How to Troubleshoot a Houseplant With Wilting Leaves

When the leaves of a houseplant begin to wilt or discolor, that's a sign the plant is in distress. But it's often difficult to know how to reverse the condition. While your first instinct might be to provide more water, that could be counterproductive. Under-watering does cause leaves to wilt, but other conditions can cause the same symptoms of distress.

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Check the moisture level in the soil of your wilting houseplant. One of the most common reasons for wilting foliage is under-watering. Although plants often recover, chronic or repeated under-watering eventually leads to leaf curling and death. If it is not possible to monitor plants daily, or at least weekly, for appropriate moisture levels, consider passive watering options. You can thread wicks, which are available at a hardware store, beneath the soil of your potted plant to deliver water as needed from a separate water storage container.

Stores have started to sell decorative stemmed blown-glass bulbs that deliver a constant flow of water drawn out of the bulb through a narrow conduit planted deep in the potting soil.

Examine the base of the stems for root and stem rot--another cause of leaf wilt--by looking for a ring of brown or black water-soaked tissue. Fungus causes root rot and stem rot. If you don't see signs of stem rot, invert the pot and tap gently to release and inspect the root ball. Healthy roots should be light colored and turgid. Infected roots will appear brown to black and will be soft when probed.

Depending on the size and appearance of your infected plant, treating root rot with commercial fungicides may be more expensive than replacing the plant. Check with your garden center to see which alternative is more appropriate in your case.

Allow the soil to dry to 1 inch below the soil surface before watering if leaves are wilted and there are no other apparent signs of root rot. Excess water can cause leaves to wilt with or without overt signs of root rot.

Check to see whether your houseplant is pot-bound. Pot-bound plants cannot absorb enough water to hydrate themselves even with frequent watering. Examine the roots of the plants and, if you find they are excessively encircling the pot or protruding from the soil line, re-pot them in larger containers.

Consider whether hard water could be to blame. If your tap water leaves mineral deposits in sinks and bathtubs, this is a sign of hard water. When plants are watered with mineral-laden water, fertilizer and minerals tend to build up in the soil. This can cause both root damage and wilting. Use a water softener or find another source of water for the plants.