Why are my money plant leaves curling inward?

The most common cause is underwatering — the plant curls its leaves to reduce water loss when the root system can't supply enough moisture. Other causes include low humidity, heat stress, pest damage, root rot, or overwatering. Check the soil moisture first to rule out the most common cause.

Does misting help with curling money plant leaves?

Misting helps temporarily if the curling is due to low humidity. However, it doesn't address root-level water supply issues. For low humidity, a pebble tray with water or a humidifier nearby is more effective than misting, which only temporarily raises local humidity.

Money Plant Leaves Curling Inward: Causes and How to Fix

Q: How do I stop my money plant leaves from curling?

Identify the underlying cause first. Water when the top 2–3 cm of soil is dry, maintain humidity above 50%, keep the plant away from heat sources and cold drafts, check regularly for pests, and ensure roots have healthy drainage. Fixing the root cause prevents recurrence.

Q: Can overwatering cause curling leaves?

Yes, though underwatering is a more common cause. Overwatering leads to root rot, which reduces the roots' ability to absorb water — causing the plant to become dehydrated despite wet soil. The leaves curl for the same reason (lack of water reaching cells) but the treatment is different.

When a money plant's leaves begin to curl inward — rolling or cupping toward the centre of the leaf — it's almost always a stress response. The plant is trying to reduce the surface area exposed to air, which reduces water loss through transpiration. Understanding why the plant is water-stressed is the key to fixing the curling.

There are six main causes of leaf curling in money plants. Most are fixable within a few days once you identify the right one. This guide walks through each cause with clear identification signs and specific actions to take.

Why Do Money Plant Leaves Curl?

Leaf curling in plants is a physiological response to water stress. When leaves can't maintain sufficient turgor pressure (the internal water pressure that keeps cells firm and leaves flat), the cells on the upper or lower surface contract differently, causing the leaf to curl or cup.

This can happen for two opposing reasons: either not enough water is reaching the leaf cells (underwatering, root rot, high temperature), or the plant's cells are under chemical or physical stress from pest damage, low humidity, or toxicity. In money plants, the direction of curling is sometimes a clue — inward curling (toward the centre or upper surface) most commonly indicates moisture stress.

Cause 1: Underwatering

Most Common Cause

The soil is too dry and the plant is dehydrated

When a money plant doesn't receive enough water, leaf cells lose turgor and the leaves curl inward as a water conservation strategy. The curl is the plant trying to reduce surface area and slow moisture loss through its stomata.

How to identify: Stick your finger 3–4 cm into the soil. If it feels completely dry throughout, underwatering is likely. The pot will feel very light when lifted. Leaves may also feel slightly soft or papery rather than firm and glossy.

How to fix: Water thoroughly — add water until it drains freely from the bottom of the pot. For severely dry soil that has pulled away from the pot edges, you may need to bottom water: place the pot in a dish of water and allow it to absorb moisture for 30–60 minutes. Drain fully before returning to its normal position. Curled leaves due to dehydration often begin visibly uncurling within a few hours of thorough watering.

Prevent recurrence: Establish a regular check routine. Check the soil every 3–4 days by inserting your finger 3 cm deep. Water when this layer is dry but before the pot becomes completely parched. Don't rely on a fixed schedule — water when the plant needs it, not on a calendar.

Cause 2: Low Humidity

Very Common

The air is too dry for the plant's needs

Money plants (particularly pothos and Pilea varieties) come from tropical environments where air humidity is naturally high. When indoor humidity drops below 40–50%, the rate of water evaporating from the leaf surface outpaces what the roots can supply, and leaves curl in response.

How to identify: Check the soil — if it's adequately moist but leaves are still curling, low humidity is a likely culprit. Low humidity is more common in winter when heating systems dry the air significantly, and in very dry climates. Leaf tips may also be turning brown at the same time as curling.

