Wondering why is my Chinese Evergreen drooping? Here’s what is causing the droop and how to fix it and stake up your Chinese Evergreen plant!
Chinese Evergreen is the common name for the Aglaonema plant.
These plants are, in general, super easy to care for. They are flexible on the lighting and watering they can handle and are beginner level houseplants.
So, if they start looking droopy or sad, it can be disappointing. Like, hello, this is supposed to be an easy plant!
Let’s talk about why your Chinese evergreen plant might be drooping and what to do about it!
Why is my Chinese Evergreen plant drooping?
There are a few primary causes of drooping in Chinese evergreen plants including improper watering, changes in conditions, or growing top heavy.
Improper watering
The primary cause of drooping in Aglaonema plants is improper watering. This could mean overwatering – making the plant mushy and droop – or under watering – making the plant withered and droop.
If your plant is drooping and getting yellow leaves all of the sudden, it’s likely overwatering. Pull the plant out of the soil and see if the dirt feels very wet.
Make sure to add drainage holes to the pot to avoid pooling water!
Change in conditions
I have also had my plant droop when there’s a sudden change in conditions. I moved a large Chinese evergreen plant to make space for our Christmas tree, and it instantly drooped significantly.
Changes in conditions could also include swings in temperature where the plant got very cold or very hot. Is it near a door or a vent? It could be causing a problem!
Top heavy
If your plant has just been drooping slowly over time, it might be top heavy. Consider re-planting it deeper in the soil or staking it to help prop it up.
How do I fix a drooping Chinese Evergreen plant?
First, examine the leaves. Is the plant withered or mushy? If that is the case, you definitely want to remove any dead leaves and address the watering issues.
If the leaves look fine but it’s just flopped over, I recommend staking the plant to hold it upright and prevent the stems from snapping or bending.
How to stake a Chinese evergreen plant
To stake your Chinese Evergreen plant you will want bamboo stakes and twine or ties to attach the plant to the stakes.
Stick the stake far enough into the soil to feel secure – at least 6 inches. Insert it right next to the base if the stem.
Then, use twine or ties to gently tie the stem to the stake. Don’t tie it too tight – only tight enough for it to hold, without damaging the stem of the plant.
Tie 2-3 ties per branch, until it feels very secure.
You might need to add additional potting soil around the base of the plant once it is upright to help secure it in place.
You can leave these stakes forever or remove them once the plant has re-stabilized.
How to stake a Chinese Evergreen plant
Here's how easy it is to stake a drooping Chinese evergreen plant.
Materials
- Chinese evergreen plant
- Bamboo stake
- Twine or ties
Tools
- Scissors
Instructions
- Place the stake in the ground directly next to the base of the plant. Push in deep enough to feel very secure, at least 6 inches.
- Use ties to attach plant to stake in 2-3 places. Keep tight enough to hold secure but not tight enough to damage the plant.
- If you move the base of the plant and the dirt level looks low, consider adding additional soil to help additionally prop the stem up.
- Stakes can be removed when the plant re-stabilizes or leave forever.
Any more questions about the Chinese evergreen plant?
Thanks for reading!
Hey there, I’m Morgan, a houseplant enthusiast from sunny Charleston, South Carolina. Growing up surrounded by my mom’s lush orchids and African violets, I discovered the magic of bringing nature indoors. Thanks to the pandemic, I delved deeper into houseplants, discovering their power to uplift moods and transform spaces. I’m here to spill all my secrets, helping you pick the perfect houseplant – and make it happy. Let’s keep your plants alive, together! 😊