Have A Wilting Plant? How To Revive It And Why It Happens!
So you've come home from a long day, excited to see your plants and....oh no
....is it....DEAD?!
Don't get ahead of yourself! You still have time to revive it, so don't act so hasty!
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Whether its your peace lily drooping, your orchid leaves drooping, your fiddle leaf fig leaves drooping or your monstera leaves drooping, the effect is still the same - PANIC. However, the reason is also (9/10 times) the same.
Why So Dramatic?
You're probably wondering, why is my plant drooping? If you're a beginner with plants it could be very discouraging to see a plant so sad, and if you're anything like my brother - one ugly leaf is a sign to you that the plant is dying. ITS NOT DYING, just being extremely dramatic. Like you and me, plants are dramatic too when they don't get what they want/need.
The number one reason why they are so dramatic has to do with watering - they're thirsty!! When plants lose water through transpiration and aren't taking up water from their roots, they run low on water. This reduces the amount of water in cells, thus reducing turgor pressure (which makes plants stiff), allowing them to hold themselves up.
If you have a wilting plant the first thing you want to do is give it a thorough watering. You can accomplish this by putting your plant in the sink, or adding watering for anywhere from 3 to 8 minutes (depending on pot size and specific plant/soil requirements), letting the water completely drain out of the bottom.
Wilting is essentially the thirst trap of the plant world - an indication that it is time to water and needs some love! However, you shouldn't use this as an indication of when to water for every plant because some plants can't take wilting for long, while others can.
An example of the difference in plants is the Peace Lily, who can stay wilted for days, get thoroughly watered, and perk up, to full beauty, in a few hours. Compared to something like the Maidenhair Fern, which essentially needs surgery, being cut back to the soil level once their leaves wilt.
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Not Just Water
There are a few other reasons for a plant to wilt. These other contributing factors are:
- Humidity Level - low humidity levels cause leaves to wilt, especially for plants who thrive in high humidity levels (calatheas, ferns, etc.)
- Repotting Shock - When plants are repotted it takes some time for them to get used to their new environment.
- Dusty Leaves - it has been found that accumulation of dust on leaves can increase the temperature and rate of transpiration, leading to the loss of water
This means you really need to stay on top of not just your watering schedule, but the cleanliness of your plant and the conditions that its in. Also, always be sure to repot with damp soil to prevent repotting shock from happening!
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