Alocasia plant is known for its large shiny leaves. Since Alocasia’s care is kind of tricky, keeping it healthy is not an easy task. That is why you may deal with their Alocasia’s leaves curling.
Curling of the leaves is not an unusual phenomenon. It happens often and it is not impossible to deal with. It is important to find out the reason behind it before you start treating your plant.
The most common reasons for alocasia leaves curling are low humidity and underwatering. Besides, the plant might not be getting enough light or the nutrient it needs. Other growing factors like temperature stress can also cause this issue. Sometimes pest infestation and fungal diseases interrupt the normal physiological activities and cause problems like leaf curling up or down.
I will go through each issue and help you identify the one your plant is dealing with. You will also learn how to prevent this issue from happening again so that your Alocasia plant can live a long and healthy life.
Contents
Causes of Alocasia Leaves Curling
There are various possible reasons behind your Alocasia leaves curling. Most of them are related to improper care and environmental issues.
Don’t worry if you are not sure which one your plant is dealing with. I will go through all the reasons that could cause the leaves to curl, and you can learn how to improve your Alocasia’s life.
Underwatering
Since Alocasias are tropical plants, moisture is very important for them to survive. Proper watering and regulating moisture is an important step in the Alocasia plant care.
It is important to keep the soil moist and not soaking in water. However, if you stop watering your plant regularly, it often leads to the curling of the leaves.
If your Alocasia plant is dealing with an issue of under-watering, its leaves will start drying out and will become crispy. That will further lead to the curling of alocasia leaves.
How to Fix the Under-watering Issue
Fixing this issue is simple and easy. All you need to do is learn how to water your Alocasia plant properly and adapt your watering routine.
Alocasia plants love moisture and they thrive when the soil is wet. It is important not to over-water your plant, of course, but to still keep it moist.
Watering your Alocasia once a week should be enough for it to thrive. However, if you want to track the moisture of the soil, I would recommend you use a moisture meter.
Keep in mind that Alocasias are in a dormant stage during winter. That is why you should water your plant less during this period, as it requires less water.
Insect infestation
Pests and insects infest all plants, even the indoor ones. They are annoying to deal with and always find their way back.
Alocasia plants are mostly prone to mealybugs and spider mites infestations. Insects can cause a lot of issues, such as damaging the plant cells, damaging the whole plant by sucking the juices, or even killing it off completely.
When it comes to Alocasia plants, it is often the case that insect infestations lead to the curling of the leaves.
How to Fix the Insect Infestation Issue
The best way to get rid of the insects is to first find out why they are attacking your plant. From there, you can get to fixing the issue and saving your plant.
Make sure that your plant has no dust on it. Insects love dust, so try showering or simply dusting off your Alocasia plant from time to time. This will prevent them from infesting your plant again.
To get rid of them, you should try using neem oils. This will remove the bugs and prevent them from inhabiting your plant.
If you cannot provide your plant with this type of oil, there are various sprays you can try. They will also eliminate the bugs as well as their eggs.
Overfeeding Alocasia with Fertilizer
Although you’re keeping your Alocasia plant in a pot, it will still need regular fertilization. It won’t grow to its full size, but it needs fertilizers to thrive.
However, it is important to keep it safe and not over-fertilize your Alocasias. Over Fertilizing can burn the root system which will ultimately affect the whole plant.
Excess nutrients will damage the leaf cell and will have burnt look. It is one of the most common reasons behind their leaves curling.
How to Fix the Over-fertilizing Issue
Alocasia plants are hungry plants and they require regular fertilization. You should feed your Alocasia plants once every two weeks, only during the growing season.
As it is the case with most plants, it is important not to fertilize Alocasia plants during winter. That is the period when your plant is not growing and therefore has no need for additives.
Using a regular water-soluble fertilizer during spring and summer will be enough for your Alocasia plant.
If your plant’s leaves start to dry and curl, it probably means you are over-feeding them. If this happens, you should water your plant thoroughly, let the water drain out, and slow down with the additives for a little bit.
Lack of Nutrition (Potassium Deficiency)
Potassium deficiency in Alocasia plants reflects in curling and drying of the leaves. They usually affect lower and older leaves first.
If you suspect that your plant is dealing with potassium deficiency, don’t worry. There is a way to treat it and I’ll help you learn how.
How to Fix the Potassium Deficiency Issue
The easy way to fix this is with potassium fertilizers. The best fertilizers for your plant would be the ones rich in potassium chloride, potassium nitrate, potassium sulfate, and monopotassium phosphate.
If you prefer using organic fertilizers, try feeding your plant with seaweed, compost made of banana peels, or comfrey liquid. Whatever option you choose, make sure to supply enough water to uptake all the necessary nutrients.
Temperature Stress
Alocasias are tropical plants and they cannot survive in low temperatures. If you live in an area with a cold climate, your plant might deal with leaves curling if you don’t give her some special care.
Alocasia can not tolerate temperature below 10°C/50°F. It thrives well between 20-30°C/ 68-86°F temperature range.
