Not sure why the leaves on your Chinese money plant are curling? These tips will explain why and show you how to get the plant to grow again in a lush, healthy way.
To grow a beautiful and healthy Chinese Money Plant, you need to know why the leaves curl and how to stop this from happening.
This indoor beauty is very popular right now. Its mass of deep green circular leaves makes it easy to spot. It looks great on its own on a table or windowsill, or as part of a lush indoor jungle.
It’s pretty easy to grow and take care of Chinese money plants, but sometimes they have problems with their leaves. Following these expert tips on how to grow beautiful, glossy new leaves and what the plant needs to keep them that way is often a sign that it is missing something important.
If you’ve noticed the round, coin-shaped leaves of your Chinese money plant (Pilea peperomioides) curling downwards or under, don’t panic While it’s not a good sign, curling is the plant’s way of communicating that something is wrong with its care
In this article, we’ll go over all the common causes of Chinese money plant leaves curling, shriveling or drooping and how to get your plant back to health. With a few adjustments to lighting, watering, humidity and troubleshooting pests and diseases, you can get your Pilea peperomioides looking lush and lovely again
Typical Reasons for Curling Chinese Money Plant Leaves
Here are the most likely culprits behind curling. wrinkling and twisted leaves on a Chinese money plant
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Underwatering – Leaves curl inward to reduce surface area for water loss. Lower leaves go first.
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Overwatering – Causes root rot and leaves yellow or curl down.
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Too much direct sun – Leaves shrivel or curl under from heat/light stress.
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Low humidity – Dry air causes tips and edges to brown and curl inward.
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Temperature extremes – Leaves curl if exposed to cold drafts or heat vents.
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Nutrient deficiencies – Lack of nutrients causes weak, curled growth.
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Rootbound – When potbound, leaves curl inward from lack of water and nutrients.
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Pests – Spider mites, thrips, mealybugs and aphids cause curling leaves.
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Diseases – Fungal or bacterial diseases damages leaf tissues and deforms growth.
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Pesticide damage – Exposure to strong insecticides distorts tender new leaves.
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Transplant stress – Newly repotted plants show some leaf curling temporarily.
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Natural variation – Some Pilea varieties have naturally curling leaves.
Diagnosing the Cause of Curling Leaves
It’s important to closely examine your plant and growing conditions to determine exactly why its leaves are curling before you can fix the problem. Here are some tips for diagnosing the issue:
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Look for patterns like older leaves affected first or only on one side of plant. This points to cultural issues.
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Check if leaf undersides have pests like sticky sap, webbing, white dots or insects which cause curling.
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Feel soil to see if bone dry (underwatering) or damp (overwatering). Measure light intensity.
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Monitor for return of curling after watering which indicates rootbound or root rot stress.
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Look for yellowing leaves, sticky residue, leaf spots or sudden leaf drop which signal diseases.
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Consider any recent changes like repotting, location moves, temperature swings or drafts.
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Review your care regimen to see if anything changed like less watering or more fertilizing.
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Take the plant out of its pot and inspect roots for brown mushy areas or dense circled growth.
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Isolate plant from others and monitor daily to track curling progress.
How to Fix a Chinese Money Plant with Curling Leaves
Once you get to the bottom of why your Pilea peperomioides has curling leaves, you can take the right steps to return it to health:
For under or overwatering:
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Water thoroughly only when top inch of soil is dry, adjusting for season.
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Ensure pot has drainage holes and use fast draining soil mix.
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Add pebbles to tray under plant pot to prevent sitting in water.
For low humidity:
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Mist plant daily or place on pebble tray filled with water.
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Group plant with other houseplants for mutual humidity benefits.
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Place a humidifier nearby to increase environmental humidity.
For too much sun:
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Move plant to bright indirect light, avoiding direct sunrays.
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Add sheer curtain to filter intense afternoon sun shining on the plant.
For pests:
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Remove pests with diluted neem oil or insecticidal soap sprays.
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Apply sticky traps near plant to monitor for return of spider mites or other pests.
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Prune off heavily infested leaves and isolate plant from other houseplants.
For diseases:
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Remove diseased leaves immediately and destroy them (don’t compost).
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Treat plant with appropriate organic fungicide after pruning.
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Disinfect tools, pots and trays with diluted bleach solution so disease doesn’t spread.
For rootbound plant:
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Gently remove plant from pot and loosen circled roots before repotting in a size larger pot.
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Prune back any excessive top growth to balance rootloss during repotting.
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Use fresh potting mix and only go 1-2 inches larger on new container size.
For nutritional deficiencies:
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Fertilize monthly in spring and summer with a balanced houseplant fertilizer.
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Supplement with a micronutrient foliar spray containing magnesium, manganese, etc.
