If you’ve noticed your prayer plant leaves curling, you’re not alone. This is a common sign that your Maranta or Calathea is trying to tell you something. These popular houseplants are known for their stunning foliage and nightly leaf movements, but curling leaves indicate stress. Let’s figure out what’s going on and how to fix it.
The good news is that curled leaves are usually a fixable problem. It often comes down to a few key elements in their care. By checking some simple things, you can usually get those beautiful leaves to flatten out and thrive again.
Prayer Plant Leaves Curling
This specific issue can have several causes. The most common are related to water, humidity, and light. Think of the curl as the plant’s way of conserving moisture or protecting itself. Below, we’ll break down each possible cause and give you a clear action plan.
1. Underwatering or Inconsistent Watering
This is the top culprit. Prayer plants prefer consistently moist soil (but not soggy). When they don’t get enough water, the leaves curl inward to reduce surface area and minimize water loss.
How to check: Feel the top inch of soil. Is it dry and pulling away from the pot’s edges? The plant is thirsty.
How to fix it:
* Water the plant thoroughly until water runs freely from the drainage holes.
* Allow the pot to drain completely—never let it sit in a saucer of water.
* Going forward, water when the top 1/2 to 1 inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
* Use room-temperature or lukewarm water, as cold water can shock the roots.
2. Low Humidity Levels
Prayer plants are tropical natives and need high humidity. Dry air, especially from heating or air conditioning, causes leaves to curl and edges to turn brown and crispy.
How to check: Do you have a humidifier? Is the air in your home generally dry? Brown leaf tips alongside curling are a dead giveaway.
How to increase humidity:
* Group plants together to create a microclimate.
* Place the pot on a pebble tray filled with water (ensure the pot isn’t sitting in the water).
* Use a room humidifier nearby. This is the most effective method.
* Mist the leaves regularly, but this is a temporary boost and not a full solution.
3. Too Much Direct Sunlight
While they need bright light to maintain their vibrant patterns, direct sun is too harsh. It scorches leaves, causing them to curl, fade, or develop brown spots as they try to shield themselves.
How to check: Is your plant in a south or west-facing window with sun hitting the leaves directly?
How to fix it:
* Move your plant to a spot with bright, indirect light. An east-facing window is often ideal.
* You can also use a sheer curtain to filter the direct rays of a sunny window.
* They can tolerate lower light, but growth will slow and patterns may fade.
4. Temperature Stress and Drafts
These plants enjoy the same temperatures you do, between 65-80°F (18-27°C). Cold drafts from windows, doors, or air vents, as well as sudden temperature drops, can trigger leaf curl.
How to check: Is your plant near an frequently opened door, a drafty window, or directly under an AC vent?
How to fix it:
* Relocate the plant to a draft-free area.
* Keep it away from heat sources like radiators, which can also dry it out.
* Ensure nighttime temperatures don’t drop too sharply.
5. Overwatering and Root Rot
Yes, too much water can also cause problems, though the curl might be less tight. Soggy soil suffocates roots, preventing them from absorbing water and nutrients. This ironically leads to symptoms similar to underwatering, like curling and yellowing leaves.
How to check: Does the soil feel constantly wet or soggy? Does the pot feel heavy and lack drainage?
How to fix it:
* Stop watering immediately and let the soil dry out more than usual.
* Check the roots. Gently remove the plant from its pot. Healthy roots are firm and white or tan.
* If roots are mushy, brown, or black and smell bad, you have root rot. Trim away all affected roots with sterile scissors.
* Repot the plant in fresh, well-draining potting mix and a clean pot with drainage holes.
6. Pest Infestation
Sap-sucking pests like spider mites, aphids, and mealybugs can stress the plant, leading to curled, distorted, or yellowing leaves.
How to check: Inspect the undersides of leaves and along stems, especially where the leaf meets the stem. Look for tiny moving dots, fine webbing, or cottony white masses.
How to fix it:
* Isolate the affected plant to prevent pests from spreading.
* Wipe leaves with a damp cloth or spray them down in the shower to dislodge pests.
* Treat with insecticidal soap or neem oil, applying thoroughly to all leaf surfaces (top and bottom). Repeat weekly until the pests are gone.
7. Water Quality and Fertilizer Issues
Prayer plants are sensitive to chemicals in tap water, like fluoride and chlorine. Salt buildup from fertilizer can also burn roots, causing leaf curl and browning.
How to check: Do you see a white crust on the soil surface or pot rim? Are leaf tips turning brown despite good care?
How to fix it:
* Water with distilled water, rainwater, or filtered water if possible. If using tap water, let it sit out overnight so some chemicals can evaporate.
* Flush the soil every few months by slowly pouring a large amount of water through the pot to leach out excess salts.
* Fertilize only during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced, diluted liquid fertilizer. Do not fertilize in fall and winter.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Guide
Follow this simple checklist to diagnose your plant.
1. Check the soil moisture right now. Is it bone dry or sopping wet?
2. Look at the light. Is the sun directly touching the leaves?
3. Inspect for pests. Turn over the leaves and look closely with a magnifying glass if you have one.
4. Consider your humidity. Is the air in your home dry, especially in winter?
5. Feel for drafts. Is the plant near a vent, fan, or window that gets cold?
6. Review your water type. Have you been using straight tap water?
How to Save a Prayer Plant with Severely Curled Leaves
If the curling is widespread, take these steps.
* First, identify and correct the primary issue using the guide above.
* Trim away any completely crispy or dead leaves at the stem base with clean scissors. This helps the plant focus energy on recovery.
* Be patient. It can take several weeks for new, healthy growth to appear and for existing leaves to uncurl, if they are going to.
* Ensure the plant has stable, warm conditions with good humidity while it recovers.
* Avoid repotting or fertilizing a stressed plant unless root rot is suspected, as this adds more stress.
FAQ: Common Questions About Prayer Plant Care
Q: Why are my prayer plant’s leaves curling and turning yellow?
A: Yellowing plus curling often points to overwatering and potential root rot. Check your soil moisture and the health of the roots immediately. It can also be a sign of a severe pest infestation.
Q: Should I mist my prayer plant to stop the leaves from curling?
A: Misting provides a very short-term humidity boost. For lasting results that truly prevent curling, a pebble tray or a humidifier is a much more effective solution, especially in dry climates.
Q: Can curled leaves go back to normal?
A: It depends on the severity. If the cause is addressed early, mildly curled leaves can often flatten out again. However, leaves that are severely curled, crispy, or damaged will likely remain that way. The plant will focus on producing new, healthy growth.
Q: How often should I water my prayer plant to prevent problems?
A: Don’t water on a strict schedule. Instead, check the soil weekly. Water when the top inch feels dry. Frequency will change with the seasons—more often in summer, less in winter.
Q: What is the best soil mix to avoid curling from water issues?
A: Use a well-draining, peat-based potting mix. You can add perlite or orchid bark to improve aeration and drainage, which helps prevent both over and underwatering stress.
Remember, prayer plants are expressive. Their leaf movements and condition are constant feedback. When you see those prayer plant leaves curling, take it as a cue to observe and adjust. With a few tweaks to their environment, your plant should return to showing off its beautiful, flat, patterned leaves in no time.