Stop Monsoon Plant Damage! 7 Problems to Watch Out for -

Rainwater fills terracotta pots nurturing plants in an outdoor setting. Captured during a rainy day. Stop Monsoon Plant Damage! 7 Problems to Watch Out for

Stop Monsoon Plant Damage! 7 Problems to watch out for this rainy season. Are you worried about fungus, gnats, or root rot ruining your indoor plants this monsoon? Learn how to fix and prevent these problems so nothing stops your indoor plants from thriving.

First: Is Rainwater Good for Indoor plants?

Yes, it is.

Generally, rainwater is considered good for watering plants, including indoor plants. It is a source of soft water, which is good for plant health.

Soft water is naturally not hard on plants; it is considered soft in the sense that it does not contain high levels of minerals like magnesium and calcium, which can build up in plant soil and potentially harm plants.

If you’re using tap water, which will have a higher level of chlorine, and want to know if it is causing mineral build-up in your plant soil, then check the pot. If there is any built-up t will have a whitish ring at the soil level around the inside of your plant pot.

Rainwater is slightly acidic, having a pH between 5.5 and 6.5, which is ideal for most indoor plants as it helps the plants to absorb nutrients from the soil.

That being said, don’t worry if you can’t collect rainwater for your plants.

If you’re using tap water, then make sure to change the soil after some time, and not let your plant sit in the same soil for a prolonged period of time, and keep a check on the pH levels in the soil. Especially keep a check on cacti plants as they usually sit in the same soil for a long time.

Another thing to be kept in mind is that with more pollution these days, leading to contaminated rain even in areas where there is less pollution.

So it is advised to protect yourself from the first reason of the season, as it will bring down the contamination in the air with it.

Apart from this, there’s also the problem of plant damage that is caused by excessive rain and high humidity levels. Problems like root rot, fungal diseases, nutrient deficiencies, and even physical damage from the force of heavy downpours.

Related reads:

Stop Monsoon Plant Damage! 7 Problems to Watch Out for

Monsoon brings relief from heat, but for indoor plant parents, it can be a troubling time. Come rain, an increase in humidity, and pets the problems of fungus, gnats, yellowing leaves, and root rot also come upon us – plant parents.

Whether you’re growing money plants or ferns, excess moisture in the air and soil creates the perfect breeding ground for plant issues.

Don’t worry, these are common issues, and we can fix them. In this guide, you’ll learn the exact causes, signs, and solutions to common monsoon plant problems, and you will learn remedies to fix them.

Why Monsoon Triggers Plant Problems?

Monsoon season has made it’s introduction in India, and I’ve already started having indoor plant-related problems with some of my plants. My Hymenocallis littoralis (Beach Spider Lily) are the first ones to get affected.

Even though Beach Spider lilies are tropical plants, they enjoy warm and humid environments, but so do Mealybugs. Warm and humid conditions, lack of proper drainage, or overwatering will attract mealybugs to plants like Beach Spider lilies.

See, that’s the problem. Even though I have the right environmental conditions to make my Beach Spider lilies thrive (they are flowering beautifully!) Still, due to the excess water from rain, clogging of the drainage holes, an increase in nitrogen in the soil, along with the warm and humid conditions, has led to mealybug attack.

I bought neem oil to kill the mealybugs. It’s an affordable solution. You just need 4-5 ml of the oil diluted in 1 Liter of water and sprayed on the leaves thoroughly, front and back.

I’ll share the result with you soon as an update.

Why do Indoor Plants Suffer in Monsoon season?

Humidity creates excess moisture in soil

Less sunlight leads to slow evaporation

Closed rooms or small areas mean poor airflow

In places like India, homes often use plastic pots or planters without proper drainage holes

Expert Tip: Avoid keeping your pots and planters directly on the floor. Elevate with brocks, stands, or coasters to prevent fungal spread or pest breeding.

Why is that? When you keep pots and planters directly on the floor, especially during the monsoon when humidity is high, water tends to collect underneath your plant pots or stay trapped under them due to poor airflow.

This creates a damp environment for your plant and encourages:

Fungal growth on the floor and at the base of the pot
Pest breeding like fungus gnats and mold mites
Root rot will occur if your indoor plant has no proper drainage system.

Elevating the pot using stands (with legs or trays), bricks, coasters, small wooden blocks, etc., you’re:

Allowing air to circulate underneath the plant
Helping excess water to drain properly
Preventing moisture buildup, which slows fungal spread

This is a widely recommended practice by plant experts and horticulturists. Notably:

NASA’s Clean Air Study also suggests and supports the concept of airflow and plant care for healthy indoor plant maintenance. Gardening communities like the RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) and Master Gardeners frequently advise us to elevate pots and planters to prevent root diseases and fungus.

