaves turn yellow?
If she doesn't get enough light. For its placement, windows oriented to the south (southwest, southeast) are ideal, but at the same time, you need to protect the leaves of the flower from direct sunlight, which can leave burns.
Why do monstera leaves dry in large quantities?
At the same time, the level of soil moisture is strictly monitored. The earth is kept in a slightly moist state. In this case, you need to carefully examine the plant. If the lower leaves of the monstera turn yellow and dry, and the young ones grow small, a large number of aerial roots are formed, then this is a sure sign of a lack of plant nutrition. Solution to the problem: carry out top dressing or transplant the flower into a larger pot. At the same time, the integrity of the earthen coma around the roots should not be violated.Violation of the root system leads to the death of the flower.
The leaves of the monstera turn black. Why is this happening, because all the conditions for keeping the flower are met
? The leaves of a flower can turn black from waterlogging of the soil. In addition, the plant is planted in too heavy soil. When watering, it sticks together and does not let air through to the roots, which affects the state of the leaves. Regular waterlogging of the soil and insufficient saturation of the earth with oxygen leads to a violation of the root system. You can solve the problem by adjusting watering. After the monstera begins to expel new leaves, and the old ones stop turning black, you can think about transplanting. For this, a light soil is used.
Why do monstera leaves turn black and yellow?
The leaves grow small. Not having time to open, they turn black at the tips, the trunk of the plant wrinkled. The cause of the disease: waterlogging of the soil. This comes either from too frequent watering, or the flower pot is very large and the root system does not have time to absorb all the liquid from the soil. If the tips of the leaves of a plant simply turn black, then you can save it by normalizing watering. If the stem of a monstera is wrinkled and rotted, the flower cannot be saved. You can graft it for rooting.
Why do monstera leaves turn yellow, dry tips and black spots appear? Monstera is an amazing vine that was brought to us from the tropics. The modern name of the plant, translated from the Latin language, means "monster". Monstera was discovered in the eighteenth century, and immediately its name was shrouded in many terrible legends. Many travelers of that time told stories about the killer plant, as they often met human skeletons in the jungle, strung on the roots of this vine. Today this plant is very popular with flower growers due to its beautiful foliage and unusual appearance. The flower leaves have a striking openwork shape. But the monstera is quite whimsical, and with poor care or damage to diseases, he immediately makes it known by changing the state of the leaves. Therefore, many flower growers often have a question: "Why does the monstera turn yellow?" The main problem that growers face when growing monstera is yellowed leaves.
Causes of yellowing of monstera leaves This state of the plant can be due to a number of reasons, namely: If all the leaves of the plant turn yellow and then gradually turn pale, this can only indicate that there is a lot of light for the plant. Monstera loves shaded places, so in case of direct sunlight hitting it, the flower must be covered with a curtain or moved away from the window. If, on the contrary, there is no sufficient lighting, then in this case the vine can completely discard the foliage. If the monstera is in a too dark place, then it must be rearranged closer to the windows. Otherwise, the plant may leave only a few leaves on the crown, and discard the rest. If yellowness and brown spots appear on the lower leaves of the plant, and the young foliage remains a rich green color, then it is worth revising the amount of watering. Maybe it is not enough for the normal development of the plant and it is worth increasing the amount of moisture. If, together with the appearance of yellowing, the leaves of the flower wither and dry, then this may indicate an excess of moisture and damage to the root system of the plant. In this case, it is worth reducing watering, and cutting off the withered leaves. If the situation is critical, then you can try to transplant the plant into new soil, and during the transplanting process, you need to remove the rotten roots. For three to four days, the monster does not need to water. Another factor that provokes the appearance of yellowness may be a lack of nutrients. To remove this cause, you can feed it with ash or nitrogen fertilizers.
