From my perspective, the most common reason my leaves hang low is a simple, profound thirst. My large, broad leaves are designed to transpire, pulling water from my roots up through my stem and out into the air. When the soil around my roots becomes too dry, this vital hydraulic system fails. The cells in my leaves and stems lose their turgor pressure—the water pressure that keeps me rigid and upright. Without it, I become limp and droopy. It is my most direct way of showing you that my reservoir is empty. Please check my soil. If the top few inches are dry and crumbly, I need a deep, thorough drink until water runs freely from my pot's base.
Conversely, your kindness with water can sometimes be my undoing. If I am left sitting in constantly soggy, waterlogged soil, my roots begin to suffocate. They need oxygen as much as they need water. In saturated soil, the air pockets are flooded, and my roots cannot breathe. They will start to rot, turning soft and brown, and lose their ability to absorb any water or nutrients at all. Ironically, this root rot presents above the soil with the very same symptom as underwatering: drooping, yellowing leaves. My pot must have drainage holes, and I should never be left standing in a saucer full of water for more than a short while.
I am a creature of habit and comfort. Sudden changes in my environment are a significant shock to my system, and I express this stress through drooping leaves. Did you recently move me to a new spot? Perhaps from a store to your home, or from one room to another? The shift in light intensity, temperature, or humidity can be jarring. Even a shift from a humid summer to a dry, indoor winter heated by forced air can cause my leaves to droop as I struggle to conserve moisture. I prefer bright, indirect light and stable, warm temperatures away from cold drafts or heating vents.
Light is my food source. While I am more tolerant than some, I still have specific needs. If I am placed in a spot that is too dark, my growth will become weak and leggy as I stretch desperately for more light. This weak, elongated growth cannot properly support the weight of my large leaves, and they will begin to droop. On the other hand, if I am subjected to too much direct, harsh sunlight, especially through a window, my leaves can get scorched. This damage compromises their structure and can also cause them to wilt and droop as a protective measure.
Finally, consider the space you have given me. I am a growing being. Over time, my root system can fill the pot entirely, becoming a tight, tangled mass known as being "root-bound." When this happens, there is little soil left to hold moisture and nutrients, and my constricted roots struggle to function properly. This leads to a situation where I cannot take up enough water to sustain my foliage, even if you water me correctly, resulting in an overall droopy appearance. If you haven't repotted me in several years and see roots circling the inside of the pot or emerging from the drainage holes, it is likely time for me to be moved to a slightly larger home.
