Question
the leaves on my new topiary house plant are curling.What is wrong?

Answer
Hi Glo,

"Curling" is a generic term that is not very descriptive of a specific plant problem. It could result from either inadequate light or improper watering. You have not provided any specific information about its environment or care, so I can only tell you what your Myrtus communis 'Microphylla' requires.

This is not an easy indoor plant because it requires a lot of direct sunlight each day, but also cool night time temps, preferably below 60 degrees F. A cool but sunny windowsill is hard to come by in NYC!

This plant requires a porous potting mix that drains well and dries out a quarter of the way deep into the pot in a week or less. Repotting is NOT recommended. Fertilize sparingly at half strength once per month.

As a topiary, it will need to be kept trimmed to maintain its existing shape. Topiaries are not intended to grow larger. As individual stems poke outside the contour or outer shape of the topiary, snip them off with sharp scissors. This is something you will need to do weekly if your plant is healthy and growing well.

Finally, I will note that this is not a forgiving plant when it comes to watering lapses. Keeping the soil constantly damp will result in root rot. Allowing the soil to became too dry will lead to leaf shriveling and yellowing, so it is important to monitor the soil moisture level to avoid both of these conditions.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

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Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

Visit my website at: A link to PlantCareExperts.com