Why are my Pilea leaves curling inwards?
It’s never a good thing to discover that one of your houseplants isn’t thriving as much as you’d like it to. If your Pilea leaves curl in on themselves, there are a few reasons why this might be the case. Overwatering, pests, or light/temperature stress are all possible causes. All of these issues can be remedied quickly – we just need to find out what the source of the problem is for our Chinese Money Plant (Pilea peperomioides).
The Key Reasons Why Pilea Leaves Curl Inwards
Look at your Pilea and the surroundings it’s in to figure out which of the following reasons are to blame for your Pilea’s leaves curling. Each of these problems is addressed in further detail later in this post, along with methods for getting your Pilea back into its original condition.
Dryness and overwatering are the most common factors behind Pilea Plant’s curling. New leaves curl naturally over time and will straighten with additional light. Bright, indirect lighting (55-65°F [13-18°C]), temperatures of 55-65°F (13-18°C), and consistent watering can help prevent and repair curling.
It’s difficult to figure out why your Pilea peperomioides plant’s leaves are curling, so you’ll need to look for additional clues to help you identify the problem.
This article will assist you to understand the many forms of curling, as well as other symptoms that might indicate a problem.
Types of Chinese Money Plant Leaf Curling
Your Pilea leaf may communicate a lot of information, but their language is poorly understood, so it takes some study and patience to figure out.
Pilea leaves can curl in a variety of ways, and the pattern of curling in your Pilea plant might help you identify what’s wrong.
- Outward Leaf Curling (Doming) – This occurs most frequently due to insufficient lighting and overwatering.
- Inwards Leaf Curling (Cupping) – High temperatures, drafts, underwatering, or nutrient insufficiency are the most common reasons for this problem.
- Mixed Leaf Curling – Pilea peperomioides often have leaf curling in both directions or leaves that have partial cupping or doming. This almost always means there are several concerns to be addressed.
Overwatering Your Pilea
Pilea leaves curl because they are not watered correctly, just like many things in the houseplant world. Overwatering is one of Pilea’s main problems, and it can be a major reason why leaves are beginning to curl – which is unusual as it’s usually the case for other houseplants.
We generally go for a little and regular watering view, but it’s important to understand what your plants like best since each and every one is slightly different.
We propose picking up your Pilea when it needs water and then watering it. This should give you an indication of whether or not your Pilea requires more water in the near future by just raising it. Using a moisture meter is the most effective approach to assess how much moisture is present in potting mix. Simply put them in the soil, wait a few minutes, and read the display screen.
Poor Drainage
Simply put, when a Pilea is grown in a container with poor drainage, it’s certain to encounter leaf curling difficulties, just like one that is being overwatered. When there is no drainage in a pot, it prevents all of the excess liquid from escaping and so each time you water it, the problem grows worse. Root rot is an ailment that’s difficult to get rid of; however, we’ve prepared a guide full of pointers on how to prevent and cure root rot if you believe this might be an issue for you.
You can simply boost the drainage in your Pilea soil by mixing in a little amount of perlite; this will make it much easier for water to flow through and out of the drainage holes of your containers (you should also verify that your pots have openings). Another simple method is to add a few tiny stones or pebbles to the bottoms of your containers, which aids in preventing blocked drainage holes.
We also advocate using terracotta pots rather than plastic ones. Plastic pots keep every drop of moisture inside, whereas terracotta pots allow some of the excess water to seep out from the sides. These Amazon-provided pots are fantastic!
You should hopefully begin to notice your Pilea plant leaves curling less as a result of having adequate drainage in the pot.
Low Humidity Levels
Pilea appreciate a more humid setting, so if your house is dry, it’s worth your time to try and increase the humidity a little to see whether this is the case. There are a couple of straightforward methods to raise the relative humidity in your home for your Pilea; you may use a mist bottle every few days or sit your plant in an aquarium with water and pebbles.
The most convenient approach to increase the humidity in your Pilea is to purchase a humidifier. They are low-cost devices that assist you to maintain a pleasant constant humidity for your plants. This one from Amazon is excellent.
If you’re really concerned about it, you may always get a decent humidity monitor to keep track of everything. If you have an air conditioning unit nearby, move your Pilea away from it; these create extremely dry air. Check out our complete tutorial on humidity if you want to make sure you achieve the humidity level just right.
Light & Heat Stress
The leaves of Pilea may curl as a result of the plant being in an area that receives too much direct sunlight or is excessively hot. If there’s a free spot near an east-facing window, this might be the ideal location.
If you haven’t already, open your windows on a regular basis to ensure that the air in your space is moving properly. This minimizes the likelihood of hotspots appearing in the room where your Pilea is seated. The optimum temperature for Pilea is between 18°C and 24°C, so keeping things in this range shouldn’t be too difficult. If you’re feeling nervous, pick up a digital thermometer or a light meter to make sure your Pilea isn’t overheating.
Nutrient Deficiency
Pilea leaves may curl due to nutritional shortages, according to some studies. Make sure your Pilea get all of the essential minerals throughout the year by feeding (or fertilizing) them appropriately. At half the strength recommended in a bottle, monthly feeds should be plenty. This liquid fertilizer is popular with our plants.
Root Crowding
Root crowding in your Pilea is worth checking every now and then because it might lead to other problems. After watering, allow your plant to dry for a few days before removing it from its container; if all you can see are roots, then root overcrowding may be the reason for your Pilea’s curling leaves. Before repotting your plant, use a pair of scissors to snip through the roots somewhat. Grab a bigger pot and some more nutrient-dense soil (this Miracle Gro potting mix works well) and carefully dig through the roots with a chopstick to separate them out a little.
If you discover that some of the roots on your Pilea have brown and mushy after removing it from its pot, you might be dealing with root rot. In this scenario, make careful to repot as soon as possible, removing as many of the contaminated (brown) roots as feasible.
Overall, we’ve discovered that while there are several causes for your Pilea’s leaves to curl, all of these issues can be quickly resolved with a bit of attention and care when it comes to how your Pilea is doing. Maintaining good habits and making sure you’re aware of warning signs might help you avoid leaf curling from happening to your Pilea again.
New Leaves
The most essential detail to remember is that Pilea peperomioides plants will curl their leaves at some time, and this is quite common. When new leaves first emerge, they are twisted and may take a while to straighten out.
Leaves grow from the top of the stem, so if you see only the droopy leaves on top of your plant curling while the rest of it is healthy, don’t be concerned. Simply look after your plant and try to provide it with favorable circumstances.