Too much water is usually the main culprit for why your houseplant is drooping. When you have too much water, or sometimes soil that is too dense that doesn't drain effectively, the roots are smothered and are not able to draw in water properly.
Most plants leaves will begin to wilt when they need watered. As long as the leaves have not become crunchy, they will perk up within a few hours. If the plant is still wilting a day after you've watered it, it could be wilting due to over watering.
If a plant is overwatered, it will likely develop yellow or brown limp, droopy leaves as opposed to dry, crispy leaves (which are a sign of too little water). Wilting leaves combined with wet soil usually mean that root rot has set in and the roots can no longer absorb water.
And what can you do to fix it? The first thing you can do when you notice your plant drooping is to check its soil. “If it's really wet, then overwatering is likely,” Cheshire says. “Just leave your plant to dry out, and in the future, only water it when the top two inches of soil feel dry.”
Leave the plant for a few hours or up to a full day to soak up the water. It will either drink all the water from the bottom-up, or if there's still water remaining, remove it and let it drain out before returning to its decorative planter. Within 2 to 24 hours, come back and see your plant lush and full of life!
When plants have too little water, leaves turn brown and wilt. This also occurs when plants have too much water. The biggest difference between the two is that too little water will result in your plant's leaves feeling dry and crispy to the touch while too much water results in soft and limp leaves.
When a plant is first becoming overwatered, leaves turn yellow. If soil doesn't have a chance to dry out before you water again, leaves start to wilt. When overwatering is the problem, wilted leaves are soft and limp. (If too little water is the issue, wilted leaves are dry and crispy.)
You can confirm any suspected diagnosis by gently shaking your plant out of its container and checking out its root system. If overwatering is the issue, the roots will look dark and feel mushy to the touch. The plant's soil may also give off a sour, funky smell, due to water-loving bacteria forming around those roots.
“If a plant has been severely underwatered, a quick way to revive it is to let it soak in water for a few hours,” says Vickie Christensen, master gardener and plant doctor at Léon & George. “Many plants go from droopy and sad to beautiful, lush and perky in just one day with this method!”
If the roots have rotted, the plant will likely not recover. However, if the overwatering has only caused the leaves to wilt, the plant may be able to bounce back. In general, overwatered plants tend to recover more quickly than underwatered plants.
Remove any dead or dying roots and keep only the roots that are healthy. Water only when the soil is dry to the touch, but do not let it get too dry. You should also seize all fertilization at this point until the plant is healthy again. Treat with a fungicide.
Increases in the rate of leaves senescence and drooping, scorching and limp leaves, leaf rolling and brittleness, closed flowers and flower sagging, etiolation, wilting, turgidity, premature fall, senescence and yellowing of leaves are among the most ubiquitous symptoms of drought stress in plants [65,66].
Browning leaves are typically caused by under watering, sunburn, or overwatering. If the leaf tips are turning brown and crunchy, the soil likely became too dry for too long in between waterings. This can also cause the plant to drop leaves.
Signs of root rot are slow growth, mushy stems, and wilting, yellow, distorted leaves (especially when the plant has been well watered, as wilting leaves can also be a sign of a dry plant).
For almost all plants, you should water them only when the top inch or so of soil feels dry. An easy way to check if your plant needs watering is to follow the finger dip test. Never be tempted to over-water. Over-watering is equally as harmful as under-watering.
Have one of those plants that looks like it's been hit by a truck when all it needs is some water? We know all about these drooping drama queens! Polka Dot Plants, Nerve Plants, and Peace Lilies are some common and especially dramatic offenders who will droop when they're thirsty.
Look out for signs of overwatering – including a limp plant, yellowing leaves, or dropping leaves. If you see these signs, test the soil with your fingers. It should be pretty obvious if it's soggy! Stop watering and let the soil dry out.
What Does an Underwatered Plant Look Like? Underwatered plants exhibit more distressing and pronounced symptoms than overwatering plants, such as drooping, yellow leaves, and dry foliage.
Wetting leaves.
Plants get their moisture through their roots, not their leaves. Direct watering to the soil surface and avoid wetting leaves because water helps spread some plant diseases. Use a watering wand to reach ground level or a soaker hose or trickle irrigation system to wet the soil rather than the leaves.