Plant care guide
Chinese Evergreen Drooping: Thirst, Wet Roots, Cold or Light?
Updated
Why is my Chinese evergreen drooping?
A drooping Chinese evergreen is usually short of water in its leaves: the mix has dried out, or roots kept too wet have rotted and can no longer take water up. Pink and red cultivars droop the same way. Cold is the next suspect, since Aglaonema is very sensitive to chilling, and long stalks can also flop in low light.
What to do first
Push two fingers into the top 5 cm (2 in) of mix. Dry means water thoroughly. Wet means stop, empty the saucer and check the roots and stem bases. Then move the plant away from cold windows, doors and air-conditioning vents.
Drooping leaves on a Chinese evergreen are alarming because this plant is sold as nearly indestructible. Clemson Extension’s Chinese evergreen factsheet calls it one of the most durable houseplants. It tolerates poor light, dry air and drought. When it droops, something has usually gone wrong at the roots or with temperature.
The pink and red cultivars, such as ‘Cherry’, which Clemson pictures with pink mature leaves, are still Aglaonema. The same checks apply.
Wet or dry?
Iowa State University Extension’s diagnosis guide explains why wilting is confusing. It happens when roots cannot supply the leaves with water, and that has two opposite causes.
Signs it is too dry:
- Mix dry well below the surface, pot light.
- Leaves soft and limp but not yellow or mushy at the base.
- The leaves lift again after a thorough watering.
Iowa State lists the usual reasons: watering too rarely or too lightly, water running down the sides of a dry root ball, or a pot that is too small.
Signs the roots are failing in wet mix:
- Mix still damp days after watering.
- Leaves yellowing as well as drooping.
- Soft or darkened stems at the soil line.
University of Maryland Extension’s root rot page says some root rots make plants wilt even when the mix is moist. Rotted roots are brown to black and soft. NC State Extension’s Aglaonema profile says root rots can occur with overwatering.
Cold and drafts
Chilling is the cause most often missed. UF/IFAS Extension’s chilling injury study calls Aglaonema a genus extremely sensitive to chilling. Injury occurs from just above 0 °C to 15 °C (32–59 °F). Dark, greasy patches appear about two days later. Badly damaged leaves turn yellow and drop.
Cultivars differ. UF/IFAS found ‘Silver Queen’ injured at 13 °C (55 °F), while others tolerated far colder air. Older and mature leaves were more sensitive than young ones.
Clemson says Chinese evergreens are sensitive below 10 °C (50 °F) and grow best at 20–27 °C (68–80 °F). Think back over the last week: a cold car journey, an open door, or leaves pressed against winter glass all fit.
NC State also advises against cold water. Clemson recommends room-temperature water.
Light
UF/IFAS’s Aglaonema growing guidelines note that tall leaves of ‘Black Lance’ tend to droop in lower light. Too much light and heat do the opposite: leaves stand more upright and look washed out.
Clemson says solid green cultivars grow in low light. Colourful variegated types, which include the pink and red ones, need low to moderate light. Neither wants direct sun.
What to do
- Test the mix. Clemson suggests sticking two fingers into the top 5 cm (2 in) and watering when the top 2.5–5 cm (1–2 in) is dry.
- Water a dry plant thoroughly with room-temperature water, and let it drain.
- If the mix is wet, do not water. Empty the saucer and slide the plant out. Clemson says root rot usually comes from slow-draining mix or overwatering. If roots are soft and dark, Maryland Extension advises a clean pot, sterile potting mix, and discarding badly infected plants.
- Move it somewhere warm, away from drafts, outside doors and air-conditioning vents.
- Give it brighter indirect light if stalks are long and flopping, especially on pink or variegated types.
- Cut off chilled leaves. UF/IFAS advises removing damaged leaves and moving the plant somewhere warmer.
A plant that was only dry should lift after watering. Chilling and root damage take longer, and the damaged leaves may not recover.
If it keeps happening
If lower leaves are gone and the stem is bare and leaning, Clemson notes the top can be cut off and rooted. Our Chinese evergreen propagation guide covers how. For light, watering and feeding, read the Chinese evergreen care guide. To compare pink, red and silver cultivars, see Aglaonema varieties.
Related guides
Other chinese evergreen problems we cover: root rot.
References
- Clemson Cooperative Extension, HGIC 1500: Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema) Care, Cultivation & Growing Guide
- NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Aglaonema
- UF/IFAS Extension: Chilling Injury in Tropical Foliage Plants: II. Aglaonema (ENH843)
- UF/IFAS Extension: Cultural Guidelines for Commercial Production of Interiorscape Aglaonema (ENH957)
- Iowa State University Extension: Diagnosing Houseplant Problems from Improper Environmental Conditions
- University of Maryland Extension: Root Rots of Indoor Plants
How this guide was put together: Clemson Cooperative Extension, NC State Extension, UF/IFAS Extension, Iowa State University Extension and University of Maryland Extension guidance.