Lots of people enjoy keeping Chinese money plants in their homes and you might even have more than one of these right now. They’re very common and they’re actually pretty easy to take care of overall.
However, it’s also common for people to have to deal with drooping leaves or curling leaves when taking care of these plants.
What’s causing your Chinese money plant to have its leaves start to curl? Well, there are actually quite a few potential causes that you should be aware of.
Keep reading to learn more.
1 – Watering Too Much
Watering your Chinese money plant is important but watering too much can cause big problems.
You need to be mindful of the soil condition when you’re watering these plants. The top inch of the soil should be dry before you try to water your plant.
If you’re worried that you overwatered your plant, you should definitely let it dry out a bit before you water it again. During the winter months, you’ll need to let the plant dry out a little longer between your watering sessions.
As long as you’re aware of this, it should be fairly simple to avoid overwatering your plant.
2 – Improper Drainage
Improper drainage can lead to significant problems for Chinese money plants. You need to ensure that the soil you’re using drains really well. It might even be best to aerate the soil to ensure that things will be ideal for your plant.
Sometimes your pot might be the issue as well. Many people have noted that plants can suffer when they’re stuck in pots that don’t drain very well and you can fix this by getting your plant a new pot. Simply find an appropriate pot with good drainage holes to fix the issue.
Don’t use pots that are way too big for your Chinese money plant either. This can make the soil hold too much moisture. It could even be the cause of your leaf curling woes.
3 – Humidity Issues
Chinese money plants are going to thrive in humid environments but they can suffer when the humidity levels are too low.
Heaters and air conditioning units can really dry out your house too. This can make it tough for your home to maintain the right humidity levels that your plant needs.
You can solve this problem by placing a humidifier near your Chinese money plant. This can give your plant the humidity that it craves and it might just alleviate the curling problem that you have encountered.
Try to maintain good humidity levels in your home at all times when you want your Chinese money plants to thrive.
4 – Light Problems
These plants shouldn’t be placed in direct sunlight since it can cause many problems.
Direct sunlight is too intense for Chinese money plants and this means that you might need to reposition your plant. Put some thought into where you’re keeping the plant so that it won’t be exposed to intense light.
You can easily utilize sheer curtains or blinds to dim the sunlight to make things easier for your plant. It’s also possible to move your plant to a window that is facing east or north.
Consider your options and then make sure that your plant is getting the right level of light.
5 – Heat Issues and Stress
Too much heat can be very bad for your Chinese money plant and it could even be to blame for your curling leaves.
When Chinese money plants are kept in temperatures that are above 80 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s going to be hard for them to survive. The ideal temperature for these plants is between 57 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit.
Adjusting the temperature in the room where you’re keeping your plant is going to be necessary. If you have a modern HVAC system, simply ensure that your room temperature stays between the recommended temperatures for these plants.
Most people wouldn’t want to live in a house that is above 80 degrees Fahrenheit anyway but it’s still good for you to know that this can be an issue.
6 – Nutrient Problems
Sometimes Chinese money plants will experience curling and drooping when they aren’t getting enough nutrients.
Plants need plenty of nutrients to be able to thrive and your plant simply might be missing out on some essential ones. Giving your plant a bit of fertilizer might help to alleviate the issues that you have noticed.
It’s recommended to buy some 20-20-20 fertilizer to see if it helps out at all. It could alleviate the deficiency that your plant has experienced and turn things around quickly.
Nitrogen deficiency is one of the most common reasons why plant leaves will curl up and you can solve this by just purchasing some fertilizer to use on your plant.
7 – Root System Issues
Did you know that an unhealthy root system could be the cause of your leaves curling up?
You can check to see if your plant has healthy roots by learning how healthy roots are supposed to look. A healthy Chinese money plant will have white roots that look quite resilient.
Unhealthy roots will be a stark contrast from healthy ones because they will be brown. You’ll also notice that the roots might be very mushy and will feel as though they could crumble easily.
If this is happening, it’s very likely that your plant is experiencing root rot and is about to die.
8 – Pests
Finally, you should know that pests can sometimes cause huge problems for your Chinese money plant.
Common household insects such as gnats will attempt to invade the soil underneath your houseplants. When this occurs, you might notice that your Chinese money plant will start drooping and it could even wind up yellowing over time.
It’s going to be important to take a look at the soil to see what is going on. If you notice drooping or yellowing, it’s best to check the soil to see if bugs have invaded it.
If they have, you need to take the right steps to get rid of them to protect your plant.
Sadly, this is an issue that could kill your Chinese money plant if left unchecked. It’s always ideal to be proactive when you notice changes to your plant.
You can eliminate pests and save the plant quite easily so long as you’re paying attention.
How Do You Tell Which Problem You Have?
Learning to tell which of the above problems is causing the leaves to curl can be kind of tough. It might be safest to start by checking the soil to rule out pests as soon as you can.
After this, you can make tiny adjustments to the way that you’re doing things to see if you can fix the issue.
Many people will be able to solve things just by adopting proper care strategies. You might not have realized that you needed to keep your house at the right humidity level.
Likewise, many people don’t know about the temperature recommendations for these plants.
You can adjust things over time while trying to adhere to the proper care procedures. This can help your Chinese money plant to get back to normal and you’ll be able to keep on admiring it for a long time.
These plants aren’t really hard to care for but you do need to know what you’re doing to get the best results.
Growing up with a mom who filled her home (inside and out) with all sorts of plants, Lisa got her start in gardening at a young age. Living now on her own with a home and yard full of plants (including an indoor greenhouse), she shares all the gardening tips she’s gained over the years.