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To keep the Dracaena plant robust, it is important to provide it with suitable conditions. Maintaining optimal plant health is vital while caring for Dracaena. Once you make the plant’s environment comfortable, your Dracaena remains healthy with dense, deep green leaves that remain consistent in length. It is necessary to take fast remedies if your dracaena plant suddenly starts to curl since you do not want to have the plant eventually die.
Identifying the causes is required to correct the problem. Dracaena is known to curl in dry environments or under harsh conditions. Various other causes could include exposure to excessive light, overwatering, too much salt in the soil, applying too much fertilizer, not providing enough nutrients, infestation of insects, and plant illnesses. Curling of leaves could be an early symptom of an unhappy plant, and hence, it is essential to fix the problem once noted.
10 Reasons why Dracaena leaves curl
Don’t be worried if your Dracaena, often referred to as corn plants, begin to curl; they’re quite normal. It could be due to various reasons as discussed below;
1. Heat makes Dracaena leaves curl
The higher the temperature change, the less of a contribution dracaena has to the physiological process. High indoor temperatures throughout the winter might cause dracaena leaves to curl. It is hotter and drier in the area; therefore, the plant will lose more water due to evaporation.
A breeze that is both hot and dry results in increased water loss for the plant. As a method of self-defense, the Dracaena cools down itself. This makes its leaves curl. If the environment is hotter than usual, the best remedy is to relocate the Dracaena plant to a colder spot and water it more regularly.
2. Dracaena leaves curl due to too much light
Another factor that contributes to the curling of dracaena leaves is excessive light. If you place the Dracaena on a windowsill or probably an open place in the balcony, it receives an excessive amount of direct sunshine; hence its leaves will curl. Overexposure to light results in increased temperatures. When the temperature increases, photosynthesis, as well as other physiological processes, cease.
Consequently, when the temperature rises, the Dracaena plant uses all of its available water to cool its cells through evaporation. Due to water shortage, the leaves curl. The best option is to relocate the plant from the windowsill to a different place. As long as the Dracaena does not get excessive sunshine, it should remain in good condition.
3. Dry air
At times, the lobes of the Dracaena foliage curl and may even dry when placed in a warmer place that receives dry air. Twisting leaves is an auto-defense mechanism since this minimizes the leaf’s surface area, thus reducing the rate of water evaporation. It occurs if the plant is in a warm place or gets inadequate water.
In this instance, the plant should be watered till the soil is wet or dipped into the water and retained. If the air is too dry, ensure you water the plant till it flows into the plant container. Get a trough to collect the surplus water so that the plant can suck in additional water when the soil is dry. If you would like to maintain your Dracaena plant healthy, ensure you place it in a cooler place.
4. Pests can cause Dracaena leaves to curl
Though this may not be a frequent problem, bugs may cause your Dracaena plant a major problem. Various indicators might include little cobwebs created by spiders or powdery substances caused by mealybugs. In addition, ensure you check for small pests around the leaves, such as aphids, which suck plant moisture.
When you spot any evidence of such pests, ensure you sprinkle the plant with an insecticide. It could be homemade, which is composed of castile soap, water, and a sprinkling bottle. It is essential to learn how to produce homemade detergent spray as it is safe for plants. Ensure you sprinkle the spray frequently to eliminate the insects.
5. Overwatering
Dracaena plants need constant watering to thrive, though too much of the water may result in overwatering, which results in the rotting of the plant roots. This, in return, results in leaf curling.
Ensure you do not supply your Dracaena plant with more water if the soil remains moist. However, if the soil is dry, you can water the plant. It is essential to make a drainage hole at the bottom of the Dracaena plant container to release excess water. Too much water may result in various problems, including root rot.
6. Underwatering
Dracaena leaves can curl due to less water. In addition, the leaves appear slightly dry or crunchy, which is a sign of less water supply. One can place the index finger into the soil to determine whether the plant needs to be watered. It is essential to water the Dracaena plant, ensuring that the soil is at least 1inch moist to absorb the water anytime easily.
7. Use of excessive fertilizer
Like overwatering, it may also cause problems to over-fertilize or feed a plant. Supplying the Dracaena with excessive fertilizer damages its roots, which means that the nutrients do not reach the plant leaves. Thus, it leads to the curling of leaves.
According to the prescribed schedule for houseplants, the simplest remedy to this problem is by repotting a Dracaena plant using indoor potting soil and providing it with the correct fertilizer. Every brand of fertilizers is different, so please ensure you carefully read and follow the directions. Ordinarily, it could be better if the plant is under fertilized rather than having the plant over-fertilized.
8. Use of tap water
Tap water contains various dissolved minerals, salts, and additives, though it depends on the quality of your water source. Such salts may accumulate in the Dracaena plant soil, hence influencing the quality of the soil. This limits the plant from acquiring all of the nutrients it needs.
There are various ways to avoid this, including the use of filtered or spring water or using settled water. The normal tap water is put in a clean container and left undisturbed for around 24 hours. Salt minerals and other additives will accumulate at the bottom of the container during this period. After this period, the water is ready for use.
9. Lack of nutrients
Nutrients are essential in developing the dracaena plant thoroughly. In the formation and flourishing of green leaves, nitrogen plays a very important role. Thus, the absence of nitrogen results in the curling of the Dracaena leaves. To recover the curled leaves, it would be best to use a liquid fertilizer with a high concentration of nitrogen.
It is recommended that you use a water-soluble fertilizer for your Dracaena plant, as it will work best. Ensure you supply it with this fertilizer once or twice a month, during the spring and summer seasons.
10 Diseases may also cause Dracaena leaf curling
Root rot is the most prevalent disease that attacks the Dracaena plant. Root rot could develop as a result of overwatering, fungi, excess fertilizers, or oxygen deficiency. The best technique to evaluate cases of root rot in your plant is to pull it from the container and carefully wipe away the excess dirt. One can also inspect the roots by cleaning them using some water once they are pulled out.
Healthy roots will be strong and white, while those affected by root rot appear weak and black or brown. Before taking action, ensure you carefully evaluate the problem, as you may need to either repot or replace the Dracaena plant.
Conclusion
The Dracaena plant is a wonderful species for indoor growth. They can beautify a place as they develop up and spread their vivid green and yellow foliage. However, ensure you are careful about any stress indications from the Dracaena plant, such as curled leaves.
By paying special consideration to this species, it will grow and prosper for many years. Furthermore, the plant can be easily saved if you adhere to the discussed basic caring guidelines.
