Loved for their cute little round leaves, the Baby’s Tears plant can be pretty sensitive if something isn’t quite right. A lot of plant parents really struggle with the leaves on their Baby’s Tears plant turning dry, brown and crispy. As they are such delicate plants, even the slightest issue can leave your plant looking wilted.

Luckily, we have learnt the hard way with these plants and have collected everything we know to help you understand why your Baby’s Tears has developed brown leaves as well as how to fix the issue and stop it from happening more in future.

Too much direct sunlight can burn the leaves

Baby’s Tears plants need bright but indirect light to really thrive. Whilst they can often adjust to a little bit less, growth will be slower and it can also cause brown leaves among other issues for your Baby’s Tears.

If your Baby’s Tears is sitting right next to a window, then the light might be burning the plant during the summer. It’s less of an issue during winter as the sun is weaker and the days are shorter.

If you think that direct sunshine is causing the brown leaves on your Baby’s Tears, move your plant a little bit further away from the window so that it doesn’t receive any direct sun. Unfortunately, once your Baby’s Tears leaves have been damaged from the sun, there’s no going back so we recommend trimming off the worst affected stems to encourage new healthy (and green) growth.

Low humidity levels can also cause brown leaves

To help avoid more brown leaves, it can also be important to increase the humidity for your Baby’s Tears.

They have very delicate leaves so even a little bit of dry air can cause the leaves to crisp up and turn brown. Luckily there are several really easy and cheap ways that you can lift the humidity level and avoid more brown leaves. Below are our top tips:

Misting the leaves

One of the simplest ways to increase the humidity for your Baby’s Tears is to mist the leaves with a spray bottle a couple of times a week. During the hottest period of the year, you can get away with daily misting.

Give your Baby’s Tears plant a shower

To quickly raise the humidity you can always give them a quick wash down. This is a short term solution but is great to give your plant that initial boost. Simply pop them in the shower or sink and wash them down with lukewarm water. Keep the water pressure very very low as you don’t want to damage the delicate leaves and stems on your Baby’s Tears plant.

Buy a humidifier

They’re relatively affordable little devices and they make keeping a consistent humidity level so much easier. Most will allow you to place them on a timer so they run on a fixed schedule, and some will even have a built-in monitor so they automatically turn on and off to keep the humidity exactly where you want it. We recommend this humidifier available on Amazon.

Temperature extremes can also cause brown leaves to develop

Hotspots or super cold drafts can also cause your Baby’s Tears to develop brown leaves. Hotspots can develop near windows where a lot of direct light is hitting them. They can also occur next to radiators and heating vents so make sure that your plant isn’t closer than 1m to any of these.

Cold drafts are also your Baby’s Tears’s worst enemy. A consistent stream of cold air coming in from outside through cracks in doors and windows can be quite harmful to your plant. This is especially dangerous during winter when temperatures can really drop. Make sure you draft proof any doors or windows that your Baby’s Tears and other houseplants are close to.

Underwatering causes dry brown leaves

Consistent underwatering will start to have an impact on your Baby’s Tears plant’s health and it can often cause brown leaves. As they are very sensitive plants, even a little bit of underwatering can result in brown leaves as they are less drought-tolerant than most other houseplant types.

Stick a finger in the top few centimetres of the soil to check the moisture. You can also try lifting your Baby’s Tears to see it if feels particularly light. If you find that your Baby’s Tears feels very dry, water it a little every other few days over the course of a few weeks.

Those are the most common reasons why your Baby’s Tears plant has developed brown leaves. It’s important to act as soon as you spot the first signs of trouble as the further the issue has progressed, the more difficult it can be to bring your plant back to full health. Once the leaves have turned brown there is, unfortunately, no way back so the best thing to do is remove the brown leaves. This will help your plant focus on growing new healthy leaves, rather than wasting energy on dying and dead leaves.

To find out more about caring for your plant, check out our Baby’s Tears care guide.

Curling leaves can be quite a common problem that Arrowhead Plant parents face and it can often be that the reason isn’t always clear at first. This is because curling leaves are often the first sign of trouble, so it can be very small fluctuations in the environment that are causing it.

If you have noticed curling leaves on your Arrowhead Plant, then you’ve come to the right place as below we will go through each of the individual causes as well as how to make the diagnosis and treat the problem.

Underwatering can cause curling leaves on an Arrowhead Plant

One of the most common reasons why Arrowhead Plants develop curling leaves is a consistent lack of moisture. If there are no other symptoms then it could mean that you have caught the issue pretty early but other signs of underwatering include brown leaf tips or spots, entire brown leaves or a drooping plant.

Before you start making any changes to your plant’s watering routine, you want to make sure the soil definitely is dry as otherwise, this can cause more issues than the curling leaves.

Use a moisture meter or remove your plant from its pot to check this. The latter will allow you to inspect the root system as if the roots have started to go crispy, it may mean you have been underwatering for a while.

Your first reaction to an underwatered Arrowhead Plant might be to drown it in water in the hope it will suddenly recover. However, plants can get quite shocked by sudden and dramatic changes in their environment. This means that we need to slowly reintroduce water over the course of about a week.

Moving forward, to prevent your Arrowhead Plant from developing more curling leaves, make sure to monitor how dry the soil is getting and adjust your watering schedule so that you are either watering more frequently or more deeply.

Low humidity is another common cause of curling leaves

It’s not just a lack of moisture in the soil that can cause your Arrowhead Plant to develop curling leaves but also a lack of moisture in the air.

If your plant has brown dry leaf tips as well as curling leaves, then a lack of humidity may be the cause. Arrowhead Plants will struggle in homes with dry air.

But don’t worry, if the curling leaves on your Arrowhead are caused by a lack of humidity then there are some really easy and cheap solutions.

