From my perspective, the most common reason my leaves curl is a simple cry for water. My large, beautiful leaves are my pride, but they also mean I lose a lot of moisture to the air around me. When the soil in my pot becomes too dry, my root system cannot draw up enough water to replace what is lost. To survive, I must conserve what little water I have left. Curling my leaves inward is my most effective strategy; I am reducing the surface area exposed to the air, which slows down further water loss. It is a desperate measure to prevent myself from wilting completely. Before you assume the worst, check my soil. If the top few inches are dry to the touch, a deep, thorough watering is likely what I need.
While I enjoy bright, filtered light, the intense, direct rays of the sun are too much for me to handle. My leaves are not designed for such harsh conditions. When placed directly in a hot, south-facing window, for example, the sun literally burns my leaf tissues. This scorching damages my cells, and my natural reaction is to curl and cup my leaves in a futile attempt to shield myself from the onslaught of light and heat. You might also notice the edges of my leaves turning brown and crispy. If you see this combination of curling and browning, please move me to a spot with plenty of bright, but indirect, light. A few feet away from a sunny window or behind a sheer curtain would be perfect.
I am a tropical plant, native to environments with high humidity. The air in your home, especially when heating or air conditioning systems are running, is often much drier than what I am evolved for. In low humidity, water evaporates from the surface of my leaves far too quickly, even if my roots are adequately watered. This creates a similar internal water deficit as being under-watered. My response is the same: I curl my leaves to hold onto precious moisture. To make me truly happy, consider increasing the humidity around me. You can mist my leaves regularly, place my pot on a tray filled with pebbles and water (ensuring my roots are not sitting in water), or use a humidifier nearby.
Sometimes, my distress is caused by tiny invaders. Pests like spider mites, thrips, or mealybugs are particularly troublesome. They are so small you might not notice them at first, but they pierce my leaves and stems to suck out the nutrient-rich sap inside. This feeding activity damages my cells and robs me of vital fluids. As my leaves weaken and lose moisture, they begin to curl, distort, and may even develop yellow speckling. If you suspect pests, please look closely at the undersides of my leaves and along my stems. If you see any tiny moving dots or fine webbing, isolate me from other plants and treat me promptly with an appropriate insecticidal soap or neem oil.
