Plants that are wilted in the afternoon will often perk back up at night and look perfectly happy by morning. If the plants' leaves do not appear stressed in the morning, they can probably go another day or two before needing water.
Wilting can be caused by drought or waterlogged soil
Sometimes a plant wilts on a hot day because moisture is evaporating from the leaves faster than the roots can take it up. If there is ample soil moisture, the plant will absorb water in the evening to restore turgor to the stems and leaves.
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 the leaves are drooping and the soil is very dry, start by watering, or even showering your plant. It should perk back up within just a couple of hours but may take a few days to recover fully.
Yellowing or Wilting Leaves
Discolored or drooping leaves is often an indication of a dead plant. "When plants are in stress, leaves fall off because the plant is losing moisture and trying to protect itself," explains Kip McConnell, director of Plant Development Services, Inc.
Spray the plant's foliage with water; misting can help rejuvenate the plant quickly. Provide protection from strong sun and heavy wind while the plant recovers. Do not return the plant to a windy spot, as strong winds dry the plant out faster.
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.
Below is a list of features you may notice if your plants have received too much water. Leaves: It's a good idea to examine the leaves and stems. Overwatered leaves and stems will be heavy and droopy. This can cause stems to break and die off.
When the soil of a plant runs too low of available water, the water chains in the xylem become thinner and thinner due to less water. Effectively, the plant is losing water faster than it is absorbing it. When this happens, the plant loses its turgidity and begins to wilt.
Gently wiggle the plant out of its pot to inspect the roots. While heathy roots are white or yellow and plump, even plants with browned roots can be revived. However, if all of the roots have gone mushy and rotten, this is a sign that a plant is beyond saving.
Initially, wilting can actually be helpful to the plant because the drooping leaves expose less surface to the air and therefore water loss through transpiration decreases. But a wilted state also means that the plant is cooling less. Eventually, serious dehydration will set in if wilting is neglected.
When a dried leaf was immersed in liquid water, almost all of the original photosynthetic activity reappeared in the first 30 min of rehydration, provided incisions had been made into the leaf before drying. The rate of water uptake by intact (uncut) leaves was strongly inhibited by anaerobic conditions.
Drooping leaves can be caused both by under and over-watering. Check the watering requirements for your plant to determine which is more likely to be the case. With moisture-loving species like the fern, droopy leaves may indicate you are not providing enough water or humidity.
If the soil is wet, it's overwatered - if it's dry, it's underwatered. Browning edges: Another symptom that can go both ways. Determine which by feeling the leaf showing browning: if it feels crispy and light, it is underwatered. If it feels soft and limp, it is overwatered.
Nine times out of ten houseplants wilt because you overwatered. Other causes include underwatering, low humidity, pests, moisture, stress, disease, and fertilizer issues. If houseplants are wilting from lack of water, you may be able to restore them by promptly watering and hydrating before checking other issues.
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).
To dry out soil quickly, you can apply hydrated lime to the soil, add compost and then turn the soil thoroughly to aerate it.
Can We Use Sugar Water For Dying Plants? Although it is not considered a fertilizer, you can use sugar if your plants aren't doing so well. Sugar water in plants can help the microorganisms in the soil break down all the nutrients. It is vastly not recommended, though, to use just the sugar as plant food to save them.
If your plants are wilting, test the soil moisture and water deeply if soil is dry under 2” of soil for potted plants, and 6” for in-ground plants. If the soil is wet or soggy, allow it to dry before watering. Avoid the temptation to continue deeply watering, as overwatering further stresses plants.
Lack of light
If your plant is not getting enough sun it will wilt because it can't absorb enough light to feed itself. Solution: Try moving the plant somewhere a little brighter. Be gentle, so just shift it a little closer to a window.
The general answer is around 90 degrees F, with some exceptions to the rule. This means that when temps rise above 90 and remain there for a lengthy spell: Leaves wilt. Water evaporates into the atmosphere more quickly in high heat, draining a plant's reserves.
Just because a plant's leaves are dried out and papery doesn't mean it's beyond saving. Check the stems and roots for signs of life. They should be pliable and firm, and the stems should be greenish on the inside. If the stems and roots are mushy and brittle, the plant is likely dead and can't be saved.
Dry Leaves
Shriveled or crispy leaves could have several causes. However, if most of the leaves look dry or shriveled, your plant is probably dying. Although, if you only notice the only the lower leaves are dry, you can save your plant. Add some fertilizer to your plant's pot and give it some extra nutrients.