Why are the leaves on my Rhaphidophora (Mini Monstera) turning yellow? Causes and How to Fix it!

If you’re looking for a little something different, then the Rhaphidophora (Mini Monstera) is a great choice for you. However, if your beloved Mini Monstera has started to develop a few yellow leaves, then it might be a sign that something isn’t quite right. But don’t fret, we will cover off all of the different reasons why your Mini Monstera may have yellow leaves – some are easier to diagnose than others but we will help you get to the bottom of the issue. We have also included tips to solve the issues as well as prevent any yellow leaves from occurring again.

Overwatering is the most common cause of yellow leaves

When you notice yellow leaves on any houseplant, overwatering is where we would start off looking, and the same goes for the Mini Monstera. Mini Monsteras don’t like sitting in puddles of water for long periods of time and it will slowly cause the roots to rot. This means that the roots can’t transport any nutrients or oxygen to the rest of the plant and the leaves will slowly turn yellow from the base upwards.

To figure out if overwatering is the reason your Mini Monstera has yellow leaves, check the moisture levels in the soil immediately. You want to be sure of the problem before changing anything about your care routine. Take your plant out of its pot and if the soil is quite waterlogged and clumpy then replace it with fresh dry mix. It’s a mistake to wait for the soil to dry out on its own as this risks more damage to the root system and your plant overall. Once the leaves on your Mini Monstera have turned yellow, there’s no going back, unfortunately, so trim away the rotten roots and yellow leaves and adjust your watering schedule moving forward. You either way to reduce the frequency that you’re watering, or the amount of water that you give it each time.

Extreme temperatures can also cause yellow leaves

Another cause of yellow leaves is a drop in temperatures. Mini Monstera plants like warm environments and can really struggle in cold homes or if exposed to drafts over a long period of time. This is particularly a problem at night when temperatures drop and we are less likely to have the heating on.

If the leaves are wet whilst your plant is exposed to cool temperatures, there is a high risk of the soggy leaves rotting. The best thing to avoid this is to water your Mini Monstera very carefully to make sure the spout is as close to the potting soil as possible to minimise the amount of water that splashes onto your leaves.

You can also avoid yellow leaves on Mini Monstera being caused by extreme temperatures by draft proofing all windows and doors and making sure your Mini Monstera isn’t close to an AC vent. Using a digital thermometer will really help you keep track of the temperature fluctuations and help avoid any further yellow leaves

Pests

Another rarer cause of yellow leaves on a Mini Monstera is a pest infestation. Spider mites can cause yellow leaves on a Mini Monstera so these are the ones to look out for if your plant seems unhappy. If your Mini Monstera does have a pest infestation then don’t think you need to say goodbye to it. If treated properly, you can get rid of the infestation. Firstly, you should trim off the worst affected leaves and stems to curb the infestation from growing quickly and then treating your Mini Monstera with neem oil. If the infestation hasn’t taken over your whole plant then these tricks should help stop the pests from killing your Mini Monstera.

Overfertilisation

Another common cause of yellow leaves in Mini Monsteras is over-fertilisation. Mini Monstera plants really don’t need much fertiliser and you can even skip it altogether if you’d prefer. At most, you want to be fertilising a couple of times throughout the growth period of spring and summer and not at all during the dormant period of winter. If you are fertilising more than this, or not diluting the fertiliser, then it could be the cause of the yellow leaves.

If you have been using slow-release fertiliser within the soil then remove the spikes or replace the potting mix if it is mixed in with it. If you have been using water-soluble fertiliser then it’s easier to solve as you just have to stop fertilising! Wait until the growth period comes around again before fertilising again so you allow time for your plant to fully recover.

Natural ageing

If it’s only the oldest bottom leaves on your Mini Monstera that are turning yellow then this may be natural ageing. As your plant matures, your Mini Monstera will drop some of its oldest, lowest leaves to focus its energy on growing new healthy growth.

This is completely natural and isn’t because of anything you did wrong. The rate of natural ageing should be about 1 or 2 of the oldest leaves every few months but no more as this is an indication that something is wrong. Monitor the rate of yellowing to see if it is speeding up.

Should I trim away the yellow leaves on my Mini Monstera?

We always recommend getting rid of the yellow leaves on your Mini Monstera. Unfortunately, once the leaf has turned yellow, there is no going back to their usual green or variegation. So trimming away the yellow leaves means your plant can begin to focus all the energy on growing new healthy leaves and vines.

So those are the most common reasons why Mini Monstera plants develop yellow leaves. We recommend going through the possible causes one by one to eliminate those that don’t fit with your plant. Keep an eye on your plant over the next few weeks to make sure that any changes you do make to the environment or your care guide are having a positive impact on the health of your plant.

To find out more about how to care for your Mini Monstera, as well as propagation tips and other common issues, check out our Mini Monstera care guide.