Why does my Anthurium Clarinervium have curling leaves?

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.