Pocket Botanist
Check these first
- Touch the top inch of soil to check for dryness.
- Lift the pot to see if it feels unusually heavy or light.
- Check the drainage holes to ensure they are not blocked.
Likely causes
Underwatering
Most likelyHow to tell: The leaves look limp and wilted, and the soil feels bone dry to the touch. The tree will perk up quickly after a thorough watering.
What to do: Water the tree deeply until water runs out of the drainage holes. Ensure you are watering every 3 to 7 days depending on how fast the top inch of soil dries out.
Root Rot
PossibleHow to tell: The leaves droop even when the soil is wet, and the foliage may start to yellow. The roots will look mushy or dark instead of firm and white.
What to do: Stop watering immediately and allow the soil to dry out completely. If the rot is severe, repot the tree into fresh, well draining soil and trim away the dead roots.
Find out what's wrong with your citrus
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
Worry if the tree does not recover within a few hours of watering. If the leaves are falling off along with the drooping, the root system may be in serious trouble.
Stopping it coming back
Always check the soil moisture before watering and ensure your pot has excellent drainage to prevent standing water.
Citrus: drooping? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your citrus 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 do I know if I am overwatering?
- If the soil stays wet for more than a week and the leaves look yellow or droopy, you are likely watering too often. Always let the top inch of soil dry out first.
- Will my tree die if it droops once?
- No, a single instance of drooping from underwatering is usually not fatal. Just give it a good soak and it should recover within a day.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Citrus
- Why are my citrus tree's leaves turning yellow?
- Why does my citrus tree have pests?
- Why are there spots on my citrus tree leaves?
- Why is my citrus tree dropping its leaves?
- Why is my citrus tree not producing flowers?
- Why is my citrus tree growing long and leggy?
- Why are my citrus tree leaves curling?
- Why are my citrus tree leaves getting brown tips?
- Why are my citrus tree's roots rotting?
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.