Plant Care

Pothos Leaves Curling: 5 Common Causes and Solutions

Last updated: October 30, 2025

Curling pothos leaves signal stress from underwatering, low humidity, heat, pests, or root problems—here's how to diagnose and fix each cause.

TTerrence "TJ" Johnson

October 30, 2025

Person examining curled pothos leaves to diagnose watering and humidity issues — — Image © PlantReference.org 2026

Quick Answer

Curled pothos leaves typically result from underwatering or low humidity. Check soil moisture 2 inches down and increase humidity immediately.

TL;DR

Curled pothos leaves signal five main problems: underwatering (most common), low humidity, heat stress from vents, pest damage, or root issues. Check soil moisture first—if dry 2+ inches down, water thoroughly. Increase humidity with pebble trays, move away from heat sources, and inspect for pests on leaf undersides.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my pothos leaves curling inward?

Pothos leaves curl inward primarily due to underwatering stress or low humidity. Check soil moisture 2 inches (5 cm) deep—if dry, water thoroughly until drainage occurs. If soil is adequately moist, increase humidity using pebble trays or a humidifier targeting 40-60%. Heat stress from HVAC vents also causes inward curling.

Can overwatering cause pothos leaves to curl?

Yes, overwatering can cause leaf curling when it leads to root rot. However, overwatered pothos typically show yellowing leaves and musty soil odors before curling occurs. Check for black, mushy roots if soil stays wet for more than a week after watering. Root rot requires immediate treatment with fresh soil and healthy root trimming.

How long does it take for curled pothos leaves to uncurl?

Properly diagnosed and treated pothos leaves begin uncurling within 2-4 hours for underwatering issues. Full recovery takes 24-48 hours. Heat stress and humidity problems may require 3-5 days for complete recovery. Severely damaged leaves with brown, crispy edges will not recover and should be pruned to encourage new growth.

Should I cut off curled pothos leaves?

Only cut severely damaged leaves with brown, crispy edges that won't recover. Slightly curled leaves that are still green will uncurl once the underlying problem is fixed. Focus on addressing the root cause first—watering, humidity, or environmental stress—before pruning. Healthy curled leaves provide energy for recovery.

Do pothos leaves curl from too much light?

Direct sun can cause pothos leaves to curl as a protective mechanism against light stress, usually accompanied by yellowing or brown scorch marks. However, pothos rarely get too much light indoors. Move plants showing sun stress to bright, indirect light locations. Most curling issues stem from underwatering or low humidity rather than excess light.

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Tagged with

#pothos care #leaf curling #plant problems #houseplant troubleshooting #underwatering #humidity issues #spider mites #root rot #plant stress #indoor gardening

Written By

Terrence "TJ" Johnson

TJ stumbled into plant parenthood when a coworker gave him a neglected pothos. That single plant sparked an obsession that led him to quit his corporate marketing job and start a plant care service for busy professionals in Chicago. TJ maintains over 150 plants for residential clients and runs monthly plant swap meetups at local coffee shops. He's self-taught through YouTube, plant forums, and plenty of expensive mistakes (RIP to his variegated monstera). TJ specializes in troubleshooting common houseplant problems and is known for his blunt, no-BS advice: "Your plant isn't dying because Mercury is in retrograde—you're overwatering it." He's particularly skilled with finicky tropical plants like fiddle leaf figs and calatheas.