1. Mist the leaves every few days

   This is one of the easiest ways to increase the humidity for your Arrowhead Plant and solve the issue of curling leaves and we recommend getting into the habit of it for all of your humidity-loving houseplants.

2. Give your Arrowhead Plant a shower

   One simple thing you can do to instantly boost the humidity for your Arrowhead Plant and stop the leaves curling is showering your plant.

   This also gets rid of any dust on the leaves so we recommend doing it every few months regardless of any curling leaves or other issues. One thing that’s super important when showing Arrowhead Plants is that you keep the water pressure very low. Their long stems and large leaves mean they can be easily damaged if the pressure is too high.

3. Placement

   If you have good light levels (and enough space) in your kitchen or your bathroom then we recommend moving your Arrowhead Plant in there. The humidity level in both of those rooms is often higher than in other areas of your home because of the steam released when showering and cooking.

4. Buy a humidifier

   Buying a humidifier is definitely the best option to remove all the stress from raising the humidity level and goes a long way to tackling and preventing curling leaves. They can be really affordable and will raise the humidity without you needing to lift a finger!

A lack of nutrients can also be to blame

Whilst overfertilizing can cause a range of issues for your plant, a lack of nutrients can also be damaging to your plant’s health and cause the leaves to curl up.

Whilst this is quite a difficult problem to diagnose, we recommend switching out two-thirds of the soil for fresh mix. This can never do any harm and will just replenish the nutrient levels in the soil instantly.

When it comes to adding fertiliser, you may choose to feed your plant a few times throughout the growth season. We have two tips for you when it comes to feeding your Arrowhead Plant; firstly, never ever do it in winter and secondly, use a water-soluble fertiliser at less than the recommended amount. This will ensure that you don’t start causing any problems through overfertilization.

Pests can be a worrying cause of curling leaves

If your Arrowhead Plant only ever spends time indoors then it should be quite rare for the curling leaves to be a consequence of pests but it’s an important cause to mention. Every now and again, pests can make your houseplants their home and plants that are already struggling become more susceptible to an infestation.

Check over your plants to see if you can spot any pests or signs that they exist. You are looking out for brown or yellow spots, holes in the leaves or white webbing/powder across the stems.

If you are unlucky enough to find pests or signs of them on your plant, isolate your Arrowhead Plant immediately and check your other plants thoroughly. Pests can move across close hanging leaves so be careful with your plant placement.

To treat the pest infestation and stop it from taking over your plant, first remove the worst affected leaves and stems. This will initially cut the size of the infestation and make it easier to tackle. Then wipe each leaf with warm soapy water to try and remove as many as possible. We also recommend giving your plants a shower but make sure the water pressure isn’t on full or this could damage the leaves as we mentioned earlier. If this doesn’t get rid of the pests, you can treat your Arrowhead Plant with neem oil to fight the infestation.

Those are the most common causes of curling leaves on an Arrowhead Plant. As there are quite a few different possible factors, inspect your plant, its root system and potting soil closely whilst going through the list above. This will help you make the right diagnosis with what is going on with your plant. Once making changes with either the care or environment, keep a close eye on your Arrowhead Plant over the next few weeks to ensure that things are moving in the right direction.

Check out our Arrowhead Plant care guide for more information on how to best care for your plant!

Luckily for Arrowhead parents, fixing their brown leaf tips doesn’t have to be difficult. The most common cause is a lack of humidity in the air. Often our homes can have quite dry air, especially in the winter months where we often have the heating on for most of the day. A lack of humidity in the air can cause the leaves and stems to be a little limp, droop down, and turn dry, brown and crispy from the tips inwards.

Below are some really simple ways to increase the humidity in your home:

Misting the leaves can prevent brown leaf tips

One of the simplest ways to increase the humidity for your Arrowhead Plant is to mist them with a spray bottle a couple of times a week. Make sure to mist in the mornings so there is enough time for the water to evaporate before temperatures drop at night. If the leaves are damp and cold it can very quickly lead to leaf rot.

Using a pebble tray

Place your Arrowhead Plant over a tray of pebbles with fresh water over the top. Over the day water from the tray will evaporate giving your plant exactly what they’re looking for. Make sure you don’t fill the water right up to the top of the pebbles as you don’t want your Arrowhead sitting in a pool of water all day.

Showering your Arrowhead plant really helps stop more brown leaf tips developing

To quickly raise the humidity you can always give them a quick shower. It is also a great way to get rid of any dust on the leaves too! Simply pop your plant in the shower and wash them down with lukewarm water, this will clean off the leaves and give the soil a good soaking. You want to keep the water pressure quite low as Arrowheads can sometimes have quite delicate stems and you don’t want to damage your plant.

Plant placement to reduce brown leaf tips

If you’re lucky enough to have great lighting in your bathroom or kitchen you can move your Arrowhead Plant in there to increase the humidity. The running water from your showers and stem from your cooking means these rooms tend to have higher natural humidity.

Invest in a humidifier

They’re great at keeping a consistent humidity level so you’ll never need to worry about dry air again. Most humidifiers will allow you to place them on a timer so they run on a fixed schedule, and some will even have a built-in monitor so they automatically turn on and off to keep the humidity exactly where you want it.

Move away from radiators

If your Arrowhead is placed within 1 metre of a radiator then this may also be causing the brown leaf tips. The dry, warm air from the radiator won’t be good for your plant’s health and will mean they need a lot more misting and watering than you might think. We always recommend moving any plant away from radiators over winter to prevent problems such as dry leaf tips or brown/ burnt leaves.

By raising the humidity around your Arrowhead Plant, you should prevent any other brown leaf tips from developing on your plant. If you want to learn more about humidity requirements for your houseplants, there is a whole chapter on this in our houseplant care ebook.

