Why Are My Prayer Plant Leaves Curling

The Prayer Plant “Maranta leuconeura” is a common houseplant. Just the plant’s premises is enough to entice consumers to invest. The perennial species derive from the Amazon Rainforest, particularly in Brazil.

With proper placement, water, and nutrients, the prayer plant will thrive indoors. With that in mind, one of the commonly reported problems associated with the plant is curling leaves.

The reasons the leaves on your prayer plant are curling are inadequate or too much water, nutrient inefficiency, too much sun, and poor ventilation.

Poor Ventilation

Prayer plants need ventilation. The key to a healthy plant is gentle airflow, which is difficult to come by indoors. It is recommended to utilize a desk fan to replicate natural airflow.

With smart control, you can create a 24-hour schedule to eliminate the need for manual adjustments.

[Related Article: Neon Philodendron vs Neon Pothos: [Comparison Guide]

Soil Needs Water

Whether you’re growing prayer plants or another type of plant, it is pertinent to ensure that the soil remains moist. Otherwise, the plant won’t have enough nutrients to survive.

Check the soil every day to determine whether you need to add more water. In general, this is the primary reason the leaves are going to curl.

As the problem progresses, the tips of the leaves are likely going to turn brown too. If you want to avoid killing your plant, you need to water the plant regularly.

Prayer plants cannot handle going for long periods without water.

These plants want moist soil. Therefore, you should never let the soil completely dry out. Stick your finger into the soil. If the top inch is dry, add more water to the soil.

If the soil has dried completely, you should soak the soil. Continue adding water until it begins running out of the bottom of the bucket.

By catching this problem right away, you can likely resolve the problem and fix the leaves.

If the water is immediately coming out of the drainage holes, you should try bottom watering the soil.

Too Much Water

While it is important to water your plant regularly, you also need to avoid overdoing it. Otherwise, you may experience the same issue. The leaves may curl if the soil has been overwatered.

Start by making sure that the soil drains properly. Adding rocks to the very bottom of the pot can help. When watering your plant, never overdo it.

You don’t want to allow your prayer plant to soak in water for long periods. Deal with leftover water immediately. It can be difficult to water large plants.

Therefore, it is common for people to haphazardly water their plants. Don’t do this because it could lead to fungus gnats and other issues.

Water the plant just enough and make sure it is watered regularly.

Low-Quality Water

Prayer plants are more sensitive than you could ever imagine. If they’re underwatered or overwatered, you may experience problems. You also have to be cautious about using poor-quality water.

If you’re not providing high-quality water, there is a risk that the leaves will curl. Your tap water contains many additives that could be harmful to your plant.

For instance, fluoride, minerals, and chlorine may lead to issues. As these chemicals build up in the soil, the leaves may begin curling. Before long, the tips will turn brown.

Suffice to say, you need to provide the plant with high-quality water.

Water softening systems can add too many sodium ions to the water. Using distilled water, reverse osmosis water or filtered water is recommended.

However, you can save money by using rainwater. Just make sure that the water isn’t being contaminated.

Temperature

One thing that growers must remember about prayer plants is that they’re native to Brazil. As a result, these plants prefer warm weather. Growing them indoors is a good option because you can easily control the environment.

If the plant experiences erratic temperatures, there is a risk that the leaves will curl and turn brown. For the best results, you should avoid placing the plant near a drafty window or HVAC vent.

Make sure that the plant is going to remain warm in your home.

If you’re going to grow this plant outside, you need to make sure that your area is suitable. The temperature should remain high throughout the year to avoid problems.

Humidity

Prayer plants prefer high humidity since they’re native to Brazil’s jungles. Dry indoor air could cause the leaves to curl. Thankfully, it is easy to rectify this problem.

For instance, you can use a humidifier to add moisture to the air. Furthermore, you can try using a pebble tray. Add water to the tray before putting the plant on top of it. As the water evaporates, it will add more humidity to the plant.

Act Quickly

Have the leaves on your prayer plant started to curl? Although it depends on the source, the problem could easily worsen. When the plant is exposed to cold temperatures, the leaves may curl.

Furthermore, you may not have watered your plant enough. Increasing the humidity around the plant can make a big difference. Doing so will help keep the soil moist.

Place a humidifier close to the plant. Alternatively, you can use a pebble tray to deal with this issue. Regardless, you should act quickly.

It isn’t going to resolve itself. If you don’t deal with the issue, there is a risk that your plant will wither and die. Identify the source and work quickly to rectify the problem. Although it is usually one of the problems mentioned above, it could be something else too.

Conclusion

Your prayer plant leaves may curl for a number of reasons. Once this happens, it is pertinent to identify the source of the problem because it could kill your plant. Unfortunately, this could lead to bigger problems if left untreated.

Typically, it happens when the plant is exposed to colder temperatures. It can also occur because the soil has become too dry. During hot, humid weather, it is pertinent to pay attention to the soil to ensure it doesn’t become too dry.

Take extra effort to deal with this problem because it could cause irreparable damage.

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