Are you wondering how a somewhat stoic plant, such as Monstera, has decided to get emotional? What coulld possible upset such a majestic plant? The beading droplets on the leaves may give you alarm, but don’t worry.
When it first happened to my monstera, I started to second-guess my watering schedule, but I did my research, and once I actually understood the biological reason for it, I found it was fascinating and reassuring for my plant’s health.
Here’s what’s happening with your crying monstera, when it’s normal and when it may be a cry for help…
What Is Actually Happening with crying Monstera leaves… Guttation Explained
So the process that your witness has a botanical name, which is guttation. It’s not condensation, or the plant sweating or even a sign that your monstera is upset with its environmental conditions. Rather, it is tge plants phsicological mechanism that it uses to regulate internal water pressure, and in my experience, Monstera, and sometimes pothos are prone to it.
Here’s the botanical explanation I found from my research.
In the day, the monstera transpires water vapour through tiny little pores called stomata, which keeps the water pressure regulated. However, during the night, the stomata shut up shop, and the monstera’s leaves stop respiring. If the roots continue to absorb water, which they do due to osmotic pressure, the water doesn’t have anywhere to go, and the pressure builds in the monstera’s vascular system.
To relieve this, the monstera pushes the excess water out through special structures called hydathodes, which are small pores that go along the monstera’s leaf margins and tips. The little droplets you see are the fluid expelled to release the pressure.
Is the crying normal?
Most of the time, yes, guttation is completely normal and usually not harmful. It usually occurs…
- In the morning, after a night of lower levels of transpiration
- After you have watered, when water uptake is at its highest levels.
- In warm conditions (think central heating), the temperatures can accelerate water movement through the monstera
- I notice it more during its active growth in spring and summer
I have personally noticed my Monstera getting all emotional on warmer nights after watering in the Summer.
One little distinction I’d like to make is that guttation droplets form most specifically at the leaf margins and tips (at the hydathodes). If moisture is appearing more randomly across the entire leaf surface, then my guess is that it’s likely condensation caused by temperature fluctuation, and not guttation.
What the Droplets Actually Contain (Interesting)
Contrary to what I first assumed, the guttation fluid is not just water, but it’s a dilute solution containing things like minerals, sugars, and other compounds uptaken from the soil alongside the excess water.
It’s worth noting that the mineral content is generally low in healthy monstera, but it’s there.
What this means in practice is that if the guttation droplets dry on the leaf surface repeatedly, then they can leave white mineral deposits.
Don’t worry, as this is purely cosmetic, but it can look like a problem when you first see it.
The simple solution is to wipe the leaves gently with a damp cloth every couple of weeks, which also stops dust from accumulating on the glossy leaves. Less dust means more photosynthesis for bigger, stronger leaves with more splits.
Just use a microfibre cloth and your monstera is going to look better.
When Dripping Water IS a Warning Sign
Most of the time, guttation is normal and nothing to worry about, but wet-looking leaves are not always guttation. Here are the scenarios when you should look a bit closer…
Water is coming from the soil or pot, not the leaves. If the water is pooling at the base of the pot or the soil surface looks consistently damp, then this is a drainage or watering frequency problem, so check that drainage holes aren’t blocked and that your soil mix isn’t retaining too much moisture. (use pine bark and perlite in your potting mix to improve drainage.)
Do the leaves look soft, pale, or glassy, as well as the crying? When guttation happens, it does change how the leaf looks, so if the leaves are sot or translucent near the base, this can indicate oedema, which is where the plant cells absorb more water than they can handle, and begin to rupture. In which case, take a look at your soil drainage and watering.
If there is constant heavy guttation alongside widespread yellowing of the leaf tissue. Occasional guttation is okay, but Persistent, heavy guttation with yellowing across the leaves is a problem. If the roots never get a chance to dry slightly between waterings, the root system may be under stress. In this case, the guttation is another symptom of overwatering rather than a normal process.
Does Guttation Mean I’ve Overwatered?
This is not necessarily true as Guttation does occur in perfectly healthy, correctly watered monsteras as it’s a pressure-relief mechanism, rather then strictly a distress signal.
However, the two conditions that most reliably trigger it are high soil moisture and reduced transpiration. So if your monstera is crying heavily every single morning, it’s worth looking at whether you’re watering too often. However, you should look at the overall picture first, and if the leaves are firm and a healthy medium green, new growth is appearing regularly, and the roots are white or pale rather than brown and mushy, your plant is healthy.
If you’re unsure about watering frequency, the most reliable watering method for me is to feel the soil about 2 inches deep. If the soil is still damp, then wait; however, if it’s dry, then water the monstera thoroughly.
Can I Stop It?
If you really want to, you can reduce the frequency of guttation by doing the following things…
- Watering in the morning and not the evening, giving the plant more time to transpire excess water before the stomata close at night
- Allowing the soil to dry a little more between each bout of watering to reduce the osmotic pressure that drives the crying process
- Improve the airflow around the plant, for example, you can use a gentle fan or open a window to improve daytime transpiration
But honestly, my advice is that I wouldn’t stress about stopping it as such, because guttation is a sign of a plant with a functioning, active vascular system, and I’d rather have a monstera crying a little in the morning than one that never moves enough water to produce the phenomenon at all.
Short Answer
Usually, your monstera is not crying in any distressed sense, and it’s doing something plants have done to survive for millions of years by pushing excess water out through its specialised pores in the leaf margins to regulate internal pressure.
Guttaion is most likely to happen after watering, overnight, and during periods of vigorous growth in the Summer.
Don’t worry, and wipe the droplets off occasionally with a damp microfiber cloth to prevent mineral deposits and keep your leaves clean from dust. Also, check your watering routine if it’s happening alongside other symptoms such as yellowing leaves and drooping. Otherwise, you can take it as a quiet sign that your plant is well-hydrated, actively growing, and doing exactly what a healthy monstera should.
Noticed your monstera dripping and been baffled by its behaviour? Drop a comment below as I’d love to know if this helped.