Are your elephant ears starting to curl upward? If so, the first thing you should know is that it’s not normal. Rather, it’s a sign that your elephant ear plant is receiving either inconsistent watering, too much light, or is infested with pests.
The good news is that knowing this is half the battle because once you see this, you can take corrective action to prevent it from happening again.
Elephant ears – also known as Alocasia – are a beautiful addition to any home or garden, but they are a little bit on the high-maintenance side. Not only do they require a lot of water, warm temperatures, and partial shade, but they also need to grow in moist, nutrient-rich soil for the best results. Trust me, I’ve experimented with them enough to know exactly what they need to grow (after trial and error, of course).
If these conditions aren’t met, you can expect your elephant ear leaves to curl. Fortunately, there are ways to fix this and I’ve outlined some steps for you below to save your curling elephant ears.
Elephant ear plants are known for their huge, iconic leaves. But when those leaves start curling, it can be cause for concern. Curling leaves are the elephant ear plant’s way of communicating that something is wrong in its environment.
The good news is that curling leaves can often be fixed by making a few simple adjustments to how you care for your plant. In this article we’ll go over the most common reasons elephant ear leaves curl and what you can do to get your plant back to health.
Overwatering – The Most Common Culprit
The number one reason elephant ear leaves curl is overwatering. Elephant ears need a lot of moisture, but they definitely don’t like soggy soil. If you give your elephant ear plant too much water, the roots will be constantly soaked. This leads to root rot, which blocks the roots from absorbing nutrients properly.
To make up for the lack of nutrients, the leaves will start to curl and yellow. Eventually the leaves will die off completely.
How to Fix Overwatering
Fixing an overwatered elephant ear plant is straightforward:
-
Stop watering so frequently, Wait until the top inch or two of soil has dried out before watering again
-
Check for root rot. Gently remove the plant from its pot and inspect the roots. Brown, mushy roots indicate root rot. Trim off any damaged roots.
-
Repot with fresh, well-draining soil. A soil mix containing perlite, vermiculite or sand will improve drainage.
-
Water less going forward. Water only when the top few inches of soil are dry.
Underwatering – The Opposite Issue
While overwatering is the most common problem, underwatering can also cause elephant ear leaves to curl. When the plant needs water, its leaves will dry out and curl upward as a survival mechanism.
Underwatered plants may have leaves that are wrinkled, drooping or brittle. The soil will be completely dry. Unlike overwatering, underwatering is easy to fix if caught early.
How to Fix Underwatering
-
Give the plant a thorough, deep watering immediately. Water until it runs out the drainage holes at the bottom.
-
Check soil moisture daily going forward. Water again when the top few inches become dry.
-
Move to a shadier spot. Too much sun will cause excess moisture loss from leaves.
-
Increase humidity. Misting the leaves or using a humidifier can prevent moisture loss.
-
Check for root bound. If the roots have nowhere to grow, the plant can’t uptake water well. Repot in a larger container if needed.
Too Much Direct Sunlight
Elephant ears thrive in bright, indirect light. But too much direct sunlight can scorch their leaves, causing sunburn. The intense light causes the leaves to dry out and curl up.
Scorched leaves will turn brown at the edges. If left in direct sun, the leaves can become shriveled and crispy. Not only is this damage unsightly, it impairs the plant’s ability to photosynthesize.
How to Prevent Sunburn
-
Move the plant to a shadier spot indoors. East or west facing windows are ideal.
-
Use sheer curtains to filter intense afternoon sun coming through south facing windows.
-
Turn the plant periodically so all sides get equal sun exposure.
-
Mist leaves daily to prevent moisture loss.
-
Avoid putting elephant ears outdoors in full sun during summer. Provide partial shade.
Lack of Humidity
Elephant ear plants prefer humid conditions, similar to their native tropical climates. When humidity is low, such as during winter months or in dry environments, the large leaves lose moisture very quickly. To conserve water, the leaves will roll or curl.
Low humidity also makes the plant more prone to pests like spider mites that thrive in drier air. Curling leaves can actually be the first sign of an unseen spider mite infestation.
How to Increase Humidity
-
Use a humidifier near the elephant ear plant.
-
Put the pot on a pebble tray filled with water.
-
Mist the leaves daily to increase local moisture. Avoid cold water.
-
Group plants together to create a self-contained humid microclimate.
-
Put a large bowl of water near the plant.
-
Grow elephant ears in a bathroom or kitchen for naturally higher humidity.
Temperature Stress
Elephant ear plants prefer warm conditions between 70°F to 85°F. Temperatures lower than 60°F can cause cold damage. Chilling injury makes the leaves curl and wrinkle as cells lose structural integrity.