If you have noticed that your Anthurium Clarinervium has started to develop curling leaves, then it definitely means something isn’t quite right. However, if there are no other signs of unhappiness on your plant then this should mean you have caught the problem relatively early as curling leaves tend to be one of the first warning signs.

In this article, we will go through each of the causes of curling leaves on an Anthurium Clarinervium, as well as how to treat the issue and prevent it from causing more damage to your plant.

Underwatering can cause curling leaves on an Anthurium Clarinervium

Anthurium Clarinervium plants like to have some moisture in the soil and are definitely not drought tolerant. Because of this, we tend to take a little but often approach when it comes to watering. If your Anthurium Clarinervium has started to develop curling leaves then one definite cause could be underwatering. Alongside this, if the problem has been going on for a while, you might see other issues such as brown tips, edges, spots or entire leaves turning brown.

If you suspect that your Anthurium Clarinervium has been underwatered and this is causing the curling leaves then check the soil before you change anything! You want to make sure the soil definitely is dry before giving it more water as otherwise, this can cause more issues than the curling leaves. You should also check to see if the roots have started to crisp up as this suggests the problem has been developing slowly for a while.

The most reliable way to check the moisture levels in the soil is by using a moisture meter. They are really affordable little devices that you pop into the soil and they will tell you how damp or dry the soil is. We always recommend this one from Amazon.

Your first reaction to an underwatered Anthurium Clarinervium might be to pour a watering jug full of water over your plant but this can actually cause more issues than the curling leaves themselves. Plants don’t like their environment changing drastically or instantly so going from bone dry soil to really soggy soil can cause shock. To avoid this stress, the best thing to do is gradually introduce water over the course of a week.

To prevent underwatering causing the leaves on your Anthurium Clarinervium to start curling again in future, it’s important that you increase the frequency or amount of watering. You want to prevent the soil from fully drying out for extended periods of time. Using a moisture meter or methods like the chopstick method can really help monitor the moisture levels in the soil.

Curling Anthurium Clarinervium leaves can indicate dry air

Anthurium Clarinerviums need a higher than average humidity level to really thrive and although sometimes they can adjust well to average levels, persistent dry air can result in your plant’s leaves curling up. This is due to the same reason as with underwatering as curling up their leaves is one of their defences against moisture loss.

Luckily, this is a pretty simple issue to fix as there are so many different ways you can increase the humidity for your plant.

We often recommend using a humidifier as this takes all of the worries of dry air away and means your plant can thrive in its ideal environment. They are pretty affordable too so a great investment for plant parents and a lot cheaper than forking out to buy new replacement plants!

Other ways you can increase the humidity are by using a spray bottle to mist your Anthurium Clarinervium, showering it every now and again, using a pebble tray or moving it into your bathroom or kitchen if you have good natural light levels in there. The steam from showering and cooking makes those rooms slightly higher in humidity than others.

Low temperatures can also cause curling leaves

Anthurium Clarinerviums hate cold air and drafts and this can be a reason that they start to develop curling leaves. Make sure that you draft-proof any windows/ doors that are close to your Anthurium Clarinervium (and other tropical or heat-loving houseplants).

But it’s not just winter that causes havoc with your plants as air conditioning units can be quite damaging as well. The constant flow of cold air might be refreshing to you but it can actually freeze the leaf tissue if your plant gets too cold.

The best way to diagnose the issue is by using a digital thermometer. They can alert you of any fluctuations throughout the day and night so you can assess whether or not you need to move your plant.

Alongside curling leaves, low temperatures are generally pretty bad for your Anthurium Clarinervium’s health. It increases the risk of overwatering and root rot because the soil will take a lot longer to dry out in cooler temperatures. This can be the perfect place for root rot and leaf rot to occur so be extra cautious when it comes to caring for your Anthurium Clarinervium in winter or in colder rooms in your home.

Pests can be a worrying cause of curling leaves

Whilst it is pretty rare for your Anthurium Clarinervium to be suffering from a pest infestation (especially if it doesn’t spend any months living outside), curling leaves can be a sign of pests so it’s crucial you eliminate this potential cause.

Inspect the leaves for pests or signs of pests (this includes brown or yellow spots, white webbing or powder or holes in the leaves).

If you find pests, remove the worst affected leaves and wipe the rest of your plant down with warm soapy water to try and remove as many as possible. We recommend giving your plants a shower but make sure the water pressure isn’t on full or this could damage the leaves. If this doesn’t get rid of the pests, you can treat your Anthurium Clarinervium with neem oil to fight the infestation.

Make sure to check over your other plants in the room to see if any other plants have pests and isolate any infected plants to stop the spread.

Those are the most common causes of curling leaves on an Anthurium Clarinervium. Diagnosing the issue isn’t always as easy as some other problems because there are quite a few different causes.

This is why we recommend going through each one whilst inspecting your plant and its soil and eliminating those that don’t fit with what’s going on.

Then once you have made any changes to the care or environment of your Anthurium Clarinervium, keep a close eye on your plant for several weeks to make sure that no more leaves are beginning to curl.

Check out our Anthurium Clarinervium care guide for more information on how to keep your plant happy and healthy.

If you notice that your Aluminium Plant’s leaves are curling then this may be signalling that something isn’t quite right. The issue may be caused by something in your plant’s environment or something in the care routine.

Luckily, however, curling leaves are often an early sign that something is wrong so it can mean you have caught the issue early which is great! This makes it a lot easier to treat and revive your plant.

In this article, we will be going through each of the different causes of curling leaves on an Aluminium Plant so that you can get straight to diagnosing and treating the problem.

Underwatering is a common cause of curling leaves

Issues with watering are the number one cause of plant problems, and curling leaves are no different. Consistent underwatering will mean your Aluminium Plant’s leaves will begin curling as this is one method plants use to reduce moisture loss through their leaves.