How to Fix the Temperature Stress Issue
Alocasia plants prefer warmer temperatures. If your plant’s leaves start to curl, maybe you should consider placing it in a room with a higher temperature.
Root Rot from Overwatering
Overwatering your Alocasia plants commonly leads to root rot. If the leaves start to curl or develop brown spots, it is often an indicator that your plant is suffering from this issue.
Watering your Alocasias can be tricky. They love humidity and their soil to be moist, which is why plant owners usually over-do it.
How to Fix the Root Rot Issue
Keep in mind that Alocasia’s soil should be damp, but now flowing in water. If your plant starts showing the signs of root rot, it is time to give her some special care.
Make sure to remove the damaged leaves first. Cut off the rotten roots with a sterilized scissor. After that, let the accumulated water drain out completely.
Ideally, you should re-pot your plant and change up your watering routine. If you choose to do this, make sure to make the soil a little more drainage-friendly. Try adding peat moss to the mix.
Water Quality
Water quality is important when it comes to plant care. For the house plants especially, it is very harmful to use tap water.
Tap water contains minerals and salt, which is why it is often called hard water. Substances such as these lead to a buildup in the soil. The buildup of the minerals then prevents the plant to absorb water which causes the leaves to curl.
How to Fix Water Quality Issue
To prevent this from happening, it is best to use filtered water for your Alocasia plant.
There are numerous water filters you could buy which will filter out your tap water for you, and it is an easy way to produce a mineral-free one.
If water filters are too pricey for you, you can always buy filtered water and keep it on a side for your plants. It will be less pricey and will give you the same result. You can also consider collecting rainwater for your houseplants.
Too Much or Too Little Light Exposure
Although Alocasia plants are tropical and prefer to be in bright places, too much light can do more harm than good, one of the issues being the curling of the leaves.
Excess light creates energy more than your plant can handle. Then it shows symptoms like curling leaves. It is important to balance it out and to find a middle ground when it comes to lightning.
How to Fix the Lighting Issue
Alocasia plants need to get plenty of sunshine. Although they need more than most of the other houseplants, the light should be filtered.
Since it is easy to stress and burn the leaves with too much light, it is important to keep them in the filtered sunshine for about 6 to 8 hours a day.
If you find the right spot, your plant will thank you with beautiful and healthy green leaves. You can consider using a curtain to filter the direct sunlight.
Low Humidity
If there is one thing that tropical plants need – it is high levels of humidity. Therefore, your Alocasia plant will need it, too. This is often a problem for plant owners during winter.
Lack of humidity causes the plant leaves to lose more water. So there will be a lack of water within the plant cell. Besides other issues, it will cause curling and drying of the leaves.
That is why you should make sure to provide your Alocasia with enough moisture.
How to Fix the Low Humidity Issue
You should always keep the air around your Alocasia plants moist enough. A humidifier will be your best friend, especially during winter. You can keep plants together to keep the humidity level high.
Make sure not to moisturize your plant by misting. Wet leaves often lead to fungal infections and you will give yourself even more issues to deal with. Using humidifiers is the way to go!
Keep your plant warm, keep it away from the air-conditioned rooms, and give her enough humidity. It will love you for it!
Pot Size
Although they can be outdoor plants, it does not necessarily mean that they prefer large pots. If the pot size is small then the root system of your alocasia can not spread.
Then it can not intake water and nutrients properly. So Wrong pot size can also lead to the curling of the leaves when it comes to your lovely Alocasias.
How to Fix the Pot Size Issue
Alocasias like to be root bound. That is why you don’t have to rush and put them into larger pots once the root bounding begins.
When you decide that it is time to put your plant into a larger pot, make sure that you don’t change the pot size drastically.
You want to keep your Alocasia plant happy and to settle in her new home quickly.
How to Prevent Alocasia Leaves Curling
◙ Learn how to water your Alocasia. You are taking care of a tropical plant, which means you need to keep its soil moist at all times. To keep it healthy, make sure to use filtered water instead of hard one.
◙ Give it light! Your Alocasia plant will thrive in bright places. However, don’t over-love it. Filtered light for about 8 hours a day will be just enough.
◙ A humidifier is your best friend. It is important to provide your alocasia with enough humidity. This tropical plant loves highly humid places, so make sure to use a humidifier around it.
FAQs
Why are my Alocasia leaves drooping?
If your Alocasia leaves are drooping, you should probably pay attention to the care you’re providing it with. Some of the reasons might be a lack of nutrients, pests, under-watering or your plant might simply need more light.
Why are my Alocasia leaves turning yellow?
You are probably overwatering your plant. Make sure that the top part of the soil is dry before you water it again. Also, look out for nutrient requirements, lack of nutrients can cause yellowing of your alocasia.
You should also consider putting your Alocasia in a place without direct lighting. It will prevent the leaves from burning, and stop the yellowing.
Can an Alocasia survive without leaves?
If your Alocasia plant has lost all its leaves, there is still hope. Bringing it outside in a shade during spring or summer would help it recover.
Alocasia reserves energy, so reviving it is not an impossible task. Don’t give up on your plant just yet!