I would attest to this practice as well. Not too long ago, I witnessed the difference between elevated indoor plant care and the condition of plants kept always on the ground without any elevation.

I first-hand noticed the difference between my neighbor’s elevated plant and some of my plants I had stuck to keeping on the ground. The elevated plants were greener, fuller, and thriving as compared to my plants on the ground, which got more yellow leaves, root rot, and pest attacks.

I’m currently looking into the best indoor plant stands and elevation methods, and will soon share the same here. So do keep an eye out for that update!

Related reads:

1. Fungal on Soil – What is it and How can it be fixed?

Come monsoon season, one of the main issues we all face is fungal-related issues, which arise due to the excessive rain and humidity.

White fungal layer on soil – if you’re seeing white a white fungal layer on your indoor plant soil, then you need to what out for root rot and pest attack.

If here’s what you need to know:

Cause: Poor drainage + humid air

The reason why you’re having this fungal issue is due to poor drainage in your planter and increased humidity in the air.

Solution:

First scrape off the top 1 to 2 inches of the soil in your planter
Then sprinkle cinnamon powder and neem cake
Let the soil dry completely before watering it. Always check the moistness of the soil before watering your plant.
You’ll need to increase the air circulation of your plant by making sure there is good drainage space in your planter and also placing it on a stand, or bricks, or creating some kind of elevation for your planter so that water doesn’t get collected under it.

DIY Anti-Fungal Soil Mix Recipe (Indoor Plants – Monsoon Safe)

Ingredients for approx. 5 kg of mix

Component	Quantity	Purpose
1. Cocopeat or Peat Moss	2 parts	Retains moisture but allows air flow
2. perlite or Coarse Sand	1.5 parts	Improves drainage and prevents compaction
3. Well-rotten compost or Vermicompost	1 part	Nutrient-rich but airy
4. Neem cake powder	3 tablespoon	Natural anti-fungal and insect repellent
5. Cinnamon powder	1 tablespoon	Natural fungicide (it is great for surface fungus)
6. Trichoderma viride (optional)	2 teaspoon	Beneficial fungus that fights harmful fungi
7. Charcoal Bits (activated or garden)	1 part	Absorbs toxins and helps to control soil moisture and prevent odor

Gnat stuck on yellow sticky tape to save plants

2. Gnats – Tiny Annoying Flying Bugs

Cause: Moist soil

If you’re facing gnat problems – tiny flying bugs flying around your indoor plants – then the cause of this problem is moist soil, as it attracts gnats to lay eggs.

Signs of Gnats:

How to check if you’re facing a gnat problem? Then check for tiny black bugs flying near your plant’s soil. Larvae should be visible in damp soil.

Larva is an insect at the stage when it has just come out of its egg and has a short, fat, soft body, and its legs are not yet visible.

Solution:

To remove this gnat problem you’ll need to do the following:

Add a 1-inch layer of dry sand or coarse neem powder on top of the gnats
Use yellow sticky traps (you can easily purchase sticky tape online)
Let the soil dry out before the next watering. Always check the top 1-2 inches of the soil before watering. If the soil is already moist, then skip watering until the soil dries out
Try using water with neem oil plus soap solution. Read the dilute ratio on the bottle before pouring it directly over the plant. The one I have requires 4-5 ml of neem oil mixed in 1 Liter of water.

Pro Tip: Avoid terracotta trays that hold stagnant water – it’s a party zone for gnats.

3. Yellowing or Drooping Leaves

Leaves turning yellow or limp are your plant’s way of crying for help. Mostly, this happens due to stress from overwatering or poor light.

Cause:

Less light = slower evaporation
Sitting in moist soil for too long becomes more common as continued watering without soil drying leads to overwatering.
Soil stays wet too long and deprives roots of oxygen.
Nutrient absorption slows down in soggy soil.

Signs of Yellowing and Drooping Leaves:

Here is how you can identify this problem –

Watch out for lower leaves turning yellow first.
See if your plant looks droopy or weak as compared to before.
Leaves may feel soft and soft and soggy, usually at the base.

Solutions:

You can start by reducing the watering routine for your plant with these symptoms. Only water when the top 2 inches of soil are dry.
To check the dryness, use either visual cues, finger tests/ toothpick/ chopstick, etc., or a soil moisture meter
Place the plant in a brighter spot with filtered sunlight.
Avoid fertilizing your plant until the plant recovers.

4. Root Rot – The Silent Killer in Monsoon Season

Even though rainwater is good for our plants, excessive amounts of downpour, on the other hand, are fatal for them.

