Curry leaf plant is also known as Murraya koenigii, which is native to India. It used to prepare delicious south Indian food. Curry leaves have a great aroma, which will always be a special ingredient for your food.
Curry leaf plants lose their leaves mainly due to their winter dormancy (the plant is getting ready for the winter season), less exposure to sunlight, or low temperature. The other reasons will be improper soil, over or underwater for plants to lose curry leaves.
Update: My curry leaf plant got new shoots and leaves
Here are the causes for losing your curry leaves in winter.
1. Winter Dormancy
Curry leaves plants will go to a resting state in the winter season which is commonly known as winter Dormancy.
Curry leaf plant doesn’t get full sunlight due to winter; Due to low temperature (more cooling), the major problem is for leaves.
Leaves may turn yellow color (chlorosis). This is one of the signs that it is moving to the Winter Dormancy state.
Due to more cold, all leaves may fall down from the plant and there may be no leaves left in the plant (the only stem is left in the plant), This is one of the common things regarding the Curry leaf plant in the winter Season. To fix this here you go.
Preparing Curry plant for Winter Dormacy
1. Cut down on watering until the winter season ends
The major thing you need to consider cut down the watering to plant until the winter season end.
This will help the plant to stay in a resting state.
2. Move your plant Indoor
If you move your plant indoor or increase the temperature by any means you can save the curry leaves in the plant.
The better option is to move the plant indoors and place it near the south-facing window. This will give a warm temperature and enough sunlight to plant.
If you cannot give enough sunlight to plant inside, these full spectrum led light lamps are available for rescue. Click here for the link in amazon [For valid purchases we may earn commission from amazon, Our recommendation is not the costliest gadget but we suggest the good one]. These lamps can be used for other plants, and have many functionalities like timer and you can change light sensitivity.
If you cannot take the plant indoor for any reason. At least try to cover the pot (roots), with some black cover or something this increases temperature by 5 degrees, compared to outside.
3. Increase the temperature
Increase the temperatures of plants, slow down the winter Dormancy period, and save the curry plant’s leaves.
Place the curry leaves plant in sunlight during the day and at night you can take it indoors to protect from cold.
If you forget to take the plant inside, it will die no matter whatever you take care of after that. So be cautious not to forget.
If there are no leaves in the curry plant and only the stem is left, you need to take care of the plant. Otherwise, the plant may die.
You can increase the temperature of the plant by moving your plant inside and giving enough sunlight by keeping it near the window.
The better option is to move the plant indoors and place it near the south-facing window. This will give a warm temperature and enough sunlight to plant.
If you cannot give enough sunlight to plant inside, these full spectrum led light lamps are available for rescue. Click here for the link in amazon [For valid purchases we may earn commission from amazon, Our recommendation is not the costliest gadget but we suggest the good one]. These lamps can be used for other plants, and have many functionalities like timer and you can change light sensitivity.
If that is not possible, you need to cover the plant with a black cover to decrease the plant’s temperature by 5 degrees compared to the outside temperature.
If you are traveling or out home for some days, request a willing friend to take care of your plant.
4. Pour the warm water instead of cold water
This will help keep up the temperature of the curry leaves plant.
2. Less Exposure to Sunlight
Curry leaves will curl down and bent downside if you give less sunlight to the plant.
Experts say that for the best results we need to grow curry leaves plant in full sunlight and more than equal to 40F temperature.
If we consider the above climate conditions Curry leaf plant will have less winter dormancy period.
Being a curry plant Vulnerable to the cold climate we need to take good care of the plant by exposing the plant to sufficient sunlight.
If you are there in freezing climate conditions, you need to consider giving your plant an artificial white light instead of sunlight.
The better option is to move the plant indoors and place it near the south-facing window. This will give a warm temperature and enough sunlight to plant.