How to fix:

Place the pot on a pebble tray filled with water — as the water evaporates, it raises local humidity around the plant
Group plants together — plants transpire and collectively raise local humidity
Use a small humidifier near your plants if you have many tropical houseplants
Move the plant away from heating vents, which produce hot, dry air

💡 Note on Misting Misting money plant leaves gives a temporary boost to humidity but evaporates quickly. It's a short-term fix and can also promote fungal issues on some varieties. A pebble tray or humidifier provides sustained humidity benefit without the downsides.

Cause 3: Heat Stress

Common in Summer

The plant is too hot or in too much direct sun

High temperatures dramatically increase the rate of water evaporation from leaves. When transpiration outpaces root water absorption — especially on hot days with direct sunlight — leaves curl inward to protect themselves from further moisture loss.

How to identify: Curling is worse on hot days or in the afternoon when direct sun is strongest. The plant may be near a window that receives intense direct sun. Leaf tips may also be brown. The soil may actually be moist — the problem is the temperature and light, not lack of water.

How to fix: Move the plant away from direct sun. A spot receiving bright indirect light but no direct sun is ideal for most money plant varieties. If the room temperature exceeds 35°C (95°F) regularly, use a fan to improve airflow, which reduces leaf temperature. Ensure watering is frequent enough during hot periods — water needs increase significantly in summer.

Cause 4: Pest Damage (Mealybugs, Spider Mites, Thrips)

Check Closely

Sap-sucking insects are damaging leaf cells

Mealybugs, spider mites, and thrips all feed by piercing plant cells and extracting sap. This cell damage disrupts the plant's ability to maintain turgor pressure in leaves, which can cause curling — particularly in new growth, which is the softest and most vulnerable.

How to identify: Inspect the plant carefully with a magnifying glass if needed. Look for:

Mealybugs: fluffy white cottony clusters in leaf joints and stem crevices
Spider mites: tiny dots on leaf undersides, possibly with fine webbing
Thrips: silver-grey streaks or stippling on leaves, possibly with tiny black dots (frass)

Curling caused by pests often affects new growth more than older leaves. The overall pattern may be irregular rather than the uniform curling seen with watering issues.

How to fix: Identify the specific pest and treat accordingly. For mealybugs, use rubbing alcohol swabs followed by neem oil spray. For spider mites, increase humidity and treat with insecticidal soap or neem oil. For thrips, treat with neem or spinosad-based products. See dedicated articles for full treatment protocols.

Cause 5: Overwatering and Root Rot

Often Missed

Damaged roots can't supply water even when soil is wet

Overwatering leads to root rot — a condition where roots become damaged and die. Paradoxically, this creates the same symptom as underwatering: the plant can't get enough water. Leaves curl for the same reason (water stress) but the cause and fix are completely different.

How to identify: The soil is wet or has been consistently wet, yet leaves are still curling. The plant may also show yellowing leaves, particularly starting from lower leaves. If you slide the plant out of its pot, roots may appear brown, mushy, or have an unpleasant smell rather than being white and firm.

How to fix: Remove the plant from its pot, trim any rotten (brown, mushy) roots with sterile scissors, let the roots air-dry for a few hours, then repot in fresh well-draining soil. Going forward, water only when the top 3–4 cm of soil is dry. Ensure the pot has proper drainage holes and that the saucer isn't holding water.

🚫 Don't Make This Mistake If your money plant's soil is wet and leaves are curling, do not water more. The curling looks like thirst — and it is, in a sense — but adding more water to already-waterlogged soil deepens the root rot damage. Remove the plant from wet soil first.

Cause 6: Chemical Stress (Fertiliser Burn or Fluoride Toxicity)

Less Common

Excess salts or fluoride are damaging root cells

Overfertilising or using tap water high in fluoride can cause salt buildup in the soil that draws water out of root cells by osmosis — effectively causing chemical dehydration even in moist soil. Leaves curl in response to this cellular water loss.

How to identify: Curling appeared shortly after fertilising, or the plant has been growing in the same soil for years without any flushing. Brown leaf tips alongside curling is a common sign of salt or fluoride toxicity. This is more likely in areas with very hard tap water.

