Pothos is an indoor house plant with bright, heart-shaped leaves. It is a healthy plant with great adaptability that allows it to survive a range of different conditions. However, sometimes you may find your pothos looking weak and starting to droop.
Why is my pothos droopy?
Pothos may be droopy due to an imbalance of factors such as water and humidity or even pests. Drooping is a sign of a stressed plant. So, some of the reasons for drooping pothos are-
- Improper Watering
- Wrong Humidity
- Pest Infestation
- Lack of Sunlight
Improper Watering
Pothos is a tropical plant that requires adequate water to survive. However, if it is watered excessively, the plant will become weak and start to droop. It may also lead to infections such as root rot which can severely damage your pothos.
Solution
It is best to have a watering schedule to ensure that your watering is routine and not infrequent. Only water the plant when the soil is dry, and be careful to not leave behind stagnant water. Use a pot with proper drainage holes to ensure that excess water is drained out.
Wrong Humidity
Another reason may be due to a lack of humidity in the environment your pothos is kept in. Being a tropical plant, it requires adequate humidity to grow well. A lack of humidity may lead to drooping leaves and a weakened plant.
Solution
The best alternative is to use a humidifier or spray it with mist. However, using mist causes only a temporary rise in the humidity level and causes stress in the plant. Further, high humidity also makes the plant prone to pest infestation.
Pest Infestation
Pests such as mealybugs and mites are common occurrences in your pothos. They suck on the sap of the plant and cause it to weaken. It leads to a droopy, unhealthy plant. If left untreated, it may severely damage your pothos as well as spread to other plants.
Solution
Always keep an eye out for pest infestations and if spotted, immediately isolate the plant to contain the spread. The best solution is to make a dilute solution using rubbing alcohol and water. Spray it on the plant in regular periods to ensure the removal of the pests. Once the pests are eradicated, repot the plant in fresh, sterile soil to reduce the chances of reinfection.
Lack of Sunlight
Sunlight is essential for the growth of your pothos. If it doesn’t receive adequate sunlight, the plant will start to etiolate. Etiolation is the process of forced rapid growth in the plant to reach out for light. In this process, the plant starts to use all its energy in the process of growing its stems. So, the leaves are tiny, and the stems are weak. It causes the plant to droop.
Solution
Ideally, pothos needs at least 10 hours of sunlight to grow well. So, it is best to shift your plant to a location of partial shade, where it has access to abundant bright, indirect light. However, be careful as excessive exposure to light may cause permanent sunburns on your pothos.
Thus, these are some of the reasons why your pothos is starting to droop.