If the leaves turn yellow and dry out In cases where the foliage does not just turn yellow, but gradually dries up, it can talk about too high air temperature and low humidity. Do not forget that liana is a tropical plant. Most often, monstera owners are faced with a similar problem with the onset of the heating season. The same situation can be repeated in summer, when the plant is in direct sunlight. In order to protect the flower, it must be moved to a cooler place. Sometimes the leaves of the plant turn yellow only at the edges. This problem occurs if the flowerpot is too tight for it or the plant does not receive the required amount of nutrients. In such cases, an urgent transplant into a larger container and top dressing with suitable fertilizers are necessary. Another reason for the yellowness of the leaves can be pests: mealybugs or spider mites. To reanimate the flower, the foliage and trunk must be washed with soapy water. Then rinse with clean water, and then carry out regular treatment for prevention. If the plant is severely affected, then you will have to use special chemicals. Yellowness and wilting of monstera leaves This problem most often occurs in the autumn-winter period, if at a low temperature the owners continue to water the vine abundantly. In such situations, the life processes of the flower are inhibited, and the leaves gradually dry out. To restore the normal development of the plant, it is necessary to adjust the temperature in the room, and check if there are any problems with the level of humidity. The amount of watering should be reduced.
Monstera often decorates office spaces, halls, galleries and conservatories, impressing with its size and large green branches. Flower care is not difficult, but some problems happen, for example, discoloration of the leaves or their dropping. Consider why monstera leaves dry and turn yellow.
Common problems with growing monstera
An unpretentious plant rarely infects diseases if it is properly cared for and watering rules are followed. The same applies to the settlement of pests - they do not come to places where good conditions are not created for them.
Diseases and their treatment at home
Diseases that monstera are susceptible to:
- Fusarium - fungal infection in the ground, loves moisture. When damaged, the roots of the flower rot, the stem becomes thinner, the leaves turn yellow. There is no cure, the monstera will die.
- Late blight - a fungus that causes root and stem rot. Infection occurs through water, soil and equipment. A sign of the disease is brown-purple markings with a pale green area around, as well as a white coating on the bottom of the leaves. There is no effective treatment.
- Chlorosis - the leaves turn yellow, gradually the leaf plate becomes transparent, which happens even when the monstera is in the light for a long time (try to transfer it to partial shade and observe). For treatment, iron chelate is suitable in the dosage indicated on the instructions (the product is sold in flower shops).
- Anthracnose - bright yellow spots appear with concentrated black or dark brown rings around them. For treatment, remove all affected leaves and stems, treat the plant with copper sulfate or Oxyhom once every one and a half to three weeks. Repeat three times. Treatment is pointless if the entire flower is affected.
- Gray rot - the appearance of gray spots on the plant and tissue death. The disease is contagious for other flowers, so during treatment, quarantine the monster and use a choice of "Alirin-B", "Fitosporin", "Trichodermin", "Gamair P".
Do not delay treatment to avoid losing the flower.
Destruction of pests
Common pests that harm a houseplant include:
- Ivy scale - settles everywhere, the monstera becomes depressed, looks unattractive, the leaves are yellow and crumble, a sooty mushroom appears. To fight, the leaves and stems are wiped with soapy water, the air temperature is reduced and the humidity is increased. Apply a 0.2% solution of rogor, cut off the overly affected parts.
- Spider mite - settles from the bottom of the leaves and weaves a web on them, drinks the sap of the plant, from which it withers, dries. During treatment, the room is regularly ventilated, the air humidity is increased, and the monster is treated with Actellik (15 drops per liter of water).
- Aphid - as signs of curvature of the tops, sticky substance on the leaves, the appearance of black fungi. Pests are spreading rapidly. An effective remedy is mustard powder, poured with boiling water and infused (20 g per liter), spray the whole monstera with it. A decoction of onion and garlic peels is also good.
- Thrips - appears at elevated temperatures around, if the humidity is lowered overnight. Lives under leaves, light dots and a silvery sheen appear on top of them. For treatment, insecticides are used.
- Mealybugs - their favorite place is young sprouts, which, due to parasites, are deformed, dry and fall off. The flower is dying. Treatment with Aktellikom (15 drops per liter of water).
Check the monster regularly in order to react to the infection in time.
