Why are my Monstera deliciosa leaves curling? [Solve NOW!!]

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Are you searching for the solution to monstera deliciosa leaves curling?

A monstera deliciosa plant, also known as the Swiss-cheese plant, is native to Southern Mexico. But now it is popular worldwide for its different shaped leaves. But due to some unwanted occurrence, these leaves become curly and fragile.

Monstera deliciosa leaves curling causes because of underwatering, overwatering, lack of nutrients, temperature fluctuation, improper sunlight, bad quality of water, pest and disease attack, excessive root pruning etc. matters. Whatever this is a natural process if it happened to the young leaves.

Let’s know about the measures to be taken if you also have the same problem with your monstera deliciosa leaves.

Monstera deliciosa plant
Monstera deliciosa plant

Monstera deliciosa leaves

Monstera deliciosa healthy leaves are dark green. They have a waxy surface that is very shiny. The veins are well arranged. 

There are differences between young leaves and matured leaves. The young lives are heart-shaped and the green color is comparatively less dark than the matured leaves. 

Day by day the leaves become fenestrated and divided lobes are seen in those heart-shaped leaves. The leaf surface is felt very smooth when it is touched. 

Monstera deliciosa leaf
Monstera deliciosa leaf

How can I understand the normal curling of monstera deliciosa leaves? 

Have you seen any top-positioned curled monstera deliciosa leaf? You might be tense about your plant because it is affected from the very beginning. 

But don’t worry. This is completely a normal process of your plant metabolism. You will get such happenings every time a new leaf is growing.

The monstera deliciosa leaves can curl naturally too, which occurs only in the tender leaves. The leaf that has recently emerged, remaining at the apical portion, won’t be well-spread. They are twisted and gradually they will get their perfect shape by unfolding.

You need not think about their growth.

Monstera deliciosa young leaves
Monstera deliciosa young leaves

Why do monstera deliciosa leaves curl? 

Before going through the causes of monstera deliciosa leaves curling, I think you should know the fact why it is happening. 

Monstera deliciosa plants curl because of the problematic arrangement in their inner metabolism. Owing to some reason, these inner processes are at stake sometimes. Consequently, the leaves cannot get their proper energy source and they lose their turgidity. That exhibits leaves curling.

Plant shoots or the stem of the plant holds some xylem tissue. These tissues suck the nutrients and water from the root portion. The phloem takes up these elements from the xylem and reaches the parts of the plant.

When the plant is stressed, this transportation is obstructed. It means the leaves are becoming weak from inside, which is a curling outlook.

Causes of monstera deliciosa leaves curling

Monstera deliciosa leaves get hindered in their development when the plant is stressed. But what are the reasons that make the plant tormented?

You need to know the possible reasons that may disturb your beautiful houseplant to protect it from losing its beauty.

Underwatering

The first and foremost cause that will come in the list of monstera deliciosa leaves curling is underwatering. 

Water is one of the main elements of a plant that it needs to survive. In case of a low water supply, plants cannot prepare their food.

Like other plants, a monstera deliciosa plant is also dependent on water sources for its nourishment. When they lack water availability, all the plant parts stop working and their energy source is hampered. So, leaves become wilted.

Solution

Generally, monstera deliciosa plants need a small amount of water and that is watered once every one or two weeks. 

But will you rely on just the measurement?

Not really. You should be concerned about the weather and water your plant checking the soil dryness. Pinching your finger inside the soil, you may understand the state of your plant’s soil.

If it is dry around 50%, water your plant. The above-mentioned watering strategy may perfectly help you in the winter days or summer days when it is not too hot.

Overwatering 

Not only under watering but also overwatering is damaging for your monstera plant. As I mentioned earlier, monstera deliciosa plants do not like to be overwatered. 

If you provide excessive water though it is having enough for its metabolism, the plants won’t be able to receive it. The extra water will be stored in the root area and gradually it will make the root rot. You will get a bad odor that will make you sure of it. Besides, it won’t get proper oxygen because of the clogged water.

The root zone problem and absence of oxygen will make your plant leaves curl.

Solution

Don’t water your plant unless the soil is dry. Sometimes, the upper surface of the soil remains dry but the subsoil is still wet. Be conscious of the fact before watering.

Water quality 

Are you disgusted about the watering matter of your plant despite providing enough water? Then, be sure of the water quality that you are providing to your plant.

The water consisting of chemicals like chlorine, arsenic, cadmium, lead etc. badly affect the overall system of the monstera deliciosa plant. The chemicals are hazardous to the leaves that destroy the pigments related to food production and other activities. So, the leaves are curled.

