Why My Monstera Leaves Curling - 8 Reasons And How To Fix

Jan 05 2023 Written by Ivy

Monstera is a tropical rain forest type foliage plant. Monstera will wrap around trees or walls and grow upward. The longer and bigger the leaves, it will look particularly spectacular. Potted turtle backed bamboo can also grow and grow tall.
If the potted monster at home has a perennial environment of high temperature and humidity, there is more scattered light every day to avoid exposure to the sun. In addition, it can grow very fast in spring, summer and autumn. If something clings and grows, it can grow taller and taller. If we find that the leaves of Monstera curl, it is generally the following 8 reasons. Let's learn it together.

Underwatering Overwatering Overfertilization Low Humidity Chemicals in City Tap Water Temperature Stress Pests & Diseases Improper Pot

Underwatering

Monstera is a plant that likes a warm and humid growth environment. If the basin soil is not watered for a long time, it will lead to the problem that its leaves lack luster and soften due to lack of water. At this time, we need to water in time to avoid yellowing and curling of stems and leaves due to too long water shortage.

How to Fix

In this case, Monstera should be poured in a timely manner, and spray water should be sprayed on the leaves. The watering must be thoroughly watered. If the soil is cracked, it is necessary to loosen the soil first, then slowly water it, or water it many times, so as to ensure the watering. Check the dryness and wetness of the monster basin soil in a few days, and check whether the leaves are comfortable. Don't forget to check whether the basin soil is dry regularly.

Overwatering

Excessive watering of Monstera will also cause the problem of leaf wilting and curling. Therefore, when raising Monstera, we need to pay attention to moderate watering and better drainage of basin soil, so as to avoid the problem of ponding during watering. Once ponding occurs, we should timely drain or replace some dry soil to absorb excess water, which can help the curled Monstera return to normal.

How to Fix

If you find that the monster basin soil is continuously wet, you should pay attention to draining the water in time. You can place the potted turtle backed bamboo in a place with better ventilation, and the bottom can be suspended, so that the basin soil can be dried as soon as possible and give a little soft scattered light.
If the situation of monstera leaves curling is serious, we even need to remove the topsoil to check whether there is blackening and decay at the bottom of the rhizome, which should be handled in time.
If we find the rotten roots of Monstera, we should remove the pot soil in time. After removing the rotten roots, the bottom of the plant should be soaked in the bactericidal solution for half an hour before replanting with new pot soil. (Read More: Monstera Root Rot - Signs & How to Treat)

Overfertilization

Monstera likes fertilizer but is not resistant to concentrated fertilizer. Excessive fertilization is also a common reason for the yellowing and curling of Monstera leaves. The yellowing and curling of Monstera leaves indicates that the fertilizer damage has occurred for some time, and the softening of leaves after fertilization indicates that the fertilizer damage begins to appear. At this time, it is in a room that can be saved. We need to use a large amount of water for watering and dilution, After treatment, ventilation shall be enhanced to prevent excessive moisture of basin soil.

How to Fix

If we accidentally use too high concentration of fertilizer to Monstera, resulting in leaf curl, we should wash the basin soil with clean water in time to reduce the fertility in time. If the situation is particularly serious and the roots of Monstera have been damaged, we should remove the basin soil in time, cut off the damaged roots, wash them with clean water, and then plant them with new basin soil.

Low Humidity

Most tropical foliage plants prefer the environment with high humidity. If the air humidity is too low, it will lead to poor growth, so we raise Monstera to simulate the environment of tropical rain forest.
If the indoor humidity is below 40% for a long time, the state of Monstera will become worse, the leaves will curl and the edges of the leaves will turn brown.

How to Fix

When we plant potted plants, Monstera needs regular spray water to increase environmental humidity and clean leaves. You can also open a small humidifier next to the monster pot to reduce the curl of the monster leaves.
Potted Monstera and other tropical foliage plants can be placed together, and the "rainforest effect" can be formed through transpiration to maintain the local humidity at a high state to reduce the curl of Monstera leaves.
You can also put a tray at the bottom of the monster flower pot, fill the tray with pebbles, put a little water, and put potted turtle backed bamboo on the pebbles. You can also continuously increase the humidity to reduce the curling of monster leaves.

Chemicals in City Tap Water

The tap water in some areas will contain some fluorine and chlorine compounds, which will kill some beneficial microorganisms in the basin soil. If Monstera potted plants use tap water to supplement water for a long time, it may cause the leaves of Monstera to curl slightly and the edges of the leaves to wither.

How to Fix

We can put the tap water in a container and reuse it for a day or two, so that the fluorine and chlorine compounds in the water can volatilize. We can also add some beneficial microbial fertilizer to the basin soil, which can also improve these conditions. Of course, it is best for us to replenish water for Monstera with rainwater.

Temperature Stress

Temperature stress leads to Monstera leaves curling. For example, the effects of sudden high temperature and cold air will lead to the curling of the leaves of Phyllostachys pubescens. We should avoid placing Monstera in a position that is too hot or too cold. We should not place it in the vent of heating or air conditioning. Extreme temperature changes will also lead to rapid loss of water, This is also an important reason for the curly leaves of Monstera.

How to Fix

In order to prevent the curling of Monstera leaves caused by this situation, we should avoid sudden changes in the environment and do not keep it in a place where the temperature is too high or too cold. For example, if the temperature is higher than 35 degrees, we must pay attention to ventilation. If the temperature is lower than 10 ℃, watering shall be controlled. If the temperature is lower than 5 ℃, Monstera is prone to frostbite.

Pests & Diseases

Potted Monstera kept indoors may also be infected with pests. For example, when the air is relatively dry, it may lead to the breeding of red spiders, which will make the leaves rough, and some yellow spots will appear on the back of the leaves. They will absorb the plant juice, cause the Monstera leaves to turn yellow and dry, and also cause the Monstera leaves to curl. Starscream is very small. It is difficult to be found and often missed. We must observe carefully. We find that there are some small spots on the back of Monstera's leaves, and the leaf surface becomes rough, so we need to deal with it in time.

How to Fix

We can wash the leaf surface and back of Monstera with clean water in time. We don't want to spray medicine when raising flowers indoors. We can spray or smear it with soapy water, neem oil or medical alcohol. Insecticides can be sprayed directly outdoors. Infected starscreams can be sprayed once every 3 days and 2 ~ 3 times continuously.

Improper Pot

Improver pot often appears in Monstera potted plants that have been cultured for several years. After long-term growth of Phyllostachys pubescens, the pot soil will become less with the absorption of running water and plants. In the past, it will cause problems such as leaf curling or growth stagnation and no new leaves in Monstera.

How to Fix

If you find that the roots of Monstera have grown all over the flower pot, and some roots are exposed, and the soil of Monstera basin is particularly crowded, resulting in curly leaves, we should change the basin in time. After the spring is warm every year and the temperature is above 18 degrees, we can start to change the basin.
Read More: