Why is my pothos drooping? A plant expert reveals 3 common causes and exactly how to perk up this houseplant again

It can be disheartening to see your houseplants struggle, especially when you think you've been providing the very best care for them. Don't be too quick to give up, though, as there is usually a logical cause behind the problem.

You may find your pothos drooping for a number of reasons, for example, that can be easily dealt with to perk it back up again. Pothos care is generally straightforward, but some minor errors in their growing environment can lead them to droop, wilt, and you could even find your pothos turning yellow.

Here, a plant expert reveals three common causes behind a drooping pothos and shares tips on how to revive it - spoiler, there's a quick fix for all of them.

3 causes of a droopy pothos

As mentioned, these common indoor plant mistakes are also often behind a pothos wilting or having other issues. Identifying what is making your pothos unhappy is the first step to encouraging healthy growth once again.

1. Incorrect watering

Knowing how to water houseplants correctly actually isn't as simple as it may seem. This is especially true when you have a large collection of different houseplants, all with varying needs. As a result, many plant parents become guilty of over or underwatering plants.

For pothos plants, too little water can cause drooping, as they don't do well with drought and become dehydrated. However, this doesn't mean it's too late to save your plant:

'Drooping leaves mean you need to water the plant. Dry, brown edges on the leaves mean the plant is kept too dry for too long,' explains plant expert Gail Pabst of the National Garden Bureau.

'You should thoroughly water the drooping plant and then let the soil dry out between watering,' she advises.

Use this soil moisture meter from Amazon to identify when it's time to water your pothos again, taking care to avoid letting it stay dry for an extended period of time.

'Likewise, too wet soil will cause houseplant root rot and can leave your pothos drooping,' Gail warns. 'Black spots on the leaves are also a sign to look out for,' she adds.

Gail Pabst

Gail is a passionate horticulturist with over 25 years' experience in the industry. She is an avid home gardener too and loves to try out the newest varieties and techniques. Gail's work with the National Garden Bureau and the All-America Selection has helped her to continue their mission of inspiring and teaching gardening with others.

2. Insufficient light levels

Even though pothos is considered an indoor low light plant, too little light will cause problems like drooping and variegation loss. Although, there are some pothos varieties that can withstand lower light than others, like Neon Pothos.

'Pothos does best in bright, indirect light,' says Gail. 'Be aware they do not like direct sun,' she adds.

You may find your pothos suffers leaf scorch from direct sun exposure, due to their foliage being partially shaded beneath a canopy of trees in their native habitat of tropical rainforests.

However, the opposite extreme of growing this plant in a room that gets hardly any sunlight can leave your pothos drooping. Try moving it to a brighter spot, for this reason, or use grow lights for houseplants - like this grow light from Amazon.

3. Temperature fluctuations

Native to tropical regions, pothos plants perform best in temperatures between 65-85°F. This means they aren't cold-tolerant houseplants and aren't the best choice for chilly windowsills or drafty areas of the home.

Moving your plant from somewhere warmer to somewhere cooler may lead to your pothos drooping in response, too. Likewise, sudden changes in room temperature - such as during the seasonal change into winter - could shock your pothos, impacting its growth.

To avoid this, try keeping your pothos in warmer rooms of your home. As the colder season comes around, it can also be helpful to use tools like this heat mat from Amazon, or an indoor greenhouse.

FAQs

Is fertilizer causing my pothos to droop?

It is possible that your pothos is drooping because you have made a fertilizing mistake. These plants aren't heavy feeders, so only need to be fertilized once a month during spring and summer. Too much fertilizer can oversaturate the roots and cause root burn, resulting in drooping, wilting, discoloring, and more.

If some droopy leaves on your pothos have started to discolor, it's unlikely they will perk up again. Instead, prune your pothos to remove damaged foliage. Make sure to use sharp essential pruning tools (like these pruning shears from Amazon) to make clean cuts.