If only plants could talk , they would warn us when we ’re not giving them what they require or when they ’re not feeling unspoilt , and we could fix it aright away .

Good word ! Theycanspeak ! alas , they only speakplantand most of us are n’t silver-tongued …

When the foliation on your snake flora starts to curl , it is taste to tell you that something is untimely .

A close up horizontal image of three snake plants (Dracaena trifasciata) planted in pots set on a wooden table with a sash window in the background and a watering can beside them.

Photo by Kristine Lofgren.

We link to trafficker to help you get hold relevant products . If you buy from one of our links , we may earn a commission .

Do n’t interest too much if you do n’t understand decently off , rafts of gardeners have gone before us and enter out what our plants are prove to say .

In this guide , we ’ll interpret the substance when those leaves start to curl , and interpret it so proactive gardeners can make the necessary locating .

A close up vertical image of a potted snake plant (Dracaena trifasciata) with curling leaves, set on a wooden table pictured in light sunshine. To the center and bottom of the frame is green and white printed text.

Here ’s everything we ’re give way to talk about :

5 Common Causes of Leaf Curl in Snake Plants

Curling Hydra flora leaves are usually related to water issues , but there are other things that can cause this to happen as well .

Let ’s examine the top five unwashed causes , and resolution to aid your plants thrive .

Also be indisputable to note , just in case your serpent plant is new to you – there are actually certainspecies and cultivar that of course have tube - form or wavy foliage .

A close up vertical image of a Dracaena trifasciata leaf that is curling, pictured on a soft focus background.

In these extra case , this is not a sign of poor health !

1. Cold Damage

One year , I lived in an passing insensate house . No matter what I did , I could n’t parent the temperature enough . distance heaters , additional insulation , jack up up the thermostat – it did n’t matter .

I could wrap myself in heated blanket and sweaters , but my houseplant were n’t so lucky . They suffered . And my snake plant showed their displeasure by curling .

Snake plants like it live . While they can put up temperature down to about 55 ° F , they choose something airless to 70 ° F at a lower limit .

A horizontal image of a woman sitting on the couch wrapped in a blanket watching a laptop computer during the winter.

If you keep them in an country where the temperature drops below that , new ontogeny will tend to curl . Older parting will remain good , but any untried folio that emerge will step by step curl over .

So long as you ’re able to keep the plant alert in these stipulation , it will recover once it ’s moved to a more static environment with more appropriate temperature . But those unseasoned leaves that developed in the cold ? They ’re drop dead to stay curled for good .

But it ’s alright – this just adds to it ’s character reference , good ?

A close up horizontal image of a Dracaena trifasciata with leaves that are curling pictured on a soft focus background.

2. Not Enough Water

When snake in the grass plants become dehydrated , they curl . If you are n’t providing enough body of water , you ’ll start to see curled foliage with brown bound .

Before you go dump in more H2O , check into the dirt first .

More often than not , Sansevieriaspecies ( okay , fine , species ofDracaena , as they are now classified ) are overwatered . It ’s promiscuous to give them more than what they need .

A close up horizontal image of a snake plant growing indoors with curling leaves.

If you were to nonplus your fingerbreadth into the grunge , it should experience dry before you irrigate again . If it feel moist at all , even a few inches down , leave it .

However , if you palpate the soil and it ’s totally dry and you ca n’t think the last prison term you watered , it ’s probably time to water again !

Once you add moisture , the leaves should slowly straighten up from their wilted state .

A close up horizontal image of a hand from the right of the frame wearing a green glove holding a green watering can to irrigate Dracaena trifasciata growing in a rectangular planter.

If your specimen recovers after a piffling hydration therapy , remember not to hold back so long next time between watering and you wo n’t see this problem again .

3. Too Much Light

This might notseemlike a watering issue – but at the last of the daytime , it is .

When snake in the grass plants are exposed to too much sunlight , they become dried . And remember from before : dehydration results in curling leaves .

The solution here is n’t to add more water though , but to move the plant into better spark .

A close up horizontal image of a mother-in-law’s tongue (Dracaena trifasciata) growing in a terra cotta pot set on a windowsill.

If your plant is posture in direct Sunday , it might not turn dark-brown and crispy like others will , but itwilltell you by draw in up its foliage in protest .

To make your female parent - in - jurisprudence ’s lingua completely felicitous , it needs burnished , indirect Christ Within without any exposure to direct sun .

A magnetic north - confront window , or a south- or westward - confront windowpane with sheer curtains placed over it , is going to be everlasting .

A close up of a bottle of Bonide Neem Oil isolated on a white background.

4. Thrips

Thrips , insects in the order Thysanoptera , will set on all variety of houseplants . While infestation are n’t rough-cut on snake plants , if youdohave a pest infestation , it ’s likely to be a thrips problem .

These pests are known for causing deformed , curve foliage . If that ’s what you ’re seeing and the light photograph , temperature , and moisture degree seem right , thrip should be your next consideration .

These tiny , narrow-minded insect can be hard to name because they like to obscure . They ’re only a mm long , so look nearly for itty - teeny-weeny cigar - shaped gadfly scuttling about on the leaves .

unluckily , by the time you see symptom there ’s a prospect the pests have already moved on to other hosts , leave alone you scratching your head .

Assuming all the other factor check out and another issue is n’t to fault , go ahead and process your mother - in - law ’s tongue for thrip . Neem oil is effectual against them .

Spray the leaves once every two weeks for up to two calendar month , until the infestation clears up .

Bonide Neem Oil

Do n’t have any neem crude oil on handwriting ? You cangrab some at Arbico Organicsin quart- or congius - sizing ready - to - consumption bottles , or pints of concentrate to coalesce with water .

5. Southern Blight

Of all the problems on this list that might make curl up leaf , southerly blight is the least probable to happen . verify to see for everything else name here first !

Southern blight is due to the fungusSclerotium rolfsii .

While this infection can be devastating , the pathogens that cause it can only be transferred on plant textile , water , or contaminated tools . If you ’re diligent about hygienics , it ’s unlikely that you ’ll ever see this trouble .

But if you do n’t clean your tool on the other handwriting , or reuse pots without clean them first , it might be an way out .

If you see curled leave-taking , reckon closer . After eliminating everything else on this leaning , reckon for white fungal threads on the grime surface . The leaf might also chop-chop become yellowed anddroopy .

If you distinguish these symptom , toss away your plant and sanitize your pots . There is n’t a lie with chemical or biological remedy that gardener can turn to , and you do n’t need to spread the disease any further .

Curled Leaves Don’t Have to Be a Death Sentence

serpent plants might be known first and world-class for their pointed , straight , straplike leaves , but curling does n’t inevitably mean your plant is toast .

It ’s a sign that your mother - in - jurisprudence ’s tongue is n’t feeling its good .

Consider this symptom as something akin to when you have a fever .

Your organic structure is warning you that something is awry – and you demand to picture out what ’s amiss to make for towards a solution . Figure that out , and your works will be feeling as good as Modern in no time .

The leaves might not straighten out once they ’ve curled , but it ’s no big deal . New leaves should await as good as ever once shape improve .

Once you ’ve work out the mystery of the curled leaves ( the a la mode Nancy Drew novel ? ) , you might be looking for other ideas tokeep your snake implant healthy and well-chosen , or you ’re eager to learn more about your adorable acquaintance . Here are a few guides to check out next :

exposure by Kristine Lofgren © need the Experts , LLC . ALL right RESERVED.See our TOSfor more particular . merchandise pic via Arbico Organics . Uncredited top photo by Kristine Lofgren . Other uncredited photos via Shutterstock .

About

Kristine Lofgren