Should I trim burned leaves on my Monstera and when should I repot it?

What's likely going on

From the photo, the Monstera leaves have dry, brown, crispy patches mainly on the exposed parts of the leaf. That pattern fits old sunburn or light/heat damage rather than disease. The rest of the leaf looks firm and green, and new leaves are coming in, which means the plant is still functioning well.

Burned tissue can’t turn green again, but it also doesn’t usually spread once the plant is in better light.

Repotting is a separate question: Monsteras like to be a little snug, and they only need a bigger pot when roots are crowded.

What to do

1. Decide how much to trim

   • If the brown spots are just cosmetic and less than about a third of the leaf, it’s fine to leave them. The green parts still photosynthesize and feed the plant.
   • If a leaf is mostly brown or hanging, cut that whole leaf off at the base of its stem (petiole) with clean scissors.

2. Optional cosmetic trim
   If the patches really bother you, you can carefully trim just the dead, crispy parts, following the natural shape of the leaf and leaving a thin line of brown so you don’t cut into healthy tissue.

3. Adjust the light
   Move the plant a little back from the window or use a sheer curtain so it gets bright but indirect light. Avoid harsh midday sun on the leaves.

4. Check if it truly needs repotting
   Lift the pot and look for roots coming out of the drainage holes or tightly circling the top of the soil. If you see that, or if the soil dries out very fast (in just a couple of days), it’s time.

5. Repot at the right time and size

   • Best in spring or early summer.
   • Choose a pot only 2–5 cm (1–2 inches) wider than the current one, with drainage holes.
   • Use a chunky, well‑draining mix (regular potting soil mixed with bark, perlite, or coco chips).

How to prevent it

• Acclimate plants slowly when moving them closer to a window: a little more light each week.
• Keep glass‑side leaves out of intense afternoon sun.
• Water when the top few centimeters of soil are dry; avoid both soggy and bone‑dry soil for long periods.

When to worry

• Brown patches keep getting larger on newer leaves.
• You see soft, wet, black areas or a bad smell from the soil (possible rot).
• Leaves yellow heavily from the bottom up and drop quickly.

If any of those happen, reassess watering and check the roots for rot before repotting again.