Monstera deliciosa, also known as Swiss cheese plant or split-leaf philodendron, is a plant native to tropical regions such as southern Mexico and Panama.
It grows in many other places and is also very popular as a houseplant.
In its natural conditions, the Monstera can easily reach 20 meters in height, with huge glossy leaves. Monstera’s main attraction is its divided leaves which can measure from 10 to 35 inches in diameter.
If you’ve cared for your Monstera for about two years, it should have big leaves by then.
If your Monstera looks underdeveloped and has small leaves, you may begin to question your maintenance schedule, and with good reason.
Uninspired small leaves on a Monstera are normally linked to stunted growth, and while the small leaf problem can be difficult to diagnose, there are really only a few reasons why Monsteras have small leaves.
The reason why your monstera has small leaves may be due to insufficient light, too little water, too much water, water quality, the plant needs transplanting, and the plant needs fertilizer.
Contents
Why does my Monstera have small leaves?
1) Check the light
Perhaps the most common reason a Monstera has small leaves is because it can’t get enough. light. If your Monstera doesn’t get enough light, it will get stressed.
You will notice that the new developing leaves are smaller than the older leaves.
In fact, your Monstera may not develop split leaves as it should. The leaves may also appear thin and lighter in color.
How to solve this problem ?
Your Monstera needs at least 6 hours of direct and indirect sunlight each day to thrive and grow. They prefer windows facing east, west or south rather than windows facing north.
Dappled light will work with Monstera, but it won’t work well in shade or direct sunlight.
If you don’t have a good window place your monstera in this case, you may want to consider some form of artificial light. Grow lights are a great option when window light just isn’t enough.
2) Too little water
Like any other plant, your Monstera needs water. If the leaves are underdeveloped, check how much water the plant is getting.
Flooding a Monstera can damage it and prevent it from growing into the spectacular plant it is known for.
too little water Earth dry out and the leaves begin to discolor to hang up. New leaves will not grow as long as old leaves.
How to solve this problem ?
The easiest way to check if the plant needs water is to stick your finger in the soil. If it seems dry after the first inch in the ground, your Monstera is not getting enough water.
For most people, watering your Monstera once a week is enough, but you shouldn’t rely on that.
Instead, check for yourself whether the plant is getting enough. Keep in mind the humidity factor in your home, as this can dry out the floor.
The type of pot can also influence the dryness of the soil. Plastic pots tend to retain moisture, while clay pots allow water to evaporate faster.
3) Too much water
Overwatering can cause much more damage than overwatering and can also lead to fungal infections and root rot.
Too much water will prevent new leaves from growing and divide. You may also experience mosquito infestations if your Monstera is constantly in waterlogged soil.
How to solve this problem ?
Again, put your finger on the floor. If it’s waterlogged at the 1″ mark, that’s a sign that the plant doesn’t need to be watered as often.
Check the bottom of the pot to make sure there is adequate drainage, and if not, transplant the plant to a pot with more holes in the bottom.
You should let the plant dry out completely before watering it again.
4) Your plant must be transplanted
For a Monstera to develop those beautiful big leaves, it needs space to spread its roots. If the roots don’t have room to grow, the leaves won’t develop properly.
Because Monstera can grow so tall, it needs enough space for its root system to support maximum growth. In a pot too small domain it will not grow strong enough to support the plant.
How to solve this problem ?
In general, the Monstera should be transplanted every two years. In fact, transplanting the plant will promote the formation and growth of new leaves.
If you are unsure if you can transplant your Monstera, lift the pot and look at the drainage holes. if you see small domain on the holes or out of them, then it’s time to replant your plant
5) Your plant needs fertilizer
Like most other plants, your Monstera will benefit from fertilizer. All plants need certain nutrients like potassium and nitrogen to grow and thrive. If they don’t get enough essential nutrients, the leaves won’t develop.
How to solve this problem ?
If you’re transplanting your Monstera, you don’t need to fertilize it right away because the new potting soil is rich in nutrients. However, if you plan to transplant your Monster in about a year, it will appreciate the fertilizer.
It is recommended to dilute the liquid fertilizer to half of its concentration so as not to burn yourself domain. Once a month during the growing season, the plant will appreciate it.
6) Check the water
Sometimes tap water is too hard for Monsteras to grow properly.
Hard water contains calcium, chlorine and sometimes fluoride, which build up in the soil over time and prevent the plant from absorbing other nutrients. This results in smaller leaves.
The effect of hard water on the Monstera is comparable to the lack of fertilizer.
How to solve this problem ?
Don’t be fooled into thinking that bottled water from a well is good for your plant, because in reality this type of water rarely comes from a well and can be just as bad for your plant as hard water. .
Choose rainwater or filtered water. Building a rain barrel to collect rain is a great idea for all your houseplants, especially your Monstera.
You may also be interested in: How to Care for a Monstera
How to grow Monstera leaves?
A point to remember about Monstera and small leaves is that large leaves are a sign of a happy older plant.
New and young Monsteras don’t get those beautiful big leaves until they are a few years old. Be patient and if your Monstera is in good condition it will develop large leaves as it ages.
Of course, all conditions such as lightWater and pot size play a role in Monstera leaf development, but if these conditions are met, there’s no reason your Monstera shouldn’t develop large leaves.
If we recall the natural conditions of the Monstera, we see that sunlight this is a very important fact in the development of large leaves. When your Monstera grows Out then it should have indirect sunlight, and at least six hours of it.
Also, if you can’t replicate the lighting indoors, consider a grow light or move the plant to another location.
Why are my new Monstera leaves getting smaller?
The reason new leaves are underdeveloped is that conditions have gone from ideal to less than perfect for your Monstera.
Small leaves can be a sign of nutrient deficiency, under or over watering, too small a pot and insufficient light. All of these conditions will mean that the new leaves will be smaller.
Can we solve this problem?
Fortunately, leaves that seem to be getting smaller can be fixed. You can do this simply by changing things that aren’t ideal for your plant. In fact, all of these conditions can be easily resolved if we detect them early.
Keep an eye on your Monstera and track watering times, transplant dates, and fertilizing times and you’ll soon understand why the leaves are smaller.
There are only a few things that affect the small blades and they can all be easily changed.
final thoughts
In general, you can expect at least one new leaf to appear every 4-6 weeks, so if you notice that the emerging leaf looks smaller, don’t overdo it. wound it’s done and you can easily ensure that future leaves are larger.
Remember that a very young Monstera will have smaller leaves simply because it is a new plant. Large leaves come on older plants.
As your Monstera ages, it will produce more leaves each month if the conditions are right. By simply changing a few conditions for your Monstera, there’s no reason you can’t have a glorious Monstera with big, shiny leaves in a few years.