Why Are My Cyclamen Leaves Curling?

Why Are My Cyclamen Leaves Curling_

If you’re an indoor flower lover, you probably have the deep-colored delightful Cyclamen plants in your garden.

These plants have heart-shaped leaves with intricate patterns of silvery shade embroidered on them. The flowers have swept-back petals and their color can be white, pink, red, or violet.

Cyclamen are beautiful houseplants but since many people are unaware of how to nurture them properly, they cease to bloom.

Most of the gardeners don’t know the general care and flowering cycle of these plants and once I was in the same boat. My Cyclamen leaves started curling and were losing their beauty and then I had to do something to maintain their natural colorfulness and freshness.

This is what led me to do some research on these plants and came up with the most common reasons for curling leaves on Cyclamen.

Cyclamen leaves commonly start curling due to underwatering, overwateringimproper lighting, and over fertilization. Other reasons for curling Cyclamen leaves are temperature stress and pests such as mite infestations.

Lets cover each reason for curling leaves and how to solve them for your Cyclamen plant.

Main Reasons Of Curling Leaves On Cyclamen

If the buds of your cyclamen plants look deformed or the leaves have started to curl then there might be a few reasons that are causing this issue.

If your beloved Cyclamen plant has curled up leaves then it’s easiest to go through each of the common reasons to figure out what main culprit.

Below I’ve jotted down all the main reasons that lead to curling of Cyclamen plants:

1. Underwatering

The most common reason for curling leaves on your Cyclamen is from underwatering.

Once the plant is underwatered, the leaves will begin to curl as the leaves and the plant dry out. A tell tale sign of underwatering is dry soil and yellowing and drooping leaves.

When the plant is not watered enough, the Cyclamen is also not absorbing the nutrients it needs to flourish and flower.

However, one thing to note is that Cyclamen do not need a lot of water. The plant just needs to be consistently watered whenever the soil dries out.

Cyclamen Prefer Moist But Not Wet Soil

Cyclamen prefer to have moist soil so its best to not let the soil completely dry out for multiple days.

The best way to know when to water a cyclamen is to feel the soil for moisture using your finger.

When To Water A Cyclamen Plant

Follow these steps in order to determine when to water a Cyclamen:

  1. Insert your index finger into the soil 1 to 2 inches deep
  2. Feel for moisture
  3. Water if the soil is dry
  4. Do not water if the soil is wet or moist

How To Water A Cyclamen

Avoid watering on or near the crown of the plant or the leaves as this can cause the plant to rot.

The goal of watering a plant is to get the water into the plant not on the plant. So this means we need to water near the roots which are in the soil.

Use one of the following options to water cyclamen plants properly:

  • Pour water in the pot’s tray so that the water can be absorbed from the bottom of the pot.
  • Pour water directly onto the soil and wait until water drains out of the bottom.
  • Don’t water onto the plant as this can cause the leaves or flowers to rot.

2. Overwatering

To make sure that your Cyclamen stays healthy and fresh, it is imperative that you water it properly.

Overwatering or underwatering can cause the leaves of this plant to curl. Over watering not only causes the Cyclamen leaves to curl but can also lead to root-rot.

Overwatering can be caused by a few issues such as watering too frequently, poor draining soil, or pots that do not have any drainage holes.

If there is not a way for excess water to drain out of the potted plant then the water will get stuck in the soil causing the roots to rot and the leaves to curl.

How To Solve Overwatering Issues

If your cyclamen plant is wilting or the leaves are turning yellowish and are curling along with a wet soil then the plant is overwatered.

The easiest way to fix this problem is to stop watering the plant as often by skipping a watering.

However, if you are watering the plant’s soil less often and the plant is still suffering from overwatering then take the following steps:

  1. First remove your potted plant from the wet soil
  2. Check the plant’s roots for any signs of root rot and remove any areas that are rotted
  3. Ensure that the pot has a drainage hole at the bottom
  4. Repot the plant using fresh dry soil that is intended for potted plants
    • Potting soil usually contains perlite, pumice, peat moss, and bark to allow for proper drainage.

3. Overfertilizing

Fertilizing your plant regularly is a helpful way to encourage plant and flower development.

However, too much of a good thing can be a bad thing and fertilizer is no different. Overfertilizing a Cyclamen can cause issues for the plant and the earliest sign of stress from overfertilizing is curling leaves.

Cyclamen plants should not be fertilized more than once every 3 to 4 weeks otherwise the plant’s leaves will start to curl. The best fertilizer for Cyclamen are ones that have higher phosphorous content.

How To Solve Overfertilization Issues

To solve overfeeding issues, you must first determine if the plant is overfed or not.

The signs of over-fertilization or feeding include curled leaves, discoloration, less flowers, excessive foliage, and excess fertilizer visible on the soil.