Monstera flower - description
So, the indoor monstera is an evergreen plant, an old favorite of flower growers, who appreciated its exotic beauty and unpretentious care. Monstera at home grows to four meters in length, and literally within 5-6 years, but since the plant is a vine, it needs a stable support. In addition, the use of a support is very convenient, since a large monstera takes the shape of a tree and takes up less space, and it looks more impressive. The carved leaves of monstera reach a diameter of 45 cm, and the young leaves are solid, but over time holes appear in them, and the larger the leaves become, the more cuts in them. In addition to the usual roots, with which in nature the vine grows like an epiphyte to a tree, the aerial roots of the monstera, which reach the very ground and feed the plant from the soil, are of great importance. Monstera blooms like other aroids, with a corncob-like inflorescence wrapped in a blanket. The fruit of the monstera is a berry about 20 cm long with a banana-pineapple flavor. By the way, in Australia, monstera are bred precisely for the sake of its nutritious and tasty fruits. But a monstera grown in a room is unlikely to be able to treat you to a delicious fruit, since monstera does not bloom often at home.
Prevention and care
To prevent disease and pest infestation, follow the rules:
- buy plants in a specialized store - the probability of acquiring a sick monster is much lower, and you can get advice on care from a specialist;
- observe the quarantine for new flowers for at least a week, only after that place the pots next to others;
- periodically rinse the leaves with "Epin" or "Zircon";
- from time to time disinfect the soil with a weak solution of potassium permanganate and fertilize the soil;
- provide good care for the plant in accordance with the requirements for it.
Examine the flower every week for symptoms of problems as early as possible. An unpretentious monstera has strong immunity if it receives enough minerals, water and light. Follow the simple rules of caring for her and do not forget that they differ in summer and winter.
24
Causes of blackening of leaves in monstera
Very often, amateur flower growers notice how their favorite flower begins to wither. The reasons that lead to a change in the shape of the leaves and their blackening are a lot of sun, lack of sunlight, a lot of water, cold temperatures, poor nutrition.
- If the lower leaves first turn yellow, then black dots appear on them, then this indicates insufficient watering.
- Little light affects the appearance of black spots. If you do not pay attention to this, then soon one barrel may remain.
- Many yellow leaves with black spots can indicate an excess of sunlight. In this case, the plant should be rearranged.
- Yellowness, black spots and signs of wilting indicate that wilting is taking place in the plant. It is very important to eliminate moisture.
- Lack of fertilizer leads to black spots. Wood ash or special baits in the form of fertilizers restore nutrition well.
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Diseases and insects.
You and the monster will not have any problems in this regard: it is extremely rarely affected by pests, and it is resistant to diseases. And only the most careless owners can expose the plant to the attack of scale insects and spider mites, whose presence is not so easy to notice. If you still find pests, try wiping the monstera leaves with soapy water, but if this does not help, you will have to apply an insecticide treatment - Aktara or Fitoverm. But what if the leaves of the monstera turn yellow, and then become transparent? This is a sure sign of chlorosis, so you need to buy "Iron Chelate" and use it according to the instructions. In lazy owners who violate the rules for caring for a monster, the plant can get sick with fusarium, late blight, anthractosis, bacterial and stem rot, and spots.
Incorrect lighting
The South African guest does not like direct sunlight. Under their influence, the leaves of monstera quickly begin to turn yellow, and then completely acquire a white color. Having noticed this problem, you need to act immediately. Diffused bright lighting is ideal for her. When choosing a place, you should give preference to the area near the window, which must be covered with a curtain.
Lack of light can also become the opposite problem. Some budding growers mistakenly place a plant in the far corner of the room. In this case, the monstera develops a lack of nutrients. The leaves first lose their elasticity, wither, turn yellow and, eventually, begin to fall off.
As a therapy, it should be rearranged closer to the light source and continue to prevent this situation. Remember, Monsterea is shade-tolerant, but far from shade-loving. Therefore, you should not test the plant and torture it with sunlight or the shady side.
What to do
To prevent such troubles from happening, you need to create comfortable conditions for the indoor flower and provide it with attentive care. Monstera loves sunlight, but not direct sunlight. Daylight hours should last at least 10-12 hours. If the sun is not enough, you should get a phytolamp.
