Pocket Botanist
Check these first
- Check the soil moisture by sticking your finger an inch into the dirt.
- Feel the leaves to see if they are brittle or just limp.
- Inspect the pot to ensure it has drainage holes.
Likely causes
Underwatering
Most likelyHow to tell: The leaves feel thin or limp, and the soil is bone dry several inches down.
What to do: Give the plant a deep soak until water runs out of the drainage holes. Check the soil moisture every 7 days and water again when the top inch feels dry.
Heat Stress
PossibleHow to tell: The plant wilts during the hottest part of the day but perks up slightly in the evening.
What to do: Move the container to a spot with partial shade during the afternoon. Provide extra water during heat waves to keep the root zone cool.
Find out what's wrong with your pittosporum
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 even after a thorough watering, the roots may be damaged. It is normal for the plant to look a bit tired on very hot afternoons.
Stopping it coming back
Maintain a consistent watering schedule and mulch the base of the plant to hold in moisture.
Pittosporum: drooping? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your pittosporum 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
- Should I mist my drooping Pittosporum?
- Misting does not help with drooping. Focus on watering the soil deeply instead.
- Can I save a plant that has wilted completely?
- If the stems are still green and flexible, give it a deep soak and wait a few days. If the stems are brown and brittle, the plant may not recover.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Pittosporum
- Why are my Pittosporum leaves turning yellow?
- Why is my Pittosporum dropping its leaves?
- How do I get rid of pests on my Pittosporum?
- Why is my Pittosporum wilting and the soil smells bad?
- Why is my Pittosporum growing long and sparse stems?
- Why are the tips of my Pittosporum leaves turning brown?
- Why does my Pittosporum have spots on its leaves?
- Why are my Pittosporum leaves curling?
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.