If you cannot give enough sunlight to plant inside, these full spectrum led light lamps are available for rescue. Click here for the link in amazon [For valid purchases we may earn commission from amazon, Our recommendation is not the costliest gadget but we suggest the good one]. These lamps can be used for other plants, and have many functionalities like timer and you can change light sensitivity.
3. Low Temperature
When plant atmosphere temperature drops then plant leaves may shutter, bent down, and lose out all the leaves, those leaves were helping the plant to survive the winter reason.
How to overcome the low-temperature problem in Curry plants.
1. Limit watering to plants
As we discussed earlier, you need to cut down on watering in the winter season. Plants will be in a resting state.
If you don’t cut down on watering Root rot can happen to curry leaf plants and plants may eventually die.
2. Pour Hot water instead of cold
Please pour hot water to increase the temperature of the plant.
3. Move your plants indoor
As we discussed earlier you need to move your plants indoors to give the warm weather to plant or keep the pot in the black cover so that there will reduce in-plant temperature compared to the outside temperature.
4. Give sufficient sunlight or artificial light
To revive your plant which is suffering from low-temperature problems, you need to give them enough sunlight to survive.
You also should not give a bright light to the plant, this may shock the plant. Needs to increase the light gradually.
The better option is to move the plant indoors and place it near the south-facing window. This will give a warm temperature and enough sunlight to plant.
If you cannot give enough sunlight to plant inside, these full spectrum led light lamps are available for rescue. Click here for the link in amazon [For valid purchases we may earn commission from amazon, Our recommendation is not the costliest gadget but we suggest the good one]. These lamps can be used for other plants, and have many functionalities like timer and you can change light sensitivity.
4. Soil (Dirt)
Fertilizer is needed, if you potted your plant more than 4 months ago, put that fertilizer even there are no leaves on the plant (only left with bare stem).
It’s gonna survive a couple of winters, It will be strong enough to withstand other coming winters.
Things to consider while you repotting the curry leaf plant.
We need to put a good potting mix for the pot that will drain well.
I always use miracle grow potting mix for growing my curry leaves plants. Here is the link you can buy from amazon [For valid purchases we may earn commission from amazon, Our recommendation is not the costliest but we suggest the good one].
You also should consider the next pot size while you are repotting and make sure it has a drainage hole at the bottom.
If you are pruning roots use sanitized tools, otherwise your plants may affect by a previous plant that was suffering from some disease.
Bonus tip: Feed the plant with Baked salt or Epsom salt twice every month as fertilizer to improve the plant
5. Over-watered
Over-watered curry leaves mostly suffering from root rot. Root rot will occur to more frequent watering.
Not leaving the water to drain from soil or there is no proper drainage hole in the pot causes root rot. Which will make the plant eventually die.
How to fix an over-watered curry leaf plant?
1. Prepare plant
Remove the plant from the pot and clean-cut the roots which are brown in color and rotted.
Leave the plant for some days to heal up the roots which you have trimmed.
2. Repot with proper soil
If you are repotting the plant in the same container, you need to sanitize the pot before you put the new soil.
If you are planning to put old soil, before that you need to boil the soil with hot water, this makes any bacteria that affects plants die.
Pot the plant with a good potting mix, which can be well-drained. ( I always use miracle grow potting mix for growing my plants. Here is the link you can buy from amazon [For valid purchases we may earn commission from amazon, Our recommendation is not the costliest but we suggest the good one]. )
3. Limit the water supply to plant until the roots heal
Once you plant, you should wait for at least 1 week to water; roots need to be healed and adjust to the pot’s new atmosphere.
4. Give enough sunlight and maintain temperature
Move your new pot to inside and give a good amount of sunlight, and don’t let the plant sit at cold temperature.
6. Under-watered
Under-watered curry leaf plants look like withered leaves, bent, yellow leaves.
