aglaonema leaves curling have different reasons that will arise if it is not maintained correctly. Aglaonema, or the Chinese evergreen plant, is a tropical plant that many love because of its unique patterned leaves, which have different species. But the most common reason for aglaonema leaf curling is the low watering of the plant so that if the amount of watering is less than the tolerance threshold of aglaonema, a mechanism is activated in the plant that prevents the loss of the minimum available moisture.
Other reasons for Chinese Evergreen Leaves Curling include improper lighting, very high or low temperature, low environmental humidity (dry air around the plant) and overwatering.
In the rest of this article, stay with us to examine every reason for aglaonema leaf curling so that you can quickly identify the root cause of your plant’s problem and take constructive action to revive it
also check Why are ZZ plant Leaves Curling ? reasons + solution
What are the causes of aglaonema leaf curling?
To summarize the reasons for this problem, the leading cause of aglaonema curling leaves is a lack of sufficient moisture and improper and low watering. Also, aglaonema leaf curling and slow growth are caused by temperature changes, drying of the plant, disease and pest, or lack of nutrients. The received light should be indirect, watering should be done regularly and when soil moisture decreases. The pots should not be placed in front of the hot or cold airflow. Check the leaves and the surface of the soil carefully for pests. To strengthen the plant, you can fertilize it every two weeks with houseplant fertilizer. The cause of yellow and aglaonema leaf curling should be found in unbalanced irrigation and too much sunlight. This will cause your plant to wither (be sure to read the article aglaonema yellow leaves). If you see all the leaves wilting in addition to the curling, it is better to drain the pot’s soil and strengthen it with chemicals.
Be sure to read the correct conditions of care for aglaonema silver bay
Can improper watering cause aglaonema curling leaves?
Yes, like many other houseplants, Chinese evergreen needs a certain amount of watering. So that if the amount of irrigation of the plant is very low, the leaves of the plant become tubular to maintain the same amount of minimum moisture. And if the amount of watering aglaonema is too high, the empty spaces of the soil will be filled with moisture, and the oxygen supply to the plant’s roots will decrease.
By reducing the supply of oxygen to the roots, they are at risk of rotting (due to the invasion of infectious fungi) and do not successfully absorb water and nutrients. In this case, first, the leaves become c and then you will see the yellowing of your aglaonema leaves. In a separate article about How to save a dying aglaonema? We have discussed that you must read.
According to what was mentioned, to revive Chinese evergreen, it is suggested to check the soil moisture level of the pot every two days and if 4 Inch of the pot soil surface is dry and free of any moisture, start watering your plant. You can use humidity sensors, wooden skewers, or moving pot soil to determine the time of watering the plant.
The best way to water the plant to prevent Chinese evergreen leaves from curling up is to moisten the pot’s soil well (not in a saturated state) and then, as soon as the excess water is removed from the bottom of the pot, stop watering the Chinese evergreen immediately. And throw away the water collected under the pot because the water remaining under the pot and reabsorbed by the soil will keep the soil moist, and eventually, the plant will suffer from root rot.
The drying speed of the soil surface is different in each season. Therefore, you may need to water your plant once a week and sometimes every two to three weeks (in the cold seasons of the year, more time is needed for the soil to dry). Therefore, if the reason for the curling of the leaves of your beloved plant is due to incorrect watering, be sure to pay attention to this critical point.
If you want to see your plant blooming, be sure to read the article “does aglaonema bloom“.
Effect of dissolved water on aglaonema leaves curling
Aglaonema is very sensitive to water salinity, so if the water used is not of good quality, the leaves will wither a little, and eventually, you will see your aglaonema curling leaves. According to the point mentioned, if you are sure that the water used for the plant contains salts, it is recommended to pour the amount of water into a container before watering to revive aglaonema. Then put it in the open air for 24 hours to reduce the amount of harmful salts, especially chlorine.
How does improper light cause the leaves of the plant to curl?
Aglaonema is a plant that grows in nature under the shade of trees, so it is not surprising that it is considered one of the low-light houseplants and needs indirect sunlight for its proper and maximum growth. Also, receiving a lot of strong sunlight over time will cause overwater evaporation between the tissues of the leaves, and the leaves will start to twist.
To prevent aglaonema leaf curling, it is recommended to place your plant at a distance of 2 to 2.5 meters from the window of the house and always filter the sunlight for your beloved plant through transparent curtains (especially in summer and spring). Also, the light received from behind the curtain or frosted glass can be great for this plant.
On the other hand, if you are sure that the curling of the leaves of your plant is due to inappropriate light, to revive Chinese evergreen, it is better to increase or decrease the light available to the plant in several stages so that your beloved plant does not suffer from tension or other stress.
Be sure to read the article about why aglaonema leaves droop.
Does high or low temperature affect the curling of aglaonema?
Among the other causes of Chinese evergreen leaves becoming tubular, we can mention the inappropriate temperature of the place where the plant is kept. So that if the temperature drops too low, your plant will try to take care of itself by curling its leaves. On the other hand, if the temperature of the place where the plant is kept is very high, the leaves of the plant do a lot of evaporation and transpiration and lose a lot of moisture. Precisely because of this, the plant leaves to curl and fall if left untreated.
According to what was said, to revive aglaonema, it is suggested that the temperature of the place where the plant is kept should always be in the range of 52 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit so that the plant is encouraged to its maximum growth and no problem occurs in its metabolic processes.
Does very low environmental humidity affect aglaonema curling leaves?
As mentioned at the beginning of this article, low humidity can also cause this problem. After improper watering, another common cause of aglaonema leaf curling is too dry air in the place where the plant is kept because aglaonema originates from tropical and rainy places and is very fond of high environmental humidity.
When the humidity around the mentioned plant is low, much water will come out of the plant’s leaves. At the opposite point of low humidity, if the air around the plant is humid, aglaonema leaves will absorb moisture well through their pores and will never assume a tubular or twisted state.
Spraying Chinese evergreen will only increase the humidity around your beloved plant for a few hours; however, it is better always to have a container of water next to the plant pot so that the appropriate humidity is always available to the plant with the evaporation of water. Or make an island for the plant (choose a large vase and put pebbles in it, and then place the pot on it and fill it with water, only the bottom of the pot should not be in contact with water)
Conclusions on Chinese Evergreen leaves curling
We hope this article has helped you find the cause of your aglaonema curling leaves. Aglaonema is a plant that immediately turns its leaves into a curled shape when faced with environmental stress and incorrect maintenance methods. However, there is no need to worry because the root cause of the problem will be diagnosed, and your plant will recover within 2-3 days. Also, aglaonema is toxic to cats and other pets, so be careful about it.
Improper watering and lack of environmental humidity are the most common reasons for the leaves of your beloved plant to curl, so it is suggested to evaluate these two things first to find the root cause of the problem and revive your aglaonema. If you have any questions or problems regarding the maintenance of this plant, ask in the comments.