Plant Care

Brown Spots on Monstera Leaves: Complete Troubleshooting

Last updated: October 30, 2025

Brown spots on your monstera mean trouble—here's how to diagnose the exact cause and fix it before you lose more leaves.

TTerrence "TJ" Johnson

October 30, 2025

Monstera deliciosa leaves displaying different types of brown spots for plant troubleshooting diagnosis — — Image © PlantReference.org 2026

Quick Answer

Brown spots result from fungal infection, sunburn, or low humidity. Remove affected leaves immediately and improve drainage or increase humidity.

TL;DR

Brown spots on monstera leaves result from fungal infection, bacterial issues, sunburn, low humidity, mineral buildup, or pest damage. Identify the pattern first—spots with yellow halos indicate infection, crispy edges mean humidity issues, and irregular patches suggest sunburn. Remove affected leaves immediately and adjust care conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my monstera leaves getting brown spots?

Brown spots on monstera leaves typically result from fungal infections caused by overwatering, direct sunlight damage, or low humidity stress. The spot pattern helps identify the cause: small spots with yellow halos indicate infection, large irregular patches suggest sunburn, and crispy brown edges point to humidity issues. Remove affected leaves immediately and adjust care conditions.

Should I cut off brown spots on monstera leaves?

Yes, remove leaves with brown spots completely rather than cutting just the spotted portions. Brown spots indicate tissue damage that won't heal and can harbor bacteria or fungal spores that spread to healthy leaves. Cut the entire affected leaf at the stem base using clean pruning shears sterilized with rubbing alcohol.

Can brown spots on monstera leaves spread to other plants?

Fungal and bacterial brown spots can spread to other plants through water splashing, contaminated tools, or air circulation. Isolate your affected monstera immediately and avoid misting other plants until the issue resolves. Physical damage spots (sunburn, low humidity) don't spread between plants but indicate environmental conditions that affect all plants.

How do I treat brown spots on my monstera?

Treatment depends on the cause: For infections, remove spotted leaves and apply copper fungicide to healthy foliage. For sunburn, move to bright indirect light away from direct rays. For humidity issues, increase humidity to 50-60% with a humidifier or pebble tray. For mineral damage, switch to filtered water and flush soil thoroughly.

Will brown spots on monstera leaves go away?

Brown spots are permanent tissue damage and won't heal or turn green again. However, you can stop new spots from forming by correcting the underlying cause. Focus on creating optimal conditions for new healthy growth rather than trying to repair damaged leaves. Recovery typically shows new growth within 2-3 weeks of treatment.

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Tagged with

#monstera brown spots #monstera disease #plant troubleshooting #fungal infection #monstera problems #leaf spots #plant diagnosis #monstera care #houseplant diseases #plant emergency

Written By

Terrence "TJ" Johnson

TJ stumbled into plant parenthood when a coworker gave him a neglected pothos. That single plant sparked an obsession that led him to quit his corporate marketing job and start a plant care service for busy professionals in Chicago. TJ maintains over 150 plants for residential clients and runs monthly plant swap meetups at local coffee shops. He's self-taught through YouTube, plant forums, and plenty of expensive mistakes (RIP to his variegated monstera). TJ specializes in troubleshooting common houseplant problems and is known for his blunt, no-BS advice: "Your plant isn't dying because Mercury is in retrograde—you're overwatering it." He's particularly skilled with finicky tropical plants like fiddle leaf figs and calatheas.