If you’re a gardener, then you know that caladiums are a popular choice for potted plants. They add a pop of color to any setting, and they’re easy to care for. But what do you do if your caladium starts to droop? Don’t worry – it’s probably just experiencing stress from its new surroundings. In this post, we’ll tell you why caladiums droop and how to get them back on their feet.
Why Are My Caladium Leaves Drooping?
There are several reasons why your caladium leaves may be drooping. It could be that the plant is not getting enough water, or it could be that the roots are too wet. If the leaves are drooping and the soil is dry, then you should water the plant immediately. When the leaves are drooping and the soil is moist, then you should check the roots to see if they’re too wet. If the roots are waterlogged, then you’ll need to repot the plant in fresh, dry soil.
Reasons for Caladium Leaves Drooping
There are several reasons why your caladium leaves may be drooping. It could be that:
- The plant is not getting enough water.
- The roots are too wet.
- The soil is too compacted.
- The plant is getting too much sun.
- The plant is not getting enough fertilizer.
Overwatering
If the leaves of your caladium are drooping and the soil is moist or waterlogged, then it’s likely that the plant is getting too much water. Caladiums are native to tropical climates and they like their soil to be moist, but not soggy. In case, the roots of your plant are sitting in water, then they will start to rot, and this will cause the leaves to droop. If you think that your plant is getting too much water, then you should reduce the amount you’re watering it, and make sure that the pot has good drainage. If the roots of your caladium are rotted, then this will cause the leaves to droop. Root rot is usually caused by too much water, and it can be fatal to your plant
Underwatering
If the leaves of your caladium are drooping and the soil is dry, then it’s likely that the plant is not getting enough water. Caladiums are native to tropical climates and they like their soil to be moist, but not soggy. If you’re not watering your plant enough, then the leaves will start to droop in an effort to conserve water. If you think that your plant is not getting enough water, then you should increase the amount you’re watering it.
Root rot
Root rot is a common problem with caladiums, and it’s usually caused by too much water. If the roots of your plant are rotted, then this will cause the leaves to droop. Root rot is often fatal to caladiums, so it’s important to address the problem as soon as possible. If you think that your plant has root rot, then you should repot it in fresh, dry soil.
Compacted soil
If the leaves of your caladium are drooping and the soil is dry, then it’s possible that the plant is not getting enough water because the soil is too compacted. Compacted soil doesn’t allow water to penetrate, and this can cause the roots of your plant to suffocate. If you think that your plant is suffering from compacted soil, then you should repot it in a loose, well-draining potting mix.
Too much sunlight
If the leaves of your caladium are drooping and the soil is dry, then it’s possible that the plant is not getting enough water because it’s getting too much sun. Caladiums are native to tropical climates and they like filtered sunlight. If your plant is getting too much sun, then the leaves will start to droop in an effort to conserve water. If you think that your plant is getting too much sun, then you should move it to a location with more shade.
Lack of fertilizer
If the leaves of your caladium are drooping and the soil is dry, then it’s possible that the plant is not getting enough fertilizer. Caladiums are heavy feeders and they need to be fertilized regularly in order to stay healthy. If you think that your plant is not getting enough fertilizer, then you should feed it with a high-quality fertilizer.
Lack of humidity
If the leaves of your caladium are drooping and the soil is dry, then it’s possible that the plant is not getting enough humidity. Caladiums are native to tropical climates and they like high humidity. If your plant is not getting enough humidity, then the leaves will start to droop in an effort to conserve moisture. If you think that your plant is not getting enough humidity, then you should mist it with water or use a humidifier.
Caladium leaves drooping due to pests
If the leaves of your caladium are drooping and the soil is dry, then it’s possible that the plant is being attacked by pests.
Caladiums are particularly susceptible to aphids and whiteflies. If you think that your plant is being attacked by pests, then you should treat it with a bar of insecticidal soap or neem oil.
Caladium leaves drooping due to disease
If the leaves of your caladium are drooping and the soil is dry, then it’s possible that the plant is suffering from a disease.