As the problem progresses and the root system becomes damaged, Aluminium Plants can also begin curling even further. It’s at this stage you might notice some other issues developing such as brown leaves.

Check the moisture levels in the soil as well as inspect the root system to confirm if underwatering is damaging your plant.

To prevent the issue, you want to adjust how you are watering your Aluminium Plant. You either want to increase the amount of water you give your plant or the frequency at which you are watering. You just want to make sure that the potting mix doesn’t dry out for extended periods of time.

You also want to make sure that you increase how much you are watering your plant in summer to prevent curling leaves due to underwatering. Not only will the potting mix dry out quicker in warm weather but your plant will be actively growing.

Low humidity can also cause leaves to curl

Although slightly dry air won’t immediately kill your Aluminium Plant from one day to the next, it can cause curling leaves and brown leaf tips if the issue goes on for a while. This is because curling leaves is one of the mechanisms Aluminium Plants use to prevent moisture loss.

You’ll be happy to hear that there are several different methods you can use to increase the humidity for your Aluminium Plant:

1. Mist the leaves every few days

   This is something you should build into your regular Aluminium Plant plant care routine as it’s really great for their overall health and can prevent so many issues.

   Not only will it help the fight against brown leaf tips and curling leaves, but it can also be great at removing dust from your plant’s leaves.

2. Shower your plant for an instant boost

   This is a more short-term solution but is great for overall plant health as it gets rid of dust and pests that might be secretly living on your plant as well as boosts the humidity at the same time.

   Just make sure not to have the shower on full water pressure as this can damage the leaves or stems on your plant.

3. Invest in a good humidifier

   Humidifiers are a must-have for any plant parent and are a great investment in the long-term health of your plant!

   They will raise the humidity level to a nice stable level and your worries of brown leaf tips and curling leaves will be a thing of the past.

Heat stress could be causing the curling leaves

Another factor that can cause curling leaves on an Aluminium Plant is exposure to high temperatures. This links in with some of the other issues above as if your plant is exposed to a lot of warm air, it will dry up quickly and your plant will curl its leaves to reduce the amount of moisture that it is losing through its leaves.

Using a digital thermometer is the best way to spot any changes in temperature in the air around your plant. It may be that hot air formed around sunny windows or cookers, radiators or heating vents are damaging your plant and this is a nice and simple way to check that.

Digital thermometers can also help you check for cold drafts too which can be pretty damaging to your plant so are a real worthwhile investment.

Curling leaves on an Aluminium Plant can indicate pests

This isn’t such a common problem compared to the others we covered in this article but it’s probably the most worrying and hardest to treat.

Even if you think you’ve diagnosed the problem as being one of the factors above, we highly recommend that you check for pests anyway. You want to use a magnifying glass to look for actual pests on the leaves, stems and in the potting mix.

You also want to check for signs of pests which include brown or yellow spots, very small holes in the leaves, white powder or webbing across the stems and stagnant or small new growth.

If you find bugs (of signs of them), wipe each leaf with warm soapy water to try and remove as many as possible. If there are a few parts of the plant that are particularly bad, remove those to cut the size of the infestation.

We recommend giving your plants a shower and replacing the potting mix. After this, you need to start treating your plant with neem oil and an insecticide to fight the issue.

It’s important to say that pests can be successfully treated but the chances of doing that are higher the sooner you catch the issue. If the pests have fully taken over your plant then you might need to think about getting rid of it.

Although it can be emotional, there is a high risk of the pests spreading to your other houseplants which you want to avoid at all costs.

You’ll be pleased to know that curling leaves are often an early warning sign and if you can’t spot any other issues, it means solving the problem shouldn’t be too tricky and there shouldn’t be any permanent damage to your Aluminium Plant.

Check out our Aluminium Plant care guide for more information on other common problems and general care tips to help your plant thrive!

These once very rare houseplants are starting to crop up more and more across the world and we couldn’t be happier about it. Although they often aren’t as sensitive and susceptible to issues compared to a lot of other plant types out there, this doesn’t mean that you won’t run into any problems. One of the most common is curling or wrinkled leaves which is commonly one of the earlier signs of trouble.

Below we will go through each of the possible causes of curling and wrinkling leaves on an Alocasia Dragon Scale as well as guide you through the diagnosis and treatment processes. Your plant will be back to its normal self in no time.

Underwatering can often cause curling or wrinkled leaves

If the leaves on your Alocasia Dragon Scale are starting to develop brown tips, edges, spots or entire leaves are turning brown as well as curling or wrinkling, then it may be due to underwatering. However, as this is an early sign of trouble, don’t disregard this if curled leaves are the only symptom.

It’s important that you check the soil before you change anything about how much or how often you water your plant! You want to make sure the soil definitely is dry before giving it more water as otherwise, this can cause more issues than the curling or wrinkled leaves.

The most reliable way to check the moisture levels in the soil is by using a moisture meter. They are really affordable little devices that you pop into the soil and they will tell you how damp or dry the soil is. We always recommend this one from Amazon. You may also want to remove your plant from its pot to inspect the soil and this will also give you the opportunity to take a look at the root system. If the issue of underwatering has been going on for a while, then the roots may have started to dry out and crisp up.

Your first reaction to fixing an underwatered Alocasia Dragon Scale might be to pour endless amounts of water on it to make up for a lack of it previously. However, this can actually be damaging to your Alocasia Dragon Scale as they can get shocked and stressed if their environment drastically goes from one extreme to the other. Instead, the best thing to do is gradually introduce water over the course of the next week.

To prevent underwatering from causing more curling leaves in future (or any other serious issues), it’s vital that you increase the frequency or amount of watering. You want to prevent the soil from fully drying out for extended periods of time. Self-watering pots can be useful if you find yourself forgetting a lot or if you are often on holiday for extended periods of time.