Root rot is one of the most damaging problems (and often unnoticed) indoor plant problems that happens when the roots sit in moist soil for too long, especially in pots without proper drainage.

Cause: Excessive watering and soggy soil

The humidity rises during the monsoon season, and humid weather slows down soil dying. Overwatering when plants don’t need it causes soggy soil, and soggy soil restricts proper airflow within the pot. Without proper air circulation, the roots have difficulty breathing.

Poor airflow and compact potting mix increase the risk of root rot.

Signs of Root Rot:

If you’re plant begins to show signs of yellowing or drooping leaves, the plant feels wobbly in the pot despite soil moisture and has stunted growth, then check the plant roots by taking the plant out to inspect the roots, and if you find:

Mushy, black, or brown roots
Foul odor coming from the soil

Then you have a case of root rot.

During monsoon, it is best to keep a check for such signs of drooping, yellowing leaves, and wobbliness if your plant is exposed to rain.

Solutions:

Don’t worry, if you successfully detect and diagnose root rot then do the following to save your plant:

Don’t worry, and carefully cut off soft or black roots with sterilized pruning shears or scissors.
Let the remaining roots air out for a few hours.
Repot your plant in fresh new well-draining soil mix and add sand or perlite for better air circulation.
Water your plant sparingly and only when the top 1-2 inches of the soil is dry.

5. White Powdery Mildew on Leaves

This is a fungal infection that happens to plants, and it looks like white or gray powder spread across the leaves, like someone dusted your plant with flour.

Cause: High humidity & still air

High humidity and still air create the ideal environment for this fungal infection to breed.
How? Well, if your plant leaves remain damp for too long, or if your plant is placed in an overcrowded place that can cause reduced air flow.
Another reason is misting the leaves in a humid climate. That can worsen the problem.

Signs of White Powdery Mildew:

If your plant is having white powdery mildew (fungal infection) then watch out for the following signs –

White powdery spots on upper or lower leaf surfaces
Distorted, curling, or dropping of leaves.
Often it starts from the lower leaves of the plant and grows upwards. So, check the base for any such signs during the monsoon season.

Solutions:

If your plant has begun having this white mildew, then do the following to fix this problem –

First remove and discard the heavily infected leaves.
Spray the plant leaves with neem oil solution – but always read the directions for use when you purchase your neem oil. (It is usually diluted by mixing 2 – 4 ml of neem oil in 1 L of water, and try adding a few drops of mild soap to kill off the fungal infection. This solution will also help to remove any pest attack.)
Space out your plants to increase the airflow.
Avoid misting during humid days.

6. Leafy Spots or Moldy Patches

Fungal leaf spots appear on your plant as brown, black, or yellow lesions on the leaves. Sometimes these spots are surrounded by moldy or fuzzy textures. So what’s the cause of this type of fungus attack?

Cause: Resting water on leaves + Humid air + Dirty tools

Water splashes on leaves or watering remaining on the leaves for long can cause this.
Spores spread easily in humid air.
Poor airflow and dirty gardening tools can trigger infections and lead to this as well.

Signs of Leafy Spots or Moldy Patches:

Check for spots with defined edges or moldy patches
Leaf tissues around spots may start wilting, and if not treated, it can spread rapidly.

Solutions:

Remove infected leaves immediately to stop the spreading.
Avoid overhead watering or misting, and keep away from excessive rain downpours.
Spray a homemade fungicide by mixing 1 tsp of baking soda with 1 tsp of neem oil in 1 L of water.
Keep the leaves dry and try to improve airflow.

7. Slow or Stunted Growth

During the monsoon season, many indoor plants pause growth or show no visible development due to factors like low light and oversaturated soil. It’s like your plant is trying to “wait it out” until things go back to normal.

Cause: Low light + wet soil

Overcast skies reduce sunlight there by depriving your plant from the amount of light it needs for growing.
The other reason is cold and wet soil. In this case roots go dormant.
Nutrient uptake slows down in soggy, oxygen-poor soil.
Your plant might also be stressed from pests or fungal attacks.

Signs of Slow or Stunted Growth:

Check for the following to identify if your plant his facing this issue –

No new leaves or shoots (apparently fiddle leaf will start showing shoots like mine did after a few failed attempts.)
Your plant will look dull or faded in color.
If you care to check the roots, then you’ll see that the roots are healthy, yet still your plant isn’t growing.

Solutions:

Start by –

Improving the lighting by moving the plants closer to windows or use grow lights.
Switch to a lighter watering routine.
Avoid fertilizing heavily and wait until active growth returns; otherwise, you will end up killing your plant. Trust me. You’ll overdose it with fertilizer.
Re-pot if you’re still not sure. Repotting will help if roots seem compacted or drainage is poor.

