Anthurium plants are common among plant owners because of the unique appearance of their leaves and flowers. However, one of the most common issues that Anthurium owners face is the curling of the leaves.
Now, you must be wondering: Why are my Anthurium leaves curling? Well, Anthurium leaves curl when the plant doesn’t receive enough light, there’s too much water in the soil, or the room’s temperature is too low.
If you want to know more about the reasons why Anthurium leaves curl, keep on reading!
11 Reasons Why Anthurium Leaves Curl
Anthurium leaves curl when they’re experiencing a stressful situation. In order to help your plant, you should first identify the problem before providing the proper solution.
1 – Lack of Sunlight Exposure
Like any other plant, Anthurium needs sunlight in order to survive. Its growth and lifespan depend on the amount of light it receives.
The plant requires at least a few hours of sunlight daily so it can produce the essential nutrients it needs through photosynthesis. Additionally, sunlight boosts the flower production of the Anthurium.
The lack of exposure to sunlight doesn’t only make the Anthurium leaves curl, though. It also makes the plant paler in color due to the lack of chlorophyll production.
2 – Overexposure to Sunlight
Alternatively, the leaves of an Anthurium plant can curl if it’s receiving too much sun exposure. Although the plant can protect itself from excess sunlight, its photosynthetic pigments will get damaged in the long run.
Moreover, sunlight drains the water out of the plants. As a result, the leaves of the Anthurium plants won’t only curl, but also get burn marks.
Sadly, once a leaf gets burn marks, it can no longer recover from it because the leaf tissue is already damaged. However, it doesn’t mean that the whole Anthurium is dead.
There are instances wherein the leaves of overexposed plants completely dry out. When that happens, the plant becomes prone to bug infestation as well as other issues that affect its health.
3 – Overwatered
Overwatering a plant is a mistake that most plant owners make. It’s a bad habit because too much water damages the plant’s roots.
This process suffocates them because they cannot ingest the oxygen they need to function properly.
When the roots of the Anthurium become overwatered, the leaves will curl, droop, and limp.
Furthermore, overwatering also boosts root rot, which is yet another reason why your Anthurium leaves are curling. It weakens the root further and becomes a breeding ground for fungi.
These fungi can destroy your plant by preventing it from absorbing water. As such, your Anthurium ends up with dry, curly leaves, or worse, the plant completely dies.
In fact, you only need to water Anthuriums once every week. They prefer the soil to be on the drier side, but not to the extent that the plant itself is drying out.
4 – Lack of Nutrients
Anthuriums are light feeders. They only need 75 to 200 ppm of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
If you don’t give the plant’s soil enough fertilizer, its leaves will start curling, which means that your Anthurium’s growth is slowing down.
Along with the curling of the leaves, the plant’s production of foliage and flowers will also decelerate or completely stop if they’re not getting the nutrients they need.
5 – Overfeeding
Overfeeding or putting too much fertilizer on your Anthurium’s soil makes its leaves curl as well. You only need to fertilize it once every week.
Aside from leaf curling, the leaves too will wilt and become limp. The plant will produce a yellow tinge, which is a clear indicator that you’re overfeeding the Anthurium.
6 – Inconsistent Humidity Level
Since Anthuriums are tropical plants, they need to stay in an area with high humidity. Their growth tends to get compromised when they’re in a dry place.
Plants need the right amount of humidity because they undergo transpiration to breathe. When the humidity is too low for their liking, they’ll close their stomata to conserve water, which often leads to suffocation and the curling of their leaves.
Anthuriums, in particular, need a humidity level of 50%. If you’re putting them in an area with lower humidity than the ideal percentage, their leaves will start curling and lose their shine.
Moreover, there’s a high chance that the Anthurium will die if it remains in an area with low humidity for long periods.
7 – Fluctuating Temperatures
Anthurium plants don’t thrive in extreme weather conditions. They need to be in a warm area, or else their leaves will curl.
The ideal temperature for an Anthurium is 60°F to 90°F, which isn’t too hot or cold.
If the temperature in your home is lower than usual, it’ll reduce the enzyme activity of your Anthurium. It means that the plant can’t digest the nutrients properly.
On the other hand, if it’s too hot, this will cause extreme water loss in the Anthurium. When left untreated for a long time, it can even lead to the plant’s death.
8 – Using the Wrong Pot
If your Anthurium is in a pot with poor drainage, that’s probably the reason why the leaves are curling. Poor drainage makes the plant overwatered.
Even though they can grow up to three feet tall, it doesn’t mean they have to be in a large pot. The pots of Anthuriums need to be low, and their size should be between 5 to 8 inches.
You’re good to go as long as the pot has proper drainage and the soil can retain its moisture.
9 – Poor Water Quality
When watering your Anthurium, you shouldn’t use tap water as it contains chlorine, minerals, and contaminants that aren’t safe for plants.
The minerals build up over time around the roots of your Anthurium. When that happens, it causes several problems, such as the curling of the leaves.
Inspecting the soil is an excellent way to check if there’s a mineral build-up on your Anthurium. You can confirm it if you can spot a crust forming on the dirt, and the leaves of the plants are curling or turning yellow.
10 – Pest Infestation
Anthuriums are also prone to houseplant pests, such as aphids, spider mites, and mealybugs. These pests commonly hide under the leaves, which can be the reason why you haven’t seen them yet.
Additionally, the pests can kill the Anthurium because they suck all of the nutrients out of the plant. Once the plant weakens, its leaves will start curling.
11 – New Leaves are Forming
It’s normal for new leaves to curl, especially while they’re growing. The leaves of Anthurium grow in an upright and curled manner.
The leaves only flatten out as they mature, which can take a few weeks or even months.
Solutions for Curling Anthurium Leaves
Once you’ve determined what’s causing the curling of your Anthurium leaves, it’s time to work on the solutions. Note that these solutions won’t fix your problem immediately because they take time before they work.
1 – Put the Anthurium Near Your Window
If your problem is the lack of exposure to sunlight, you should put the plant a few feet away from your window.
Doing so gives the plant enough sunlight and shade daily. Anthuriums don’t need direct sunlight; they just need to stay in the shade every now and then.
2 – Maintain the Humidity
You can use a humidifier to maintain the humidity inside your home. Although if you don’t have one, you can simply mist your Anthurium with water every so often to prevent the plant from drying out.
In addition, if you have other plants, you can group them together because plants release moisture through their leaves. Through that process, they’re able to maintain their desired humidity level.
3 – Repot the Plant
If your Anthurium has root rot, you have no other choice but to repot it in fresh soil. It’s the only way to save the plant because root rot can quickly spread to healthy roots even after the soil has completely dried up.
Before repotting the plant, ensure that you’ve completely removed the rotting part and you’ve already fertilized the new soil.
4 – Use Filtered Water
Only use filtered water when watering your Anthurium. Doing so prevents mineral build-up, which causes your plant’s leaves to curl.
5 – Always Check for Pests
You should always check for pests even if the leaves of your Anthurium aren’t curling. However, if there’s already a pest infestation, you should spray the plant with insecticidal soap.
6 – Avoid Air Vents and Fans
To prevent your Anthurium from experiencing temperature fluctuation, avoid placing it near air vents, fans, and even air conditioners, especially at night.
The sudden drop in temperature will make the leaves of your Anthurium curl.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, those reasons answered your question: Why are my Anthurium leaves curling?
Of course, the reason varies for every plant, but the most common reasons why the leaves curl are overexposure to sunlight, overwatering the plant, and fluctuating temperature.
Now you know how to combat these issues, so go ahead and check your plant!
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.