Pocket Botanist
Check these first
- Smell the soil for a foul or rotten odor.
- Gently pull the plant from the pot to see the roots.
- Check if the roots are firm and white or mushy and brown.
Likely causes
Poor Drainage
Most likelyHow to tell: The soil smells sour or swampy and the plant looks wilted despite wet soil.
What to do: Repot the plant into a container with drainage holes. Use a chunky, well draining potting mix with perlite or orchid bark.
Excessive Watering
Most likelyHow to tell: The roots appear brown, slimy, and fall apart when touched.
What to do: Gently remove the plant from the pot and trim away all mushy, black roots with sterilized shears. Repot in fresh, dry soil and wait a few days before watering.
Find out what's wrong with your monstera adansonii
The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.
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When to worry
If the majority of the root system is mushy and black, the plant may be too far gone to save. If you see healthy white roots remaining, there is a good chance for recovery.
Stopping it coming back
Only water when the top few centimeters of soil are dry and never let the pot sit in a saucer of standing water.
Monstera Adansonii: root rot? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your monstera adansonii and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free
Questions people ask
- Can I save a plant with root rot?
- If you catch it early and remove the damaged roots, the plant can recover. It will need time to grow new roots.
- Do I need to wash the roots?
- Gently rinsing the roots with lukewarm water helps you see which parts are healthy and which need to be trimmed.
More problems with Monstera Adansonii
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- Why is my Monstera adansonii drooping?
- Why is my Monstera adansonii losing leaves?
- Why does my Monstera adansonii have brown spots?
- Why are my Monstera adansonii leaves curling?
Back to the Monstera Adansonii guide
This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.