The air temperature in winter should not be lower than +16 ° C, and watering is carried out after 10-15 days. If the difficulties are the result of improper watering, then you need to urgently restore it. When the soil is overdried, it may be enough to just start watering correctly, and when overflowing, a transplant may be necessary. A transplant will save the plant if the potted soil is too heavy, rotten, or infertile. The rotten parts of the roots will have to be cut off, the cuts will be treated with charcoal.
If pests attacked, you will have to wash the leaves with soapy water, apply an infusion of onions or garlic, and treat the plant with special means.
Monstera: home care
This plant is easy to grow and propagate at home. In order for it to grow healthy, it is necessary to create certain conditions for the flower.
Lighting and space
In nature, monstera loves shady, but sufficiently lit places. The scorching sun can burn its leaf plate, and too deep a shadow does not allow the flower to grow, even stopping its development completely. From this he will not die, he will lose his beauty and attractiveness. With insufficient lighting, the foliage loses its decorative effect, acquiring a monochromatic green color.
Monstera grows very quickly and grows strongly. It can reach a height of 5 meters, so it is necessary to find a room for it so that it is not cramped. The plant does not like when it is moved from place to place, it can even stop its growth.
Temperature regime
Caring for a flower involves observing the temperature regime, which should be in the range from +10 to +24 degrees. Monstera tolerates sudden temperature changes quite easily. High rates contribute to its intensive development, the main thing is that the air is sufficiently humidified. Too low air temperature leads to the fact that the monstera pauses its growth and will remain dormant until the degrees rise to a certain point.
Watering and feeding
Caring for a flower also involves watering and feeding it. The plant prefers humid tropical air. Since its leaves are capable of evaporating a lot of moisture, they need to be moistened regularly. To do this, wipe the leaf plates with a moistened rag, and to make their glossy surface shine, add a little milk to the water.
During the growth of the flower, it should be watered vigorously enough so that the earth does not dry out. At rest, this process should be minimized.
In order for the monstera to grow well at home and not lose its decorative effect, it should periodically be fed with fertilizers consisting of organic and mineral substances. In summer, feeding is carried out once a week, and in winter - once every 2 - 3 weeks.
Aerial Root Care
A feature of this plant is its aerial roots, which are necessary for its additional nutrition and hydration. Since they do not look very attractive, they are collected and tied to a trunk or wrapped in wet moss. Watering the flower, the roots should also be moistened. Thanks to this additional nutrition, the plant begins to grow well.
A bit of background
Lat. Monstera
At home, in the tropical forests of Brazil, monstera leaves reach a size of 80 cm, and developed roots are up to 6 meters thick, 1-2 cm thick.In indoor conditions, its leaves rarely reach a length of 45 cm.
Monstera got its Latin name from the first European explorers of the American jungle, who found the skeletons of their predecessors, entwined with a dense network of aerial roots. From here were born the myths about the Monster, as about a tree, capturing unwary people with its bonds and leaving only bone remains of them. In fact, the plant simply has very developed aerial roots, and it braids with them everything that it can reach.
Temperature regime
Many are faced with the fact that the tips of the leaves turn yellow and dry in monstera during the heating season. First of all, the dry climate and excess heat are stressful for the vine. Especially those individuals that are located in close proximity to radiators.
At this time, almost all plants require careful control of their fluid intake. If the soil dries up very quickly, water it daily.If, even after this, the foliage continues to dry and turn yellow, then it will be necessary to change the location of the flower. A sure sign of excessive heat will be the curling of the leaves.
Monstera needs a moderate temperature. In winter, it should be in the range of 16-18 ° С. At higher temperatures, the plant begins to grow rapidly, and seasonal lack of nutrients and decreased activity will contribute to a strong weakening of the plant.
Excess and lack of moisture
Young monstera leaves
The yellowing of the leaves and at the same time their decay indicates an excess amount of moisture. Reduce watering and remove spraying. Although the monstera can remove excess moisture through the leaves on the leaves, the roots in the ground can suffer from excess moisture. Let the earthy coma dry out so the roots can get oxygen.
