Root Stress

Seeing pothos leaves curling can trigger an anxious reach for the watering can. Pause for ten minutes first. The fastest answer usually falls into one of three paths: The root ball is dry and the pot feels unusually light. The pot is damp and heavy, but stressed roots cannot use that moisture properly. Only window-facing leaves or tender new growth are curling after local heat or stronger light. The confusing part is that dry roots and wet, unhealthy roots can both produce leaves that look thirsty. Leaf curl alone cannot tell you whether to water. Soil moisture at depth, pot weight, the location of the damage, and recent changes give you much better information. ...