Warning about overwatering monsteras - I learned the hard way

I used to water my monstera every 4 days like clockwork. Thought I was being a good plant parent. Then last spring I noticed the leaves turning yellow and dropping one by one. Pulled it out of the pot and found root rot all through the bottom half. Turns out I was drowning it for almost two years. Now I wait until the top 2 inches of soil are bone dry, which is about every 10 to 14 days. My plant bounced back in 3 months and has doubled in size. Has anyone else killed a plant this way or am I the only one who thought more water meant healthier leaves?

2 comments

2 Comments

james5334d agoMost Upvoted

...and here I was thinking I was giving my plant a GOLD medal in hydration. Turns out I was basically waterboarding it for two years straight. Your chopstick trick is genius though, I've been using the finger method but my dirt is so dark I can barely see if it's wet or just stained from old soil. I actually killed my FIRST monstera with kindness too. Bought a moisture meter as a "get well soon" present for my second one and Man, did it humble me. Now I wait until that meter screams DRY before I even THINK about touching the watering can. My plant went from looking like a sad mop to a jungle in about 4 months. So yeah, you're definitely not alone in the overwatering hall of shame.

margaretk894d ago

bone dry top 2 inches" is such a smart way to put it... I learned the hard way too with my monstera, thought I was being consistent but those moisture meters really helped me out. I use a wooden chopstick to test the soil if I'm not sure, left it in for like ten minutes to see if the wood gets damp. My plant's leaves perked up so much once I let the soil actually dry out between waterings.