Hot temperatures above 90°F can also cause curling. The leaves may yellow and crisp around the edges similar to sunburn damage.
How to Regulate Temperature
-
During winter, keep elephant ears in the warmest room in your house.
-
Avoid placing near cold drafty windows or doors.
-
Move to a cooler spot or provide shade if temperature rises above 85°F.
-
Use fans to improve air circulation and prevent heat buildup.
-
Insulate pots by wrapping them in bubble wrap to maintain root warmth.
-
Provide heat from below with a seedling heating mat.
Lack of Nutrients
Elephant ear plants are heavy feeders and need plenty of nutrients to support their rapid growth. When nutrients like nitrogen are deficient, the lower leaves will turn yellow and curl under as the plant cannibalizes them for energy.
Using the wrong fertilizer or waiting too long between feedings can quickly lead to deficiency. Soil exhaustion also reduces nutrients over time.
How to Provide Sufficient Nutrients
-
Use a balanced liquid fertilizer every 2-4 weeks during spring and summer. Avoid overfertilizing.
-
Re-pot annually in fresh, nutrient rich potting mix.
-
Bury a time-release fertilizer pellet when re-potting to feed for 6 months.
-
Check for low nitrogen (yellowing lower leaves) and treat with a nitrogen-rich fertilizer.
-
Increase feeding frequency for fast growing young plants.
Insufficient Light
Although they don’t like direct sun, elephant ears still need a good amount of indirect light to thrive. An indoor elephant ear placed too far from a window can become leggy and weak as it reaches for light.
Insufficient light also slows photosynthesis, reducing energy for growth. The leaves will become smaller and curl downward or sideways.
How to Provide More Light
-
Place the elephant ear within 5 feet of an east, west or north facing window. South facing can work with sheer curtains.
-
Rotate the plant periodically to prevent one side from becoming lopsided.
-
Supplement with a grow light. Use fluorescents or LED grow lights for 12-14 hours per day.
-
Prune off any leggy growth and move to a better lit location.
-
Propagate leggy plants by taking cuttings from healthy stems.
Root Bound
As elephant ear plants grow, their root systems expand rapidly. Eventually they can become root bound, meaning the roots fill up the entire pot and have no room left to grow.
When roots are crowded, they can’t take up water and nutrients properly. The leaves respond by curling and turning yellow. Stunted growth is also a symptom of root bound plants.
How to Fix Root Bound Plants
-
Check if roots are visible at the bottom or sides of the pot. This signals it’s time to re-pot.
-
Move the plant to a container 2-4 inches larger in diameter. Avoid going too big too fast.
-
Gently loosen or trim any circling roots before re-planting.
-
Use fresh, well-draining potting mix.
-
Water thoroughly after re-potting to settle the roots.
-
If severely root bound, consider propagating stems as insurance.
Pest Infestations
Unchecked pests will suck nutrition and moisture from elephant ear leaves, eventually causing them to curl and yellow. Common culprits include aphids, spider mites, mealybugs and thrips. Look closely at the undersides of leaves for evidence of pests.
How to Treat Pests
-
Remove heavily infested leaves.
-
Wash leaves with a strong spray of water to dislodge pests.
-
Wipe leaves with neem oil or insecticidal soap.
-
Apply systemic granules to the soil to kill pests from the roots up.
-
Use sticky traps near the plant to catch adult pests.
-
Release ladybugs or lacewings to naturally control aphids and mites.
When to Worry About Curling Leaves
Seeing the occasional curled leaf here and there is normal and not a major concern. But if curling leaves persist despite your best efforts to fix the problem, it likely indicates a serious underlying issue.
Other symptoms that accompany severe leaf curling include:
- Wilting or drooping of leaves and stems
- Leaves turning yellow or brown
- Plant stops growing or produces smaller leaves
- White crusty deposits on leaves (scale infestation)
- Webbing under leaves (spider mites)
- Mold growth on soil
- Roots black and mushy (rot)
At this point, the problem may be too difficult to overcome. Propagating healthy stems may be your best bet to save the plant. Catching issues early before they escalate is key to keeping your elephant ear thriving.
Let Those Leaves Unfurl
While elephant ear leaf curling may look troubling, now you know it’s often an easy fix. Just be attentive to your plant’s care and environment, and you’ll have those impressive leaves back in full form in no time. With the right adjustments, you can get your elephant ear plant flourishing again.
Why Are My Elephant Ear Leaves Curling?
The curling of Elephant Ear leaves is a sign of overwatering. While Elephant Ears require more water than most house plants, if planted in a pot with poor drainage the root system will rot and show signs of stress in the form of curling leaves.
Because elephant ears originated in the tropics, they are high-water intake plants, meaning that you’ll probably have to water them every day, maybe once every other day at most.
