Succulent leaves drooping can certainly be caused by many different things individually or even from multiple issues at the same time.
So if your succulent has started to droop, bend or look like it’s falling over then here are the main causes and what you can do to correct the issues causing this.
1. Underwatering
Although succulents are drought tolerant plants, they do need a good amount of water from time to time.
Forgetting to water for too long is one of if not the most common cause for succulent leaves drooping as without enough water, these plants will lose the ability to hold themselves upright from the dehydration.
Now this doesn’t mean you should constantly water as succulents don’t like standing water for too long which can lead to more serious issues such as root rot.
Succulents like to be watered thoroughly, but only when the soil has fully dried out which can take anywhere from a week to a month depending on a variety of factors.
If you’re not too sure if you have actually been underwatering, some signs to look out for include the following.
- Stunted growth
- Your succulent leaves are curling
- Brown leaf tips
- Leaves have started falling off
- The soil is constantly dry to the touch
Solution
If you suspect underwatering is the cause for your droopy leaves, it’s time to take a look at your watering habits.
If you have the idea that misting succulents is like watering, unfortunately that won’t be enough and shouldn’t be a replacement for actual watering.
Instead you need to fully soak your succulents each time you water until water starts flowing through the drainage hole of your container.
From here only water again when the soil is fully dried up or at the very least the top inch or two is completely dry.
Also don’t panic or try to overcompensate by watering for several days in a row in an effort to restore hydration as this will do more harm than good.
Just resume good watering habits by watering fully each time the soil dries.
You also shouldn’t rely on a set schedule for the most part as the time it takes for soil to dry can vary based on temperature, humidity, growth cycles and other factors.
2. Overwatering
Although underwatering is a main cause for wilting or drooping succulent leaves, so is overwatering.
If you end up overwatering your succulents, eventually the roots will become starved of oxygen and will start becoming less and less effective at supplying nutrients to the plant overall.
This can cause your succulent to almost mimic the signs of underwatering because in essence the plant is not getting enough water to the main plant if the roots aren’t working properly.
If this goes on long enough, you can run into the issue of root rot which can destroy succulents pretty fast.
In general it’s better to end up underwatering succulents than it is to overwater them as the former is a much easier fix.
Some other signs your leaves are drooping from overwatering can include the following.
- Standing water that isn’t draining fast
- Your succulent leaves are turning yellow
- Brown leaf tips
- Stunted or slowed growth
- The roots are falling apart or smell weird (root rot)
When it comes to overwatering succulents, if you feel like you’re not watering all that much, it could be the soil you’re using isn’t draining well.
Also it’s best to use drainage holes in the containers you grow in for maximum drainage.
Solution
As mentioned before, you should only water your succulents when the soil has completely dried out no matter how long it takes.
Instead of relying on a watering schedule, try feeling the soil each time before you water.
If the top 2 inches of the soil feel completely dry then it’s time to water, if the soil is still moist then you should hold off on the watering until it’s dry.
Also make sure you’re always using well draining soil, ideally with materials that also aid in drainage such as perlite and drainage holes in all containers.
Utilizing these practices will ensure you don’t end up overwatering again so you don’t have to worry about droopy leaves at the very least, or root rot as the worst case scenario.
3. Pests
Pests such as mealybugs, aphids, scales and spider mites are some of the types of pests you may encounter when growing succulents.
What do all of these have in common?
All of the listed pests above are known to feed on the leaves of succulents, take nutrients from the plant and overall leave your succulent dehydrated and droopy.
Not only that but they tend to leave behind a honeydew substance which eventually turns into sooty mold which thankfully is largely just a cosmetic issue.
Some signs you may have run into a pest issue can include the following.
- Leaf curling
- Your succulent leaves have turned black
- Holes in the leaves
- Sticky leaves (honeydew)
- Stunted growth
- Your succulent has turned white
- Brown leaf tips
- Yellow leaves
- Bumps on the leaves or stems (scales)
- Webbing like material (spider mites)
With all of that said, pests are a major cause for wilting or drooping leaves on plants in general and unfortunately succulents are no exception.
So it’s time to get rid of them because after all, who wants bugs on their plants?
Not you of course.
Solution
There are a number of ways to get rid of pests, but I have found that their are really 3 main methods that are super effective.
First you can try dipping a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol and then wiping down the leaves, or remove the pests individually if you actually see them.
Very effective, but can be time consuming.
Another way you can get rid of these bugs is by spraying your succulent with insecticidal soap which kills pests on contact by starving them of oxygen.
Very effective and can be made with household ingredients.
Lastly you can spray your succulent with some neem oil which works similar to insecticidal soap, but also acts as a repellant as well.
Super effective.
I recommend this neem oil if you’re looking to try this method.
Just make sure you only spray in shade or at night until it dries as it has a tendency to burn leaves if left in the sun.
4. Low light
Succulents need plenty of light to grow and look their best so if you’re not providing enough, you can expect to see your succulent leaves drooping.
Most succulents prefer to get plenty of bright indirect light with occasional full sun rather than growing in low light conditions.
If your succulent doesn’t receive enough light, chlorosis can occur which is a loss of chlorophyll and can result in not only droopiness, but discoloration such as pale or yellow leaves.
Some signs you may not be providing enough light include the following.
- Your succulent is stretching out (etiolation)
- Yellow leaves
- Pale leaves
- Stunted growth
- Leaves may begin falling off
Solution
If you’re growing succulents indoors, try growing near an east facing window for optimal bright indirect light.
You can also use a south facing window, but you should keep most succulents a few feet away since the light can get pretty intense in that direction.
If you’re growing outdoors then find a location that gets lots of light, but is also protected from full sun for most of the day.
Overall strive to provide 8+ hours of bright light daily with more being better.
5. Too much heat
Although low light can cause drooping, so can having too much heat.
Most succulents thrive in comfortable temperature ranges such as between 60-80 degrees Fahrenheit.
It depends on the variety you’re trying to grow as some can grow in much colder climates and others can withstand high temperatures.
With that said, if your succulent is not comfortable with the heat, you can expect the leaves to start drooping in response to this kind of stress or if it becomes dehydrated much faster than usual.
This is especially true during unexpected heat waves as we all know what that’s like.
Solution
If you’re growing outdoors in heat that your succulent can’t handle, consider moving the plant indoors for the time being if possible.
If you’re already growing indoors and running into this issue, you may need to move the plant further away from the window, especially with south facing windows, or move to a different window all together.
Whatever it takes to keep your succulent stress free and not scorched.
6. Transplant shock
Lastly, the cause for your succulent leaves drooping could simply be attributed to transplant shock which can occur shortly after repotting.
This happens when a plant becomes stressed from either moving environments or when different soil or containers are used and it surprises the plant.
Your succulent can then respond with a variety of symptoms with droopy leaves being one of them.
If everything else checks out and the drooping only started after repotting then this is most likely what’s going on.
Solution
In the case of transplant shock, really all you can do is wait it out and your succulent will return to normal after some time has passed.
This can take anywhere from weeks to months though so you have to be patient and continue monitoring your succulent.
Closing thoughts
By now you will have a pretty good understanding as to why your succulent leaves are drooping and what you can do about it.
Overall I hope that I have helped you today so your succulent can get back to looking it’s best!