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Why Does My Monstera Drip Water? (3 things that can make your plant weep!)

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Are you a plant lover who can not bear to see a plant in distress? Has this very reason been a cause for great stress for yourself now that your monstera plant is not doing well? Have you recently noticed that your monstera plant has begun to weep?

Then, you have found yourself at the right place because we will be lifting this stress from your shoulders by telling you why does my monstera drip water.

If you have recently noticed droplets of water sitting on the surface of your monstera plant’s leaves, don’t worry, they aren’t tears. Though, they do signal the discomfort your plant is facing. If you want to help your plant out and want to know exactly why this is happening, then we’ll be answering why does my monstera drip water for you.

Why Does My Monstera Drip Water 1
Can someone explain why Monstera leaves produce water droplets? – via Reddit

Why Does My Monstera Drip Water?

Plants, like all organisms, need specific conditions and necessities to survive healthily. And to maintain these, many processes are carried out within them to ensure that the plant stays healthy and alive.

Hence, when you notice water droplets on the surface of your monstera leaves, they might be a result of your plant’s survival instincts kicking in. Here are the three possible reasons why does my monstera drip water.

Guttation

What is Guttation?

Plants absorb water and use photosynthesis to grow, but these are not the only processes occurring within them. Plants have a secret life that solely depends upon the balance of water and nutrients.

In formal terms, plant sweating or crying is called guttation, and it is quite common. Monstera plants remove all excess water and salts from their leaves and maintain the necessary balance through this process.

Guttation helps plants secrete water from the tips of their leaves, mostly at night when the soil is moist, while the roots absorb water. Pressure in the plant causes water to secrete from the tips of the leaves.

Is Guttation Harmful?

Guttation is a normal process amongst plants and is necessary for their health. Under room temperatures around 65-85°F and humidity levels between 60-80%, guttation is not something you should worry about.

However, normally guttation in plants does not occur regularly, so keep that in mind when checking for any symptoms. Any curling, black spots, or yellowing on the plants will justify your worry.

What To Do In Case Of Abnormal Guttation?

An abnormal amount of guttation happens because of overwatering. If your plant is stressed because of its unhealthy growing conditions, then it will react to communicate its discomfort with you. You should ensure that you are providing it with the necessary amount of water. Investing in a watering can with a thin nozzle does wonder in this situation.

Transpiration

What is Transpiration?

Transpiration is the process that allows plants to lose water from the stomata on their leaves. This water escapes in its gaseous form; as water vapors. This removal helps the plant cool down during hot weather, as the water in the roots and stems is pulled upwards and moves into the leaves.

How Does Transpiration Make The Plant Drip?

When a plant absorbs excess water and mineral salts through its roots, an inward pressure is created within it. Plants keep absorbing water and mineral salts throughout the day, while the sun is out.

But as the sky starts to darken and absorption pauses, a need is felt by the plant to remove the excess water and salts. The xylem vessel system aids the pressure to push the excess water and mineral salts through the hydathodes on the surface of the leaf.

Can Water Dripping Through Transpiration Be Dangerous?

Transpiration is a very natural process that is necessary for plants. However, irregular and excessive transpiration will cause water droplets on the surface of the leaves. This can result in a loss of too much water.

Not only does this slow down plant growth, but it can also cause the leaves to wilt. It can even cause a permanent water deficit (permanent wilting), which is fatal for the plants.

How To Stop Excessive Transpiration?

You can reduce water loss through transpiration using a substance called Abscisic Acid (ABA). ABA closes stomata on the leaves which decreases photosynthesis. The amount of carbon dioxide that enters the leaf is also reduced. Lack of photosynthesis means less energy is produced, so the need for transpiration decreases.

However, this is risky as it can also stunt plant growth.

Excessive transpiration can also be solved using an antitranspirant (AT). You can apply the antitranspirant to the surface of the transpiring plant to reduce water losses. Water is conserved in the root zone, which means more water will be available for the roots themselves.

Why Does My Monstera Drip Water 2
Why is my monstera dripping water in the morning? – via Reddit

Dew

When the environment is humid, especially during the night, you will find water droplets on the surface of your monstera plant. The reason is the water that evaporates at night and settles on the surface of the leaves.

This is why, when you wake up, there might be water on your monstera plant. You do not have to worry about this, as dew is not harmful to your plant.

How To Differentiate Between Guttation, Transpiration, And Dew?

You can differentiate between these processes by observing the placement of the water. For guttation, the water will be at the tips of the leaves. For dew, the whole leaf surface will be covered with water.

For transpiration, most of the water gets removed as vapors. But for excessive transpiration, the plant will also start to wilt.


Conclusion

As plant parents, it is critical to know about even the smallest details for the sake of your plant baby. Knowing why your plant is distressed and the different ways they show this distress is essential.

Hopefully, this will help you understand the causes of the plant’s distress and lend you a hand in preventing and stopping your monstera plant from dripping water.