One of the most common problems that you can encounter when you have houseplants is plant wilting. There might be a number of reasons for this happening.
The common misconception is that the flower is wilting because of a water issue, but that is not always the case.
If you ask yourself the question, “Why is my plant wilting?” Some of the reasons are discussed below.
Why Is My Plant Wilting?
1. Underwatering
The most obvious reason for the plant wilting is underwatering. Wilting is one of the indicators that your plant isn’t getting the moisture it needs.
Underwatering the plant results in insufficient water for the plant and dry soil. There is no water for the roots to uptake. The plant needs water consistently, and sometimes it doesn’t get adequate amounts of water.
Eventually, the turgor pressure reduces to such an extent that wilting occurs and the houseplant you put so much effort in dies right in front of your eyes.
Wilting is like seeing the plant die. Sometimes the plant dies in a few minutes, and sometimes this time lasts as long as several hours before they reach the tipping point.
Underwatering is very easy to identify. If you have neglected your plant and haven’t watered it according to its schedule, the soil becomes very dry. You may see brown leaves on the edges of the plant or brown tips on the leaves.
The leaves might also start dropping. This is a clear indicator of underwatering. If this is happening with your plant, reconsider their watering routine and make sure that they are getting all the moisture that they need.
Some plants can tolerate wilting better than others. More sensitive plants will not recover from wilting even for a short time. Try to avoid underwatering in your plant and research the best watering routine for your plant.
2. Overwatering
Another factor that can lead to wilting is overwatering. It is probably as bad as underwatering, if not more. If the plant is given more water than it needs, it will start to wilt. This is because the plant can’t appropriately absorb moisture, and it starts wilting.
When you give the plant too much water, it will start showing signs of overwatering. A general indicator of overwatering is the yellowing of leaves. With persistent overwatering, the pressure will come on the roots, and they will start dying.
This happens because waterlogging prevents oxygen from reaching the roots, which results in a condition known as root hypoxia. This makes the roots die.
When the roots die, the plant cannot absorb water and will start going thirsty with a full sea of water in the soil around it. Just due to the fact that the roots died, the plant won’t be able to get the moisture it wants.
The trick to point out overwatering is to monitor your soil regularly. If the soil around your plant is consistently saturated, something might be wrong, and you might be overwatering the plant. You have to look for some early signs.
If the pot your plant is in has poor drainage, the chance of overwatering will increase. You need to ensure that the soil has just enough water and that it does not overflow.
3. Stress Due To Temperature
If you are watering the plant correctly and still asking yourself the question of why is my plant wilting, then the reason is probably temperature stress.
Temperature stress is caused if the plant is kept in extreme temperatures. Houseplants are usually from tropical regions. The temperatures here are in the range of 55-90 degrees Fahrenheit.
If the temperature is outside this range, it can cause damage to the plants. If the exposure is for a long period of time, the plant might even start wilting.
4. Excessive Heat
If the plant is constantly put in a hot environment, it can damage the plant tissues. Excessive heat is bad for the plant because the high temperature causes water loss and increases the transpiration process of the plant.
If this happens, there will be an increased demand for water which the roots cannot handle.
If your plant gets a lot of direct sunlight, is near a radiator or is in a place near a hot air vent, you need to think seriously about this issue.
You should remember that the same plant that likes sunlight in winters might not be able to survive in sunlight when summer comes.
The soil of the plant will also be dried up faster when the temperature is hot. You will also need to adjust your watering routine to meet the temperature. This will also cause wilting of the plant as it can damage the roots of the plant.
5. Coolness
If it is too cold for the plant, that is also a problem. Too much cold can cause direct damage to the plant’s roots.
If the plant does not have properly functioning roots, it will not be able to absorb appropriate amounts of water, which will be bad for the plant. This will cause dehydration which will cause the plant to wilt.
6. Pests
Another big reason for a plant wilting is pests. Pests are a menace to the plant’s health. They attack the roots and render the plant unable to provide nutrition to the leaves. This makes the flower wilt as the leaves start falling out.
7. Disease
One last reason that the plant is wilting might be a disease. If the plant’s roots have caught a disease, it will be nonfunctional.
You need to monitor the health of your houseplant’s frequently. See that the plants are in good health and aren’t sick. The disease can also cause wilting as they impact the roots.
Conclusion
Wilting is caused by a lot of factors, some of which were discussed in the article.
If you had the question, “Why is my plant wilting?” This article will most likely have the answer to it.
Make sure you’re not doing any of these things if you want your plant to live a long and healthy life!