Have you ever noticed your Monstera sweating or dripping water after you water it? Don’t worry! Your plant isn’t crying or weeping, it’s experiencing guttation.
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Guttation vs Dew
So what is guttation? The water droplets that form on the leaves are actually water from inside the plant.
When the soil is very wet, the roots might absorb more water than they can hold. When that happens, the water pressure causes xylem tissue that carries sap through the plant to transport water up to the leaves.
In the daytime, the stomata, or leaf pores, open to allow evaporation. At night time, they close and the water cannot escape. If too much water builds up, it leaks out of the pores and drips off. In that way, it is very similar to human perspiration.
In contrast, dew forms from condensation of water from the air. When the humidity reaches 100%, the air can not hold any more water. Then, the extra water forms as droplets on the leaves. For the best humidity for your Monstera, check out our humidity guide.
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Dew usually forms overnight because humidity rises as temperature falls. Guttation droplets usually form overnight because the plant’s pores close in the absence of light.
Is it normal for a Monstera to sweat and drip water?
Dripping leaves from guttation are a normal occurrence for Monstera and these droplets can occur on many other houseplant varieties, too. Guttation is not inherently bad and does not mean that anything is wrong with your plant! The only downside is that some nutrients from the sap are lost instead of being absorbed by the leaf.
Reasons your Monstera could be sweating
Wet soil around your Monstera’s roots causes guttation. This is easy to confuse with Monstera overwatering, but they are not the same!
Guttation is a short term effect caused by root water pressure right after watering. If your Monstera’s soil becomes very wet right after watering, but quickly dries, your plant will be fine. Guttation right after watering is normal and no cause for concern.
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Overwatering is a long term effect caused by lack of airflow in wet soil. If the soil starts wet and stays wet, that is a sign that you might be overwatering. If your Monstera sweats water droplets for more than a day after watering, you should consider reducing soil moisture to avoid root damage. Find out how much to water your Monstera here.
What to do if your Monstera is sweating
While guttation will not harm your plant, there are steps you can take to avoid water droplets on your Monstera’s leaves. Changing factors that effect soil moisture, especially right after watering your Monstera, can reduce the amount of sweating. These steps will also help if you suspect overwatering.
Each of the following factors links to our guide for that topic!
- Watering: Using a smaller quantity of water for each watering will leave less excess moisture around the roots. Also, try watering in the morning so the plant will have the day to use up excess water while its stomata are open.
- Soil Mix: A well draining soil mixture will distribute water evenly and let the excess flow out.
- Light: More light keeps your plant’s pores open longer, allowing water to evaporate. It also helps your plant use up water during photosynthesis.
- Humidity: Lower humidity allows more water to escape your Monstera’s leaves via evaporation.
- Pot: The type of pot you use for your Monstera can affect soil moisture.
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