Unsure why Chinese money plants leaves are curling? These expert tips will tell you why and how to restore lush and healthy growth
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Learning why leaves on the Chinese Money Plant curl, and how to prevent this, is key to growing a striking and healthy plant.
Instantly recognizable for its mass of deep green circular leaves, this indoor beauty is hugely popular right now and makes a real impact displayed solo on a table or windowsill, or as part of a verdant indoor jungle.
Although its pretty easy to grow and care for Chinese money plants, these handsome plants do occasionally suffer from foliage issues. Often a sign of that it is lacking in some essential requirement, follow these expert tips on how to regrow elegant, glossy foliage and what the plant needs to keep it that way.
Jade plants are incredibly popular houseplants known for their fleshy green leaves and resilience. However even hardy jade plants can run into issues like curling leaves.
Curling leaves on a jade plant are often a sign that something is wrong with its care or environment. By identifying the cause and implementing the right solutions you can restore the health of your plant.
In this article, we’ll explore the most common reasons for jade plant leaves curling up and how to fix them. We’ll also discuss preventative care tips to avoid future problems.
7 Common Causes of Curled Jade Leaves
Here are the main causes of jade plant leaves curling or rolling up and how to recognize them
1. Underwatering
Insufficient water is the most common reason for leaf curl in jade plants.
When underwatered, the leaves lose turgidity and shrink as the plant cells dehydrate. The leaves then curl or fold up to minimize surface area and water loss through transpiration.
Other symptoms of underwatering include:
- Drooping, wrinkled leaves
- Brittle stems
- Dry, shriveled leaf tips
- Soil pulls away from the pot edges
2. Overwatering
While jade plants are drought-tolerant, overwatering is another major cause of leaves curling up.
Excess moisture prevents proper oxygenation of the roots, causing root rot. With damaged roots unable to absorb water, the leaves dehydrate and curl up.
Signs of overwatering include:
- Wet, muddy soil
- Soft, mushy leaves or stems
- Foul odor from rotting roots
3. Low Humidity
Jade plants prefer 30-50% humidity. In environments with very low humidity, the leaf edges may dry out, curl up, and turn brown.
Other low humidity symptoms:
- Dry, shriveled leaf tips
- Leaves dropping
4. Temperature Extremes
Jade plants thrive in average room temperatures of 65-75°F (18-24°C).
Drastic temperature changes or extremes can stress the plant. The leaves may curl to reduce moisture loss.
- Hot temperatures over 90°F cause leaves to curl up and wrinkle
- Cold drafts or temperatures below 50°F make leaves curl inward
5. Intense Sunlight
Jade plants need 4-6 hours of direct sun but intense afternoon light can scorch the leaves. Excess light causes the leaf edges to curl up to minimize exposure.
Other signs of sunburn include:
- Brown, dry spots on leaves
- Reddish leaf tips
6. Pest Infestation
Sap-sucking pests like mealybugs, spider mites, and scales can drain moisture and nutrients. This leads to dehydrated, curled leaves.
Check for:
- Sticky honeydew residue
- White webs between branches
- Tiny black dots that move
7. Nutrient Deficiency
Lack of nitrogen, iron, magnesium, and other nutrients inhibit growth and cause leaves to curl.
Other deficiency symptoms:
- Yellowing leaves
- Little new growth
How to Fix Curled Jade Leaves
Once you’ve diagnosed the cause, implement the relevant solutions:
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For underwatering:
- Water the plant deeply until water drains from the bottom. Gradually increase watering frequency to keep soil evenly moist but not soggy.
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For overwatering:
- Avoid watering for 1-2 weeks until soil dries out. Repot in well-draining soil, if needed. Trim off rotten roots and affected leaves.
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For low humidity:
- Use a humidifier to maintain 30-50% humidity. Group plants together to raise local humidity. Mist leaves daily.
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For temperature problems:
- Move plant away from hot/cold sources. Keep room temperature consistently around 70°F.
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For intense sunlight:
- Provide shade with a sheer curtain. Move plant back gradually over 2-3 weeks once acclimated.
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For pests:
- Remove with cotton swabs dipped in alcohol. Apply neem oil or insecticidal soap weekly. Ensure plant is not in direct sun when applying oils.
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For nutrient deficiency:
- Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer at half-strength every 2-4 weeks during the growing season.
Preventing Future Leaf Curling
Consistent, proper care is key to prevent leaves curling again:
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Water thoroughly only when the top 1-2 inches of soil are dry.
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Monitor humidity and use a humidifier to maintain 40-50%.
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Keep away from heating/AC vents to prevent temperature extremes.
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Avoid intense afternoon sun in summer by using sheer curtains.
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Inspect regularly for pests like mealybugs and spider mites.
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In spring and summer, apply diluted liquid fertilizer every 4 weeks.
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Transition slowly when moving to a new spot, adjusting light, temperature, etc.
When to Worry About Curled Leaves
Mild curling from temporary stress usually resolves in a few days with improved care. But if your jade plant has severely curled, shriveled leaves that persist despite your best efforts, it likely has a widespread infestation, disease, or root damage.
Severely affected plants with extensive leaf loss may need rejuvenation through:
- Cutting back bare stems to allow fresh growth
- Propagating healthy leaves and stems
- Repotting bare root divisions once roots regrow
With attentive care and monitoring, you can identify and resolve any issues before they escalate. This will help keep your jade plant’s leaves full, firm, and vibrant for years to come.