Attention! The brown tops of the leaves can also indicate an excess of moisture.
Yellow lower leaves may indicate a lack of moisture. In this case, the new leaves grow very small and have a dark green color. Increase watering and number of sprays. Place aerial roots in containers of water or bags of damp moss.
A strut filled with moss that is periodically moistened from the inside is a very good choice. You can make it yourself by rolling up a decorative mesh and placing sphagnum or coconut fiber inside. Such support will support the plant, and the aerial roots of the monstera will receive additional moisture.
Features of an exotic flower
There are quite a few different myths associated with this plant, which make some growers doubt whether it is worth purchasing. But you should know that monstera has a large number of useful properties that have a beneficial effect on the human body and the microclimate of the room. During the day, its large leaves emit a lot of oxygen and help to evaporate moisture, thereby humidifying the air. In addition, this tropical plant absorbs harmful electromagnetic waves well, absorbs formaldehyde fumes and ionizes the indoor air.
On the energetic level, monstera helps people in making any important decisions. It puts thoughts in order, absorbs chaotic vibrations and influences the nervous system in the most favorable way, bringing the state of mind into harmony. Develops intellectual abilities and strengthens human immunity. Thanks to this, monstera is indispensable in the office and study, living room and library. It helps you calm down, focus and tune in to work.
The only place you shouldn't place it is in the bedroom. At night, the plant does not carry out the process of photosynthesis, so it begins to absorb a large amount of oxygen, and this is unacceptable for a bedroom.
The main reasons for yellowing foliage
To find the true factors that provoked the disease, you should carefully examine the plant, evaluate the conditions of detention. After all, the most common problem is the failure to comply with the optimal conditions. Monstera, although it easily tolerates the apartment climate, can sometimes start to get sick. As a result, the leaves turn yellow, turn black and fall off.
The leaves can turn yellow completely or become covered with spots, turn black, dry and curl up into a tube, and all this indicates various violations. Incorrectly selected ones can provoke such phenomena:
- location;
- air temperature;
- humidity;
- the amount of light;
- pests;
- other diseases.
Let us analyze how each of the listed factors affects the health of the plant and what methods of struggle exist.
Air and light
Pale green leaves with yellow spots indicate excessive direct light.Just shade the plant from direct sunlight or rearrange it to a different location. This semi-epiphyte prefers north, east and west windows.
Dry brown, papery to the touch and falling leaves appear on the plant from high temperature and dry air. Most often, this problem appears in winter. Place the plant away from the battery and install additional sources of evaporation of water. These can be indoor fountains, and even just bowls of water. Place the plant pot in moist peat.
It is interesting! Previously, Monstera (Monstera) was called Philodendron, but not so long ago it was singled out as a separate genus. There are more than 50 species of this tree-like liana. They differ not only in size and height, but also in the presence of variegated forms. There are monsters with cream or white stripes, but they are much more painstaking to care for.
Yellowing, drying of the edges and parts of monstera leaves can indicate both dry air and too tight a pot. And if you have recently transplanted a plant, then take the steps as in the above paragraph.
Water imbalance
Sometimes, in order to understand why the leaves of the creeper turn yellow, you need to check the condition of the soil. For a normal existence and growth, she needs a lot of water. Sprawling leaves and an abundance of roots require regular watering.
Determine the lack of moisture by the nature of the yellowing. In this case, yellow spots will appear on the old leaves, which will soon completely affect the leaf. At the same time, young leaves look painful, immediately fade. Another characteristic feature will be the appearance of brown, brown spots on the surface of the foliage.
In this case, it is necessary to increase watering, additionally include irrigation of the aerial part of the plant. The amount of moisture supplied should be reduced only with the onset of cold weather. At this time, Monsterea goes into a passive phase, growth is reduced to a minimum and therefore excess moisture can also lead to a problem.
A concomitant symptom of over-watering will be wilting of all leaves. Most likely, the root system began to rot. In this case, the tree can quickly die. What to do? Try to dry the soil as much as possible. You can put the pot closer to the heating devices, but for a weakened plant, such therapy is very undesirable. If the condition worsens rapidly, it is necessary to start a transplant. Pre-amputate all rot-affected roots and allow healthy air to dry.
