Pocket Botanist
Check these first
- Stick your finger one inch into the soil to check for moisture.
- Check if the plant is in a pot with drainage holes.
- Feel the texture of the leaves.
Likely causes
Underwatering
Most likelyHow to tell: The leaves feel dry and brittle to the touch. The soil is pulled away from the edges of the pot or is cracked in the ground.
What to do: Give the plant a deep soak until water runs out of the drainage holes. Maintain a schedule of watering every 7 to 14 days depending on the heat.
Root Rot
PossibleHow to tell: The plant droops even though the soil is wet. The base of the stems may look soft or discolored.
What to do: Stop watering immediately and check the drainage. If the soil is waterlogged, you may need to transplant it into better draining soil.
Find out what's wrong with your pearly everlasting
The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.
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When to worry
If the plant perks up after a drink, it was just thirsty. If it stays wilted even when the soil is wet, you likely have root rot.
Stopping it coming back
Only water when the top inch of soil is dry and ensure the planting site has excellent drainage.
Pearly everlasting: drooping? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your pearly everlasting and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
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Questions people ask
- How much water does it need?
- It prefers to dry out slightly between waterings. Aim to water every 7 to 14 days, checking the soil depth first.
- Can heat cause drooping?
- Yes, on very hot days the plant may wilt slightly in the afternoon to conserve moisture. It should recover by the next morning.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Pearly everlasting
Back to the Pearly everlasting guide
This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.