Curling or wrinkled leaves on houseplants

Curling, crispy leaf tips

Likely cause
Not enough water — misting alone rarely gets one through.

What to do
Soak it in room-temperature water for 20–30 minutes every week or two, then dry it fully.

Thin, curling, or puckered leaves

Likely cause
Underwatering, if it has genuinely gone months without.

What to do
Give it a deep drink and let it drain; the leaves refill within days.

Curling or rolling leaves

Likely cause
Underwatering or low humidity.

What to do
Keep the soil lightly moist (never soggy) and add a humidifier nearby.

Leaves curling or cupping

Likely cause
Light imbalance — too much or too little, and it curls either way.

What to do
Aim for bright indirect light and rotate it regularly so the coins stay flat.

Wrinkled, thin leaves

Likely cause
Genuinely thirsty — unusual, but they do run dry in summer.

What to do
Soak thoroughly, let it drain, and leave it until the soil is dry again.

Wrinkled, dimpled leaves

Likely cause
Thirst, or roots damaged by earlier overwatering.

What to do
Water thoroughly. If the leaves stay wrinkled in moist soil, check the roots.

Wrinkled, shrivelled leaves

Likely cause
Underwatering — unusual for a jade, but it does drink in summer.

What to do
Water thoroughly and let it drain; the leaves firm back up in a few days.

Wrinkled, leathery leaves

Likely cause
The roots cannot take up water — usually because they rotted.

What to do
Check the roots. Firm and green is healthy; brown and hollow means repot and cut the dead away.

Leaves curling inward

Likely cause
Underwatering or low humidity.

What to do
Keep the soil lightly moist and add a humidifier nearby.

Curling leaves that stay folded

Likely cause
Thirst or low humidity. A healthy prayer plant folds at night and opens by day.

What to do
Keep the soil lightly moist and add humidity; the daily rhythm returns.

Wrinkled or curling leaves

Likely cause
Underwatering — rare, but it does happen if neglected for months.

What to do
Give it a thorough drink; the leaves plump back up in a few days.

Deflated, wrinkled dolphins

Likely cause
Thirst if the soil is dry, root damage if it is damp.

What to do
Check the soil first — the two look the same from above.

Shrivelled, deflated pearls

Likely cause
Underwatering if the soil is bone-dry; rot if the soil is damp.

What to do
Check the soil before acting — dry means water deeply, damp means check the roots.

Leaves curling and rolling

Likely cause
Underwatering or dry air.

What to do
Keep the soil evenly moist and run a humidifier nearby.