The pothos plant is also known as devil’s ivy and is considered one of the hardiest houseplants.
It is quite durable and can withstand very harsh conditions. Moreover, few diseases and ailments can be more difficult than him. however, since you came across this article, you must be wondering “why is my pothos frizzy?”.
Pothos plants naturally curl a little towards the tips of the leaves, but if the leaves sag and curl, that means the pothos has a problem and is unhealthy.
The main reason your pothos gets frizzy is because it’s underwater. Other reasons for your pothos to curl include too much water, light, too much fertilizer, and pest issues.
While in most cases leaf curl on pothos plants can be caused by flooding, it can also be an indication of various problems. Therefore, in this article, we will discuss what can cause curling of pothos plants and how to fix it.
Why is my Pothos frizzy?
Pothos are low maintenance plants, although their normal development requires some attention.
Pothos plants are often affected by ignorance and environmental stress, which can cause leaf curling.
Depending on the conditions that cause curled leaves, several curl variations may appear, such as upward, downward, and side curls.
Curled leaves of Pothos are a sign of stress. If only the older leaves begin to change shape, that’s okay and may be normal.
However, if healthy young leaves start to curl, it’s a sign that something is wrong. Knowing how to identify and treat the problem will keep you from wondering “why is my pothos frizzy?”
1) underwater
If you see your pothos foliage curling to the sides, it may be due to flooding. Pothos plants retain moisture in their foliage and stem, but if they lack moisture they will wilt and wilt.
Because pothos is a hardy plant, growing it underwater can even grow in water in some cases. They will not maintain healthy leaves if not watered and will continue to dry out in the heat.
Most of the time in summer they are thirsty due to lack of water and excessive heat.
How to treat underwater
There are several things you can do to help the flooded plant:
- If I’m wondering why my pothos is curling, the first thing I do is check if the ground is dry before determining if it’s flooded. You can check this by sticking your finger in the dirt.
- Be careful not to overwater the plant.
- Do not water the plant too cold. Preferably give them water at room temperature. Also, avoid giving him tap water. Preferred water is rainwater or distilled water. If you don’t have access to either, let the tap water sit overnight and let the chlorine and other chemicals evaporate first.
- You can water the plant again when the top 2 inches of soil are dry.
2) excess water
Overwatering can be recognized when the leaves curl up and begin to turn yellow. Rotten roots are the main problem caused by too much moisture in the soil.
The underlying cause of many plant problems is root rot. You are lucky if only the tips of the leaves are rolled up. this indicates that root rot is still in its infancy.
How to Help an Overwhelmed Pothos Plant
Root rot is caused by overwatering, which reduces the nutrients and water Pothos receives from the soil, roots, leaves and stems.
The roots of pothos deteriorate, become diseased and waterlogged when they are flooded. Rotting soil and roots do not function properly and cannot breathe or extract nutrients from the soil.
If root rot hasn’t started yet, simply delaying watering will give the soil and roots time to dry out naturally and completely.
For a more complete remedy, remove the plant from the Usually I, gently loosen the roots and clean them with fresh water. Remove any rotten roots and replant your pothos in new, well-drained soil.
3) light
As a houseplant, pothos is extremely sensitive to light exposure. In a sense, it can tolerate moderate light indoors, but not strong light.
Yes Out ofSlightly shady places are recommended. Pothos need 8-10 hours of light to photosynthesize, absorb and release nutrients and water, and have a nice variety.
However, if you’re wondering “Why is my pothos getting frizzy?”, it may be because of its low light resistance.
If your pothos leaves extend toward the light source, the area is too dark. Your pothos plant will curl its leaves away from the light source if it gets too bright there.
How to guess the right lighting

The first thing to determine is therefore whether there is too much or too little light. You can tell just by looking at the house.
Make sure that direct sunlight doesn’t hit the pothos and also see if you have it in the shade?
For good light exposure, move them near a window, balcony or under a lamp. However, if they receive too much light, the soil will dry out faster and the leaves will start to wilt.
If you want to be sure your pothos gets enough light, consider a grow light. Artificial light can be a good solution for plants like pothos.
4) Give too much fertilizer
fertilizer it is undoubtedly an essential part of plant development. It provides the nutrients and minerals that the soil lacks and health with growth.
However, it is very important to know when and how much fertilizer to give.
The leaves of pothos that have been over-fertilized are usually smaller, curled, or discolored. Too much fertilizer will lead to more salt and nitrogen in the soil than recommended.
How to Fix Fertilized Pothos
When you over-fertilize pothos, you put a strain on their metabolism. This plant likes to be fed once every two months during the growing season.
If you use organic, artisanal or vermicompostthen the risks and consequences of excessive fertilization are reduced.
The most effective technique for stopping over-fertilization is to watch for signs of it and see if the plant recovers.
If the plant looks better, apply much lower rates of fertilizer. Alternatively, you can also use liquid fertilizers.
If the over-fertilization is not light and the pothos is badly damaged, follow these steps to save the plant:
Step 1: Remove the plant from the ground.
Step 2: Gently clean the roots with the soft brush
Step 3: Place the pothos plant in new, well-drained soil.
5) Pests
Another reason why my pothos curl is the parasitic infection. Unwanted visitors such as scale insects, spider mites, scale insects, thrips, etc.
You can make pothos with curly leaves. Particularly if the foliage is wrinkled and shows yellow discolorations, you should suspect that a pest infestation is in progress.
Pests weaken pothos plants by sucking their sap-filled stems and leaves. This usually causes twisting of the stem and leaves.
How to fight pests
You can use commercially available pest repellents to get rid of the pests. Additionally, the use of home remedies that can be effective against parasites is increasing.
To get rid of bugs, you can use a variety of products like dish soap, neem spray, garlic spray, etc. Here is a short list of what you can do to cure and prevent future infestations:
- Typically, gardeners and plant enthusiasts use peppermint, thyme, spearmint, pine bark, or essential oils to keep plant pests away, and in most cases, it really works.
- Do not place your plants in places with high humidity and places with poor air ventilation. Constant humidity and lack of ventilation attract pests.
- Constantly check the plant’s foliage to make sure no pests have taken up residence on your plant.
- Remove any pests that may be on the plant with soapy water.
You can make a good pest control solution by mixing 1 teaspoon of oil with 2.5 liters of water. Put the solution in the spray bottle and pour it gently over the plant every week.
This will eliminate insects that damage the pothos plant. You can also make a similar mixture using garlic and dish soap.
final thoughts
In this article, we answered your question “Why is my pothos curly?” and we discuss some steps that can help you fix the problem.
Pothos typically have firm, shiny, heart-shaped leaves that are often upright. So if it starts to wind up, there is definitely a problem.
There are a number of reasons pothos can curl, usually related to overwatering.
Although the pothos plant is considered low maintenance, it can be tricky if not cared for properly.
The key is that as long as certain needs are met (food, water, lightand temperature) in most cases, these beauties will do just fine. Remember to check the sheets closely often to see if anything is wrong.
By following the above instructions, if you observe the plant carefully and watch the symptoms carefully, you will eventually find answers and begin to heal accordingly.