How to Bring Your Monstera Back to Life After Overwatering

February 4, 2025

Save Your Monstera: Tips for Recovering from Overwatering

Let’s be real—overwatering is one of the easiest mistakes to make when caring for our leafy green friends. One minute you’re lovingly hydrating it, and the next, your fabulous Monstera is suddenly looking, well, less fabulous. Limp leaves, yellow spots, and that sinking feeling of, “I’ve killed it, haven’t I?” Sound familiar? Don’t stress—your Monstera can bounce back with a little patience and TLC. Let’s get that gorgeous plant of yours thriving again!

Signs Your Monstera Might Be Overwatered

Before we jump into the rescue, let’s make sure we’re on the same page. Overwatering isn’t just about pouring too much water—it’s also about poor drainage or pots that trap moisture like a sponge.

Yellowing leaves: Your Monstera might start sporting yellow patches that seem to spread faster than gossip in a small town.
Soggy or smelly soil: Stick your finger in the soil. If it’s wet and smells earthy (or worse, a bit rotten), your plant’s roots might be in trouble.
Droopy leaves: Odd, isn’t it? Overwatering can make leaves droop just like underwatering does. Plants are confusing like that!
Brown or black spots: These are often caused by root rot—a fungal issue that spreads in oversaturated soil.

Emergency Steps to Revive Your Monstera

Ok, deep breath. You haven’t lost your green-thumb status just yet. Here’s your game plan for rescuing your plant baby:

Step 1: Get it out of the wet soil

Start by carefully removing the Monstera from its pot. Be gentle! Its poor roots are fragile right now. Shake off the excess dirt and inspect the roots for damage. Healthy roots will be white and firm, while diseased roots tend to be mushy, brown, or black.

Step 2: Trim those rotted roots

Grab some clean, sharp scissors or pruning shears and snip off the damaged roots. Yes, it feels like giving your Monstera a haircut but trust me, it’s for the best. Discard any mushy or smelly parts that aren't doing the plant any favours.

Step 3: Allow the roots to breathe

Before you rush to replant, let your Monstera’s roots dry for a few hours. Place it somewhere with plenty of airflow (but no direct sunlight). This helps clear up excess moisture lingering on the roots.

Step 4: Repot with care

Choose a pot with proper drainage holes—because no plant deserves to live in the swamp—and fill it with fresh, well-draining soil. A mix that includes perlite or pumice works wonders. Gently replant your Monstera, ensuring the roots have enough space to settle in without feeling smothered.

Step 5: Water wisely

I know, this feels like the moment we should avoid water entirely, but nope—your Monstera still needs hydration, just less of it. Give it a light drink, making sure excess water drains out of the bottom of the pot. From now on, only water when the top two inches of soil feel dry. Your finger is your best moisture meter—poke the soil and listen to it speak!

Preventing Overwatering in the Future

Nobody’s perfect, but with a few tricks up your sleeve, you’ll be much better equipped to keep overwatering dramas in the rearview mirror.

Invest in a drainage-friendly pot: Cute pots are a must, but drainage holes are the true MVPs of plant parenthood.
Use the right soil: A chunky potting mix that drains like a dream is key. Think tropical rainforest vibes—roots that love airflow.
Stick to a schedule: Make watering part of your weekly routine—but always check soil moisture first.
Observe your plant: Over time, you’ll start to read the subtle cues your Monstera gives when it’s thirsty or over it with the whole water thing.

Give Yourself (and Your Plant) a Break

Plant care is all about learning, experimenting, and sometimes making mistakes. No one gets it right 100% of the time, so don’t let a hiccup like overwatering discourage you. Your Monstera—or as I like to call mine, “queen of the jungle vibe”—is tougher than you think. A little bit of extra love and attention, and it’ll be back to its Instagram-ready self before you know it.

So, get those scissors, refresh that soil, and give your plant a bit of pep in its step. You’ve got this!

Happy growing!

Candeece 🌿