Soggy roots at the base can also cause drooping because damaged roots cannot take up water.
The soil is wet, the base feels soft, and adding more water makes the damage worse.
Small dark flies around moist potting medium may be fungus gnats.
The fix
1
Stop watering and let the soil dry out fully.
2
Check that the pot drains.
3
If only some roots are soft or brown, trim them and repot in fresh, dry, fast-draining mix.
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They suggest conditions suitable for breeding, without proving that the surface never dries.
If the base itself is soft, the damage is more serious and recovery is uncertain. Only propagate using a method suited to this plant, not arbitrary pieces above the rot.
Other possible causes
Not a match? Compare the signs below to find the one you have.
Thirst (dry potting mix)
The soil is bone dry and the whole plant has gone limp, often with wrinkled, shriveled leaves beforehand.
The fix
1
If the soil is dry, water thoroughly (for a string of bananas that’s usually every 8 to 12 days in summer).
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It takes a few days to firm up again.
Cold, wet roots
Cold exposure can damage the plant even with dry roots.
How to tell
Wet mix in a cold spot also increases the risk of rot.
The fix
1
Move it away from cold glass and drafts to a spot with suitable, steady temperatures.
2
Water according to moisture, only when the top 5 cm (2 in) of soil feel dry.
3
Check drainage and do not water just because a calendar says it is time.
Recently moved or repotted
Drooping began after a purchase, move or repot.
How to tell
A move can change light and temperature without disturbing the roots.
The fix
1
Check moisture and roots before changing anything.
2
Keep its spot and care steady and don’t fertilize while it settles.
3
If roots were damaged, follow this plant’s repotting guidance.
More about this
Water according to moisture, only when the top 5 cm (2 in) of soil feel dry. Check drainage and do not water just because a calendar says it is time.
Its natural trailing habit
Long strands hanging over the edge of the pot are how a string of bananas grows.
The fix
1
Nothing to fix if the leaves are plump and firm.
2
Check the leaves, not the strands.
More about this
It only counts as drooping when the leaves themselves look shriveled, flat or soft.