Low humidity might also be to blame

Aside from moisture in the soil, low moisture in the air can also cause curling or wrinkled leaves on your Alocasia Dragon Scale. This can also show up as brown leaf tips or edges so that’s another thing to look out for.

But don’t worry, if the curling leaves are caused by a lack of humidity then there are some really easy and cheap solutions that will instantly get your Alocasia Dragon Scale looking and feeling fresher.

1. Get into a misting routine

   Misting the leaves is one of the easiest ways to increase the humidity for your Alocasia Dragon Scale and can really help solve the issue of curling leaves and prevent any more brown leaf tips from developing.

2. Give your Alocasia Dragon Scale a shower

   One really simple thing you can do to instantly boost the humidity for your Alocasia Dragon Scale and stop the leaves curling or wrinkling is showering your plant. Although this is a more short-term solution, it’s also a great way to remove dust from the leaves which is a bonus. You just want to make sure to keep the water pressure relatively low to avoid breaking any of the leaves or stems.

3. Think about changing the placement

   If you have good light levels (and enough space) in your kitchen or your bathroom then it could be a good idea to move your plant in there. The reason for this is that the humidity levels are naturally slightly higher in these rooms because of the steam released when showering and cooking.

   Top tip: Just make sure that your plant is at least one meter away from the cooker to avoid the leaves drying out.

4. Buy a humidifier

   If you want to take all the worries away from keeping a steady humidity level for your Alocasia Dragon Scale and prevent more curled up leaves, then buying a humidifier is definitely the best option for you. They can be really affordable and your dry air worries will be gone in a flash!

Curling leaves can be caused by intense direct sunlight

Whilst Alocasia Dragon Scales need bright light to thrive it’s crucial that this light is indirect. Intense sunlight (especially in summer) can dry out and scorch the leaves, causing yellow and brown patches and eventually plant death). However, one of the earlier signs of distress caused by direct light is curling leaves or the leaves looking somewhat wrinkled.

This can very quickly cause their leaves to begin curling inwards which happens for two reasons. Firstly, it is a mechanism that a lot of plants use to avoid moisture loss which can happen quickly when the leaves are dried out by intense hot sunlight. The second reason plants can start curling or wrinkling their leaves is to protect themselves from direct sunlight by minimising their light exposure.

If you have caught the issue fairly early and the only sign of unhappiness are the curled leaves, then the issue should resolve itself by moving your Alocasia Dragon Scale to a shadier spot in your home. However, if your plant has developed yellow or brown patches then these are irreversible and we recommend trimming the worst affected leaves off your plant.

Cold temperatures can also cause the leaves to curl

Make sure that you draft-proof any windows/ doors that are close to your Alocasia Dragon Scale (and other tropical or heat-loving houseplants) as the constant flow of cold air from outside during winter can be super damaging to your plant. Not only can it cause curling or wrinkled leaves but you may also spot discoloured spots on the leaves, droopy stems, stagnant growth and even leaf drop.

But it’s not just winter that causes havoc with your plants as air conditioning units can be quite damaging as well. The constant flow of cold air might be refreshing to you but it can actually begin to slowly freeze the leaf tissue if your plant gets too cold.

If your Alocasia Dragon Scale is in quite a cool room, this can also increase the risk of overwatering and root rot which is best avoided at all costs! Your Alocasia Dragon Scale won’t need as much water as the soil will take a lot longer to dry out in cooler temperatures. This can be the perfect place for root rot and leaf rot to occur so be extra cautious when it comes to caring for your Alocasia Dragon Scale in winter or in colder rooms in your home.

You may be overfertilizing your Alocasia Dragon Scale

Another cause of curling leaves on an Alocasia Dragon Scale is over-fertilisation. This is a tricky one to diagnose because it’s difficult to test the soil but if none of the other issues fit with your plant and you have been heavily feeding them recently, then this might be the answer.

We recommend fertilising using a water-soluble fertiliser at a lower than recommended strength every month or so during spring and summer. Hold off giving any fertiliser during the winter months as your Alocasia Dragon Scale will not be producing any new growth and this can kill your plant.

To solve the issue, flush out the soil or replace it entirely as well as remove any fertiliser spikes and hold off fertilising for at least 6 months to allow your plant time to recover.

We hope that this guide to curling Alocasia Dragon Scale has been helpful and that you have been able to successfully diagnose the issue. We recommend going through the list one by one whilst inspecting your plant’s leaves, stems, roots and potting mix to figure out what is happening to your plant.

Check out our Alocasia Dragon Scale care guide to discover more about how to keep your plant thriving.

Loved for their unique ability to grow without soil, one of the most common problems plant parents face with Air Plants is curling leaves. This can happen for a multitude of different reasons which can sometimes make diagnosing the issue difficult.

However, if you have noticed that your Air Plant has started to develop curling leaves then you have come to the right place. Below we will go through each of the different factors so that you can not only successfully diagnose the issue but treat it and stop it from causing more issues for your plant in future.

A lack of moisture cause curling Air Plant leaves

Too little moisture is the most common reason why Air Plants start curling up their leaves. As they don’t grow in soil, they can’t be watered in the same ways as you would with your other houseplants. This can often mean plant parents forget to bathe or mist their plant because it doesn’t fit in with their other care routines.

However, it’s crucial that Air Plants are sufficiently bathed and misted or they will dry out. The first sign of trouble is often curling leaves but if the issue progresses it can cause brown leaves and plant death.

You want to make sure that you are misting your plant once a day or every other day at the least to keep it from crisping and curling up. Alongside regular misting, make sure that you are bathing your plant every so often. During summer that can be as frequently as once a week but during winter we recommend cutting that to once or twice per month.

