Pocket Botanist
Check these first
- Feel if the soil is completely dry.
- Check for nearby air vents or drafty windows.
- Look for signs of root rot in the soil.
Likely causes
Underwatering
Most likelyHow to tell: The soil feels bone dry and the fronds look limp or shriveled.
What to do: Water the plant thoroughly until moisture runs out of the drainage holes. Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged moving forward.
Cold drafts
PossibleHow to tell: The plant droops suddenly after being placed near an air conditioner or drafty window.
What to do: Move the fern to a stable, warm location away from vents or doors. Keep the ambient temperature between 60 to 75 degrees.
Find out what's wrong with your black spleenwort
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
A slight droop after a missed watering is normal and will recover quickly. Worry if the fronds remain limp even after the soil is moistened.
Stopping it coming back
Keep the soil evenly moist and protect the plant from sudden temperature changes.
Black spleenwort: drooping? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your black spleenwort 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
- Will my fern recover after drooping?
- Most of the time, yes. Once you provide the correct amount of water or move it to a better spot, it should perk up within a day or two.
- Does this plant need high humidity?
- It prefers moderate to high humidity. If your home is very dry, the plant may droop more often.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Black spleenwort
- Why are my Black spleenwort's frond tips turning brown?
- How do I fix root rot on my Black spleenwort?
- What are these brown bumps on my Black spleenwort?
- Why are my Black spleenwort leaves turning yellow?
- Why is my Black spleenwort losing its leaves?
- Why is my Black spleenwort looking leggy?
- Why are my Black spleenwort leaves curling?
Back to the Black spleenwort 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.