The appearance of brown spots on foliage
- Such a problem can arise when the monstera is somewhere in the corridor in a draft, especially since at such a location the delicate leaves are at an additional risk of mechanical damage by people passing by. Helping the plant is not difficult at all - you just need to move it to a more secluded place.
- The emergence dark brown spots
may talk about over-watering the vines. You can help the monster by transplanting it into a new container. But in general, it is very desirable not to allow the bush to flood, since the decayed root system is restored very poorly and not always. - The formation of brown spots on the leaves may indicate damage to the plant. scabbard
, which sucks out cell juice from them. The consequence of this disease is blanching, drying out and foliage falling off. To combat the scabbard, it is required to repeatedly (every other day) treat the plant with a soap or alcohol solution until all symptoms of the disease are completely eliminated.
South America is considered the homeland of the monstera. This vine, which is accustomed to a humid and warm climate in its natural environment, readily decorates the interior of a living space under appropriate conditions. However, in home cultivation, monstera is not common. Why can't you keep this plant at home? It was previously thought to be carnivorous. Today, many are convinced that this flower is a vampire.But this is not true. It, in the process of breathing at night, takes air from the room, like any other plant. The leaves of the monstera are large, and therefore it absorbs a little more oxygen. That is why the room where the flower is located needs to be ventilated more often. Monstera is not a vampire, it does not take the vitality of a person.
Yellowing of leaves with subsequent drying out
- When monstera foliage not only turns yellow, but also dries
, then your vine is too hot. As a rule, this problem arises at the beginning of the heating season, when the temperature in the room rises and the humidity becomes much lower. The same can be observed in the summer heat, if the flower is under the rays of the hot sun. The recipe in this case is simple: the vine needs to be moved to a cooler place, away from sunny windows and heating appliances. - The leaves of the plant may turn yellow not entirely, but only along the edges
... Such changes are observed when "starving" monstera or too tight container. To fix the problem, transplant the flower into a larger pot and feed it with a special fertilizer for decorative foliage flowers. - Yellowing, curvature, drying out and falling foliage may be a sign mealybug or spider mite lesions
... To revive the monstera, you need to wipe the plant with a soft cloth or sponge dipped in soapy water. Then wash the plant with warm water and subsequently carry out regular spraying. In case of severe damage, you will have to resort to the help of special chemicals.
Reproduction of monstera by cuttings and shoots.
How does monstera breed in addition to the seed method? After all, its seeds are not distinguished by good germination, and the monstera grows from seeds for a very long time. That is why amateur flower growers prefer a faster and more reliable method of propagation - vegetative. Such reproduction of monstera is carried out from March to June. Parts of the stem with one or two leaves, the top of the trunk or the lower lateral shoots are used as cuttings. Monstera cuttings or tips root in water under bright, diffused light at a temperature of 25 ºC. The water needs to be changed every two weeks. After a few weeks, the roots will appear, let them grow, and then transplant the cuttings into soil for sowing seeds. When the monstera leaf regains its elasticity, you can feed the rooted cutting with full mineral fertilizer at the rate of 1 g per 1 liter of water. Some growers immediately plant the cuttings in the ground and cover with glass jars, thus creating a greenhouse effect. After 3-4 years, a young, mature plant is transplanted into a spacious pot.
Lack of nutrients
Sometimes the owners of monstera fail to create as close to natural conditions for the plant as possible. In this case, it does not please with its growth, the leaves do not grow to large sizes, turn yellow, dry and fall off. In this case, you can also judge the lack of nutrients. Controlling the growth of aerial roots will help to more accurately determine the cause. If there are too many of them and their number increases rapidly, it means that there are not enough nutrients for the vine in the substrate.
Additional fertilization will help to correct the situation. They can also be purchased ready-made at the flower shop. It is important to carefully follow the recommendations for frequency of use and dosage. Helps to quickly revive the use of nitrogen fertilizers and ash.