How to fix the issue and prevent further curling leaves on your Air Plant

Give your plant a soak. We recommend soaking for about 5-10 minutes each time so that your plant has enough time to take in some water but doesn’t start to rot.

Adjust your misting schedule moving forward so that you are misting more frequently.

Monitor the environment to pick up on any fluctuations that might mean your plant is drying out quicker (low humidity, higher temperatures and more sunlight).

Low humidity levels can also cause curling leaves

For similar reasons to a lack of moisture, Air Plants need high humidity to thrive. Although slightly dry air won’t immediately kill your plant it can cause curling leaves and brown leaf tips.

Below are some of the cheapest and easiest ways to raise the humidity for all of your humidity-loving houseplants.

1. Mist the leaves

   This is something we mentioned above but we could never say it too many times. Regularly misting is the key to keeping your Air Plant healthy and you should build this into your regular plant care routine as it’s really great for their overall health. One top tip we have is to avoid misting the leaves in the evenings as the leaves are more susceptible to rotting when the temperatures are lower.

2. Shower your Air Plant

   One simple trick that raises the humidity in an instant is showering your plant. It’s also a super easy way to get rid of any dust on your plant. This is slightly different to bathing your plant as you just give it a quick rinse to boost the humidity rather than bathing it for 10+ minutes. Make sure to use lukewarm water so you don’t shock or burn the plant.

3. Think about plant placement

   If you have good levels of natural sunlight in your kitchen or bathroom then we always recommend moving your Air Plant in there if it’s struggling with a lack of humidity. Showering and cooking release a lot of steam which means those two rooms are often slightly higher in hudmiity than the rest of your home. This means you won’t have to mist your plant as much and won’t need to worry about curling leaves much in future!

4. Invest in a humidifier

   Humidifiers are a must-have for any plant parent and are one of the greatest tools to keep your Air Plant thriving. They keep the room nice and humid (without you having to lift a finger) and the boost in humidity is not only great for your plants but also for you. A real win-win situation!

Curling Air Plant leaves can indicate low temperatures

Air Plants like to grow in temperatures that mimic their native environment. If your plant is exposed to cold temperatures, particularly consistent cold drafts, it can start curling up to avoid too much moisture loss.

The best temperature for your Air Plant is between 60-85°F (16-29°C). Using a digital thermometer can help keep track of any large fluctuations that might be causing the curling leaves and allow you to find the perfect spot for your plant.

When it comes to plant placement, there are quite a lot of things that can cause temperature extremes that you need to consider (both for hot and cold extremes). For example, heating vents, radiators, air conditioning units and cookers can all cause hotspots which can dry out your plant pretty quickly.

The average room temperature on your thermostat doesn’t always reflect the actual temperature of where your Air Plant is sitting. This is why it’s important to get a portable thermometer that you can place next to your plant to check for any fluctuations. Place it next to your plant for a few days as this will allow you to spot whether it gets particularly cold at night or really hot in the afternoon for example. They are very affordable little devices and have saved us a lot of heartache when it comes to preventing plant issues.

Those are the most common reasons why Air Plants develop curling leaves and leaf tips. The most important thing when diagnosing and treating problems is to catch and start solving them as early as possible. To do this, we recommend giving your plants a regular check-up to help spot any early warning signs.

To learn more about how to keep your plant thriving, check out our Air Plant care guide.

Loved for their striking white-veined leaves, the African Mask Plant has really risen in the plant popularity ranks recently! Although they aren’t the most difficult plant to care for, you might spot some problems pop up from time to time if something isn’t right. A fairly common issue can be curling leaves on an African Mask Plant because there are quite a few different factors that can cause it.

If you have noticed that your African Mask Plant has started to develop curling leaves, then you have come to the right place. Below we will go through each of the potential factors as well as how to properly make the diagnosis and treat the issue long-term.

A curling African Mask Plant can indicate underwatering

If your African Mask Plant’s potting mix gets too dry, the foliage will curl and start to wilt. This is because houseplants start curling their leaves as a way to slow down moisture loss so it’s often one of the earlier signs of underwatering.

If your African Mask Plant has only just started curling and shows no signs of brown leaves then it should mean you’ve caught the problem early and it won’t be too difficult to get your plant back to full health.

Check the potting mix to confirm that underwatering is the cause of the curling leaves on your African Mask Plant. You are looking to see if the potting mix is very dry and if the roots have started to crisp up yet.

To solve the issue of underwatering start to water a little bit each day for a week. This will stop your plant from going into shock by a sudden change in the environment. The leaves should soon start to perk up and stop curling after being watered.

In future, to prevent the issue you want to make sure that you don’t let the potting mix dry out for extended periods of time. There are several ways you can monitor the moisture levels in the soil including the chopstick method, lifting up your plant or using a moisture meter.

If you find yourself constantly forgetting to water your African Mask Plant then you might want to invest in a self-watering pot. These are great for busy or jet-setting plant parents.

Low humidity might also be to blame

African Mask Plants like quite humid environments and can struggle in homes with dry air. This can be especially damaging in the winter months as central heating and less ventilation causes really dry ait.

A lack of humidity in the air can cause your African Mask Plant’s leaves to curl, and eventually maybe even fall off. This happens for the same reason as with underwatering because it’s a mechanism plants use to retain as much water as possible.

The only way to really confirm the issue is by using a humidity monitor. To treat the issue, start by misting your African Mask Plant every few days with a spray bottle. If you want an even easier solution to humidity issues, consider investing in a humidifier. These affordable little devices make it super easy to keep a more consistent increased humidity level and you don’t even have to lift a finger!

Curling leaves on an African Mask Plant can suggest over-fertilisation

African Mask Plants aren’t heavy feeders and you can still see plenty of new healthy growth without using any fertiliser at all. However, if you have over-fertilised your African Mask Plant, it can cause curling leaves.

