Houseplant Leaves Curling Up Causes
There are four main things that can be the cause of houseplant leaves curling up; too much light, too little water, too high temperatures and pests. Let’s have a look at each of them in turn to find out why your leaves might be curling. All the factors (apart from pests) have a very similar cause and that is a lack of water or losing water too quickly.
Too much light
If the plant is being exposed to light that is too strong for it then it will curl in on itself for protection and to conserve water. If your houseplant’s leaves are curling upwards then the first thing you should check is the position of the plant. Is it on the windowsill of a south facing window? If so then light is probably your issue. Try moving it away from the light source so that it is more protected to see if this makes a difference for your plant.
Too much heat
The second possible cause which is linked to the first one is that your plant is experiencing heat stress. This can come from too much light but it can also come from being in a room that is kept constantly at higher temperatures or being placed above a radiator or fireplace. If it is placed above either of those then move it immediately. If the room they’re in is constantly warm then try placing it in a different room.
Too little water
As plants curl their leaves to try and conserve water it should come as no surprise that watering too infrequently can be a cause of leaf curling. Stick your finger in the soil and feel how dry it is. If the soil is dry to touch then that is probably the culprit and you need to give your plant a drink as soon as possible. A great way to know if your plant needs watering more is to use a moisture probe like this one from Amazon. You simply insert the prongs into the soil and are given a reading of how moist the soil is. Try it with your houseplants and if the gauge reads dry then you need to water your plant.
Pests
The final cause of houseplant leaves curling up that we will talk about are pests. If your plant is in the perfect lighting conditions with a consistent medium temperature and is being watered at regular intervals then you’re probably looking at pests. Check the underleaves, stems and soil for pests and keep checking regularly while you treat your plant as they may come back.
So these are the main causes of houseplant leaves curling up. Hopefully you will be able to get to the root of your leaf curling issues and help your plant. If you want to learn more about this then take a look at our Calathea Veitchiana care guide where we talk about leaf curling issues with that specific plant.
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