It is not uncommon for Dahlia leaves to droop from time to time, for the most part, you shouldn’t really worry about it. On the other hand, if the Dahlia leaves are dropping even after being watered, then there might be a serious issue with the plant. Look around the garden, if more plants around your Dahlias are drooping then they only need some water, but if only the Dahlia leaves are drooping then you have to examine the plant more carefully before jumping to conclusions.
Dahlia leaves can droop for various reasons, including incorrect watering practices, excessive sunlight exposure, over or under-fertilization, and the presence of fungal infections or pests. Make sure to provide the right amount of water, provide adequate shade when needed, ensure proper fertilization, and monitor for any signs of disease or pest activity to maintain healthy and upright dahlia leaves.
If your Dahlias tend to droop due to improper watering then my personal recommendation is to set up a drip irrigation system for them Click here to check it out on Amazon.com
While a couple of Dahlia leaves drooping doesn’t seem like a big issue, but if the drooping continues then the plant might die off. Usually drooping is a sign of the Dahlia plants not getting enough water, or not being able to absorb it. Even healthy Dahlia plants can go downhill extremely fast if they can not access water and start to droop. If the plant doesn’t bounce back in a matter of days then the leaves will change color and dry out.
Once the leaves are dried out they will fall off, and it is less likely that the Dahlia will be able to flower even if the drooping issue is fixed. It is not always just one thing that causes Dahlia leaves to droop, oftentimes it is a combination of several things. If the Dahlia leaves are turning yellow then check out my recent article Dahlia Leaves Turning Yellow ( Top 11 Reasons ).
Dahlia Leaves Drooping
Drooping dahlia leaves can be indicative of various factors affecting the plant’s health and vigor. One common cause is underwatering, where the plant is not receiving adequate moisture to support its growth. In such cases, the leaves may appear wilted and droopy. Overwatering, on the other hand, can lead to root rot and poor drainage, causing the leaves to droop and become yellow or brown. Environmental factors such as excessive heat or cold can also cause temporary drooping of dahlia leaves. Pests and diseases, including aphids, spider mites, or fungal infections, can contribute to drooping and deterioration of the foliage.
Not Enough Water
The main reason why Dahlia leaves tend to droop is because they do not get enough water. Usually, this tends to happen on hot summer days, when the Dahlia leaves lose a lot of water. If the Dahlia plants are not able to replace this lost water the leaves will start to droop. At this point, the plant is already stressed out, and if it doesn’t get water in the foreseeable future then the leaves will turn brown and start to fall off.
Ideally, it is better to avoid letting the Dahlia leaves droop due to improper watering, so make sure to give them some extra water on hot summer days. It is also a good idea to water the Dahlias in the evening or the early morning, this way the plants can absorb the water faster than the water can evaporate. If the Dahlia leaves are curling then check out my recent article Dahlia Leaves Curling ( Top 8 Reasons ).
Too Much Water
There is a delicate balance when it comes to proper watering Dahlias, too much or too little water can often have the same results, drooping leaves. Usually, the main culprit, in this case, is a poorly draining soil, and the excess water can cause the Dahlia leaves to droop, or in the worst-case scenario, even the tubers can start to rot. It is not uncommon to see the Dahlia leaves drooping after a heavy thunderstorm, usually, the plant in this case will bounce back the next day.
Make sure to only water your Dahlias once the top inch of the soil is dry, if it is wet then you can skip watering then that day.
Compacted Soil
Dahlia plants tend to be a bit more sensitive when it comes to the soil than other plants. Dahlias need a well draining soil, to grow well and they will really struggle in compacted soil. While you are digging in your garden and you find large clumps of soil then it usually means that the soil has a lot of clay and is also compacted. Compacted soil can disrupt the roots from absorbing water, as the roots will not be able to penetrate the soil.
In this case, Dahlia plants can even get root bound if they can not penetrate the soil, which can also cause some serious issues. To fix this issue you should amend the soil, or when you are planting the Dahlias simply surround the tubers with as much compost and potting mix as you possibly can. If the Dahlia leaves are turning brown then check out my recent article Dahlia Leaves Turning Brown ( Top 8 Reasons ).
High Temperatures
It is relatively common for Dahlia leaves to droop on hot summer days, this happens because the leaves lose a lot of water during the day. The hotter the days are the more water the plants will lose and the sooner they will deteriorate if they don’t get watered. The leaves of the drooping Dahlias can also turn yellow or develop brown burn spots during hot summer days. In this case, the easy fix is to simply water your Dahlias in the evening from the bottom.
Tuber Rot
The most common reason Dahlia plants tend to die off is due to tuber rot which is usually caused by the tubers sitting in water for prolonged periods of time. Tuber rot can also make the Dahlia leaves droop, usually drooping and a slight discoloration of the leaves are the first signs of tuber or root rot. Once the tubers or the roots start to rot the Dahlia plants will not be able to absorb water, thus the leaves will start to droop.
Dahlias that have tuber or root rot and have drooping leaves will not respond to getting more water, so if you are watering your Dahlias regularly and the leaves are drooping and only getting worse then the roots or the tubers might be rotting. To fix this issue, you will have to dig up the Dahlia tubers, cut them off, and throw away any soft tubers as they are rotten. Do not replant the healthy tuber in the same place as mold might be growing due to the previously rotting tubers.
Mold Or Fungus
Mold and fungus can easily grow on Dahlia tubers and roots, and the bad news is that usually these molds and fungi can be found in your soil. These molds usually start to grow on the tubers and the roots of the Dahlia plants if there is excess moisture in the soil. In addition to this, some of the molds can even grow on the tubers during the wintertime if the tubers are stored in a humid environment.
These molds will sooner or later start to hinder the tubers and the roots from absorbing water, thus the leaves will start to wilt. Usually, once there is mold growing on the tubers they will slowly start to rot. The fix for this is to inspect the tubers before planting and throw out any tubers that are soft or have mold on them. You can also use fungicides to get rid of mold when you are planting the tubers.
Pests
Dahlia plants have a lot of pests, and some of them can even make their leaves droop. Pests like aphids, mites, and thrips feed on the sap of the plants, oftentimes targeting their leaves or the stem of the plants. These pests will suck away the valuable nutrients from the plant, which often will lead to drooping leaves. The good news is that it is relatively easy to identify if the Dahlia leaves are drooping due to pests or because they simply need to be watered.
As pests are sucking away the sap from the leaves they will cause the leaves to change color, usually, they tend to turn yellow. In addition to this, the leaves will also start to curl and become deformed. If the Dahlia leaves are wilting and the plant doesn’t respond to being watered then check the underside of the leaves as most pests that suck the sap will live there. In this case, you will have to use a targeted insecticide to get rid of them, depending on what pests are sucking your Dahlia leaves dry.
Key Takeaways
- The main reason why Dahlia leaves droop is because they don’t get enough water, or they can not absorb water due to poor soil conditions. During hot summer days, Dahlia leaves will droop, but they will bounce back in the evening or once they get watered. Tuber rot, mold, and root rot can also cause the Dahlia leaves to wilt as they hinder the plant’s ability to absorb water, and eventually, the entire plant will dry out.
- If you are growing your Dahlias in pots then you will need to water them more often as pots tend to dry out relatively fast.
- If the Dahlia leaves are drooping due to pests then skip experimenting with home remedies and get a dedicated insecticide.