Caladiums are particularly susceptible to fungal diseases like botrytis and leaf spot. If you think that your plant is suffering from a disease, then you should treat it with a fungicide.
How to Prevent Caladium Leaves from Drooping
( 5 Easy Solutions To Save Your Caladium leaves from drooping):
There are several things you can do to prevent the leaves of your caladium from drooping
Give proper water to your plant
Make sure that you’re watering your plant enough. Make a schedule for watering. Water your plant once a week in summer and twice a week in winter.
Caladiums are native to tropical climates and they like their soil to be moist, but not soggy. If you’re not watering your plant enough, then the leaves will start to droop in an effort to conserve water.
Make sure your plant receives adequate sunlight
Make sure that your plant is getting the right amount of sunlight. Try to place them near a window or a shady place where they receive filtered sunlight. Keep them near a west-facing window so that they must be kept safe from too much sunlight.
Caladiums are native to tropical climates and they like filtered sunlight. If your plant is getting too much sun, then the leaves will start to droop in an effort to conserve water.
Fertilization
Make sure that you’re fertilizing your plant regularly. Caladiums are heavy feeders and they need to be fertilized regularly in order to stay healthy.
If you’re not fertilizing your plant enough, then the leaves will start to droop. Feed your plants with fertilizers once for 6 months.
Maintain humidity
Make sure that your plant is getting enough humidity. Caladiums are native to tropical climates and they like high humidity.
If your plant is not getting enough humidity, then the leaves will start to droop in an effort to conserve moisture. Keep your plants near a kitchen or humid place. If your home is low in humidity then you can buy a humidifier for them as well.
Pest control
Make sure that your plant is free of pests. Caladiums are particularly susceptible to aphids and whiteflies.
If you think that your plant is being attacked by pests, then you should treat it with insecticidal soap or neem oil.
Disease control
Make sure that your plant is free of disease. Caladiums are particularly susceptible to fungal diseases like botrytis and leaf spot.
If you think that your plant is suffering from a disease, then you should treat it with a fungicide. Must use this fungicide available on Amazon
How to revive a wilted caladium:
If the leaves of your caladium are wilted, then it’s possible that the plant is not getting enough water. Caladiums are native to tropical climates and they like their soil to be moist, but not soggy. If you think that your plant is not getting enough water, then you should water it thoroughly and make sure that the soil is moist.
If the leaves of your caladium are wilted and the soil is dry, then it’s possible that the plant is not getting enough humidity. Caladiums are native to tropical climates and they like high humidity. When your plant is not getting enough humidity, then the leaves will start to wilt in an effort to conserve moisture.
You can revive a wilted caladium by misting it with water or by using a humidifier ( check on Amazon)
Last Words
While there are many reasons your caladium leaves might droop, we’ve outlined five of the most common causes. Luckily, each of these issues is relatively easy to remedy, so you can get your plants looking perky again in no time.
If you have any questions about how to save your caladium leaves from drooping or general gardening advice, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We love helping gardeners bring their plants back to life and keep them healthy all season long!
FAQs
Q. How often should I water my caladium?
A. Caladiums are native to tropical climates and they like their soil to be moist, but not soggy. If you’re not watering your plant enough, then the leaves will start to droop in an effort to conserve water.
Q. What type of sunlight does a caladium need?
A. Caladiums are native to tropical climates and they like filtered sunlight. If your plant is getting too much sun, then the leaves will start to droop in an effort to conserve water.
Q. How often should I fertilize my caladium?
A. Caladiums are heavy feeders and they need to be fertilized regularly in order to stay healthy. If you’re not fertilizing your plant enough, then the leaves will start to droop.
Q. How can I tell if my caladium is getting enough humidity?
A. Caladiums are native to tropical climates and they like high humidity. If your plant is not getting enough humidity, then the leaves will start to droop in an effort to conserve moisture.
Q. What should I do if I think my caladium has a disease?
If you think that your plant is suffering from a disease, then you should treat it with a fungicide. You can use neem oil to treat pests infestations. Here is my another article regarding the use of neem oil.
