You’ve got Alocasia plants that complement your indoor garden. And you’re just mesmerized by their view. But one day, you notice something unusual.
The alocasia leaves are curling up. And your heart aches each time you look at them.
So you’re wondering, why are my Alocasia leaves curling?
Alocasia leaves can become curly due to over or under-watering. Or you’ve been feeding your plants excessive fertilizer and light. And vice versa. Maybe the reason is that insects sucking out the moisture of the plant. So the plants curl up.
No matter what the reason is, we’ve explained it. The detailed explanation is also followed up by solutions. So let’s dig in.
Contents
Why Are My Alocasia Leaves Curling? How to Treat Them?
If you’re a gardener, you might’ve considered adding alocasia to your tree collection. But the alocasia is surely giving you a hard time. Because they’re hard to care for. Even after doing everything right, you might see some curled leaves.
But there’s always a reason behind this. Or it can be multiple reasons together. No matter what it is, we’re here to find it for you. You just have to keep scrolling.
So let’s start.
Watering Issues
When your alocasia plant lacks water, the moisture level decreases. And the leaves start to dry up. Hence it curls and becomes crispy. Eventually, the leaves start falling.
The situation can also be the opposite. If you’re overwatering it, the soil keeps absorbing the extra water. But still, there’s standing water on the pot. And the roots are always soaked in water.
This will lead to rotten roots. Thus you’ll see the leaves browning. The same thing happens to snake plants. It becomes a concern if you don’t know how much water snake plants need.
But the only difference is Alocasia leaves start curling up after it starts browning.
Another thing can be that you’re using unfiltered water or tap water directly. Tap water contains salt and minerals. These don’t easily mix with soil. So they create a layer above the soil.
And the plant is unable to soak up the water properly. So its leaves start curling. And it needs to be solved.
Let’s see how to solve it.
Solution
If the problem is with inadequate watering, make sure to maintain a routine. For that, water your plants once a week. You can pick a date to remember. For example, every Sunday you can water the plants.
In case the problem is overwatering. Just water your plant until the soil is damp. But make sure that there’s no standing water in it. As for the brownish leaves, cut them off.
You’ll also need to cut the root that’s rotten. But make sure to use a scissor that’s sterilized properly.
Then just place the plant in another pot. And start watering them once a week only.
When using water, make sure to filter it. Or you can buy filtered water directly. Also, try to preserve some rainwater and apply it to the plant. And you’ll have healthy leaves.
Soil Fertilizer Ratio
Another reason for your alocasia curling up is the fertilizer and soil ratio. Just like the watering issue, this also has two possibilities. It can either be over or under-fertilized. Regardless of the problem, we’ll guide you through it.
When you over-fertilize, the root cells get damaged. Then the whole plant follows the same symptoms. As a result, there will be a burnt look in your root and leaves. And suddenly, you’ll see curled leaves.
If less fertilizer is used, you’ll see the plant barely has growth. And the remaining leaves are not thriving. Even they started to curl up. So what to do in this situation?
Solution
Well, you can maintain a perfect soil and fertilizer ratio for healthy non-curled plants. Try fertilizing the plants every 15 days. That means you need to fertilize them twice a month.
To design the monthly fertilizer ratio, we’ve come with a detailed plan.
So add up to 20 percent bark, 40% potting soil, 20% fertilizer, 10% peat, and 10% perlite. Mix them together and plant the alocasia there. This way the plants will get just the right amount of fertilizer. And you’ll see perky plants and no more curly leaves.
Improper Lighting
Another reason can be improper lighting. Alocasia plants shouldn’t be under direct sunlight. That’s the reason why people prefer to put it indoors.
If you’ve put it outside under direct sunlight, that’s the reason. Because direct sunlight will evaporate the remaining water from the soil. And the plant will dry up.
Then the leaves will start curling up. And the excessive light will create more pressure. So the plant won’t be able to handle it. And the extra pressure will tire up the plant. Thus the leaves will start curling up by losing energy.
Or there might be less lighting provided to your plant. You should know that alocasia is a tropical plant. Now you’re planting it indoors. And not attending to its necessities will result in curled leaves.
Solution
Solving this problem will need a lighting routine. Place the plants under sunlight for 7-8 hours. But make sure to place it near a window. And the sunlight shouldn’t affect it directly.
A light curtain should be there as a barrier.
This way, the plant will get the perfect amount of light. And the curled leaves will start to straighten up in 2-3 days.
Inappropriate Temperature
Temperature is another factor. When you’re putting the plants in a room, it should be tolerable for the plant. And without it, the plant won’t survive. And when the plant starts dying, it will show signs like curling up leaves.
Solution
If that’s your case, immediately move your plants. And place them where the temperature is between 25-30 degrees celsius.
This way the plant won’t warm up or become too cold. And it will thrive like never before.
Potassium Deficiency
Plants tend to show signs when they’re suffering from a nutrient deficiency. Just as the cactus turns purple due to lack of magnesium.
But for Alocasia, the reason can be potassium deficiency. If your plant is suffering from it, then the leaves will start curling. If it’s the problem there’s a way to identify it.
Search the older and closer leaves to the root. If those are the ones that are curling, it’s potassium deficiency. However, this is not so common in newly bought plants.
Solution
The solution is quite easy. Just buy some fertilizers having potassium sulfate, potassium nitrate, etc. The fertilizers rich in potassium will facilitate the soil.
Now, toss the fertilizer with the soil and plant the alocasia in it. Or just spread some over the soil where it’s already planted. Then cover it up with some more soil. And top it up with water.
You can also try organic potassium fertilizer. Blend in banana peels and seaweed, then use it as a fertilizer. And your plants will start glowing.
Insects Swarming
Having plants without insects is sort of daydreaming. It’s no exception for Alocasia as well. Spider mites and mealybugs are normally found in alocasia leaves.
First, they fly out in a swarm. Then they make the leaves their home. After that, they start slurping all the plant’s moisture and nutrients. In the process, they damage the plant cells. Thus the leaves start curling up. And slowly die in the process.
But when there’s a problem, there’s a solution. So let’s find that out.
Solution
One reason bugs attack choose your plant is dust. If the leaves are covered with dust, insects will think of it as a perfect home. So just brush off the dust or wipe the leaves gently with a cotton cloth. And the bugs will be gone pretty soon.
Or you can just spray water on the leaves so there’s no dirt. Then just sprinkle some neem oil into the soil and leaves. Bugs hate that. You can even use some neem juice or leaves on the soil.
Also, you can rely on bug repellent sprays for it. They’ll do the same work. And you’ll get rid of bugs as well as curled leaves.
FAQs
Question: Which is the season for Alocasia to grow rapidly?
Answer: Winter is the season for Alocasia. In winter, the plants grow rapidly. So you don’t need to put much water or fertilizer in them. Just water it every 10 days. And fertilize once a month during winter.
Question: Is humidity another reason for alocasia to have curled leaves?
Answer: Yes, humidity can be a reason. Alocasia needs high humidity. Otherwise, the leaves will lose moisture and curl up. To prevent that use a humidifier during winter. It will make sure that the plant gets enough air and moisture.
Question: Are wet leaves bad for alocasia?
Answer: If the leaves are often wet, it’s not good for the leaves. Because soon it will turn into fungal infections. And damage the leaves.
EndNote
Congratulations on making it this far. Hope you liked it to the very end. Because we’ve shared every detail to answer your query. That’s all for why are my alocasia leaves curling.
So share your thoughts with us. Comment below if you have any further questions.
For now, bye and happy planting!
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