Spent 5 hours trying to fix a droopy monstera before realizing it was just rootbound from a pot I bought 2 years ago

I measured the soil moisture, checked for pests, adjusted the light angle, and even talked to it like an idiot before I finally pulled it out and saw a solid mass of roots filling that whole 8 inch nursery pot, has anyone else spent way too long troubleshooting the wrong thing?

2 comments

2 Comments

gibson.sarah1d ago

Forget all that - you probably stunted its growth by over-caring for it. Plants actually thrive on neglect sometimes, especially monstera. Mine did the same thing, I was fussing with it for weeks, then I just ignored it for a month and it threw out three new leaves.

scott.miles1d ago

Ugh, right?! Mothering a plant to death is a real thing, I swear. I did the same with my first snake plant, gave it a little pep talk every morning and a sip of water every other day. It just sat there looking sad and droopy. Then I went on a two-week vacation and left it in the corner to fend for itself. Came back and it looked like it had been hitting the gym, all perked up and tall (like it was showing off, honestly). Now I just pretend it doesn't exist most of the time, and it's thriving like a little green rebel. Makes you wonder if plants secretly just want to be left the heck alone.