Pothos is a beautiful plant that can grow to be very long and thick. They are often used as wall hangings because they don’t need much light or water. However, if you notice that your pothos leaves have started drooping, it might be time for some maintenance! In this blog post, we will go over common causes of droopy pothos leaves and solutions to help fix them.
Causes Why My Pothoes Leaves Are Drooping
Poor soil quality
One of the most common reasons that pothos leaves will droop is because the plant has been given poor soil. The roots are not able to take in nutrients and water when they’re unable to reach them, leading to stunted growth or even death.
Pothos can be grown in just about any container with good-quality soil, but the most important thing is to make sure that it drains well. If you’re using a container with poor drainage or you have heavy clay soil in your pot, then water may not be able to escape from underneath!
This will lead to root rot and the eventual death of the plant. If you are planting in a concrete or stone pot, you will need to drill holes in the bottom or use a drainage layer.
Make sure you are using good-quality soil and changing it out every few weeks if needed. If your plant has already developed root rot, then try using a pot with good drainage and change the soil.
Excessive moisture
Excess water can also be what leads to droopy pothos leaves as well. Pothos plants thrive when they are planted within an inch of the surface and don’t receive much irrigation outside of that zone.
If you water your pothos too much, it will be unable to take in nutrients and minerals from the soil. You may also notice that its leaves are drooping because they have been exposed to a lot of moisture for an extended period of time.
Reduce your watering frequency to just when it needs water. Try making sure that you are not letting any excess water sit in the planter for too long, especially if you live in an area where there is snow or rain during winter.
Too much light
If you have placed your pothos near a window, it may be getting too much sunlight and drying out the plant. This is especially true if you live in an area with high humidity or a lot of rain. When leaves are drooping because they’re exposed to too much sun for too long, then this will lead to scorching and burning of the leaves.
Place your pothos where it does not receive direct sunlight or you may need to provide more shade. Check your plant regularly and move it if necessary.
Over-fertilization
If you have been fertilizing your pothos with too much fertilizer, then this will lead to a buildup in pH levels at the root level which can cause droopy leaves.
The plant may also try to give off toxins in an attempt to deal with the accumulated fertilizer, which can be harmful to other plants around it.
Reduce the frequency of fertilizing, switch to a fertilizer with less nitrogen content, or use a slower release type of fertilizer.
Under-fertilization
If your pothos is not getting enough nutrients or if they are too far from their light source, then this will lead to droopy leaves as well.
The plant may not be able to make enough energy from photosynthesis in order to produce the nutrients it needs and will start becoming stressed. The lower pH levels caused by stress can also lead to droopy pothos leaves, along with stunted growth or even death of parts of the plant.
Increase the frequency of fertilizing, switch to a fertilizer with more nitrogen content, or use a faster release type of fertilizer
Crowding
If your pothos has been planted in a pot with too many plants, this can contribute to droopy leaves. The roots can’t grow as well when they are overworked and will eventually start dying off because of the pressure from being overcrowded. This problem is especially common if you have been planting in a pot that is too small for the number of plants.
Prune your pothos plant regularly so that there is space for the roots and pruning will help increase photosynthesis. You may also need to divide your pot into two or more zones if you have too many plants.
Insect infestation
If you have a pothos plant and notice that the leaves are starting to droop, then it may be due to insect infestation. This is common if your plant has been left outside where insects like grasshoppers or caterpillars can more easily reach them.
It’s important to identify which type of pest is causing this problem and to take action fast. If you don’t, then it may lead to the death of your plant.
Change in temperature
If your pothos leaves are drooping and you live in a cold area, then this may be due to the temperature change. If it is too hot outside, for example, or if there has been a sudden drop from warm temperatures to below-freezing weather, then this will lead to droopy pothos leaves as well.
Make sure that you water your pothos plant in the morning or at night so that it doesn’t become exposed to too much heat or cold.
Additional Possible Solutions
- Transplant your pothos plant to a pot that is the right size for it, especially if you have been planting in one that is too small.
- Consider using slow release fertilizer or fertilizing less frequently and reduce the dosage of nitrogen you are using.
- Check your humidity levels periodically which will help prevent leaves from burning and scorching.
- Prune your pothos plant regularly to remove any dead or dying leaves, as well as the occasional wilting leaf that you may have noticed.
- It is important to identify which pest it may be before taking action – if left untreated for too long then this will lead to more damage on your plant.
Conclusion
Pothos plants can be relatively easy to take care of when they are given the right amount of light, humidity levels, and fertilizing schedule. If your pothos leaves have started drooping then you may need to change up some things in order for it to grow back into a healthy plant again!