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Repot in fresh soil as older mixes lose nutrients over 2-3 years.
Preventing Future Curling of Leaves
Once your Pilea is recovered, keep it happy and its foliage flat with these care tips:
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Provide bright, indirect light year-round for your Chinese money plant. Rotate periodically for even growth.
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Check soil moisture regularly, watering when just dry to touch. Never let sit in soggy soil.
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Keep room humidity 40-50% and mist leaves or use a pebble tray for added moisture.
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Watch for pests like spider mites under leaves and treat quickly before populations explode.
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Prune any dead, diseased or curled leaves promptly to prevent spreading issues.
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Repot when rootbound into a container 2 inches larger with fresh houseplant soil.
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Avoid drafty areas and temperature fluctuations which shock the plant.
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Apply balanced liquid fertilizer monthly during active growth periods.
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Examine both sides of leaves routinely for early signs of pests or disease.
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Don’t repot or move location needlessly as it causes transplant stress.
When to Seek Help for a Chinese Money Plant
If you’ve carefully checked all the likely causes but your Pilea still struggles with curling leaves, it may need some professional care. Seek advice from your local greenhouse or plant nursery, or contact a houseplant care service for assistance. They can pinpoint problems using specialized tools and treatments not readily available to home gardeners. Don’t wait until the problem gets severe or you may lose the plant.
Don’t Give Up on a Curling Pilea Peperomioides!
While curly leaves on your Chinese money plant are disconcerting, the situation is rarely hopeless. These plants are generally resilient and will rebound with proper troubleshooting and care. Just remember to methodically diagnose the cause, address any cultural issues, and treat pests or diseases promptly. With a little time and TLC, you can get those coin-shaped leaves looking flat and beautiful again!
How do you stop pilea’s leaves curling?
Make sure your plant hasn’t been over- or under-watered, that the roots aren’t getting squished in the pot, and that the lighting is right for it. That done, look to feeding your pilea, because it may be nutrient deficient. If the bottom leaves of your pilea turn yellow and curl, that’s another sign. If this happens, try feeding it a high-nitrogen fertilizer once a month.
Why are my Chinese money plant’s leaves curling?
There are several reasons why these normally flat, circular leaves are curling up.
“If your indoor plant isn’t getting enough light or water, the leaves will curl inward,” says Hannah McWhorter of Lively Root, an indoor plant shop. On the flip side, if it’s getting too much light exposure and water, it will roll outwards. ’.
You’re still not sure what caused it? Then read more about the most likely reasons listed below. ( credit: Alamy).
Overwatering: Like most indoor plants, Pilea Peperomioides (its botanical name) likes it dry and hates being wet.
If you think you may have given your plant too much water, the best thing to do is to stop watering it until the soil around it is completely dry. To do this, first take the plant out of its pot. This can be as easy as slipping the inner plastic nursery pot (with drainage holes) out of the plant stand. 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 don’t do well in wet conditions, so check the roots more closely if you think this is the issue. Fill the nursery pot with fine gravel and make sure the bottom has a lot of drainage holes.
Repotting the plant in an indoor potting compost with added grit will help too. Putting the new plant in its pot on a saucer full of stones is another way to raise the humidity, speed up the evaporation of water, and improve drainage.
Not enough light: The Chinese money plant’s bright green leaves will lose their shine if they don’t get enough sunlight. 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. ’.
7 Ways To Fix Curling Leaves On Your Pilea Peperomioides (Chinese Money Plant)
Why are my Chinese money plant leaves curling?
Unfortunately, Chinese money plant (Pilea peperomioides) leaves curling is a common problem, and I’ll show you how to fix it today. Inadequate light, poor watering habits, and temperature extremes can lead to the curling of Chinese money plant leaves. However, the plant’s leaves will naturally unfurl and flatten out as they mature.
What does a Chinese money plant look like?
Leaves may turn gray or tan and become papery if they expand or dry out. This type of root rot, caused by the fungus Pythium splendens, is common among Chinese money plants when they are overwatered. The roots that have been affected are usually decayed, black or brown, and soft. Other common symptoms include yellowed, curled, and wilted leaves.
Do Chinese money plants prefer warm or cold weather?
Many people assume that Pileas prefer warm temperatures, but they actually prefer things on the cool side. Warm temperatures will often encourage your Chinese Money Plant to develop curled leaves. The leaves are more likely to curl upwards or become cupped if the temperature is too warm.
Do Chinese money plants wilt?
Unfortunately, viral and bacterial diseases can also infect Chinese money plants, so keep an eye out for those. In addition to leaf curling, leaf yellowing, stunting, and wilting are signs of the disease. Keep an eye out for the following common Chinese money plant diseases: