If your peace lilies leaves are curling, then it’s a clear sign that something is wrong in their environment. In this article, not only will you find out why your peace lilies leaves are curling, but more importantly, what you can do about it AND how to prevent it from happening again in the future!
So keep reading to find out everything you want to know!
Why Are Your Peace Lilies Leaves Curling?
There are a whole bunch of different reasons your peace lilies leaves may be curling. So you’re going to need to use a bit of detective work to figure it out for yourself. But here are all the most common reasons!
They’re Getting Too Much Sun
Peace lilies are found in tropical climates, which means you’d think they’d be used to a lot of sun. However, this simply isn’t the case. In fact, peace lilies tend to grow underneath other plants and trees, which shelter them from the harsh light of the sun.
So if you’re placing your peace lily in direct sunlight, or they’re getting too much sun, then it could result in their leaves starting to curl, and in some cases, they may even start to change color!
They’re Too Hot
Too much sunlight and too much heat can often go hand in hand. Another reason that your peace lilies leaves may be starting to curl inwards is that the temperature around them is too hot. Peace lilies thrive in temperatures between 68-85°F. Anything more than that, and they’ll begin to suffer.
And remember to be aware that the temperature in a room may be in this range, but if you’ve placed your peace lily near a radiator, for example, then this could be increasing the temperature near your plant, causing the leaves to curl.
Underwatering/Overwatering
Another common mistake people make is underwatering or overwatering their peace lily as well. Doing either can cause your peace lilies leaves to start curling inwards or down, so you need to make sure you keep the soil moisture just right for your plant!
Drainage Problems
You could be giving your peace lily the perfect amount of water, but if the water isn’t able to drain out of the pot, then there’s going to be a problem. Keeping a pot in a saucer without getting rid of the water is one way that your peace lilies soil could end up being waterlogged, but it’s not the only thing.
As well as this, the soil mix can also cause too much water to stay in the soil, or in some cases; the water may also drain out too fast!
As well as underwatering and overwatering, poor quality water can also cause your peace lilies leaves to curl inwards too. If you’re using water straight from the tap, then it’s going to be filled with chemicals that harm your peace lilies, such as fluoride and chlorine.
Fortunately, you can keep reading to find an easy solution to get rid of this!
Not Enough Humidity
Humidity is extremely important for peace lilies. Again, they’re used to tropical climates, so you’ll need to match this as best you can in your home. If the environment isn’t humid enough for them, then they’re going to lose water through evaporation and their leaves, which can result in the leaves beginning to curl.
Root Rot
Root rot is often caused by watering problems, and if your peace lily is suffering from it, then it will reduce the amount of nutrients that will make it to your peace lilies leaves. While this is one of the ways you can tell if your peace lily has root rot, the best way is to actually inspect their roots.
When a lot of people take care of their peace lilies, they tend to overdo it. Peace lilies don’t need much care, and they can actually survive off the bare minimum when the conditions are right.
One mistake a lot of people make is that they fertilize their peace lily too often, which can often result in nutrient burn, which in turn causes the peace lilies leaves to curl and, in some cases, turn brown as well.
It May Be Time To Repot Them
While peace lilies like to be rootbound, there does come a time where even they will need to be repotted. If you notice, in addition to the leaves beginning to curl, other problems such as the roots sticking out of the soil or through the drainage hole, then your peace lily has definitely outgrown their pot, and it’s time to get a bigger one!
Thrips – Thrips are tiny, slender insects that suck the nutrients out of your peace lilies leaves. Not only does this cause the peace lilies leaves to curl, but they may also start to turn brown.
Aphids – Aphids can be a pain for most gardeners, and if they’re eating your peace lilies, it’s going to be no different for you either! Not only may you notice that the leave are damaged and starting to curl, but the stems might be too.
Mealybugs – Mealybugs could also be the reason your peace lilies are starting to curl. So check the undersides of the leaves. If you notice egg sacs, then they could be the problem.
Whiteflies – Lastly, whiteflies could also be behind your peace lilies leaves starting to curl inwards. Just like all the other pests on this list, they’re going to feed off your peace lilies leaves, sucking the nutrients out of them and causing them to curl inwards.
It Could Just Be Normal
While standard peace lily leaves shouldn’t curl, if you’ve brought a certain cultivar, then this could be a perfectly normal part of their growing process. In fact, sometimes, the curling leaves are nothing more than an indicator that your peace lily is about to go into a state of rest of dormancy. If you notice it is coinciding with the winter period, then this could be the case.
What To Do If Your Peace Lily Leaves Are Curling
If your peace lily leaves are curling and you think it’s due to something above, then don’t worry. Fortunately, there are so many things you can do to fix the issue. And remember, the advice below isn’t just for fixing leaves curling but should be considered as the standard care you give to your peace lily.
Get The Lighting Right
The easiest thing you can do is make sure that your peace lily is receiving the right amount of light. When choosing a spot for your peace lily, you should place your hand in front of the source and look at your shadow. If it’s too dark, then you should pick a place where the light isn’t as strong. Likewise, if it’s too light, you may need to place them somewhere the light is stronger.
If you think the issue is being caused by underwatering or overwatering, then you should do what you can to fix these issues as well. If you’re not sure whether your peace lily has been watered enough or not, then you should poke your finger into the soil. If it’s dry at the first knuckle, then it’s time to water your peace lily again. However, if you notice that it’s still moist, then they shouldn’t need watering just yet.
Make Sure There’s Adequate Drainage
As well as making sure you don’t underwater or overwater your peace lily; you also need to make sure that there’s adequate drainage in the pot as well.
