Curling leaves are one of those things that looks alarming and usually isn’t.
Your Pothos is not dying.
It’s giving you information — and once you know what to look for alongside the curling, pinning down the cause is fairly straightforward.
Here’s what’s behind it and how to fix it.
First: Is It Actually A Problem?
Before you start troubleshooting, worth checking two things.
Is it a new leaf? Pothos leaves emerge from the petiole sheath rolled up tight — like a yoga mat, if a yoga mat were a leaf. They unfurl and flatten out over the following days as they mature. If the curling leaf is a fresh unfurling one and everything else on the plant looks fine, there’s nothing wrong. Give it a few days.
Is it just that variety? Some Pothos varieties naturally produce leaves with more curl or texture than others. If the plant seems otherwise healthy — good colour, new growth appearing, no signs of stress — and the leaves have always looked like this, you probably don’t have a problem at all.
If neither of those applies and the curling is new or getting worse, read on.
Cause 1: Water Stress
This is the most likely culprit, and it works in both directions.
Pothos leaves stay upright and firm through turgor pressure — essentially the water pressure inside the leaf cells that keeps the plant structurally sound. When that pressure drops, the leaves lose their rigidity and start to curl or droop.
Underwatering is the more common cause of curling specifically. The plant is running low on water, turgor pressure drops, and the leaves curl inward as a result. Check the soil — if it’s bone dry well into the pot, this is almost certainly your answer. Water thoroughly and the plant should recover within a day or two.
Overwatering can also cause curling, though it more typically shows up as yellowing first. When roots are waterlogged and can’t function properly, they struggle to take up water even when it’s sitting right there — so the plant ends up water-stressed despite wet soil. If the soil is soggy and has been for a while, ease off watering and check the roots for rot.
Pothos Humidity: What You Need To Know (And Why Misting Does Nothing)
Cause 2: Heat Stress
If your Pothos is in a very warm spot — particularly during a summer heat wave or near a heat source — it can lose water through its leaves faster than its roots can replace it. The result is curling or drooping leaves even in a plant that’s been watered recently.
I’ve seen this on my own plants during hot summers. The fix is simple: move the plant somewhere slightly cooler, or wait for the heat wave to pass. It usually bounces back quickly once temperatures drop.
If the curling is happening in summer and the soil isn’t dry, heat is a strong candidate.
What Temperature Do Pothos Need?
Cause 3: Cold Or Draughts
At the other end of the temperature scale, cold air — particularly from a draughty window or air conditioning unit blowing directly on the plant — can cause stress that shows up in the leaves. Cold stress tends to produce a combination of curling, slowed growth, and sometimes small imperfections on new leaves.
Check whether the plant is near a draughty window, an exterior wall, or anything blowing cold air directly onto it. If so, moving it to a warmer, more stable spot should help.
Can Pothos Handle Cold Draughts?
Cause 4: Pests
Thrips in particular can cause curling, stunted, or distorted leaves — often before you can even see the pests themselves. If the curling is concentrated on newer growth, the new leaves look misshapen or streaky rather than just droopy, and you can’t explain it through watering or temperature, check the plant carefully for pests.
Look at the undersides of leaves for tiny dark specks (thrips frass) or the insects themselves, and check new growth closely. Thrips damage on leaves is permanent, but catching an infestation early limits how much damage they do.
How To Work Out What’s Causing It
If you’re not sure which cause applies to your plant, work through this in order:
- Check the soil — is it very dry or very wet? Water stress is the most common cause and the easiest to fix.
- Check the temperature — is the plant in a particularly hot or cold spot? Has the weather changed recently?
- Check for draughts — is anything blowing cold air directly onto the plant?
- Check for pests — especially if new leaves look distorted rather than just droopy.
In most cases, the answer is in the first two steps.
FAQ
Why are my Pothos leaves curling inward?
The most common cause is underwatering — the plant is low on water and losing the pressure that keeps leaves firm. Check the soil and water thoroughly if it’s dry. Heat stress and pests can also cause inward curling.
Can overwatering cause Pothos leaves to curl?
Yes, though yellowing is more typical of overwatering. When roots are waterlogged and can’t function, the plant struggles to take up water even from wet soil — which can cause curling or drooping alongside other symptoms.
Why is my new Pothos leaf curling?
New Pothos leaves emerge tightly rolled and unfurl over several days. If it’s a fresh leaf and the rest of the plant looks healthy, this is completely normal — give it time to flatten out on its own.
Can thrips cause Pothos leaves to curl?
Yes. Thrips damage often shows up as curled, stunted, or distorted new growth, sometimes before the insects themselves are visible. If the curling is concentrated on new leaves and looks more misshapen than droopy, check carefully for pests.
My Pothos leaves are curling and turning yellow — what’s wrong?
This combination often points to overwatering. Curling alone is more typically underwatering or heat stress, but curling with yellowing suggests the roots may be struggling. Check the soil and root health.