Can someone please tell me what is happening to this plant?

Bangalore, India

Monstera deliciosa, Swiss Cheese Plant, etc etc! But I can't seem to figure out what is the problem with it! It is in a spot with bright light but no direct sunlight falls on it... I water it when the soil is almost dry to the touch... The potting mix has some wonderful vermicompost in a sandy mix, so it free draining... I could fertilize it but I don't want to do that without first figuring out what is the problem... is it a fungal infection? Any info will be greatly appreciated! Thanx a ton in advance, all you wonderful people! : )

Thumbnail by fuadh Thumbnail by fuadh Thumbnail by fuadh
Contra Costa County, CA(Zone 9b)

I see a couple of things. Not sure if my answers are correct...

1) White spots on the leaves look like mineral deposits from water drops. This suggests that you may be misting the plant, and the water is high in minerals or salts.

2) Yellow then brown, starting at the tips and edges, and working its way up the leaf. This suggests any of several things:
a) Natural old age of the leaf. If this is just happening to 1 or 2 leaves now and then, ignore it. Clip off those leaves. If it is happening to more leaves, then it is not simply old age.
b) Salts in the water will make the tips and edges brown in that pattern. Given the possibility of high mineral content in the water (from observation 1) this may be part of the problem.

What I would do about it:

About once a month water the plant in a way that will get rid of these extra minerals in the soil. If you can flood it and let it drain a couple of times that is the best. Another way is to plunge the whole pot into a bucket of water and hold it there til it stops bubbling, then let it drain. This would be particularly helpful if you could use rain water, or distilled or other water that has the lowest possible mineral or salt level. But ordinary tap water will work.

The rest of the time water from the top of the soil and catch and remove the water that drains through. Never let it stand in this water.

Bangalore, India

Thanx Diana! I'm sorry i forgot to mention that the white spots you see are from an application of a fungicide that i had applied a day before! The water here is fine and I use it on all my plants without a problem! It is something else that's bothering this plant!

Contra Costa County, CA(Zone 9b)

Ahh... Important info!

Anyway, if the water is pretty good, then regular water, and some drying time between watering ought to be good, but I would still leach out whatever may be accumulating. Perhaps not needed every month, though, if the water is not too hard.

Bangalore, India

Thanx Diana... that was useful info! : ) Thanx again!

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