Do you have a monstera and wonder when it grows new leaves? You are lucky! Because we are ready to share all our knowledge about this topic through this article.
Monstera grows new leaves every 4 to 6 weeks during the growing season. But, when this plant goes through dormancy during winter, it may stop producing fresh leaves to recover and prepare for the next growing season.
In this article, we will tell why monstera grows new leaves at a specific time of the year and how to encourage this plant to grow maximum leaves during this period. Additionally, we will see why this plant may stop producing new leaves, sometimes even during the growing season.
Let’s get started!
When Do Monstera Grow New Leaves?
Monstera grows new leaves from spring through fall. During this period, monstera will produce fresh leaves every few weeks. If you provide this plant with a climate and an environment similar to its native habitat, it may produce new leaves every other week.
Monstera will slow down leaf production significantly during the winter season and probably stop producing leaves altogether. This happens because monstera is one plant that goes dormant when the weather gets colder.
Plants usually slow down or stop growing during winter to conserve energy and use that time to rest and prepare for next spring.
It would help if you did not force your monstera to grow new leaves during the dormancy period. For example, if you give your plant an extra dose of fertilizer in winter, you will force it to get out of the resting period and start growing new leaves. This will make the plant exhausted during spring and summer. As a result, it will not benefit from the favorable growing conditions of this season.
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How Often Will a Monstera Grow New Leaves?
Monstera will grow new leaves every 4 to 6 weeks from spring to fall. If you give this plant high Humidity, warm temperature, and bright indirect sunlight, it may produce new leaves every two weeks from this plant.
Additionally, fertilizing, proper watering, and repotting in the early spring days can encourage this plant to grow more leaves at a higher frequency.
If you want your monstera to grow new leaves that are big and bushy, you can follow the subsequent steps:
Keep the Humidity between 60% and 70%: You can make this happen by placing your monstera near a humidifier or using a pebble tray. We do not recommend increasing Humidity by misting, as this can damage your plant’s leaves.
Maintain the Temperature Between 65°F and 85°F: maintaining the Temperature within this interval may be challenging, especially during winter. That’s why we recommend using a programmable thermostat to keep your monstera warm during the cold days. You can use a heating mat to keep the soil warm if you don’t have one. Be careful when using a heating mat because it can transmit excessive heat, which may cause the soil to dry out and the leaves to wilt.
Put Your Monstera in a Sunny Spot: This plant needs at least 6 hours of bright indirect sunlight daily. A south-facing window or balcony is the best location to provide this light without burning your plant. If you only have access to a north-facing window, try putting your plant a few inches away to avoid leaf sunburn.
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Re-pot Monstera Every Year at the beginning of the Spring Season: Spring is the beginning of the growing season for most plants, and during this time, they grow at a very rapid rate. It is, therefore, essential to give them nutrient-rich and fresh soil to grow in. If you leave your plant in the old potting soil, it may experience stunted growth.
Change the Watering Frequency Depending on the Season: During the colder months of the year, monstera needs less water because it goes dormant and evaporates slowly. As the temperature increases in the summer, this plant will need more water because it will photosynthesize more frequently, and the soil will dry more quickly.
Fertilize Your Monstera Only During the Growing Period: Some people have misconceptions about fertilizing plants. While they don’t generally need fertilization all year round, they certainly need it at certain times of the year. Fertilizing your monstera during dormancy will disturb the equilibrium of the plant and cause problems such as droopy leaves and stunted growth.
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Why Is My Monstera Not Growing New Leaves?
If your monstera is not producing new leaves, it’s mainly due to root rot, fungal diseases, or pest infestations. A severe root boundness can also cause this issue. But, generally, a root-bound monstera will probably experience slow growth and not wholly stop leaf production.
If your monstera is going through dormancy, then it’s normal for it to stop producing leaves. So, if this plant stops producing leaves during winter, you shouldn’t be alarmed.
Here is the complete list of factors that cause monstera to stop growing new leaves and an explanation of each one of them:
Root Rot
Root rot is one of the most common plant diseases in the world. A fungus is responsible for these infections, and the cause may vary depending on the type of plant. In the case of monstera, root rot is usually caused by over-watering.
When this plant receives too much water, the soil becomes waterlogged, which creates the perfect environment for microorganisms and bacteria to proliferate. These organisms use the nutrients in the soil to reproduce at a high rate, and they produce toxic chemicals that can attack the roots of the plants.
To prevent this, it is essential to keep the soil well-drained so the water can evaporate quickly. In addition, the roots should be given enough air to ensure that the potting soil is porous.
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Pests
Pest infestation occurs when pests like whiteflies, aphids, or spider mites attack the foliage or stems of your monstera.
Pests destroy plants by sucking out leaf nutrients and moisture and secreting harmful substances. The result can be brown, curled, or distorted leaves that don’t perform well. In extreme cases, a severe pest infestation can cause your monstera to stop producing leaves and die.
If you see evidence of these pests, removing them promptly is essential. You can get rid of them using an organic method such as neem oil, but if the infestation is harsh, chemical insecticides might be necessary.
Fungal Diseases
If you overwater your monstera or grow it in cheap soil, a fungal infection will be inevitable. Fungi thrive in damp conditions and often attack plants without enough air.
Fungal diseases on the monstera plant can cause the leaves to curl, turn yellow, and sometimes even drop off or stop growing altogether.
If your monstera is infected with a fungal disease, you should immediately isolate it and treat it using a fungicide. If the infestation is severe, you may need to repot the plant into new potting soil and disinfect the pot before re-using it.
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Root Boundness
Root-bound occurs to monsteras when their roots grow outwards and create a circle around the pot’s base. This restricts the growth of the plant and can cause it to wilt.
You can fix a root-bound monstera by removing it from the pot and repotting it in a larger container.
Watering is also essential for a root-bound plant. That’s why we recommend filling the pot two-thirds of the way up with potting mix and watering the plant thoroughly. After that, you should continue watering every few days until the roots have completely filled the new container.
Dormancy
If your monstera stops growing leaves during winter, then you shouldn’t worry. In fact, this happens most probably because the plant is dormant. The plant will gain its ability to grow new eaves when spring arrives.
You can only help your plant rest and prepare for the next growing season during dormancy. To do this, keep the Temperature warm enough and the humidity high, and water the plant only when the soil feels dry.
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