Close-up of a gardener's hands in gloves preparing soil for planting outdoors.

General Care Tips to Stop Monsoon Plant Damage

Here are the 5 easy monsoon easy plant care tips:

Use terracotta pots for better air circulation
Water only when top 2 inches of the soil are dry
Avoid misting plants as they can cause powdery mildew on leaves
Keep windows open for ventilation or place the plants where they receive enough air
Shift your plants to brighter or less bright spots so that they get the right amount of sunlight that the particular plant requires

Quick Guide Table for Popular Indoor Plants

Plant Type	Monsoon Damage Type	Quick Solutions
Fiddle Leaf Fig	Brown spots, root rot	Use chunky soil mix, avoid soggy soil
Money Plant	Fungus	Let soil dry completely, sprinkle cinnamon but don’t over do it
Snake Plant	Root rot	Use free-draining soil, reduce watering
Syngonium	Gnats	Add sand layer, neem oil spray
Beach Spider Lily	Yellow leaves, Mealybugs	Reduce watering frequency, and use neem oil spray for mealybugs
Peace Lily	Yellow leaves	Reduce watering frequency and increase indirect bright light exposure
Areca Palm	Fungal leaf spots	Improve air circulation, wipe leaves dry, and don’t overwater.
Bamboo Palm	Gnats, Yellowing	Neem oil spray, and use a well-draining soil mix
Bougainvillea (in pots)	Root rot, leaf drop	Keep in the sun after rain – they need ample sunlight and well-draining soil, and avoid overwatering. Prune for more growth.
Crotons (in pots)	Fungal infection	Don’t under- or overwater. Spray with diluted neem oil, and keep foliage dry. Keep in bright light.
Monstera	Mold on soil, rotting	Avoid overwatering, keep it near a bright window or an area with bright light
Boston Fern	Mold, Frizzled leaves	Keep humidity balanced, and avoid direct rainwater to avoid overwatering.
Aloe vera	Water retention issues	Use cactus mix, water only when dry, avoid direct rain during excessive rain time
Rubber plant	Leaf fungus	Wipe leaves, use neem oil spray, reduce humidity
English Ivy	Fungal Mildew	Ensure proper airflow, prune it often, and use neem spray to avoid bug attack

Related reads:

Conclusion

Monsoon can be a test for even the most seasoned plant parents as heavy downpours bring problems like root rot, fungal diseases, nutrient deficiencies, and even physical damage from heavy rain and wind storms. But with a few smart care and a few tweaks, your indoor plants can survive and thrive even in heavy downpours.

Got a top that worked for you? Please do share it with us in the comments, and read more on plant care and soil hacks at journeyment.com.

Reference

“Interior Landscape Plants for Indoor Air Pollution Abatement” by NASA
“Should I put indoor plants in the rain?” by Lovethegarden.com
RHS Indoor Plant Care Guide
UF IFAS Plant Profiles – You’ll find research-backed guidance on common tropical ornamental plants like crotons, areca palms, and bougainvillea in containers.
Garden Up by Dr. Ekta Chaudhary – Urban Gardening for Indian Homes (YouTube Channel)
“Indoor Plant Problems and Prevention Tips” by ourhouseplants.com

FAQ

Can neem oil kill fungus and gnats?

Yes. Neem oil has anti-fungal and anti-pest properties. However, it must be used in a diluted form, so read the description on the amount of usage before using it.

Why do my indoor plants die every monsoon?

Likely overwatering, poor drainage, and lack of light or proper air circulation.

Is cinnamon really helpful for plant fungus?

Yes. Cinnamon has natural anti-fungal properties and helps suppress soil mold. However, follow the proper guidelines on how to use to on plants before using it.

Can indoor plants be kept in the rain?

Yes, rainwater is generally good for indoor plants. It’s a soft water source, meaning it often doesn’t contain the minerals, salts, and chemicals present in tap water. Soft water does not have high levels of minerals like calcium and magnesium, and it can contain beneficial micronutrients like nitrogen.

However, it comes with it’s own set of problems like the ones we’ve discussed above so watch out for them.

Stop Monsoon Plant Damage! 7 Problems to Watch Out for

First: Is Rainwater Good for Indoor plants?

Stop Monsoon Plant Damage! 7 Problems to Watch Out for

Why Monsoon Triggers Plant Problems?

Why do Indoor Plants Suffer in Monsoon season?

Top 7 Indoor Plant Problems During Monsoon

1. Fungal on Soil – What is it and How can it be fixed?