How to fix: Flush the soil thoroughly by running large amounts of water through the pot (3–4 times the pot volume) to leach out accumulated salts. Allow to drain fully. Going forward, use a balanced fertiliser at half the recommended dose, and consider using filtered water or rainwater instead of tap water.

Quick Diagnosis Table

Cause	Key Indicator	Soil Condition	Fix
Underwatering	Dry, light pot; papery leaves	Dry	Water thoroughly
Low humidity	Heating/AC nearby; brown tips too	Moist	Pebble tray or humidifier
Heat stress	Hot days, direct sun	Variable	Move to indirect light
Pest damage	New growth most affected; visible insects	Variable	Identify pest and treat
Root rot	Wet soil; yellowing leaves; mushy roots	Wet	Repot with root trim
Chemical stress	Brown tips; recent fertilising or hard water use	Variable	Flush soil; use filtered water

Will the Curled Leaves Return to Normal?

Whether curled leaves recover depends on the cause and how long the problem persisted:

Underwatering (short-term): Recovery is often dramatic and rapid. Leaves can begin uncurling within hours of proper watering and may be fully flat again within 24 hours.

Low humidity or heat stress: Leaves will uncurl once conditions improve, though severe cases may take a few days. Leaves that developed burn damage alongside the curling will not repair but new leaves will grow in healthy.

Pest damage: Leaves damaged by pests may partially uncurl after treatment but severe pest damage can cause permanent distortion to leaf cells. Remove badly damaged leaves — new growth will be healthy once pests are eliminated.

Root rot: Recovery depends on how much of the root system survived. If a significant portion of healthy roots remain, the plant can recover fully over several weeks. If root damage is extensive, the plant may not recover even with treatment.

Chemical stress: Curling from fertiliser burn often improves after soil flushing. Brown-tipped leaves won't repair but new growth should come in normal.

Preventing Leaf Curling in Future

Most causes of money plant leaf curling are preventable with consistent, attentive care:

Check soil moisture every 3–4 days and water when the top 3 cm is dry
Keep the plant in bright indirect light away from heating vents and air conditioning
Maintain humidity above 50% especially in winter — a pebble tray helps
Inspect for pests monthly, paying attention to leaf joints and undersides
Fertilise at half the recommended dose and flush the soil every 3–4 months
Ensure drainage holes are clear and never let the plant sit in standing water

Frequently Asked Questions

The most common cause is underwatering — the plant curls its leaves to reduce water loss when the root system can't supply enough moisture. Check the soil first by inserting your finger 3 cm deep. If it's dry, water thoroughly. Other causes include low humidity, heat stress, pest damage (mealybugs or spider mites), root rot from overwatering, or accumulated salts from fertiliser or hard water.

Yes, in most cases curled leaves will uncurl once the underlying problem is corrected. Leaves curled due to dehydration often begin to flatten within hours of thorough watering. Leaves curled due to ongoing pest damage or root rot may not fully recover even after treatment — but new growth will be healthy once the problem is resolved.

Identify the underlying cause first using the soil moisture check as your starting point. Water when the top 2–3 cm of soil is dry, maintain humidity above 50%, keep the plant away from heat sources and cold drafts, check monthly for pests, and ensure roots have healthy drainage. Each of these addresses one of the main causes.

Yes, though underwatering is more common. Overwatering leads to root rot, which reduces the roots' ability to absorb water — causing the plant to become dehydrated despite wet soil. The leaves curl for the same reason (lack of water reaching cells) but the treatment is completely different: let soil dry, trim damaged roots, and repot rather than water more.

Misting helps temporarily if the curling is due to low humidity. However, it doesn't address root-level water supply issues from underwatering or root rot. For low humidity, a pebble tray with water beneath the pot or a small humidifier nearby is more effective than misting, which raises humidity very briefly and can promote fungal growth if leaves stay wet.

Money plants begin to show heat stress symptoms above 35°C (95°F), particularly when combined with dry air and direct sunlight. At these temperatures, leaves may curl, brown at the tips, and the plant may wilt despite moist soil. The ideal temperature range for money plants is 18–30°C (65–86°F).