Curry leaf plant - Ask Extension
I have a curry leave plant that is kept indoors. It was at one time very robust and green. It has lost some of its luster. Can you tell me how to i...
Knowledgebase
Curry leaf plant #893907
Asked March 08, 2025, 7:09 PM EST
I have a curry leave plant that is kept indoors. It was at one time very robust and green. It has lost some of its luster. Can you tell me how to improve it. I know you are supposed to prune it but don’t know when to do that. Should I use a grow light?
Baltimore County Maryland
Expert Response
It's hard to see enough detail in the photos, but the foliage appears to have pest damage, possibly from spider mites and/or thrips. Both are fairly common indoor plant pests, and spider mites in particular thrive on the lower ambient humidity of indoor spaces in winter. Management tips for mites are included in the linked page; thrips can be suppressed with similar means, like spraying the foliage with horticultural oil or insecticidal soap. There are few other insecticide products labeled for use indoors, especially on an edible plant, so make sure any product you may use has instructions for use on an edible plant and in an indoor setting. Leaves can't heal from damage, so even successful treatment won't improve the appearance of the current set of leaves, but new growth should look healthy if the problem resolves itself. Leaves damaged by thrips or mites are still okay to cook with.
We don't have detailed cultivation information for curry leaf plant (including pruning them), but a common cause of plant stress indoors (other than low humidity and insufficient light) is accidental over-watering. The plant looks like it might be suitable for a smaller pot (it depends on how much of a root system it has); larger pots tend to dry out more slowly, and can be more vulnerable to over-watering than smaller pots. As a general tip, let the soil in top inch or two of the container get fairly dry between waterings, and if the pot sits on top of a saucer, empty any drained water promptly after watering so it doesn't seep back into the pot. Soil that stays too consistently wet can stress or kill roots, because it deprives them of enough oxygen to stay healthy.
A plant grow light can supplement natural light (or replace it entirely in some settings) for plants that need more light to thrive. Curry leaf isn't a low-light plant, so it would appreciate growing in either a very sunny window or under grow lights. There are many options for grow light lamps, and which style to use depends on your needs (whether there's any other houseplants to provide light for, for example) and aesthetic preferences. A full-spectrum white-looking light is best; no need to get the style that is pinkish-purple, which will make it harder to see color changes in the leaves that might indicate a health problem.
If you have the space, consider putting the plant outdoors for the summer once our nighttime temperatures stay near or above 65 degrees. (Put it in shade for the first week or two, gradually introducing the plant to some direct sun so it can acclimate with minimal leaf "sunburn" damage.) The higher humidity, better light, and air circulation of a summer outside can help the plant rebound from winter stress while indoors, and can support good growth. Once the evenings get cool again in early autumn, the plant can come back inside for the winter.
Miri
We don't have detailed cultivation information for curry leaf plant (including pruning them), but a common cause of plant stress indoors (other than low humidity and insufficient light) is accidental over-watering. The plant looks like it might be suitable for a smaller pot (it depends on how much of a root system it has); larger pots tend to dry out more slowly, and can be more vulnerable to over-watering than smaller pots. As a general tip, let the soil in top inch or two of the container get fairly dry between waterings, and if the pot sits on top of a saucer, empty any drained water promptly after watering so it doesn't seep back into the pot. Soil that stays too consistently wet can stress or kill roots, because it deprives them of enough oxygen to stay healthy.
A plant grow light can supplement natural light (or replace it entirely in some settings) for plants that need more light to thrive. Curry leaf isn't a low-light plant, so it would appreciate growing in either a very sunny window or under grow lights. There are many options for grow light lamps, and which style to use depends on your needs (whether there's any other houseplants to provide light for, for example) and aesthetic preferences. A full-spectrum white-looking light is best; no need to get the style that is pinkish-purple, which will make it harder to see color changes in the leaves that might indicate a health problem.
If you have the space, consider putting the plant outdoors for the summer once our nighttime temperatures stay near or above 65 degrees. (Put it in shade for the first week or two, gradually introducing the plant to some direct sun so it can acclimate with minimal leaf "sunburn" damage.) The higher humidity, better light, and air circulation of a summer outside can help the plant rebound from winter stress while indoors, and can support good growth. Once the evenings get cool again in early autumn, the plant can come back inside for the winter.
Miri
