Bacterial Leaf Spot On Monstera (5 Causes & How to Treat!)

Bacterial leaf spots on Monstera can be a cause for concern for gardeners. Some of the bacteria responsible for these spots include Xanthomonas, Erwinia, and Pseudomonas. You must identify bacterial leaf spot early so that it may be treated right away because it frequently turns out to be a very devastating disease for plants.

So it’s natural for you to seek solutions to make your Monstera plant green and healthy as always. 

While it can be difficult to treat bacterial infections in your plants, it is possible. But first, what is the cause of these bacterial leaf spots? How do you treat them in your Monstera leaves?

Keep reading this article to find out!

5 Causes of Bacterial Leaf Spot On Monstera

Once you know the reasons why there are spots on your Monstera leaves, finding solutions will be easy.

Here are 5 possible causes to look out for:

1. Overwatering

When you water your Monstera plant, especially during winter, the soil will become too wet. As a result, bacteria will breed on the plant, leaving spots on its leaves. In addition, the plant may also suffer from root rot if there’s excess water in the soil.

Make sure the drainage pot you’re using for the plant is fulfilling its purpose. Only add more water to the plant when the top 2 to 3 inches of soil are dry. To fix the problem of root rot, cut off the dead leaves and roots of the plant.

2. Gardening With Infected Tools

Using an infected gardening tool may expose your plant to bacterial infection. While washing and cleaning these tools is good, you should always disinfect them too. Without doing this, bacteria can be transmitted from an infected plant to a healthy one. 

Always remember to disinfect all the tools you use in gardening with alcohol or other strong solutions.

3. Cold Temperatures

Being a tropical plant, the Monstera doesn’t thrive under cold temperatures. Hence, keeping the plants in places with temperatures below 50 degrees will limit their growth. 

There’s a chance that the Monstera plant’s immunity will become weak when they’re in a cold environment. As a result, bacteria and fungi tend to attack the plant, causing it to die. This is one of the reasons why black spots appear on its leaves.

Always keep the plants in a warm environment, especially during the winter months.

4. Low Humidity

As with other tropical plants, the Monstera plants flourish in places with high humidity. If you keep them in places with a humidity level below 40%, the plants will likely suffer from bacterial infestation. One of the signs of low humidity in the Monstera plant is spots on its leaves.

To increase the plant’s humidity, place it on a pebble tray. Doing this will allow the water to evaporate and rise, giving the plant the necessary humidity. You can also use a humidifier to increase the Monstera plant’s humidity.

5. Transmission From Affected Plants

The bacterial infestation spreads fast from one Monstera plant to another, especially if there’s little space between them. This is why you’ll notice that spots are appearing on the seemingly healthy plants. Once you notice these symptoms, act fast to prevent irreversible damage to your plants.

Read Also: Philodendron Birkin Brown Spots 

How To Treat Bacterial Leaf Spot On Monstera

Bacteria spots on your Monstera leaves are a sign that the plant is unhealthy. Luckily, there are simple ways in which you can save your plants from dying completely.

Here are simple tips to treat the affected plants:

• Separate the affected plants from the healthy ones, since bacterial infections can spread quickly.
• Disinfect every tool you’ve used on the infected plants before using it on the others.
• Prune the plants that have been badly affected by the bacteria using a pair of scissors or shears. Then, burn the plants as they cannot be revived.
• Apply neem oil to the Monstera plants to treat bacterial spots. Not only is the oil effective, but it is also completely safe.
• Use bactericide on the affected plants to treat the infected plants.
• Baking soda can be used to treat both bacteria and fungi infections in affected plants.

Conclusion

While the Monstera plants are not immune to bacterial infection, there are ways to keep the plants safe. Avoid over-watering the plants and keep them away from places with cold temperatures. Also, keep the Monstera plants in places with low humidity to prevent bacteria from acting on them.

Once you notice bacterial spots on your plants, act fast. First, separate the affected plants from the healthy ones. Then apply bactericidal, baking soda, or neem oil to the infected plants.

More on monstera plants: Growing Monstera in Water

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