Even if the leaves are yellow you should not prune, pluck them because these leaves
Tips:
- Feed Curry leaf plant with a tablespoon of Epsom salt (which contains magnesium) (Here is the link to buy epsom salt from amazon [For valid purchases we may earn commission from amazon, Our recommendation is not the costliest gadget but we suggest the good one].)/ baked salt into yogurt or 1 gallon of water twice a month (every 15 days) to improve the plant growth. If you overdose you will burn the plant. (My grandmother taught this.)
- Feed buttermilk to plant during warmer months to improve growth ( when there is no mold).
- cut the seed-bearing part to get new shoots and leaves grow healthily.
FAQ
Q. Why is my curry leaf plant shedding leaves?
A. Curry leaf plants shed their leaves mainly due to its winter dormancy (the plant is getting ready for the winter season), less exposure to sunlight, or low temperature. The other reasons will be improper soil, over or underwater for plants to shed curry leaves. Don’t worry leaves will grow back once winter is over.
Q. Why is my curry leaves plant not growing?
A. Curry leaf plants reduce growth in winter due to low sunlight, temperature and grow back in summer. The other things are root rot (over water), underwater, improper soil which will hinder the growth. This plant lack iron, add a teaspoon of iron sulfate to the soil every month. (also add buttermilk to improve growth).
Q. Why is my curry leaves plant drooping?
A. Curry leaf plants leaves droop as they die, normally you think your plant is not getting enough water, but here too much watering smoothened the roots. To overcome this allow the soil to dry out overnight (completely) and use a thin stick poke holes around the surface of the soil to help aerate (don’t damage the roots).
Q. why are my curry leaves falling off?
A. Curry leaf plants leaves fall mainly due to their winter dormancy (the plant is getting ready for the winter season), less exposure to sunlight, or low temperature. The other reasons will be improper soil, over or underwater for plants to shed curry leaves. Don’t worry leaves will grow back once winter is over.
Q. why is my curry leaf plant dry?
Curry leaf plants dry mainly due to their winter dormancy (the plant is getting ready for the winter season), less exposure to sunlight, or low temperature (maybe plant kept inside near a window). The other reasons will be improper soil, over or underwater for plants to shed curry leaves. Don’t worry leaves will grow back once winter is over.
Conclusion
However I have recovered my plant from losing leaves, New shoots came out from the bottom of the plant (near the bottom stem you can observe in pic).
Let me know in the comments did you succeed in saving your plant.
Curry leaf plant is also known as Murraya koenigii, which is native to India. It used to prepare delicious south Indian food. Curry leaves have a great aroma, which will always be special ingredients for your food.
Hi Harshavardhan,
Thank for the post!
How to use buttermilk for curry plant?
TIA
Shachi
First, thank you for the comment, it means a lot to me.
Let the soil dry out before you pour buttermilk for the Curry plant.
Procedure:
1. Mix the 2 tablespoons of sour yogurt or curd to 1 gallon of water.
2. pour it to the base of the plant.
Frequency:
Do it weekly.
Here is the detailed procedure I explained in this post:
https://www.gardenexpertguide.com/fertilizer-for-curry-leaf-plant/
My curry leaf plant has shed all it leaves and just the stem remains now. Can you please suggest the best way to save the plant?
Mostly it’s due to winter dormancy
If it is cold outside, Move your plant inside, keep it warm
Give morning sunlight, cut down on watering.
If it is summer outside keep plant outside and continue watering, don’t worry you will get new shoots
It was all good until few weeks back.But I had to move the curry leaf plant which was good may be a bit under watered, to unfinished basement and the low temperature(2 days) made all leaves drop off now. Stem looks good , its spring and little uneven temperature, kept back in room temperature where it can get morning sunlight.
What else I could check and do it save (which crossed the winter strong enough, until just 2 days of our carelessness)? Please advise as early as you could.
Thanks a bunch in advance!
ok, your plant moved to an unfinished basement? mostly plant didn’t get well sunlight and water (plant hates cold that’s why all of its leaves are gone). check the stem if it is dark brown then we wont be able to save it. if not as you mentioned keep it in room temperature, where it get’s morning sunlight and cut down on water (winter dormacy).
when it is summer keep plant outside and continue watering, don’t worry you will get new shoots.
