Pocket Botanist
Check these first
- Feel the soil to see if it is dry.
- Check the light levels to ensure the plant is not in direct sun.
- Look for signs of pests on the undersides of the leaves.
Likely causes
Underwatering
Most likelyHow to tell: The soil is dry to the touch and the stems look wilted.
What to do: Give the plant a thorough watering until it drains from the bottom. Check the soil again in 7 days to keep it consistently moist.
Heat Stress
PossibleHow to tell: The plant is in a spot that gets too much direct afternoon sun.
What to do: Move the container to a shadier location. This plant prefers partial to full shade to stay cool.
Find out what's wrong with your lords and ladies
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
Drooping is serious if the plant does not perk up after a good watering. If it stays limp for more than 24 hours, check for root damage.
Stopping it coming back
Keep the plant in a shaded spot and check the soil moisture every 7 to 10 days.
Lords and Ladies: drooping? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your lords and ladies 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
Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free
Questions people ask
- How much water does it need?
- Keep the soil consistently moist. You should water it every 7 to 14 days depending on the temperature.
- Can I mist the leaves to help?
- Misting does not help much with drooping. Focus on keeping the soil moisture correct instead.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Lords and Ladies
- Why are there spots on my Arum maculatum leaves?
- Why are my Lords and Ladies leaves turning yellow?
- Why is my Arum maculatum dropping its leaves?
- Why won't my Arum maculatum bloom?
- Why is my Arum maculatum rotting at the base?
- Why is my Arum maculatum looking thin and stretched?
- Why are the tips of my Lords and Ladies leaves turning brown?
Back to the Lords and Ladies 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.