Yellowing leaves are the most common message a struggling monstera sends — and the most commonly misread. Before you panic and repot, it helps to work through the usual suspects in order, because the fix for one cause can make another one worse.
Overwatering is the most common cause
In Singapore’s humidity, soil that never fully dries out is the number one reason aroid leaves turn yellow. Waterlogged roots can’t breathe, they start to rot, and a rotting root can’t take up water or nutrients — so the plant shows the same yellowing symptoms as a plant that’s thirsty, which is what trips people up. Check the soil with a finger two knuckles deep before watering again, and make sure your pot and mix actually drain. A soilless blend like Aroid Mix is built specifically to stop this — fast-draining, no soggy compaction, and roots get the airflow they need to recover.
Nutrient deficiency
If your monstera has been in the same pot and soil for over a year without feeding, it may simply have run out of food. Potting mixes lose most of their nutritional value within a few months of regular watering. A liquid feed like Plant GROW added to your watering routine every two weeks replenishes what the soil has lost and is usually enough to bring new growth back to a healthy green within a few weeks.
Root rot or disease
If yellowing is spreading fast alongside mushy stems or a sour smell from the soil, you’re likely dealing with root rot rather than a simple feeding issue. At this stage, Plant SHIELD can help address active fungal issues on the visible parts of the plant, and repotting into fresh, fast-draining mix gives the roots a real chance to recover instead of sitting in the conditions that caused the problem.
When it’s just old leaves
One lower leaf slowly yellowing while the rest of the plant pushes out new growth is usually nothing to worry about — it’s just the plant shedding an older leaf to focus energy on new ones. Only start troubleshooting if multiple leaves are yellowing at once, or if new growth is affected too.
Not sure which growing mix your monstera actually needs? Our Which Mix guide walks through it in more detail.