Pocket Botanist
Check these first
- Feel the soil to determine if it is dry or wet.
- Check the weight of the pot to see if it feels light.
- Examine the base of the stems for any signs of decay.
Likely causes
Underwatering
Most likelyHow to tell: The stems look limp and the leaves feel thin or papery. The soil will be pulled away from the edges of the pot.
What to do: Give the plant a deep soak until water runs out of the drainage holes. Ensure you water every 7 to 14 days depending on the heat.
Root Rot
PossibleHow to tell: The plant droops even when the soil is wet. The base of the stems may look dark or feel mushy.
What to do: Remove the plant from its pot and inspect the roots for dark, slimy sections. Trim away any damaged roots and repot in fresh, dry, fast draining soil.
Find out what's wrong with your flowering spurge
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 on a very hot afternoon is normal, but the plant should perk up by morning. Worry if it stays limp overnight.
Stopping it coming back
Maintain a consistent watering schedule and ensure the plant is never sitting in standing water.
Flowering Spurge: drooping? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your flowering spurge 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
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Questions people ask
- Will my plant recover after drooping?
- If the cause is underwatering, it will usually perk up within a few hours of a good soak. If it is root rot, recovery depends on how much healthy root system remains.
- Does this plant need a lot of water?
- It prefers to dry out between waterings. It is much more tolerant of being slightly dry than being kept constantly wet.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Flowering Spurge
Back to the Flowering Spurge 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.