Why are the leaves on my plant curling?
If your plants are looking a little bit unloved or just downright miserable, it’s not always the end of the world.
Curled leaves are usually a sign that they’ve been exposed to either too much heat or too much light. Or both!
Plants obviously need both of these to survive and thrive. But every plant type is different and each one requires varying amounts.
Don’t worry! Curled leaves are a relatively easy issue to fix and (with the right care), your plants should be back to their best within a week to 10 days.
How do you fix curled leaves?
The shape of a plant’s leaves is based on its genetic make-up. But there might be an N, P or K deficiency if your leaves lack colour, are narrow, misshaped or undersized. To resolve the issue, you may need to slightly increase the feed strength of your nutrients.
If leaves are suffering from a lack of calcium, silicon or excess chlorine, they may appear to be twisted. You can help cure this problem by de-chlorinating any tap water you use for at least 12 hours before application.
Leaves curling down (tips)
When a plant is working to retain moisture, its leaves will curl down or 'cup' at the margins and tips. If you see this, ease off on the feeding schedule. Usually, this type of downwards curling indicates that the plant has been overfed or overwatered. If the problem persists, consider using a flush product to remove any excess nutrients.
Leaves curling up (tips)
Environment is the main reason behind leaves curling up and is often caused by a lack of air exchange, wind burn or grow lights being placed too close. It can sometimes be a combination of all three!
If you are using a soil-based grow media, a leaf curling up can also be a sign that the soil is contaminated with herbicides or worm castings. You may need to change the soil and make sure any castings are removed manually.
Leaf Margins curling down
If you experience leaf margins curling down, take a look at the rootzone as it might be suffering from overfeeding, low oxygen levels or excess nutrient build-up.
Using a breathable cloth pot can increase oxygen levels. If grow lights are being used, move them further away and also consider whether the plant is getting enough air exchange, as you may need an air circulation fan to reolve the issue.
If you need any in-depth advice about hydroponic growing, contact our experts or call 01926 511151 for a friendly discussion.