skip to main content
Home / Plant Guides / Philodendron / Philodendron Common Issues

Why are my Philodendron’s leaves curling?

The leaves on your Philodendron could be curling for a number of reasons. Let’s take a closer look.

Buy Bloomscape Potted Philodendron Lemon Lime

Incredibly dry soil

Be sure you’re not over or underwatering your plant. Keep a consistent watering schedule–water when the top 2”-3” of the soil are dry.

 

If you accidentally let your Philodendron’s soil dry out completely, you may see leaves go limp, droop, and possibly start to brown and curl. If the soil is extremely dry all the way through the pot, a thorough soak is in order. 

 

Here’s how to soak-water your Philodendron:

 

  1. Place your plant in your sink or tub without the saucer. Fill your basin up with about 3-4″ of water. Make sure the water isn’t hot! 
  2. Allow your plant to soak up water through the drainage hole in the bottom of the pot for at least 45 min. 
  3. Feel the top of the soil after your plant has been soaking–has the water reached the top 2-3” of soil?
  4. If not all the soil feels saturated, water your Philodendron slightly from the top of the soil to help speed up the saturation.
  5. When your plant’s soil is evenly damp, drain the sink/tub and allow the plant to rest while it drains thoroughly. Place the plant back on its saucer and back in its proper spot. 

 

Water quality

If the curling continues after you’ve regulated a watering schedule, another common reason your Philodendron’s leaves are curling could be due to your tap water. Tap water contains salts, chlorine, minerals and fluoride – all of which can build up in the soil of your plant causing the tips of the leaves to burn, turn brown, and curl up. One way you can remedy this is to use a water filtration system. If you do not have a filtration system available, leaving your water in an open container or sink overnight before using can help relieve some of the chlorine.

 

Temperature

Make sure your plant is not in a drafty area or in the path of heating and cooling vents. Leaves will curl if the plant is cold, or excessively dry from constant air flow.

 

Not enough humidity

Philodendrons are tropical plants, so they will thrive in more humid environments. Increase the humidity around your plant by misting the leaves on a regular basis, using a pebble tray, or moving a humidifier nearby.

Need more help?

We're confident your Philodendron will be back to normal in no-time, but if you've followed the steps above and things just aren't improving you can contact us here.