Check these first
- Check the light levels where the plant is sitting.
- Observe if the curling happens only during the hottest hours.
- Feel the leaves to see if they are brittle or soft.
Likely causes
Extreme Heat Stress
Most likelyHow to tell: The leaves curl inward during the hottest part of the day to conserve moisture. The plant looks dry and brittle at the tips.
What to do: Provide a bit of afternoon shade if temperatures exceed 95 degrees. Water the plant deeply once to help it recover from the heat.
Insufficient Light
PossibleHow to tell: The leaves curl while looking pale or stretched out. The plant is not growing in its usual compact, upright form.
What to do: Move the plant to a location that receives full, direct sun for at least 6 to 8 hours a day. Avoid placing it in shaded corners or indoors where light is filtered.
Find out what's wrong with your wall barley
The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
When to worry
If the leaves stay curled even after the sun goes down and temperatures drop, the plant is likely suffering from severe dehydration. It is normal for leaves to curl slightly during a heatwave as a natural defense.
Stopping it coming back
Keep your wall barley in a spot with full sun and avoid overwatering, which can weaken the root system and make the plant less resilient.
Wall barley: curling leaves? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your wall barley and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free
Questions people ask
- Does wall barley need full sun?
- Yes, it thrives in direct, full sun. Without enough light, it will not grow properly and may show signs of stress like curling.
- Should I mist the leaves to stop curling?
- No, misting does not help this plant. It prefers dry conditions and can develop fungal issues if the leaves stay wet.
More problems with wall barley
- Why does my wall barley have orange spots on its leaves?
- Why is my wall barley looking so leggy?
- Why are the tips of my wall barley turning brown?
- Why are my wall barley leaves turning yellow?
- Why is my wall barley drooping?
- What are the pests on my wall barley?
- Why is my wall barley showing signs of root rot?
This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.