Thanks Harsh..
Thankfully stem is not dark brown.its pale grayish green from bottom to middle and green at top part of stem. There are 2 plantlets in same big pot. 15 Celsius temperature with sunlight is good enough to keep it out , correct? Should I replant it to a different pot with new soil? or should I replace the soil which it is in? Should i check the roots of it?
i would love to post a picture of it if possible, so that you could see as i explain.
Thank you
Vijeesh Kannoly
Awesome. If the stem is not dark brown, there are more chances to save the plant.
yes, 15C is good. No don’t replant, its not a good idea to replant in winter or when it is low temp (winter dormacy).
if you want to share the image just put it somewhere in google drive and send me link here
wish your plant survive and grow big 🙂
– Harshavardhan
Hi! Thanks for the post! My plant has slowly been losing it’s lower branches, and now it’s middle branches. All the leaves and stems are drooping and curled up. I’m trying to dry it out. I also know it has scale but I have been using neem oil. The scale is still there, but much less. I repotted the plant recently, and no improvements (it maybe made it even worse) . It’s currently 50 F – 60 F (early spring) outside during the day, but the plant is still inside. Not sure what I should do to help revive it. Please help! I’d like to send a picture too, but the comments section doesn’t let me.
you are welcome
if your plant is going to winter dormancy, all leaves will drop off to protect from cold. it will grow back when it is summer.
To reduce Scale you can remove it from old tooth brush or garden gloves, use can also use neem oil to control it.
Donot repot in winter.
my suggestion: keep it inside where it is warm, give morning sunlight if possible, cut down on watering.
I have a curry leave tree almost of height of first floor.recently the fresh tender leaves are drying. What you want me to do?
I also realized that I repotted my curry plant in a self – watering pot that has a water reservoir. I’m not sure if that’s doing additional damage. Should I repot it again into a pot with drainage?
Better to put in drainage pot, plant hates to sit in water in winter.
wish you all the best to revive the plant
Hi my curry leaves are facing downwards in summer. How to resolve?
Thank you for your comment !
Most of the time this problem is solved by giving enough water to plant (increase quantity of water and try to give more frequently )
Second reason will be give enough fertiliser to plant you can also use buttermilk as fertiliser
Thanks Harshavardhan
Hello, it’s Spring now May 5th. I got a fine new curry leaf plant and carefully repotted it into a 10×12 inch terra cotta pot., with a fresh bag of organic soil. and I put it outside on the balcony (warmish weather in the Mid-Atlantic USA Northeast). I added just a bit of water. the 2nd or 3rd day it was out it got rained on and there was some heavy winds and the plant got a bit battered and seemed to not look good. I Brought inside and put it in sunlight, but as the leaves started drooping I watered it more, in hindsight probably too much…..now the leaves seem dry and wilted (except for a very few stems) and the plant doesn’t seem very healthy at all…it’s inside now and I have the heat turned up to 80F and a fan pointed at the side of the plant (not blowing the leaves) to try and dry out the soil a bit. I mist the leaves once a day or so. Do you think the plant is done for or can it still survive and is there anything I can or should do now? the soil isn’t mushy, but it’s still damp definitely, and I poked holes in through it using a chopstick. It seemed like a fine plant and I feel I may have killed it!
Thank you for your comment!
curry leaves plant gone into shock, after repotting is affected by rain, cold, heavy winds (harsh weather). later you kept it inside and gave enough sunlight, if you lose all the leaves also they can grow back, Cut down on water (give 3-4 days once). Lets see there is less chance of recovering plant.
I have 3 year old curry plant which has been growing fine till now. But since summer started, I have to water it every-day. if not plants leaves becomes droopy (https://ibb.co/4mcpkKd) and as soon as water it, leaves again becomes straight up (https://ibb.co/2kQGppD).
