Wilting occurs when the plant loses more water through its leaves than its root system can replenish. Plants tend to lose a lot of water through their leaves, and on hot summer days, they can lose so much water that they start wilting or drooping. Oftentimes even if the soil is moist enough and the plant has plenty of water the wilting process can still occur, in this case, the roots can simply not absorb water as fast as the leaves are losing.
If your plant is wilting, try watering it to see if it recovers. In many cases, wilting is a sign that the plant needs water. As long as the leaves have not become dry and brittle, they should regain their turgidity within a few hours after watering.
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In some cases, you might also notice burn marks on the leaves, this usually happens when the plant is starting to get damaged, and saving this plant will be a lot harder than one that has just wilted. Wilting is extremely stressful for plants, they are basically fighting for their survival at that point, and how you try to save the wilted plant will determine if the plant survives or not. If you want to know why your plants tend to flop over then check out my recent article Why Do Plants Flop Over? ( Top 9 Reasons ).
How To Save A Wilted Plant
If you notice a wilted plant, there are several steps you can take to try to revive it. First, check the soil moisture level by sticking your finger about an inch into the soil. If it feels dry, the plant may be dehydrated. Water the plant thoroughly, ensuring that the water reaches the root zone. If the soil is waterlogged, adjust the watering accordingly to prevent overwatering. Provide shade or move the plant to a cooler location if it has been exposed to excessive heat or direct sunlight. Prune away any dead or damaged leaves or stems to encourage new growth. Consider misting the foliage with water to increase humidity, especially for plants that prefer higher humidity levels.
Give It Some Water
Oftentimes the simplest solution is the best, if the plant is wilting then it needs some extra water. The problem is that most people go overboard with this approach, and the plant will seriously struggle to recover if it is not only wilting but its roots are constantly in water as well. Make sure to check if the soil is moist before watering, if it is then don’t water. The problem of wilting is not the lack of water but the inability of the plant to absorb as much water as it needs.
In case the soil is dry then you should water it from the bottom and only in the evening. If you water the plant from the top, in the middle of the day then most of the water will evaporate before the plant can absorb it. In addition to this water droplets on the leaves will act as a magnifier and they will burn the leaves, especially as the plant is already stressed out. If you want to know why your plants get leggy then check out my recent article Why Plants Get Leggy? ( Top 4 Reasons ).
Replanting It In The Shade
Not all plants love full sun, and full sun is not equal, full sun in Florida is not the same as in Alaska for example. Plants that tend to wilt or droop during the hot summer days will stop wilting in a shaded location. No matter if this is a potted plant or one in your garden, find a new location for it where it can have at least a couple of hours of shade every day. Once the plant has been replanted it will slowly start to recover, just make sure not to overwater it.
When replanting make sure to either do it in the early morning or in the evening, this way the plant will be less stressed out due to the replanting. Keep in mind that plants that are seriously wilted and get a transplant shock as well might not be able to recover. If you are a fan of big flowers then you need to check out my recent article Easter Lily ( Lilium Longiflorum, Trumpet Lily, Bermuda Lily ).
Use A Shade Cloth
In case you are not able to repot the plant, or simply do not have the time for it then the easiest solution for saving your wilted plants is by using a shade cloth. You can find shade cloths at almost any store that sells garden supplies, and they are fairly cheap. When you place the shade cloth on the plant you should try to avoid as much as possible for the shade cloth to be in direct contact with the plant, especially if the plant is rather fragile.
If the shade cloth is touching the wilted plant then the plant will have a hard time pushing back once it starts to recover and the stem of the plant can easily break. If the plant has wooden and relatively strong stems then you can place the shade cloth on top of it. Shade cloths have different percentages of sunblock, around 50%-60% sunblock should be enough, and any higher than this the plant will get stressed out due to not getting enough sunlight.
Bring The Plant Indoors
Just like people so do plants react to heat, oftentimes when you work in the garden under the hot sun and you feel that you need a break you will go inside where temperatures are a lot cooler even if you do not have an air conditioner. That relieved sensation, when you step inside your home after burning under the hot sun, can be almost the same for plants. Pot the plant if possible and bring it inside, give it some water and in a matter of hours or a couple of days it should recover.
Key Takeaways
- You can save a wilted plant by watering it but only if the soil is dry, overwatering a wilted plant will only stress it even further out. In addition to this, you should consider repainting the plant into a partial shade area if this is not possible then you should place a shade cloth on top of it. You can also bring the wilted plant indoors, as it will recover much faster due to the ambient temperatures being lower than outside.
- Keep in mind that overwatering a wilted plant will do more harm than good.
- Giving some well-needed shade to your wilted plants will usually be enough for them to recover, as long as the plant has not simply wilted away.