Solution:

Always be concerned with the water that you are providing to your plant. Rainwater is the purest source of water. Else, you can use the always usable water that is available in your house.

You should apply the water after checking the quality. 

Temperature changeability 

This means the excessive or comparatively low temperature is harmful to a monstera deliciosa plant.  

Monstera deliciosa plants always prefer a temperature range between 18°c-30°c. Too low temperature creates a frost attack on the plant and then it is not able to complete its procedure of uptaking nutrients. High temperature increases the dryness of the root and at the same time, too much sunlight cannot be absorbed by the leaves and the transpiration rate becomes high.

As a result, the plant leaves are stressed and they become curled.

Solution

Try to maintain the optimum temperature that is useful for plants’ health. If the temperature of the surrounding is adverse, try to create an artificial temperature inside the house by following the methods of the greenhouse, net house etc.

Improper sunlight 

Sunlight is a crucial factor that regulates many internal functions of plants. Monstera deliciosa leaves need bright and indirect light. The light should be properly spread on the whole leaves. 

Otherwise, transpiration will happen from a particular portion and the other parts will remain in the dark zone. That will cause the curling of a specific leaf.

Monstera deliciosa curled leaves (Young)
Monstera deliciosa curled leaves (Young)
Monstera deliciosa curled leaves(Matured)
Monstera deliciosa curled leaves(Matured)

Solution

Keep your monstera deliciosa plant near a window or in such a place where the whole plant will get enough sunlight. But late morning sunlight should be avoided.

Low humidity 

Monstera deliciosa is a humid-loving plant. It grows well in a humidity of 60-80%. The low humid area creates a dry surrounding for the leaf surface and then the leaves become curly, losing their cell sap.

Solution

If the humidity is too low, try to keep your plant in a moist place. Besides, you may apply sprinkles of water to increase the humidity around the leaf surroundings.

Disease affect

Monstera deliciosa plants can be affected by fungi, bacteria etc. that cause bacterial wilt, mosaic virus, damping off, brown spots, leaf blight etc. with leaf curling problems.

Disease attack
Disease attack

Solution

Apply fungicide, neem oil, baking soda mixture etc. to the soil of the plant. You can also apply them on the affected leaves but it is better to apply them in the soil.

The affected leaves should be removed so that other leaves can not be affected.

Rootbound

Rootbound is the problem when the roots cannot be well distributed in the pot because of the pot’s small size. If roots can not spread properly, they stay in an unhealthy condition and cannot continue their activities properly.

Rootbound
Rootbound

Solution

If a rootbound problem happens, transplanting should be done. Take your plant out of the previous pot and plant it in a new one with highly nutrient-enriched soil.

Pest attack

Spider mites, aphids, thrips, scale etc. are the common pests that disturb a monstera deliciosa plant. These suck nutrients from the sap of the plant leaves and the leaves become curly, losing nutrients. 

Solution

Remove the leaves that are affected badly to stop the spread of the insects. You can spray insecticides on the soil. Otherwise, you can also apply the neem oil or baking soda solution by rubbing at the leaves.

 

Will monstera deliciosa leaves uncurl?

You may have a question in mind right now that is after sorting all these problems out, will these leaves again get back their previous shape?

Simply, it is hard but not impossible. It depends on the damaged state of your leaves. If your monstera leaves just started to curl, you can have their perfect look again. 

Whereas you won’t be able to return your leaves from devastation if you notice their problems after many days. Meanwhile, it is damaged inside. So they cannot be uncurled. In that case, it is better to remove them.

Uncurled monstera deliciosa leaf
Uncurled monstera deliciosa leaf

You can enjoy the below-mentioned video to be clear of your activities in the leaf curling problem.

Is leaf curling responsible for the plant’s death?

Leaf curling is actually the indication of the plants’ disorders. When the plant is not satisfied with its environment and all over requirements, it shows some symptoms and leaf curling is one of them.

So, leaf curling is not responsible for the plant’s death. But if you don’t fulfill the demand of your plant despite leaf curling problems, this avoidance may be the cause of the plant’s death.

Final thoughts

Monstera deliciosa leaves curling is such an occurrence that reduces the beauty of your houseplant along with the whole room where it is placed.

A few steps are to be completed to protect your plant from this unwanted happening. Again, you may also stop this at the very beginning if you are concerned. 

By paying a little attention, you can get a healthy plant that will refresh you every time. Be alert to those and enjoy your gardening.

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