Monstera Deliciosa is a tropical houseplant that is famous for indoor gardening because of the noteworthy leaves. The appearance of the leaves helps you understand if there are any issues with your plant care.
Curled leaves on Monstera Deliciosa usually signal a problem that can be easily fixed. By adjusting the conditions, you can bring your Deliciosa leaves back to health.
Why do the Monstera Deliciosa Leaves Curl?
Monstera Deliciosa leaves usually start curling due to watering issues like under or overwatering. The leaves will unfurl once you maintain a steady watering routine. There are other factors like heat stress, pests, low humidity, and being pot bound that can trigger the huge leaves to curl inward. However, the curled appearance on new growth is completely normal because these leaves will unfurl as the plant matures.
Insufficient Watering
If you are trying to find a reason behind the leaves curling, start by inspecting your soil. The most serious reason behind curled leaves is overwatering.
The overwatered plant will turn yellow and wilt. If an overwatered plant is left unattended, it can easily lead to root rot. Immediately repot your plant after pruning the diseased roots to help it survive.
Monstera Deliciosa leaf curling is also triggered by water loss. If you reduce the amount of water and your plant becomes underwatered, it reacts by reducing the leaf surface area and transpiration.
Underwatering is the most common culprit for curled leaves on Monstera Deliciosa. Other symptoms of underwatering include drooping, crispy leaf tips, very dry soil, and brown leaves.
You should immediately soak your Deliciosa plant with thorough watering. You should keep adding water until it drains freely from drainage holes.
To avoid underwatering in the future, check the appearance of foliage and soil dryness every few days.
Water requirements for Monstera Deliciosa will vary depending on the season, growth rate, temperature, and light. So, I would not recommend following a fixed watering schedule.
Improper Humidity
Monstera Deliciosa curls the large leaves if the humidity is too low. If your plant has brown leaf tips/edges and curling, it is definitely asking for more humidity.
Monitor the humidity levels using a hygrometer. If the average humidity is above 40%, low air humidity is not the reason behind the curling of leaves.
Excessive air moisture is also harmful, especially if your Monstera Deliciosa plant has poor air circulation around it. It can easily give rise to fungal problems that cause leaf curling or damage.
New Growth
If you notice new leaves that are curled, do not panic because the curling of new foliage is normal. Monstera Deliciosa leaves are curled tightly when they first appear, but they will slowly unfurl.
Pests
The leaves can curl if your Monstera Deliciosa is infected with pests like mealybugs, spider mites, or thrips. As these pests feed on the plant juices, essential water is lost from the leaves.
You might be watering your plant adequately, and the soil looks fine, but these pests decrease the moisture content before it reaches the leaves.
Inspect the undersides of the leaves and stem joints to identify pests on your plant. Another symptom of pest feeding is yellow rings or spots on the leaves.
Small infestations can be treated easily with neem oil. But first, isolate your Monstera Deliciosa from other healthy plants.
Heat Stress
Houseplants like Monstera Deliciosa do not like extreme temperatures. Warm drafts or high temperatures can also trigger your plant leaves to curl.
The curling of the leaves is the plant’s reaction to a change in temperature. Relocate your plant if it’s placed close to a heater or in hot weather outdoors. The leaves lose the moisture more rapidly, and curling of the leaves is a defense mechanism to hold some moisture.
You Monstera Deliciosa can experience temperature stress when seasons change. Especially during the intense heat of summer.
Your plant reacts adversely to temperature fluctuations. Therefore maintain consistent indoor temperature and place it away from air conditioners, fireplaces, or drafty windows.
Root Bound Pot
If you cannot find any obvious reason behind the leaf curling, consider repotting your Monstera Deliciosa. Being root bound leads to water issues, which eventually causes the leaves to curl.
If the pot/container is too small, the soil cannot retain enough moisture. Therefore, repot in a new container.
Be wary because improper repotting can also lead to curly leaves on a Monstera Deliciosa plant. You can read our detailed article about repotting to make sure you do not stress your plant while repotting it.
Over Fertilization
Often new plant parents shower their love by over-fertilizing their Monstera Deliciosa. The excess salt buildups not only damage the soil microorganisms but also affect the look of the leaves.
Overfertilization is related to the lack of water and nutrient because an overfed Monstera Deliciosa plant struggles with absorbing nutrients and water from the soil.
Frequently Asked Questions About Curled Leaves On Monstera
Can water quality cause the leaves on my Monstera Deliciosa to curl?
Poor water quality slows down the growth of your Monstera Deliciosa. The leaves will look dull, brittle, and even curled. The high soluble salts in poor quality water can reduce the plants’ nutrient absorption ability after damaging the roots.
Can sunlight be the reason behind leaf curling on Monstera Deliciosa?
Prolonged direct sunlight exposure can cause the leaves of your plant to turn yellow and curl. The leaf tips will also turn brown with sunburns. It is always recommended to keep the Monstera Deliciosa in bright but filtered sunlight.
Why does root rot lead to curled leaves on Monstera Deliciosa?
The Deliciosa plant warns the grower about root rot by curling the leaves and making the plant look dull. You should consider repotting your plant to save it from further damage.
Daniel has been a plant enthusiast for over 20 years. He owns hundreds of houseplants and prepares for the chili growing seasons yearly with great anticipation. His favorite plants are plant species in the Araceae family, such as Monstera, Philodendron, and Anthurium. He also loves gardening and is growing hot peppers, tomatoes, and many more vegetables.