This is because residual nutrient salts can toxify the soil and damage the roots. This can result in African Mask Plant leaves curling and browning as the roots become unable to deliver what the plant needs.

If you have used water-soluble fertiliser, hold off using any more and flush the soil through in the shower. Otherwise, remove the fertiliser spikes or replace the soil if you are using pellets. Hold off feeding for at least a year to let your African Mask Plant recover.

Moving forward it’s completely up to you whether you actually return to fertilising your African Mask Plant as they can still get plenty of new healthy growth without it if the environment is right.

Temperature extremes can cause curling leaves

Native to tropical regions, African Mask Plants love warmth but are quite sensitive to extreme temperatures and both hot and cold air can cause curling leaves.

During the hottest and sunniest months of the year, you need to watch out for hotspots that can form around sunny windows. The heat and sun can dry out the leaves and cause them to start curling as well as turn brown and yellow if the issue persists for a while. You also need to watch out for AC units as the cold air can be quite damaging to your plant, even if it is a nice rest bite from the heat for you.

During winter, make sure that your African Mask Plant isn’t near any drafty windows or external doors as the cold air flow from outside can slowly cause real issues for your plant without you realising it. You also need to be careful about excess heat if your plant is too close to the radiator or heating vents.

Using a digital thermometer will be super helpful and allow you spot any changes in temperature before they’ve caused curling leaves or other issues. You might then have to relocate your plant to solve the issue in the long term.

Exposure to direct sunlight can also cause curling leaves

African Mask Plants prefer medium to indirect bright light and don’t deal so well with intense direct sunlight. This can very quickly cause their leaves to begin curling inwards which happens for two reasons. Firstly, curling leaves is a mechanism that many plants use to avoid moisture loss which can happen quickly when the leaves are dried out by intense hot sunlight. The second reason plants can start curling their leaves is to protect themselves from direct sunlight by minimising their light exposure.

If you have caught the problem early and the only sign of unhappiness is curling leaves, then the issue should resolve itself by moving your African Mask Plant to a shadier spot in your home. If the issue has progressed to the point of causing sunburn on the leaves of your plant, then we recommend trimming the worst affected away so your plant can focus on new healthy growth.

Those are the most common reasons why African Mask Plants develop curling leaves. It can be a little bit of a tricky issue to diagnose because there are quite a few subtle problems that can have that effect. This is why we recommend going through each one whilst inspecting your plant and its environment to best figure out what is causing the curling leaves.

To learn more about how to keep your plant thriving, check out our African Mask Plant care guide.

It can be quite worrying when your African Mask Plant’s leaves start to turn brown. However, if you have caught the problem early then with a few changes to the environment or your care routine, you should be able to solve the problem in no time. Below you will find the most common reasons why African Mask Plant’s leaves turn brown.

Not enough water

If the leaves on your African Mask Plant have turned light brown, dry and crispy, then you may not be watering your plant enough. Although African Mask plants don’t like sitting in puddles of water, they do like some moisture in the soil. Consistent underwatering will cause them to develop brown leaves.

Before you go and drown your plant in water, you need to make sure that this is actually the issue. Carefully take your African Mask Plant out of the pot to inspect the soil. If it is very dry and powdery then your plant will need more water.

Slowly reintroduce water to your plant over the course of a week, rather than drowning it straight away. A sudden change in environment can shock your African Mask Plant and cause more problems than brown leaves.

Too much water

As with underwatering, overwatering can also cause a whole range of issues for your African Mask Plant, including brown leaves. However, the appearance and feel of the leaf will be different from overwatering. The leaves will turn yellow and darker brown and look and feel a little softer, rather than dry and crispy.

Again you want to inspect the soil first before you make any changes to your care routine. If the soil is soggy then there is too much moisture. Over time, this can cause the roots to rot and the plant is unable to take up the water and nutrients it needs to thrive.

We always recommend replacing the soil as soon as you notice this issue. You want to prevent any further damage to the root system. Trim away any dead roots and leaves to encourage your plant to focus on new healthy growth. After a few weeks, you should start to see your plant look a little healthier. It can take a while if the root system has been quite severely damaged but be patient and with the right care, your plant should bounce back.

Make sure to adjust your care in the long term to avoid the problem happening again. Regularly check the moisture in the soil before watering and monitor how this changes throughout the year.

Lack of humidity

If the edges and leaf tips of your African Mask Plant are turning brown, then dry air may be the culprit. They are tropical plants so thrive in humid environments. During winter, our homes can be especially dry as the heating is on and the windows are closed so it’s something we need to more conscious of during that time. Although we could never reach tropical levels of humidity in our home, there are a few things we can do to help raise the humidity and stop the brown leaf tips.

Mist the leaves

This is a great habit to get into to for a lot of your plants as it is great for their overall health as well as for the humidity level. Mist the leaves using a spray bottle a few times a week. Never mist in the evening as the cold air at night will mean the leaves are a lot more likely to rot if damp.

Misting is also a great way to get rid of dust which is a problem for African Mask Plants. Their large sturdy leaves are a dust magnet and it can prevent the plant getting all of the sunlight which reduces the levels of photosynthesis.

Shower your plant

A really easy way to boost the humidity is giving your plant a shower. It is also a good way to get rid of any pests that may be secretly living on your plant. Pop your African Mask Plant in the shower and wash down the leaves.

Here are a few things to look out for when showering your plant

• Keep the water pressure low to avoid damaging the leaves/ stems
• The water should be lukewarm so you don’t shock or burn your plant
• Leave the plant in the shower for 30 minutes after washing to allow for excess water to run off

Pick the right room

Some rooms in your home will have a naturally higher humidity level than others. The kitchen and bathroom are the main ones as steam from showering or cooking will increase the level of water vapour in the air. If you have good lighting in those rooms then move your plant in there if it is suffering from a lack of humidity. This should avoid any further brown leaf tips!