What could be the reason. is it related to fertilizer as I have not fertlized it for some time.
Hello Ralph,
First Thank you for your comment
1. When did you replant your pot? if it is long ago, replant with one size bigger than the current pot.
2. when repotting use a good well drainable soil mix with good compost.
3. As you told it’s summer, it requires more water. Water it daily/alternative day in good quantity (till it flows from the bottom hole of the pot).
4. In Summer Curry leaf plant will grow bigger (given good soil, compost, water) if is well-taken care of.
Happy Growing! I hope your problem will be solved if you do these. 🙂
Hi you mentioned if root rot means remove plant from pot Nd cut brown rotten roots and leave it to heal . Does it mean to leave just like that or in water or in a fresh soil in different pot and don’t water few days !? Please clarify as it Wil help me save my plant 🪴
Hello Vasu,
Thank you for your comment.
You can leave it outside for a day and repot it the next day with fresh soil in a different pot.
Here idea is to try to heal the wound in roots which is caused by pruning roots. (You can also skip this and plant it in fresh soil but the main thing is to limit the water until it adjusts to a new environment.)
wishing you to fast recovery of the plant from root rot.
Thanks,
Harshavardhan
Hi. Should I remove the entire soil from the roots and then leave it outside for the day. Please clarify.
yes, you can remove the entire soil and keep it outside for like 4 hours – 1 day (to heal the root). Later you can repot.
Harsha- Happy planting
I have a healthy curry leaf plant that did very well during the winter and kept all its leaves. But then staring around March-April, upper leaves slowly started losing the lush green color, and became yellowish patchy green. And, the leaves appear drooping down, and some have started falling. This problem is spreading to lower leaves as well. I am not sure what is causing it because I take great care of the plant following all the instructions. Any suggestions? At the same time, the plant has now started showing healthy new growth at the top. What does this mean? Can the same plant have healthy growth at the same time when something is causing old leaves to turn unhealthy?
Thanks for your comment!
There is no problem with your plant, Please continue to take care as you are doing now.
Happy Growing!
Hi Harsh,
I know many people here have asked you this, however my curry plant is facing the same fate. It had lots of fruits, but now all the leaves became dry and has fallen off. Its hot and humid so it’s not winter dormancy for sure. Any tips would be highly appreciated
Hello. After repotting my 2 year old cury leaf tree, leaves and stems are drooping/wilting. The new pot has good drainage, airy soil and i keep the soil moist. The plant is about 1 meter tall. The previous pot had poor clay soil and leaves were curling and browning so i decided to repot. Now I am worried. Will she recover and is there anything I can do?
is it really cold over there? Usually, in winter all leaves will be gone and new leaves will start to appear in summer with proper care.
Hi I bought some curry leaves from shop and found couple if fresh stems which I first soaked in water for few days and saw some new shoots coming so I pitted it in a pot and pleased say that new shoots are growing but the temperature in UK is dropping to around 11degrees. I have noticed that the tiny shoors are curling and sort of dying. I out the plant in the conservatory during the day where there is maximum day light and very little sun some times. During the night time I bring the plants indoors. what shall I do to keep it alive ? The soil is damp from first potting about 3 weeks ago. Will it survive winter indoors ?
Sir I have doubt I have 3 arces of curry leaves garden per litter how many grams put Epsom salt there is main problem for us please tell me immediately
use 2 tablespoons of Epsom salt for each plant which can be dissolved in 1 gallon of water and give to each plant.
Sir I have 3 arces of curry leaves 🍃garden how much Epsom salt add per liter water in sprayer
Dear Sir
My curry leaf plant lost all its leaves so we thought it had died. We left it along all simmer and it now has new growth but the leaves are small and look abnormal. What can I do?
Hello ,
Actually now it is recovering from dromacy, what do you mean by abnormal?