– Monstera Root Rot –

Suspect Your Monstera has Root Rot? Use our Guide to Identify, Treat and Prevent Root Rot

Even though Monsteras are regarded as beginner-friendly plants, they can still be susceptible to diseases without proper care. One of those diseases is root rot, which can infect a Monstera plant, eventually killing it without intervention. Some signs of Monstera root rot are:

  • brown base stems that emit a rotten odor,
  • droopy yellowing leaves with black spots, and
  • little to no new growth for an extended period of time.
Monstera Root Rot

If you are seeing some of these symptoms in your Monstera, there is a good chance your plant is suffering from root rot. We recommend taking a proactive approach and taking action, quickly. The longer you leave root rot, the more it can spread to other areas of your Monstera. And the lower chance of its survival.

But, before we jump into treating your Monstera for root rot, let’s confirm your plant does actually have the disease with a more thorough inspection.

3 Ways to Identify Monstera Root Rot

Even though your plant may be exhibiting classic root rot symptoms, the only way to truly know if it has the disease is to inspect the roots. And this means taking your Monstera out of its pot.

Ways to Identify Root Rot

For some, this may be an intimidating task, but as indoor plant owners, it is something we recommend getting comfortable with. Since you will have to do it eventually when it comes time to repotting plants that have outgrown their current planters.

How to Take Your Monstera out of its Container

Here are some simple steps to follow when taking your Monstera out of its pot:

  1. If you have a plastic pot, gently squeeze the sides of the container to loosen the plant from the pot. If your plant is in a ceramic or solid pot, you can skip this step.
  2. Spread your hand over the surface of the soil. We like to place as many stems of the Monstera snugly between our fingers, so we can support the plant without crushing it,
  3. In a smooth swift action, tip the pot upside down. You’ll feel some topsoil fall down, but the plant will most likely stay in