Monstera started browning and having black spots
Plant: Monstera deliciosa
How long have you owned the plant? 6 months to 1 year
Plant Parent
The leaves have started browning and some have black spots.

The overall plant:

Light Situation:

How do you determine WHEN to water? I wait for the soil to become just slightly dry.
Describe HOW you water: I use a water globe.
Fertilizer: I have recently started using Baby Bio house plant food.
Soil Situation:

Darryl
Thanks for submitting your photos and care details!
Assessment
Let’s take a closer look at this leaf:

I notice some likely signs of a thrips infestation:

Recommendations
- Cut off any heavily infested or damaged leaves – thrips eggs are embedded into the plant so cutting off leaves will eliminate future generations
- Use a lint roller (the tape kind) or masking tape to physically remove any visible insects – I just keep the tape nearby so I can do this removal anytime I pass by the plant and can spare a few seconds
- Treat remaining plant with insecticidal soap EVERY WEEK – regular treatment is key to breaking the reproductive cycle
More details on thrips treatment (and more photos) here: houseplantjournal.com/thrips/
When an infestation has gone untreated for some time, it will take much longer for it to be eradicated. Expect a slow, gradual process and be vigilant with inspection. Thankfully your plant is small enough that it should be easy to thoroughly inspect on a regular basis. Good luck!
More great resources to level-up your houseplant game:
- Read my books: ‘The New Plant Parent‘ and ‘The New Plant Collector‘
- Take my online course: Essentials of Houseplant Enjoyment
- More detailed houseplant Q&As
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