Every house plant enthusiast struggles with drooping at some point in their life. If you notice your ZZ plant’s leaves or stems drooping, that’s not a good sign. Now the question is, How to fix ZZ plant drooping? Come on, let’s find out!
Overwatering, underwatering, lack of nutrition, and stress are some of the reasons for ZZ plant drooping. To fix a droopy ZZ plant, move it to a bright spot, and provide the proper temperature. Also, do not forget to change its watering schedule.
Other issues that can cause ZZ plants to droop are low humidity and low temperature. However, early detection is the key to treatment!
Let’s dig deeper into the causes and solutions for the ZZ plant drooping.
Why is my ZZ plant drooping?
1. Lack of Light
Lack of light is the most common cause of ZZ plants drooping. Also, it’s interesting to note that ZZ plants can survive in low light conditions, but they won’t grow well. If there isn’t enough light for the ZZ plant to use, it won’t stand up straight. However, you can prevent the drooping of the ZZ plant by providing it with bright indirect light. Thus, you can fix the drooping issue simply by changing the light situation. So, give your ZZ plant more light if you haven’t been giving it much lighter.
Of course, you have to be careful about the type of light you give the ZZ plant. Sunlight is helpful to ZZ plants, but they won’t do well in harsh direct sunlight. In direct sunlight, ZZ plants might burn their leaves and even fade over time. Hence, it is very important to avoid this and that is why indirect sunlight is the best choice.
According to ZZ plant experts, indirect sunlight coupled with bright lighting is the best lighting condition for growing ZZ plants. By finding an appropriate place for your ZZ plant in your home, you can quickly ease drooping. Even though finding the perfect spot in your home for sunlight might be challenging, you should try. Perhaps you can rearrange somethings in your house, and you can also find windows with less harsh sunlight. So, get more sunlight and your ZZ plant will grow a lot faster. This is the best way to make your ZZ plant thrive and look its best.
2. Extremely dry soil
You may notice your ZZ plant drooping if its soil is extremely dry. Plants need water to survive, but ZZ plants are renowned for their hardiness as well. ZZ plants are easy to care for, so people sometimes neglect them. So, when you start to think of ZZ plants as invincible, you stop watering them for too long. When the soil gets extremely dry, the ZZ plant will start drooping. Hence, because of the water shortage, the ZZ plant is drooping.
A ZZ plant can survive for a while if it gets some water, thanks to its hardiness. The drooping is a sign that the plant needs your attention. So, if you want to avoid your ZZ plant drooping again in the future, you should pay more attention to the soil’s condition. Bone-dry soil can cause the ZZ plant to droop, so do not let it get too dry. It’s just about checking your ZZ plant more often. There is no need to water ZZ plants frequently, and the best thing to do is to let them dry out between waterings.
3. Overwatering kills ZZ plants
The only way to truly kill a ZZ plant is by overwatering it. Many people overwater ZZ plants, which can lead to major problems. You will probably kill a ZZ plant if it gets “wet feet.” Fortunately, it won’t happen if you water it too much once in a while.
Although this is a very forgiving plant, you shouldn’t have any problems correcting your mistakes. Generally, if you water a ZZ plant too much for an extended period, the plant won’t do well. Overwatering can cause the leaves to turn yellow, and the plant to droop. Alternatively, this can occur if you don’t water the plant at all. Just make sure you are aware of your recent actions.
So, before you water your ZZ plant again, let the soil dry. Just to be safe, check the soil with your fingers before watering. If you take a few extra minutes to determine how the soil is doing, you will avoid making expensive mistakes. Also, when the soil is still moist, you should never water a ZZ plant. It can take a bit of time to learn how often to water a ZZ plant, but it is not too difficult. Also, there will be a change in your watering schedule with the season. For instance, you will need to water more frequently during the summer.
During the summer months, water every seven to ten days, but always check the soil first. Additionally, in winter ZZ plants can go weeks without watering because the soil can dry out completely in weeks. For these plants to thrive, good drainage is also essential. Also, the plant isn’t potted in well-draining soil if you notice drooping and yellowing.
For ZZ plants, a pot with proper drainage and soil that drains quickly is essential. Also, it is not a good idea to let a ZZ plant sit in water for too long since that can harm it.
4. Changes in temperature
How well your plant does depends on the temperature. Temperatures in the range of 65°F are ideal for this plant, and it will thrive in these conditions. However, as soon as the temperature falls below 45°F, the plant can suffer stunted growth. Lower temperatures can lead to wilting and falling off of leaves, as well as stalks, breaking off. Whenever such changes occur, you need to act fast to prevent the plant from going into shock.
5. Stress after transplantation
When your ZZ plant grows, it will outgrow its pot, requiring a bigger one. However, the transplant process should go smoothly. Occasionally, roots can be damaged during the transplanting process. Thus, causing shock in the plant. There are several signs of this, including slumping stalks. Water shortages, root damage, or some other cause could be to blame.
6. Issues with Fertilization
Your plants might yellow with their stalks falling over if the soil isn’t nutrient-rich. Even though ZZ plants can grow well without much fertilizer, the nutrients may not be sufficient. It is also important to note that fertilization problems can occur in both ways. Perhaps your plant has too much fertilizer or not enough. Make sure you check your plant’s fertilization frequency.
7. Root Rot or Poor Drainage
The cause of root rot is waterlogged soil, poor drainage, and a lack of airflow around the roots. Check the roots if your ZZ plant is drooping and the soil feels damp. Your ZZ plant has root rot if its roots are brown, mushy, and smelly. Make sure you re-pot the ZZ plant after trimming the affected roots.
For a ZZ plant to thrive, the soil must be properly aerated and drained. The rhizomes can absorb enough moisture while draining well. Two parts of the standard potting mix and one part coarse sand and one part perlite work perfectly.
