13 Reasons Why Bloodleaf Plant is Wilting and Drooping Leaves (with Remedies)
Some links in this post may be affiliate links
Wilting and drooping on Bloodleaf Plant (Iresine herbstii) is due to too little light, pests infestations, inconsistent watering, soggy soil, nutrients deficiency, salts buidup, wrong soil, root-rot among others.
Iresine herbstii also called Beef Steak Plant or Red Iresine are easy-care plants which thrive in very bright light with 4-6 hours of direct sunlight, warm and humid conditions, and consistently moist, rich, well-drained soils coupled with fortnightly feeding during the growing season. Learn how to grow and care for Bloodleaf Plant.
If the correct growing conditions are not present, the plants may develop some problems like wilting and drooping. Where the leaves lose their stiffness and begin to wilt and become floppy.
The reasons for wilting and droopy leaves are many and varied. We have outlined herebelow 13 reasons why Bloodleaf Plant may wilt and droop and how to fix them.
13 Causes of Bloodleaf Plant wilting and drooping
1. Too Little Light
Adequate light is needed to make food for growth and energy. Too little light implies that the plant cannot make enough food for energy and growth. In an attempt to save energy, the leaves begin to die and this begins with wilting and drooping leaves.
How to fix it
Cut back the stems to rejuvenate growth and move the plant to a brighter spot where it will receive very bright light with 4-6 hours of direct sunlight.
Instal full spectrum grow lights if you do not have enough natural lighting in your home.
Regularly damp-wipe the leaves with a soft cloth to get rid of dust to ensure that maximum surface area is exposed for light absorption.
2. Pest Infestations
Pests attack the new growth, from where they suck the plant sap causing the plant to become dehydrated which results in wilting and drooping.
How to fix it
Regularly inspect your Bloodleaf Plant for the pests and take timely control measures to minimize the likely damage.
To get rid of the pests, treat the plant with neem oil or insecticidal soap as per the manufacturer's instructions.
To discourage pests infestation, regularly clean the leaves by damp wiping with a soft cloth and keep the plant properly pruned.
In addition, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier to increase humidity to discourage the pests.
3. Wrong Soil
Poor quality soil does not drain easily and becomes compacted which will result in stunted growth, rotting, wilting and drooping leaves.
How to fix it
Pot the Bloodleaf Plant in a loose, free-draining soil that is rich in organic matter. A blend of 2 parts of aotting mix and 1 part perlite is perfect for this plant.
4. Salts Buildup
Excess salts in the soil will cause the roots to die due to fertilizer burn. Thus, they cannot take up water to the leaves. As such, the leaves will lose water at a greater rate than it is being replaced. Therefore, they begin to wilt and droop.
How to fix it
Take care not to overfeed your Bloodleaf Plant. Do not feed in fall and winter as growth is reduced at this time, therefore, feeding at this time will kill the roots.
Occasionally, flush out excess salts by throughly drenching the soil until water flows out through the drainage hole.
5. Nutrients Deficiency
Underfeeding implies that the plant is not getting enough nutrients need for growth and energy. In sufficient nutrients in the actively growing tips causes nutrients to be withdrawn from the older lower leaves which begin to wilt and droop.
How to fix it
Feed your Bloodleaf Plant fortnightly in spring and summer with a balanced, liquid fertilizer to promote a lush growth. Take care to follow the instructions on the label of the plant food.
6. Root-rot Disease
Bloodleaf Plant is prone to root-rot which is enhanced by soggy soil. The disease is characterized by wilted, discolored leaves, corky swellings under the leaves, drooping leaves which eventually drop.
How to fix it
Remove the Bloodleaf Plant from its pot and inspect the roots. Brown-black mushy roots indicate root-rot, trim them off and treat the healthy roots with a fungicidal solution as indicated by the manufacturer.
Disinfect the pot or use a fresh pot to repot the plant in fresh, loose, free-draining soil.
Do not water the plant and keep it dry for some time before resuming watering.
7. Being Pot-bound
If the plant is pot-bound, the roots have filled the pot, and there is very little soil to hold water when you water the plant. Therefore, there is no water for the plant to take up to the leaves. The leaves loss their stiffness, they wilt and droop.
How to fix it
Check the bottom of the pot for roots growing through the drainage hole. Repot the plant into a pot one size larger than the current one. Take a look at these self watering planters with drainage hole on Amazon.
8. Soggy Soil
Too much water in the soil reduces the oxygen concentration in the rootzone which causes the roots to die. This means, they cannot take up water to the upper parts of the plant like the stems and leaves. These parts lose their firmness and begin to wilt and droop downwards.
How to fix it
Ensure that the pot has a drainage hole and the soil drains easily without holding excess water.
Decrease watering in fall and winter to maintain the soil barely moist as growth is minimal at this time, thus the plant does not require much water.
9. Inconsistent Watering
Underwatering implies that there is too little moisture in the soil, thus it cannot be taken up to the leaves and other parts. Therefore, water lost by the leaves cannot be replaced causing the leaves to lose their turgity, they wilt and become floopy and droopy.
Overwatering results in soggy soil. Too much water in the soil reduces the oxygen concentration in the rootzone which causes the roots to die resulting in loss of firmness, which causes the leaves to wilt and droop downwards.
How to fix it
Do not water on a schedule; Water when the top 1-2 inches of soil dry out but never allow the soil to dry out completely for a prolonged period.
10. Temperature Stress
Extreme temperatures due to drafts will cause stunted growth, yellowing, wilting and drooping leaves.
How to fix it
Keep the Bloodleaf Plant away from sources of drafts like AC units, Windy doors, hot surfaces, hot air vents radiators, drafty windows and others to maintain a constantly warm environment.
Avoid consistently watering with too cold water to prevent cold shock; use room temperature water.
11. Low Humidity
Very low humidity will result in dehydration of the leaves, causing them to lose their turgidity, therefore they wilt and droop.
How to fix it
To elevate humidity for your plant, group the plants together, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier.
You can also grow the plant in a well-lit bathroom, kitchen, laundy area and other moist areas in the home.
12. Hot Direct Sunlight
Exposing the plant to direct sunlight with result in dehydration, schorching, wilting and drooping leaves.
How to fix it
Keep the plant away from hot direct sunlight or use a light curtain to diffuse the sunrays to reduce their intensisty.
13. Repotting Shock
Repotting Bloodleaf Plant will cause it some shock which may lead to some leaves wilting and drooping before it can adjust to the new growing conditions.
How to fix it
Water your Bloodleaf Plant thoroughly one day before repotting as a well hydrated plant experiences less repotting shock.
Do not make too many changes at once. For instance, after repotting, maintain the plant in the same location until it is well established before moving it to a new location.
You liked it? Share on social media.
Related Content
Amazon Associates Disclosure
Homeplantsguide.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.