FAQ
How often should I water my jade plant?
Frequency: Water your jade plant every 2 to 3 weeks during the growing season (spring and summer). In fall and winter, reduce watering to once every 4 to 6 weeks.
Soil Dryness: Always check the soil moisture before watering. Allow the top 1-2 inches of soil to dry out completely before adding more water.
Does a jade plant need full sun?
Keep your jade plant in bright light for at least six hours per day, according to Almanac. While mature plants can handle direct sunlight, younger plants require a bright space that’s free of direct rays. Without proper sunlight, your jade plant will stop growing, or it’ll grow tall and leggy.
Why are my Jade leaves curling?
Jade plants are great indoor plants for easy-to-maintain nature. But there are little hiccups as curling leaves (like the paddle) to these jade plants. There can be many reasons for the jade plant leaves curling such as lighting problems, watering issues, soiling problems, or many things like that.
Why do Jade leaves shrivel?
Excess Wind Can Curl Leaves Excessive air pressure on the jade plants can curl the leaves. For heavy wind, the leaves lose moisture and cause leaves to shrivel and thin. To solve the moisture issue, water the jade plants properly and they will start restoring in 2 or 3 water cycles.
How do you stop a jade plant from curling?
To stop curling the leaves from cold weather keep the jade plant at a bearable temperature so it can work normally. The best solution is to keep the plant indoors in the winter season and maintain the temperature between 65° to 75°F. Though on winter nights the jade plant can tolerate around a temperature of 55°F. You can cover them on cold nights.
What happens if you overwater a jade plant?
Just as underwatering, overwatering also causes the plant leaves to curl up like aloe and mushy. Though the overwatering can cause more likely death for your jade plant. The plant’s roots may start rotting due to waterlogging in the soil. Excess watering will stop the plant from taking nutrients and moisture from the overflowed soil.
Why are my Jade leaves turning black?
In jade plants, leaf scorch may be caused by the following factors: Sunburn Jade plants love direct sunlight, but extended exposure at temperatures around 90 °F (32 °C) can burn the leaves. The symptoms include brown or blackish spots on the sun-exposed leaves. You can fix the damage from sunburn with the following steps:
Why is my jade plant leggy?
This problem may occur due to the following: Insufficient light: Jade plants require a few hours of direct sunlight to generate enough energy for growth. Plants grown in bright indirect light or artificial lights might not become leggy when properly rotated, but they’ll naturally grow more slowly.
How do you stop pilea’s leaves curling?
Check that your plant hasnt been over- or under-watered; ensure the roots arent bound in the container; and make sure lighting levels suit the plant. That done, look to feeding your pilea, because it may be nutrient deficient. The other clue your pilea might give you is yellowing bottom leaves that are curling too; if this happens, try a high-nitrogen nutrient feed, and repeat monthly.
Why are my Chinese money plant’s leaves curling?
There are several reasons why these normally flat, circular leaves are curling up.
Hannah McWhorter at indoor plant specialists Lively Root suggests, ‘If your indoor plant isn’t getting enough light or water, the leaves will curl inwards. On the flip side, if it’s getting too much light exposure and water, it will roll outwards.’
Still not sure of the cause? Then it’s well worth exploring the most likely causes listed below in more detail. ( credit: Alamy)
Overwatering: Like most indoor plants – Pilea Peperomioides to give it its botanical name – prefers to live in drier conditions and absolutely detests sitting in waterlogged conditions.
If you suspect your plant has been overwatered, the best course of action is to stop watering until the surrounding soil has completely dried out. To do this start by removing the plant from its pot – this can be as simple as slipping the inner plastic nursery pot (complete with drainage holes) out of the decorative plant holder. Place on a newspaper or kitchen towel to absorb excess moisture and leave to dry out naturally.
As a rule, Mark Lawlor from Happy Houseplants says, ‘You should water Chinese money plant only when it is starting to dry out – try the top two inches of soil and if these are dry, soak the plant through and allow it to drain.’
Poor drainage: These plants do not cope well with soggy conditions, so take a closer look at the roots if you suspect this problem. Make sure the nursery pot has plenty of drainage holes in the base and cover with a layer of fine gravel.
Repotting the plant in an indoor potting compost with added grit will help too. Standing the newly potted plant on a stone filled saucer is another way to increase humidity, speed up moisture evaporation while also improving drainage.
Lack of light: Not having enough daylight will take its toll on the Chinese money plant’s striking green leaves. Preferring a bright position, it will thrive on a windowsill or table nearby. Do avoid strong direct sunlight though as this is likely to scorch the foliage.
Cecilia Turner says on her blog My Tasteful Space, ‘I’ve tried different light exposures and I have to say that this plant loves a lot of bright light, as long as it is not direct sunlight. It’s ideal location is by a north facing window!’
Not enough water: It’s not often a house plant suffers from underwatering, but it is possible. Unlike cacti and succulents, Chinese money plants do like a little water on a regular basis. Hannah McWhorter advises to, ‘Check the soil once a week for moisture before adding more. If the plant droops, check the soil-moisture and adjust as needed.’ She also adds that, ‘There is no need to spritz this plant. It does well with routine watering.’