The Sword of São Jorge is a popular plant for being easy to care for, but when its leaves begin to roll, this indicates the existence of two possible problems: excess or lack of watering. Know how to fix it.
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08/09/2026
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A Espada de São Jorge is one of the most famous indoor plants, not only because of its more aesthetic appearance, but also because it is one of the easiest to care for – and therefore perfect for beginners.
Still, this species is not immune to some problems. One of the most common is when your leaves start rolling.
According to an article from Homes and Gardens, this happens due to inadequate watering, being very easy to solve.
Why do the leaves of St. George's Sword start rolling?
The rolled leaves of the Sword of St. George come down to one thing: water.
“Wrapped leaves can be a sign of dehydration,” explains Rachel Bull, head of the Homes & Gardens garden section. “Although it is not the indoor plants that most need water, a prolonged period of drought will make the leaves brown, wrap and wilt”, notes.
Like other succulent ones, the Sword of São Jorge is native to very dry environments, so what is recommended is that the soil dry completely until watering again.
However, rolled leaves may also be due to excess water.
How to recover the rolled leaves of the Sword of St. George
To recover your plant you will have to know the problem at the source. “Regine well your Sword of St. George that is short of water to ensure it has enough moisture,” Rachel advises.
If the problem is excess water, the recommended one is to prun the plant – in the area where it rolls – and wait for it to grow healthy again.
There is also another reason why this problem may arise: too low temperatures. This plant tolerates temperatures up to 10oC, but when it is overwatered in the coldest seasons it does not absorb so much water, which leads to the rotting of the roots.