Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Touch the soil surface to check for dryness.
- Look for signs of wilting during the cooler morning hours.
- Inspect the pot for proper drainage holes.
Likely causes
Underwatering
Most likelyHow to tell: The soil feels dry to the touch and the leaves look limp or shriveled.
What to do: Water the plant thoroughly until moisture drains from the bottom of the pot. Ensure you are watering every 3 to 7 days depending on the heat.
Heat Stress
PossibleHow to tell: This is less common for this plant, as cleome usually loves the sun, but extreme heat waves can cause temporary wilting during the hottest part of the day.
What to do: Provide a bit of afternoon shade if temperatures exceed 95 degrees. Water in the early morning to help the plant prepare for the heat.
Find out what's wrong with your spider flower
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 stays wilted after a deep watering and a cool night, the roots may be damaged. It is normal for cleome to droop slightly in the intense midday sun.
Stopping it coming back
Keep a consistent watering schedule and apply a layer of mulch to help retain soil moisture.
Keep your spider flower healthy from here
Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked. Identification and a health check are free.
Questions people ask
- Will my cleome recover after drooping?
- Yes, if the drooping is caused by thirst, the plant will usually perk back up within a few hours of watering.
- Should I prune the drooping stems?
- Only prune if the stems have turned brown and crispy. If they are still green, they will likely recover.
More problems with Spider flower
- Why are there bugs on my spider flower?
- Why does my spider flower have white spots on its leaves?
- Why is my cleome growing so leggy?
- Why is my spider flower not blooming?
- Why are my cleome's leaves turning yellow?
- Why are my Cleome's leaf tips turning brown?
- Why is my Cleome losing its leaves?
- How do I fix root rot on my Cleome?
- Why are my cleome leaves curling?
Back to the Spider flower guide
This article was generated with AI from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.