Follow these steps to fix overfertilization issues:

  • Take out the excess fertilizer that is visible above the soil.
  • Leach the soil with water by pouring lots of water in the soil and letting it drain out.
    • Leaching the soil will flush the excess fertilizer away from the roots of the plant.
  • If possible, repot the plant and do not fertilize the plant for at least 2 months.

4. Improper Lighting

Cyclamen, much like most tropical indoor plants, prefer to receive bright indirect sunlight.

The plant’s leaves will start to curl if it receives too much direct sunlight as the leaves will start curling to preserve moisture.

Cyclamen leaves will also curl from not receiving enough light as the plant struggles to grow.

Thankfully providing bright indirect sunlight to this plant is a lot easier than it may sound.

Providing Bright Indirect Sunlight To Houseplants

The best way to provide bright indirect sunlight to a houseplant is to simply place the plant near a window but not directly in the windowsill.

If you place your plant and it only receives 2-3 hours of direct sunlight then that location is probably fine. The rest of the day the plant should still receiving bright light but the plant itself should not be illuminated by bright yellow sunlight.

However, there are other options if you do want to place your plant closer to the window so that it improves your room’s decor.

Hang A Sheer Curtain To Turn Direct Sunlight Into Bright Indirect Light

If the direct sunlight is too intense or is harming the plants then you can hang a sheer curtain to dim the lights. Sheer curtains are transparent curtains that allow in a fair amount of light while blocking direct sunlight.

Sheer curtains for indoor house plants

Most indoor houseplants thrive in indirect sunlight so this is a great option if you want to place other types of plants near the sunny south facing window.

Not to mention sheer curtains add a bit of privacy. Sheer curtains can be found on amazon in all colors and sizes.

5. Temperature Stress

Cyclamen plants prefer to be in environments where the temperature is on the cooler side anywhere from 50°F to 65°F.

This is a good thing because they are houseplants that you can keep a cooler room or area of your home.

If your cyclamen plants are near a window or anything that generates heat then the curling leaves are likely a result of these warm drafts of air.

Best Indoor Locations For Cyclamen

The ideal temperature for Cyclamen plants is between 50°F and 65°F.

So any area of your home that remains in that temperature range is best especially if it receives bright indirect sunlight.

Cyclamens grow better around north and west facing windows while not being hit directly by the sunlight.

Make sure that your Cyclamen is placed in an area that is not by a radiator or heater vent as hot drafty air will cause the leaves to curl.

6. Cyclamen Pest Infestation

Chances are that you haven’t considered pest infestation as the main reason of the curling of your Cyclamen leaves because you never found pests running across them.

Well, this is probably because the pests might be hiding up under the curled leaves!

Also, common pests such as mites, aphids, and thrips can be greenish and semi-transparent which makes them difficult to see as they camouflage with the plant.

The small size of these pests also makes it difficult to see them with naked eyes.

Following are the most common pests that usually infest Cyclamens:

  • Cyclamen mites
  • Aphid
  • Thrips

If left untreated, these pests can cause a lot of damage to the plants. From curling leaves to stunting the plant’s growth – pests are something that you want to get rid of as quickly as possible.

How To Get Rid Of Pest Infestations        

There are three methods which you can use to remove the pest infestation from your cyclamen plants:

  1. Dispose Infected Plants: The less risky way to get rid of any pest infestation is to throw out those plants that have been infected. Most pests reproduce very fast and they can spread to other nearby plants which can make the infestation even worse.
  2. Heat treatment: The other method to fix the pest infestation issue is by using the heat treatment method. Most pests cannot survive in temperatures greater than 110°F. This method is tricky since you do not want to expose your plant to these hot temperatures for a long time either as this can damage your plant.
  3. Insecticides and pesticides: Neem oil is a biopesticide and works perfectly for mites and aphids. This is a good option if you want to use an organic method. You can also try ‘Imidacloropid’, an insecticide which is very effective in killing such insects.

Personally I recommend creating your own homemade insecticide spray by using castile soap and water since this is safe to spray around kids and pets.

Homemade Insecticide Soapy Spray

I use a homemade insecticide spray made of castile soap and water to get rid of any pest infestations. I need my indoor insecticide to be safe around kids and pets so I personally use this spray in my own home.

 View this guide to learn how to make homemade soapy spray that is safe to spray on plants.

The most important ingredient is to use castile soap and not use any fragrance dish soap as a lot of these dish soaps are actually detergents which may damage your plant.

Final Thoughts On Cyclamen Leaves Curling

Curling leaves on a Cyclamen are an early sign of stress. This is just the plant’s way of letting you know that something is wrong.

Thankfully the Cyclamen’s leaves will uncurl once we figure out and resolve the issue.

When properly care for, Cyclamens will provide beautiful green leaves and colorful flowers for many years to come. So take the time to make sure your Cyclamen is properly cared for so it can reward you with its beauty.

Steven

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