Your elephant ears getting the amount of water they need is easy if you live in a state like Florida where it rains, at least for a little while, nearly every day. However, it’s much harder when you don’t live in that type of climate because it makes overwatering a lot more possible.
You should expect to water your elephant ears when the soil feels mostly dry or slightly damp. If you water your plant while the soil is too wet, it may lead to the roots becoming waterlogged, which will cause root rot. Curling leaves are a common sign of root rot, and should not be taken lightly.
You can see from the below, this elephant ear had received to much water while sitting on the shelf at the nursery I visited. I brought this one home to see how I can bring it back to health with some better soil and a bigger pot with draining. Let’s take a closer look at what should be done when you see the dreaded sign of curling leaves. (I’ll give an update once it’s on the mend!)
Elephant ears are high-water plants. The more water they receive, the better they do. In order to keep your plants properly hydrated, they need about 2 to 3 inches of water a week.
As much as these plants love water, there is such a thing as giving them too much of it. Too much water, combined with too much humidity, can eventually lead to pythium rot.
This is serious and can kill your plant. This is why you should ensure that there is proper drainage in your pot to keep your elephant ears plant from having this happen to it.
Giving your elephant ears plants too little water can also cause issues with them. Considering how regularly you need to water an elephant ear, it can be easy to water too little if you skip watering or fall behind schedule. Some signs of watering your elephant plants too little include drooping, curling, and the leaves starting to wilt. Not to worry.
If you catch these signs early enough, all you need to do is water your plant and it should be back to normal in no time.
Making sure there is some sort of drainage in your plant’s pot is the best way to make sure that you are keeping your elephant ears hydrated enough without worrying about overwatering them.
Ideally, you want to get a pot with drainage holes built into them. This provides your plant the best chance of not having water build up and causing rot or other issues.
If you don’t have a pot that has drainage holes in them, place a layer of gravel or pebbles at the bottom of your pot before you pot your plant. This will provide space at the bottom of the pot for the water to drain without oversaturating the soil.
Elephant ears love light just as much as they love water. However, the key word in this sentence is ALMOST.
Though elephant ears typically grow best in sunlight, too much sun exposure can actually damage the leaves and cause them to curl up. This is because excessive sunlight actually scorches the leaves, resulting in them curling and turning brown alongside the edges.
When it comes to giving your elephant ears the perfect amount of light, make sure that they have access to shade when temperatures are at their highest during the middle of the afternoon.
These plants thrive best when they’re grown in an area that receives partial sun and shade.
How to Measure Light
If you’re new to taking care of elephant ears, you may be wondering how you can ensure your plant has sufficient lighting conditions to grow successfully.
The good news is that, like most things, there’s an app for that. No, seriously! Available on both iPhone and Android, you can easily access light meter apps, such as the PPFD Meter and Photone – Grow Light Meter for Plants.
These apps basically measure illuminance – aka how much sun your plant is getting from its particular location, allowing you to make changes, as necessary. Unfortunately, these apps aren’t always super reliable, so you may have to turn to older, more traditional methods of measuring light exposure.
The easiest way to measure the amount of light your elephant ears are getting (without the use of a fancy app) is to analyze the color of the leaves.
Not only will leaves getting too much light start to curl, but according to Julie Weisenhorn and Natalie Hoidal, two extension horticulture educators from the University of Minnesota Extension, plants that receive insufficient light “…don’t produce chlorophyll (the green pigment in plants) and plants can turn pale green to yellow to white.”
When nurturing elephant ears, humidity is an essential element in ensuring that they grow and stay healthy. They prefer to be in an environment where the humidity is 50% or higher.
One way you can make sure your elephant ear plant is getting the humidity it craves is to set its pot in a saucer of water that is elevated by pebbles. This will keep constant humidity on your plant at all times.
Indoor Elephant Ear Plant Problems [ Know The Solutions ]
FAQ
Do elephant ears like full sun or shade?
Elephant ears generally prefer partial to full shade, especially in hotter climates, but some varieties can tolerate full sun. They thrive in areas with bright, indirect sunlight, but too much direct sun can scorch their leaves.
How often do elephant ear plants need to be watered?
… to water your Elephant ear plant once a week during the growing season and reduce the frequency to every two to three weeks during the dormant season
What do overwatered elephant ears look like?
Crown, leaf spot, and stem or root rot: These diseases are caused by overwatering and usually appear as dark brown or black spots on the leaves surrounded by a yellowish rim.
How do you fix curling leaves on plants?
Curling leaves on plants can be fixed by identifying and addressing the underlying cause, such as improper watering, inadequate light, low humidity, or pests. Improving growing conditions, removing damaged leaves, and treating any pest or disease issues can help the plant recover.