Aglaonema leaves drooping: Aglaonema is one of the houseplants that has many fans because of its unique beauty and hardiness. This plant requires little care, but this does not mean that we ignore all required conditions of the plant. One of the problems that the keepers of the Aglaonema plant face due to lack of proper care is aglaonema leaves drooping. If this problem occurs, don’t worry; you can return your plant to a normal and healthy state by following a few simple tips.
The most important reasons causing aglaonema drooping include improper watering (over-watering and under-watering), improper and direct light, improper temperature, over-fertilizing, fungal diseases, improper soil, and repotting. If you provide suitable plant conditions for each of the mentioned cases, your aglaonema plant will never fall, or if this happens, adjusting the above conditions will cause your aglaonema plant to return to normal conditions .Read about How to Care for Aglaonema in a separate article
Why Is My Chinese Evergreen Drooping?
Aglaonema needs high but filtered light, medium watering (start watering when 1 or 2 inches of the soil is dry), room temperature, i.e., 65 to 74 degrees Fahrenheit, and light soil that lets the waters flow through it. If these requirements are not met, your aglaonema will face problems and diseases. The main reasons for aglaonema drooping are as follows:
1- Irregular and improper watering (overwatering and underwatering)
2- Receiving too much and direct light or very low light
3- Wrong choice of soil for aglaonema.
4- Infestation of Mealybug, scale insect, aphid, etc.
5- a fungal disease
6- Improper fertilizing and wrong choice of fertilizers
7- High temperature
In the following, we will explain each of the mentioned items in detail:
Over-Watering and Aglaonema Droopy Leaves
Overwatering is one of the main reasons for Chinese evergreen drooping. Although aglaonema prefers humid soil, the plants can’t absorb enough water and nutrition if it turns into swampy soil. This will gradually lead to aglaonema leaves drooping. So, always check the soil, then start watering. Water aglaonema when 1 to 2 inches of the soil is dry.
Remember to discard excess water from the saucer; otherwise, aglaonema will face root rot and leaves drooping.
To overcome this issue, reduce the watering, and use fungicide the next time you want to water it. The exact and fixed time for watering aglaonema generally differs from place to place because of different temperatures, humidity, and soil type. So, we can’t set an exact day to water it. On average, it can be said that water your aglaonema once a week in summer and every 15 to 20 days in winter.
Under-Watering and Aglaonema Droopy Leaves
If the plant does not receive enough water, the roots can’t absorb enough water to feed the foliage, and consequently, by losing the interstitial water, you will face aglaonema leaves drooping. To overcome this problem, put the pot in a water pan for 20 minutes.
Light Affect and Aglaonema Drooping Leaves
Although we can classify this plant as a light-resistant plant when the received light is too low, your Chinese evergreen cannot produce enough Chlorophyll, which will gradually lead to aglaonema drooping.
On the other hand, evaporation will increase if your plant receives too much direct light, and the same problem will occur. The best place for keeping aglaonema is a room where your plant can receive 6 to 8 hours of high and filtered light. If you intend to keep your plant on the balcony, as noon is a time that reaches most light, choose a place where the plant is in the shade. Especially during the growth season
As soon as you witness the signs of Chinese evergreen droopy leaves and turning yellow, move it to a place with proper light. If the received light is insufficient, you should provide artificial light to meet its need.
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Impact of Temperature on Aglaonema Drooping Leaves.
Both high and low temperatures can cause aglaonema leaves to droop. When the temperature gets high, the amount of evaporation will increase. If the watering is not enough and humidity is low, aglaonema will face drooping leaves. This plant is native to tropical and subtropical regions, so if you provide a similar situation for aglaonema, it will thrive ideally. On the contrary, low temperature and sudden cooling can weaken the leaves, hence drooling. The best temperature for aglaonema is 65-to-75-degree Fahrenheit (18 to 23 degree Celsius). As the temperature increases, you should pay more attention to the watering and soil getting dry.
If you live in the cold region and keep your plant outside or by the window, move it inside and a little away from the window so that the sudden temperature change does not make your aglaonema leaves drool.
So, if you witness leaves drooling after a sudden change, move it to a place with an ideal temperature.
Over-Fertilizing and Droopy Chinese Evergreen
Fertilizing does not have much effect on aglaonema’s growth solely. Still, if you increase the amount and duration of fertilizing, your aglaonema will gradually face a problem. Too much fertilizer will enrich the soil salinity; therefore, insufficient water reaches the leaves.
You can use the soil washing technique or organic sulfur to overcome this problem. also, using humic acid can come to your aid
Impact of Fungal Disease on Aglaonema Drooping Leaves.
One of the common problems most houseplants suffer from is root rot, primarily due to overwatering and fungal-and-bacterial- related problems. When the plants get fungal disease in its root, they will gradually face root rot. Therefore, nutrition and water can’t reach the stem, and this will cause leaves to drool. Use fungicide; if the rotted area is too much, take it out and put it in water to get a new root.
Soil and Aglaonema Leaves Drooping
Aglaonema prefers light soil with high drainage. If the soil is heavy, roots cannot grow properly, which will adversely affect plant growth. Also, the amount of absorbed water will decrease, leading to aglaonema dropping leaves. Try to use ready-made soils for houseplants.
Aglaonema Drooping After Repotting
If you have recently repotted your plant, it is natural for your aglaonema to have a drooping leaf for 1 to 2 weeks. In this case, there is nothing to be worried about. the plant needs time to adapt to the new environment. If the root gets hurt while repotting, this process will get longer.
Also, when you buy a new plant and take it home, you might face the same problem. The situation in which the plant was kept, including its temperature, watering, humidity, etc., has changed and will shock your plant. Don’t worry at all.
Pests and Chinese Evergreen Leaves Drooping
Pests and blights like mealybug, scale insect, etc., attach to plant’s stems or leaves and feed on the arteries and nutrients in the stems of plants eventually weaken the plant and result in aglaonema leaves drooping. So always pay attention to your plant’s leaves and examine the back and front of them once a month. As soon as witnessing sticky substances or white tubers, use suitable pesticides for houseplants and insect repellents to eradicate them. You can use chemical pesticides like Diazinon and Malathion (use proper amount) and insecticidal soap.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why aglaonema leaves drooping?
Aglaonema leaves may droop due to issues such as improper watering (over or under), inadequate light, unsuitable temperature, incorrect soil choice, over-fertilization, fungal diseases, repotting shock, or pest infestation.
How can I prevent Chinese evergreen drooping?
To prevent leaf drooping, maintain appropriate watering habits, ensure suitable lighting conditions, use well-draining soil, regulate temperature, avoid over-fertilizing, treat fungal diseases promptly, handle repotting with care, and manage pest infestations effectively.
Conclusion aglaonema leaves drooping
To answer the question why is my Chinese evergreen drooping? we should say this problem can be attributed to several factors. These include inadequate or excessive watering, improper light exposure, unsuitable soil, extreme temperatures, over-fertilizing, fungal diseases, repotting shock, and pest infestation. Proper care and attention to watering, lighting, soil quality, temperature regulation, and pest control are essential to maintain a healthy and thriving aglaonema plant. Regular monitoring and timely adjustments can help prevent and address leaf drooping, ensuring the plant’s overall well-being and aesthetic appeal in indoor spaces, aglaonema toxic, and you should be careful with children and pets.
my aglaonema is pretty , Are the leaves supposed to be yellow/orange or is it sick?
It is very likely that your plant has a problem, this problem can be caused by too much watering or not enough nutrients. Be sure to investigate the problem and save the plant immediately