7 Reasons Your Prayer Plant's Leaves Are Curling—and How to Fix It

Prayer plants (Maranta leuconeura) are tropical flowering perennials that are often grown indoors as a houseplant. While they are relatively easy to care for, one issue you may encounter is the foliage curling into itself. Often a sign of stress or a health issue, it's important to find and treat the cause of your prayer plant's leaves curling so it can continue to grow and flourish. Ahead, horticulturists share the most common reasons a prayer plant's leaves curl—and how to fix each one.

Overwatering

Too much water may cause leaf curl in prayer plants because as the roots suffocate and die, they’re no longer able to absorb moisture from the soil. "Since the leaves release moisture as a part of the transpiration process, leaf curl can help the plant by reducing moisture loss," says Justin Hancock, horticulturist at Costa Farms. "If your prayer plant is staying too wet, cut back on the watering." If it's really wet, consider slipping the rootball out of the pot and setting it on an old towel until it's slightly dry, then repotting.

Underwatering

Prayer plants like soil that is consistently moist and the leaves can curl as a result of underwatering. "If the soil dries out, the leaves will start to curl, go limp, or the margins get brown and crispy," says Linda Langelo, horticulture specialist at Colorado State University. "Allow the soil to dry about halfway down the pot every one to two weeks." Using a moisture meter is a helpful way to gauge soil dryness.

Lack of Humidity

In low-humidity conditions, prayer plants may try to maintain moisture by curling their leaves. "Low humidity isn’t always as easy to diagnose by looking at the plant, but getting a hygrometer to tell you relative humidity levels is," says Hancock. "Prayer Plants prefer average to above-average relative humidity, so if levels are below about 45 percent, it’s helpful to boost humidity by grouping your prayer plant close in with other houseplants."

Too Much Sunlight

Albeit a less common occurrence, too much light can sometimes cause a prayer plant's leaves to curl. "It may be that they’re trying to protect themselves from the sun before they start to show sunburn," says Hancock. "If you suspect there’s too much direct sun on your prayer plant's leaves, moving it a foot or two back from the window—or moving it to a window with less light coming through—should help."

Temperature Extremes

The ideal temperature range for a prayer plant is between 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, says Langelo. Any temperature that is lower or higher can cause the leaves to curl. To remedy this, adjust your thermostat or move the plant to a room that is consistently within this temperature range.

New Growth

As new leaves emerge from your prayer plant, they will form in a curled tube and slowly unfurl as they continue to develop. "This is nothing to worry about and to be expected from your foliage, says Hancock.

Pests

Pests, including aphids and mealybugs, may also cause the leaves to curl. This is especially the case if the young leaves are attacked as they’re developing (before they unfurl), says Hancock. The treatment depends on the type of insect you're dealing with, but generally insecticidal soap, horticultural oil, and neem oil can help control—but typically rid of entirely—pest populations.