Invest in a humidifier

If you are looking for a more long-term solution for your houseplants then buying a humidifier is the option for you. Some humidifiers even have settings in them that will keep a constant level or turn on and off on a set schedule. They are also thought to help with getting better sleep and clearer skin so it’s not just a good investment for your plants.

This is the humidifier we use from Amazon and our plants love it!

Overfertilisation

African Mask Plants don’t need a lot of fertiliser to thrive and too much can lead to brown leaves. You want to be fertilising a few times during the growth months of spring and summer and not at all during winter. If you are fertilising more than this then it might be the cause of the brown leaves.

If you fertilise using a water-soluble fertiliser then the solution is simple, just hold off for a few months. If you use slow releasing spikes then remove them from the soil and if the pellets are mixed in with the soil then replace the potting mix with fresh mix.

These are the most common causes of brown leaves on African Mask Plants. If you want to find out more about caring for your plants or other common problems then visit our African Mask Plant care guide.

If you’re looking for a little something different, then the Rhaphidophora (Mini Monstera) is a great choice for you. However, if your beloved Mini Monstera has started to develop a few yellow leaves, then it might be a sign that something isn’t quite right. But don’t fret, we will cover off all of the different reasons why your Mini Monstera may have yellow leaves – some are easier to diagnose than others but we will help you get to the bottom of the issue. We have also included tips to solve the issues as well as prevent any yellow leaves from occurring again.

Overwatering is the most common cause of yellow leaves

When you notice yellow leaves on any houseplant, overwatering is where we would start off looking, and the same goes for the Mini Monstera. Mini Monsteras don’t like sitting in puddles of water for long periods of time and it will slowly cause the roots to rot. This means that the roots can’t transport any nutrients or oxygen to the rest of the plant and the leaves will slowly turn yellow from the base upwards.

To figure out if overwatering is the reason your Mini Monstera has yellow leaves, check the moisture levels in the soil immediately. You want to be sure of the problem before changing anything about your care routine. Take your plant out of its pot and if the soil is quite waterlogged and clumpy then replace it with fresh dry mix. It’s a mistake to wait for the soil to dry out on its own as this risks more damage to the root system and your plant overall. Once the leaves on your Mini Monstera have turned yellow, there’s no going back, unfortunately, so trim away the rotten roots and yellow leaves and adjust your watering schedule moving forward. You either way to reduce the frequency that you’re watering, or the amount of water that you give it each time.

Extreme temperatures can also cause yellow leaves

Another cause of yellow leaves is a drop in temperatures. Mini Monstera plants like warm environments and can really struggle in cold homes or if exposed to drafts over a long period of time. This is particularly a problem at night when temperatures drop and we are less likely to have the heating on.

If the leaves are wet whilst your plant is exposed to cool temperatures, there is a high risk of the soggy leaves rotting. The best thing to avoid this is to water your Mini Monstera very carefully to make sure the spout is as close to the potting soil as possible to minimise the amount of water that splashes onto your leaves.

You can also avoid yellow leaves on Mini Monstera being caused by extreme temperatures by draft proofing all windows and doors and making sure your Mini Monstera isn’t close to an AC vent. Using a digital thermometer will really help you keep track of the temperature fluctuations and help avoid any further yellow leaves

Pests

Another rarer cause of yellow leaves on a Mini Monstera is a pest infestation. Spider mites can cause yellow leaves on a Mini Monstera so these are the ones to look out for if your plant seems unhappy. If your Mini Monstera does have a pest infestation then don’t think you need to say goodbye to it. If treated properly, you can get rid of the infestation. Firstly, you should trim off the worst affected leaves and stems to curb the infestation from growing quickly and then treating your Mini Monstera with neem oil. If the infestation hasn’t taken over your whole plant then these tricks should help stop the pests from killing your Mini Monstera.

Overfertilisation

Another common cause of yellow leaves in Mini Monsteras is over-fertilisation. Mini Monstera plants really don’t need much fertiliser and you can even skip it altogether if you’d prefer. At most, you want to be fertilising a couple of times throughout the growth period of spring and summer and not at all during the dormant period of winter. If you are fertilising more than this, or not diluting the fertiliser, then it could be the cause of the yellow leaves.

If you have been using slow-release fertiliser within the soil then remove the spikes or replace the potting mix if it is mixed in with it. If you have been using water-soluble fertiliser then it’s easier to solve as you just have to stop fertilising! Wait until the growth period comes around again before fertilising again so you allow time for your plant to fully recover.

Natural ageing

If it’s only the oldest bottom leaves on your Mini Monstera that are turning yellow then this may be natural ageing. As your plant matures, your Mini Monstera will drop some of its oldest, lowest leaves to focus its energy on growing new healthy growth.

This is completely natural and isn’t because of anything you did wrong. The rate of natural ageing should be about 1 or 2 of the oldest leaves every few months but no more as this is an indication that something is wrong. Monitor the rate of yellowing to see if it is speeding up.

Should I trim away the yellow leaves on my Mini Monstera?

We always recommend getting rid of the yellow leaves on your Mini Monstera. Unfortunately, once the leaf has turned yellow, there is no going back to their usual green or variegation. So trimming away the yellow leaves means your plant can begin to focus all the energy on growing new healthy leaves and vines.

So those are the most common reasons why Mini Monstera plants develop yellow leaves. We recommend going through the possible causes one by one to eliminate those that don’t fit with your plant. Keep an eye on your plant over the next few weeks to make sure that any changes you do make to the environment or your care guide are having a positive impact on the health of your plant.

To find out more about how to care for your Mini Monstera, as well as propagation tips and other common issues, check out our Mini Monstera care guide.