Why is my Chinese evergreen drooping?Aglaonema commutatum
Thirst (the classic). Water thoroughly — for a Chinese evergreen that's usually every 7 to 10 days in summer — and the leaves should recover the same day.
A wilting Chinese evergreen is alarming, and here's the catch most guides miss: drooping can mean it's too DRY or too WET, and the leaves look the same either way. The soil tells you which.
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What's causing it
Thirst (the classic)
How to tell: The soil is bone dry and the whole plant has gone limp; it perks back up within hours of a good drink, often with drooping leaves beforehand.
The fix: Water thoroughly — for a Chinese evergreen that's usually every 7 to 10 days in summer — and the leaves should recover the same day.
Overwatering & root rot
How to tell: Counterintuitively this droops too — soggy roots rot and can't drink. The soil is wet, the base feels soft, and watering more makes it WORSE.
The fix: Do the opposite of watering: let it dry out, check drainage, and inspect the roots for brown mush. This is why you always feel the soil before reacting to a droop.
Temperature or draught shock
How to tell: It's sitting near a cold window, a heater, or an air-con vent, and droops at certain times of day.
The fix: Move it away from the draught or heat source to a spot with steadier temperatures.
Recently moved or repotted
How to tell: It started drooping right after you repotted, bought, or relocated it.
The fix: This is transplant shock. Keep its care steady, don't fertilise, and give it a week or two to settle — resist the urge to fuss.
Too much heat or sun
How to tell: It wilts in the heat of the afternoon but recovers by evening.
The fix: Shift it out of direct midday sun into its low light tolerant range; a temporary wilt in heat is the plant conserving water.
Not sure which one it is?
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Get the app →Prevention
The golden rule: feel the soil before you react. Dry = water it; wet = let it dry. Keep it away from cold draughts and hot vents.
Common questions
Should I water my Chinese evergreen if it's drooping?
Only if the soil is dry. Stick a finger in first — if the top few centimetres are dry, water it and it should perk up. If the soil is wet, watering more will make it worse; the problem is the roots, not thirst.
How long does a Chinese evergreen take to recover from drooping?
If it was simply thirsty, hours. If it was overwatering or shock, give it one to two weeks of steady, correct care — and don't keep changing things.
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