Pocket Botanist
Check these first
- Touch the soil to see if it is bone dry.
- Observe if the leaves recover after the sun goes down.
Likely causes
Dehydration
Most likelyHow to tell: The leaves look thin, papery, and curl inward to conserve moisture. The soil will feel dry and pull away from the edges of the pot.
What to do: Water the plant thoroughly until water runs out the drainage holes. Maintain a schedule where you water when the top inch of soil is dry.
Heat Stress
PossibleHow to tell: The leaves curl during the hottest part of the day but recover at night. This happens when temperatures spike above 90 degrees.
What to do: Provide some afternoon shade during heat waves. Ensure the plant is well mulched to keep the root zone cool.
Find out what's wrong with your common soapwort
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.
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When to worry
If the leaves stay curled even after watering and cooling down, there may be root damage. Normal curling is just a temporary reaction to heat.
Stopping it coming back
Mulch around the base of the plant and keep a consistent watering routine during the summer.
Common soapwort: curling leaves? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your common soapwort 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 curling mean my plant is dying?
- Not necessarily, it is often just a sign that the plant is thirsty. Once you water it, it should perk back up.
- Should I cut off curled leaves?
- Wait a few days after watering to see if they recover. If they remain brown and crispy, you can trim them off.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Common soapwort
- Why does my common soapwort have white spots on its leaves?
- Why is my common soapwort growing so tall and leggy?
- Why is my common soapwort drooping?
- Why is my soapwort rotting at the roots?
- Why are my soapwort leaves turning yellow?
- Why are my soapwort leaf tips turning brown?
- Why is my soapwort not flowering?
- What are the bugs on my soapwort?
Back to the Common soapwort guide
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.