8. Pests or Diseases
ZZ plants are extremely hardy and suffer from very few pests and diseases. Nevertheless, your plant may droop if a disease or infestation occurs. It may be caused by pests, such as fungus gnats, attacking the roots. Some pests can cause drooping or wilting leaves, such as mealybugs.
Using sticky traps will kill the adults and clear away the eggs. Replace the top inch or two of soil to eliminate fungus gnats. Make sure you don’t overwater your plants, as fungus gnats love rotting roots. Using insecticidal soap or neem oil is a good way to get rid of mealybugs.
How to stop your ZZ Plant from Drooping?
There is an old saying that prevention is better than cure. That’s why ensuring ideal growing conditions is the best way to correct a drooping ZZ plant. When a ZZ plant starts drooping, make sure its needs are met.
Here are some tips for stopping the drooping depending on the cause:
1. Overwatering
After inspecting the roots, if overwatering is the cause, you should move the plant from its original pot. The roots of such plants will be fragile and mushy. You should remove the affected roots by pruning them. Move what remains of the plant to a pot with well-draining soil.
For healthy roots to develop, the pot should have adequate drainage holes and the soil should be aerated. It should be similar to the original pot unless the plant has outgrown it. From now on, only water the soil when it is almost completely dry, not if it is wet.
2. Underwatering
In case you suspect that lack of water is the cause of your plant’s change in appearance, check the soil first. If the soil feels completely dry and the plant has dropped, water it adequately. To restore life to the drooping leaves and stems, the plant must absorb water and fill its cells with water. Be sure to soak the soil to the point where the excess runs through the drainage holes. In addition, let the excess water drain from the pot before storing it.
When it comes to watering, you need to assess the growing conditions. Some places are so hot that watering is required every week. In some cases, you can water the soil once a month and the plant will be fine. Work with what your plant needs instead of using a universal standard.
3. Lighting Issues
In terms of lighting, you should determine whether there is too much or too little light. Whenever the light is too much, you should move the plant to a shaded area. Additionally, you can use blinds or other measures to prevent the plant from getting direct access.
Whenever the plant’s lighting is too low, consider moving it to a window or any other area of the house that receives moderate to bright indirect light. Additionally, LED grow lights and fluorescent bulbs can be used to supplement light sources.
4. Fertilization Problems
In the absence of inputs, your ZZ should perform well. In some cases, fertilizing the soil may be necessary depending on the potting mix. To fertilize it, make sure that all other causes have been eliminated. This method can only be used to solve drooping problems if you follow it correctly.The best time to fertilize is once every six months, using a water-soluble fertilizer. You may be using the wrong type or quantity of input if the drooping persists even after using the mix. In addition, too much fertilizer can burn roots. It’s a good idea to repot plants if you suspect that the formula might be affecting them.
5. Temperature Variations
When a plant has been exposed to cold temperatures below 45°F, it is best to check for damage. If there are any damaged parts, remove them before moving the plant. The plant must have access to indirect and bright light while it recovers from the stress. After a few weeks, you should see the plant growing stronger and standing taller.
6. Transplant Stress
While the plant is wet, it is best to move it to a bigger container to prevent such damage. In this way, the roots will not dry up rapidly if the plant is moved to another container. Let the plant recover, and it will be fine soon. There are times when the plant may suffer damage from physical damage caused by rough treatment.
When this happens, the stalks may break, droop, or fall over. The only way to reverse this situation is to prune the damaged parts. Despite their apparent hardiness, it is best to exercise great care when handling these plants.
FAQs
Q1. Why do ZZ plant leaves droop?
Ans. Overwatering, underwatering, or incorrect lighting are the most common causes of droopy leaves in ZZ plants. The plant can also droop if it doesn’t have the right temperature, humidity, or nutrients.
Q2. What does an overwatered ZZ plant look like?
Ans. In an overwatered ZZ plant, the stems are drooping or mushy, and the leaves are yellowing (you may want to prune these). Another sign is browning on the stem, as well as rotting roots that are brown, mushy, and smelly.
Q3. What are the signs that my ZZ plant is dying?
Ans. ZZ plants that are dying usually lose their vibrant dark green color and become sickly and yellow. ZZ plants that are dying often drop leaves or suffer from drooping stems.
Q4. Is it possible to recover droopy ZZ plant leaves?
Ans. Yes, In ideal growing conditions, the ZZ plant’s drooping leaves can recover.
Q5. How do you fix a ZZ plant drooping?
Ans. If your ZZ plant is drooping, you will need to address whatever is causing it to do so. Insufficient sunlight, overwatering, or underwatering usually causes this. If you provide the plant with ideal growing conditions, it will recover.
Conclusion
There is nothing you don’t know about ZZ plants, and why they might start drooping now. You can certainly make things better with your ZZ plant, so don’t let what is happening scare you away. As long as you follow the right steps, these ZZ plants will be able to come back pretty easily. Most of the time, just a couple of changes are all it takes to make them look better.
There might be times when you need to adjust how you water your ZZ plants, but you should also consider the lighting situation. To be on the safe side, you should monitor the humidity levels in your home to see if they are high. Once you know what went wrong with your ZZ plant, it will be simple to fix it. Also, it will always be a pleasure to take care of these plants, and you don’t have to worry about accidentally killing them.
As your ZZ plant stops drooping, you will feel more confident. If you avoid the potential issues, your ZZ plant won’t droop again.
For more gardening tips and advice, here are some more related articles to help you.
Please follow the causes and prevention mentioned in the article before it is too late. Feel free to ask any questions you have about the drooping ZZ plant in the comments. Also, don’t forget to share this article on social media and with your friends and family!
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