Check these first
- Touch the soil to feel if it is dry or damp.
- Check the drainage holes to ensure they are not blocked.
- Lift the pot to see if it feels unusually light.
Likely causes
Underwatering
Most likelyHow to tell: The leaves feel limp and thin, and the soil has pulled away from the edges of the pot.
What to do: Give the plant a thorough soak until water runs out of the drainage holes. Ensure the soil is evenly moist but not sitting in a puddle.
Root Rot
Most likelyHow to tell: The leaves look wilted even though the soil is wet, and the stems may feel mushy near the base.
What to do: Remove the plant from its pot and trim away any black or slimy roots. Repot into fresh, well draining soil and wait a few days before watering again.
Find out what's wrong with your golden pothos
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.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
When to worry
If the plant does not perk up within a few hours of watering, you may have a root issue. It is normal for a plant to droop slightly if it has been in a very hot room.
Stopping it coming back
Stick to a consistent watering schedule and always check the top few centimeters of soil before adding more water.
Keep your golden pothos 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 Pothos recover after drooping?
- Yes, it usually bounces back quickly once you address the water issue. Just be patient after you water it.
- Should I mist the leaves to help with drooping?
- Misting does not help with drooping, as the issue is in the roots. Focus on getting water to the soil instead.
More problems with Golden Pothos
- Why are my Golden Pothos leaves turning yellow?
- How do I fix root rot on my Golden Pothos?
- Why is my Golden Pothos getting so leggy?
- What are these bumps on my Golden Pothos?
- Why are the tips of my Pothos leaves turning brown?
- Why is my Golden Pothos losing its leaves?
- Why are there spots on my Golden Pothos leaves?
- Why are my Golden Pothos leaves curling?
Back to the Golden Pothos 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.
