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When plants droop
- Thread starter HotPeppas
- Start date
They droop because they can't pump the water up the steam as fast as the leaves are losing it. That can either be because it is very hot, or hot and windy too, OR because there isn't enough moisture in the soil. There are also nutrient deficiencies and excesses that can cause or worsen droop but I don't recall which at the moment.
If I see a plant droop I water it. If it stays drooped I keep my watering schedule a little more frequent but check to see if it undroops late in the evening. If it doesn't then with potted plants I move them to a more shaded area till temperatures drop.
If I see a plant droop I water it. If it stays drooped I keep my watering schedule a little more frequent but check to see if it undroops late in the evening. If it doesn't then with potted plants I move them to a more shaded area till temperatures drop.
Just from what I'm seeing here....
Early morning, when somewhat cool, all the plants look well watered with the leaves standing out. As the day heats up, the leaves droop to the point that the plant looks dead (I assume they are trying to reduce moisture loss). Once the sun goes down, the leaves rise back up and look good again (unless the actually need water).
That's why I try to do the watering in the mornings, as if they are droopy then, they are thirsty and not just hot.
If they look particularly bad after sundown, I may give them a bit to perk them up a bit, but I try not to leave them damp overnight...
Early morning, when somewhat cool, all the plants look well watered with the leaves standing out. As the day heats up, the leaves droop to the point that the plant looks dead (I assume they are trying to reduce moisture loss). Once the sun goes down, the leaves rise back up and look good again (unless the actually need water).
That's why I try to do the watering in the mornings, as if they are droopy then, they are thirsty and not just hot.
If they look particularly bad after sundown, I may give them a bit to perk them up a bit, but I try not to leave them damp overnight...
Reduces water loss but then the plant gets hotter and may cook in the sun, while slower water pumping means fewer nutrients supplied to the plant which is trying to grow assuming that along with heat is the sunlight causing it. Otherwise the plant conserves water in contrast to low humidity conditions.
most pepper plants droop when they are getting a full blast of afternoon sun, as soon as the sun is off em they should start to recover, I water mine in the evening if the pots feel light or my meter shows the soil is dry.
My chinense all droop in the middle of the day... probably because they tend to have larger leaves and need correspondingly large amounts of water to maintain turgor pressure. I water them in the morning, they usually start perking back up again by 8 at night. Not much you can do in this heat.
This is also the problem with pots, plants are much more sensitive to elevated ambient temperatures as they quickly deplete the root zone of moisture. For plants in the ground I can usually just turn on the soaker hose for a bit and they'll be fine. Some of my plants in pots are large enough that they transpire most of what I give them by the end of the day and I need to water them a second time.
This is also the problem with pots, plants are much more sensitive to elevated ambient temperatures as they quickly deplete the root zone of moisture. For plants in the ground I can usually just turn on the soaker hose for a bit and they'll be fine. Some of my plants in pots are large enough that they transpire most of what I give them by the end of the day and I need to water them a second time.
I always water when I see droop, and they always perk up. Not as much as they do when night comes but IF you are giving the plant enough fertilizer and it's drooping, observe whether watering it helps.... did for mine. The rules change a little when temperatures are high, the surface of the soil dries out faster so you don't have to worry about fungus as much (given well draining soil) but you still have to check for it via green growth on the soil surface.
Even so, it's a matter of relativity. There's a little droop, a lot of droop, or there's "my plant may not make it" amount of droop which is generally when stems bend beyond a certain point, not just leaves falling down.
Even so, it's a matter of relativity. There's a little droop, a lot of droop, or there's "my plant may not make it" amount of droop which is generally when stems bend beyond a certain point, not just leaves falling down.