From my perspective, the most common reason my leaves curl is a simple cry for water. My large, beautiful leaves have a significant surface area from which moisture can evaporate. When the soil around my roots becomes too dry, I cannot draw up enough water to replace what is lost through transpiration. To conserve my precious remaining water, I curl my leaves inward, reducing their surface area exposed to the air. This is a defensive tactic to prevent wilting and permanent damage. Check the soil near your roots; if the top few inches are dry, I need a thorough, deep watering until water runs freely from my pot's drainage holes.
Conversely, if my soil is consistently wet and soggy, you will also see my leaves curl. This seems contradictory, but the cause is different. When my roots are suffocating in waterlogged soil, they begin to rot and die. Damaged roots cannot function; they cannot absorb water or the nutrients dissolved within it. Therefore, even though I am sitting in water, my upper parts are effectively in a drought. The curling is a symptom of my inability to drink. This is a serious situation that requires you to check my roots for rot and repot me into fresh, well-aerated soil that allows for oxygen to reach my root system.
As a tropical plant, I am accustomed to a humid environment. The air in many homes, especially during winter when heating systems run, is extremely dry from my point of view. In low humidity, the rate of water loss from my leaves accelerates dramatically. Even if you are watering me correctly, the arid air can pull moisture from my leaves faster than my roots can replenish it. The curling is a direct response to this atmospheric drought. I would greatly appreciate being misted regularly, grouped with other plants to create a microclimate, or placed on a pebble tray with water to increase the local humidity.
I am sensitive to sudden changes in temperature and to drafts. If I am placed near a frequently opened door in winter, an air conditioning vent, or a heating radiator, the intense, localized temperature shift causes me stress. Cold drafts are particularly damaging, as they can shock my systems and disrupt my water and nutrient flow. The curling leaf is a physical manifestation of this stress and my attempt to protect myself. My leaves may also curl if I am receiving too much direct, hot sunlight, which can scorch my tissue. Please ensure I am in a spot with stable, warm temperatures and bright, but indirect, light.
Sometimes, the curling is not an environmental response but a reaction to tiny invaders. Pests like spider mites, thrips, or aphids pierce my leaves and suck out the nutrient-rich sap from within. This feeding activity physically damages the cells and creates tiny wounds that leak moisture. My leaf’s response is often to distort, curl, or pucker around the site of the attack. Please inspect the undersides of my leaves closely for any signs of webbing, tiny moving specks, or sticky residue. Identifying and eliminating these pests is crucial for my recovery.
