Quick answer
Your string of hearts can droop when the soil is too dry or too wet, and the leaves can look the same in both cases. Check the soil first.
Rot at the base. Water according to moisture, only when the soil has dried out completely. Check drainage and do not add water just because a tip is brown or a calendar says it is time. Remove rotten roots and repot in free-draining mix. If the base is rotten, healthy stem cuttings with nodes can be rooted warm in lightly moist cactus compost. Keep the rooting mix moist, not wet. Established plants need the mix to dry fully between waterings.
Not a match? Compare the signs below to find the one you have.
How to tell
The soil is bone dry and the whole plant has gone limp, often with wrinkled flat leaves beforehand.
The fix
If the soil is dry, water thoroughly (for a string of hearts that’s usually every 8 to 12 days in summer). It takes a few days to firm up again.
How to tell
Cold exposure can damage the plant even with dry roots. Wet mix in a cold spot also increases the risk of rot.
The fix
Move it away from cold glass and drafts to a spot with suitable, steady temperatures. Water according to moisture, only when the soil has dried out completely. Check drainage and do not add water just because a tip is brown or a calendar says it is time.
How to tell
Drooping began after a purchase, move or repot. A move can change light and temperature without disturbing the roots.
The fix
Check moisture and roots before changing care. A move alone does not require a dry week. After actual root damage, follow this plant’s repotting guidance. Water according to moisture, only when the soil has dried out completely. Check drainage and do not add water just because a tip is brown or a calendar says it is time.
How to tell
Long strands hanging over the edge of the pot are how a string of hearts grows. It only counts as drooping when the leaves themselves look shriveled, flat or soft.
The fix
Nothing to fix if the leaves are plump and firm. Check the leaves, not the strands.
Before watering, check that the pot drains freely and never sits in standing water. If the mix is still damp, wait and check again.
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