Pothos Leaves Curling: A Complete Guides To Fix

The Pothos plant is usually low-maintenance and thrives in any environment; however, that does not mean it does not have problems. Curling leaves are a sign that you are being careless with your plant. Thus, what should you do to make them quickly bounce back, or how should you prevent it in the future? We will show you practical ways to prevent leaves from curling on Pothos.

What Do Pothos Leaves Curling Look Like?

The healthy Pothos leaves are glossy and waxy, frequently green or mottled with yellow, white, or light green, and have a distinctive pointy heart shape.

So, it’s simple to notice curling leaves. As its name suggests, the leaf is somewhat curved and has the potential to curl under or outward at the tip and margin. The foliage may sometimes turn yellow or brown and wilt or droop for specific reasons. Thus, you must scroll down to look at all potential causes before applying treatments.

Pothos Leaves Curling: Causes & How To Fix

This plant species is a low-maintenance houseplant that typically survives in most environments. Nevertheless, if the leaves on your pothos begin to curl, they may appear unhappy and unhealthy.

Why are Pothos leaves curling? Here are the most common causes behind this phenomenon: Let’s look through it and get some fixes!

Water

The inconsistent and improper watering schedule is among the most common causes of curling leaves in these plants. Most novice gardeners accidentally overwater or underwater their plants, which is their initial mistake. While these houseplants are hardy and can survive in most environments, you should still pay attention to irrigation.

Overwater

If you overwater your pothos, the soil will be soggy and prevent the roots from accessing oxygen. In some cases, the water dripping phenomenon happens, which can help to reduce the amount of water in the soil. However, this is not always the case. If the soil is too wet, the roots will not be able to take in enough oxygen and nutrients, which can cause the leaves to curl downward and root rot. In severe cases, the plant may die.

How to fix:

Water your pothos less! Wait until the potting mix’s surface is entirely dry between waterings. Moreover, it’s best to prioritise drainage. You can use your finger to press into the soil to aerate it. If your plants suffer from root rot, the best solution is to trim any black or brown roots and repot them.

Underwater

How much water you provide for your Pothos may considerably affect their long-term health. Many beginners of indoor gardening sometimes misjudge the amount of water required for their houseplants.

While these plants require low maintenance, you should maintain a consistent watering schedule and ensure the potting mix is roughly 1 inch deep and wet. Pothos will fold or curl their leaves when thirsty to minimize water loss by reducing their contact area.

How to fix:

You can check the condition of the topsoil by pressing one finger into the soil. If it’s dry, you should water your plants. Continue watering your Pothos until water begins to escape from the drainage holes at the pot’s bottom. Most importantly, adjust the watering schedule depending on the humidity and temperatures in your region. For instance, you may need to water your Pothos more frequently in hot months than in the winter.

Light

If your trailing vines are healthy, their leaves will be flat and broad and should face towards the light source.

Too Much Direct Sunlight

The leaves may get excessive light if they droop or curl downward from the light source. Excessively direct sunlight accelerates the evaporation of soil water and causes foliage to lose moisture more quickly than it can replace it.

How to fix:

You can relocate your plant to a location that doesn’t get as much direct sunlight or gets slightly less sunlight overall.

Too Little Light

Although these houseplants might require minimal maintenance, you still need to give them attention if you want them to grow and thrive. The Pothos still require a considerable amount of sunlight when planted inside. If Pothos leaves curl or reach the light source directly, they may have received an insufficient supplement of light. Moreover, lack of light can lead to the leaves becoming small or discoloured.

How to fix:

To solve the issue, place your Pothos in a location with more sunlight or one that receives more natural daylight throughout the day.

Disease Or Pest Infestation

Your Pothos’s foliage may get curled due to disease and pest infestation damage. Rotting roots are one of the most common diseases in this plant species. You could notice the stem becoming brittle and the rhizomes rotting when your pothos receive excessive moisture that can’t drain. The symptoms don’t appear immediately when a Pothos plant’s roots start rotting. If the Pothos leaves start to curl and develop brown spots on leaves, the rhizomes can already be severely damaged.

Moreover, you should admit that you have ignored your plants sometimes. You could have rushed through watering and caring, missing a few signs of severe illnesses. As a result, your Pothos may suffer from pest infestations and get attacked. Bugs and fungi suck the plant’s sap, causing the foliage to curl.

Below are some bugs and insects you must pay special attention to:

• Spider mites: Indoor Pothos may become infected by spider mites, which resemble tiny spiders. They eat the sap, which causes curling, and live under foliage.
• Soft scale: Large insects called soft scales can mimic plant parts. You can see the insects eating the Pothos up close.
• Fungus gnats: The potting mix of indoor pothos plants is ideal for fungus gnats. They may consume the roots of houseplants and organic debris for food.
• Thrips: Attackers include invasive thrips, which have fringed wings. The backside of the Pothos leaves, where other insects are present, is where they prefer to hang out.
• Aphids: Aphids have cornicles on their underside and are about the size of a pinhead. They have two needles that have the appearance of tubes, and they puncture the foliage to enable sucking.

How to fix:

If you detect any insects or bugs on your Pothos plant, it’s best to get rid of them immediately. You can use rubbing alcohol and cotton swabs to wipe the foliage regularly to eliminate insects and bugs from your Pothos.

It’s also a good idea to use neem oil, insecticidal soap, and fungicide if heavily affected. If your Pothos suffer from root rot, you can trim the damaged roots and repot them.

Over-Fertilizer

Every plant needs nutrients to survive. Fertilizer supplementation is usually necessary for Pothos and other indoor plants. You may consider adding too much fertilizer to your Pothos plant in the hopes that the vines will become stronger.

Unfortunately, it is a grave error because the foliage might now begin to curl due to excessive nutrition. In addition, pothos may have nutritional deficits if you do not provide them with regular nutrients. A few of them, such as a phosphorus and calcium shortage, can cause Pothos leaves to curl downward.

How to fix:

If your Pothos have received too much fertilizer, consider flushing or rinsing the soil with distilled or filtered water. Moreover, feeding your Pothos plant with balanced houseplant fertilizer and on a consistent schedule is best.

Temperature Shock

The foliage of your Pothos plant may begin to curl downward at the margins if it experiences a sudden temperature shock. High temperatures can speed up the pace of topsoil evaporation or moisture loss from the Pothos leaves. If your plants lose more water than the roots can take in, the foliage will begin to curl.

How to fix:

Temperatures of 65 to 85 °F are ideal for pothos. Above and below this threshold, temperatures put more strain on Pothos and raise the risk of issues. Furthermore, if you place the pots in hot places or near radiators, fireplaces, or furnaces, you should relocate them to another cool area.

Small Pot

The plant gets root-bound as a result of having several big roots stuck in a small room. It indicates that the rhizome system is too large for its container. When the roots develop quickly, the pot has little topsoil left. As a result, the Pothos plant leaves will curl because of nutrient deficiency.

How to fix:

The best solution to this Pothos problem is to repot your Pothos in fresh soil. Ensure you check the container size and your plants before repotting to ensure they fit each other.