The easiest way to do this is to make sure the holes at the bottom of the pot aren’t being covered up. And if they are being covered up by a saucer, you should make sure you’re emptying the saucer regularly. A great option is to let your peace lily hang and allow the water to drop right through.
Secondly, you should choose pots that are made from more porous materials, such as clay over plastic, to help water drain out as well.
And lastly, choose a soil mix that allows water to drain through easily, but not too easily, to ensure the soil stays just right.
The Right Type Of Water
You should also make sure that you aren’t using water straight from the tap. Instead, you should allow water to sit for 24 hours to allow all the chemicals inside to dissipate. Or, you can also try using rainwater which is great for peace lilies as well!
Get The Temperature Right
You need to make sure that the area you’re keeping your peace lily in is between 68-85°F and also that the temperature doesn’t fluctuate. So once you’ve found an area in your house that fits the bill, you should move your peace lily there. It’s often best to avoid windows, radiators, and air conditioning units as the temperatures there can fluctuate.
Get The Humidity Right
As well as getting the temperature perfect, you should also make sure that the humidity is perfect as well. The easiest way to do this is to simply mist your peace lily 2-3 times a week if you’re in a more arid environment though you should also consider placing your peace lily near a humidifier.
And lastly, if you have more than one tropical plant, you can place them altogether. When you do this, they’ll create their own mini atmosphere, which will become more humid.
Treat Root Rot
If you think that your peace lily is suffering from root rot, then you should do everything you can to treat them. While it starts with brown leaves that start to curl, if left untreated it can often end up killing your peace lily.
Treating root rot involves changing the soil, removing all the infected roots, and disinfecting them. Fortunately, there is a step-by-step process to follow when treating root rot which you can read.
Be Careful With Fertilizer
You should also be careful with the amount of fertilizer you’re using. If you’re going to use fertilizer in the future, you should make sure you’re using about a quarter or half of the recommended amount because peace lilies survive best with this.
And if you think that you’ve used too much fertilizer already and it’s damaging your peace lily, here’s what to do:
First of all, allow the soil to dry out to the point that your peace lily is almost wilting.
Once it gets to this point, water your soil, but just enough that no water seeps out the bottom.
Then wait for 20 minutes to let al the water soak in and seep down.
After 20 minutes you should then pour more water throuhg the soil, this time until some if it starts leaking from the holes at the bottom.
By doing this, the water will wash away all the excess fertilizers and salts that have built up in the soil.
If you want you’re thinking of ways how to get your lily to flower, this article can help!
Repotting Them
If you notice the roots sticking out of the soil, then it’s time to repot your peace lily. When you’re repotting them, you don’t need to go too big. A pot that is 1″ bigger than the pot your peace lily is currently in is fine!
And if you’re going to repot your peace lily, the best time to do it is during late winter to early spring. This is just before your peace lily is about to start growing massively again, and it will cause the least amount of stress for them.
Pests
Lastly, if you think that pests are causing your peace lily leaves to curl, then of course, you’ll need to do whatever you can to get rid of them.
The easiest way to get rid of them is to pick them off by hand or spray them off when you can see them. But this only works when the infestation isn’t so bad.
If you notice that the infestation is more serious, here are a few things you can do:
Mix soap with water and spray it over the plants. You should make sure you’re completely covering the plant including the underside. And if you’re going to use soap, make sure it’s not scented, dishwasher soap or detergent soap.
If you want to go for something a bit more natural you can also mix about a teaspoon of neem oil with a cup of water and spray that over your peace lily as well.
Lastly, some people say that dusting their plant with a wet cloth is enought to stop pests from coming back.
Why Is Your Peace Lily Curving Inwards?
If you notice that your peace lily is curving inwards, the most common cause of this is that they’re underwatered. Because they’re underwater, curving inwards allows them to reduce their surface area, thereby minimizing the water they lose through transpiration. This is another reason it’s so important to make sure that you’re misting their leaves.
Why Is Your Peace Lily Curling And Turning Brown?
If your peace lily is curling and turning brown it could be due to any of the following: overwatering, underwatering, poor water quality, too much nutrients, poor humidity, or bad lighting conditions. So you’ll need to assess your plant before making any changes.
Why Is Your Peace Lily Curling And Turning Yellow?
The most common reason that your peace lily is curling and turning yellow is that there’s a problem with the amount of light it’s getting. It’s either getting too much or too little. If you notice that it’s only the edges that are turning yellow (or brown), then it could be being caused by underwatering or overwatering.
Why Are Your Peace Lilies Curling And Turning Black?
If you notice that your peace lilies are curling and the tips of them are turning black, then it’s most likely that they’ve been underwatered, overwatered, overfertilized, or you’ve been watering them with water containing chlorine and fluoride.
How Do You Prevent Peace Lily Leaves Curling
To prevent peace lily leaves from curling is mostly about making sure the conditions you’re keeping them in are right. So here are the main things to do:
Make sure you’re keeping an eye on the temperature. Check that it’s within 68-85°F, and that it isn’t fluctuating.
Check the soil before you water your peace lily to make sure it’s not waterlogged already.
If you notice any pests remove them as fast as possible.
Don’t overfertilize your peace lily. When it comes to peace lilies, less is often more.
And make sure you’re keeping them in an area where they’re getting just the right amount of light.
If you do all this, you can definitely prevent your peace lilies leaves from turning brown!
Recap
Now you know why your peace lilies leaves may be curling, and more importantly, what you can do to treat it and prevent it from happening again! And remember, knowing this will not only stop your peace lily from curling, but it will also keep it healthy in the long run as well.
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