Why is My Paddle Plant Droopy? (3 Reasons)
Melissa Johnson
Mostly grown for decorative purposes, paddle plants can add a breath of sophistication to any space you chose to grow them in.
With their typical flat and paddle-shaped leaves developing in a form of a rosette, they have rather a unique appearance which is why they’re hugely popular both among homeowners and gardeners.
Capable of thriving both indoors and outdoors, this plant is rather hardy and can grow even in unfavorable conditions.
That’s why, if you notice something wrong with your paddle plant, the most likely reason is improper maintenance or the lack of care.
The most common issue you may have with this plant is that it may become droopy or have its leaves all curled up.
There are a couple of potential causes why this may happen and I’ll explain the most likely ones and offer the answer to the question:
Why is my paddle plant droopy?
So, let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
Why is My Paddle Plant Droopy?
As already mentioned, the paddle plant, also known as the flapjack succulent, is fairly tough and can keep a healthy appearance and stay upright even in adverse conditions.
However, if left in that kind of environment for a longer period, you’ll notice the paddle plant leaves drooping and leaning downwards.
Dropping leaves are usually the first sign that something is not right with the plant.
It’s also a signal for you to take measures to make sure that the plant’s condition doesn’t get any worse and try to revive it.
To be able to do that, it’s important that you learn the most common reasons that lead to paddle plant drooping.
Only then you can undertake the right action and adjust your maintenance routine to help the plant.
Below is the overview of probable causes that put the paddle plant in this condition and ways to deal with it.
Overwatering
Paddle plants can handle drought conditions pretty well and even enjoy being in a fairly dry environment.
They only require watering once the soil they’re planted in is fully dry.
Too much water, as well as compacted soil that doesn’t provide proper drainage, can block the roots from getting much-needed oxygen and cause root rot.
This will lower the intake of nutrients for the whole plant and cause the leaves to droop and lean downwards.
When you see the leaves looking like that, the first thing to check is the soil to see if it’s overwatered and whether it drains well or not.
To preserve the plant and stop the root rot from spreading it’s important to deal with this issue as soon as possible.
Once the root rot has gone too far and the leaves have lost their shape and structure, it may be impossible to save the paddle plant.
What to Do?
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In order to avoid overwatering your paddle plant, make sure to water it only moderately.
Still, this should be done once every one or two weeks, especially when the plant is fully exposed to the sun.
The best way to determine whether a paddle plant needs watering is to check the soil with your finger.
You should only add water when the top two or three inches of soil seem dry. The water should be added from the top, equally covering all parts.
Another thing that should help prevent drooping paddle plants is avoiding the use of tap water for watering.
You should only add distilled water, at room temperature.
It’s important to note that underwatering the plant can also cause some problems, such as loss of turgor and wilting leaves.
Overfeeding
While the paddle plant, like all the other plants, needs nutrients, too much of them, especially coming from the overuse of fertilizer can make its leaves become droopy.
Overfertilizing negatively affects moisture retention and reduces roots’ ability to absorb water, causing dehydration and droopiness of leaves.
What to do?
The paddle plant doesn’t need much feeding.
So, you should use only moderate amounts of fertilizer and add it to the soil around the plant only during the warm seasons when the paddle plant is actively growing.
The fertilizer you use should be of high quality and with a balanced NPK ratio. It’s best that you add only the feeds that are specifically created for succulents.
Freezing Temperatures
It’s important to remember that the paddle plant doesn’t like the cold.
They enjoy moderate to warm temperatures and any cold weather, especially sudden cold fronts, can harm the leaves, causing them to droop downwards.
This is why it’s much easier to grow this plant indoors, as you don’t have to worry about cold weather or sudden changes in temperature.
What to Do?
To prevent paddle plant leaves to droop from the cold, you should provide them with an environment where the temperature is at the level that best suits them.
This means maintaining the temperature in the range of 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you keep it outdoors, make sure to bring it inside as soon as the cold weather starts approaching, so you can control the environment temperature easier.
Even though the paddle plant can survive at much lower temperatures, down to 20 degrees Fahrenheit, longer exposure can cause even more serious damage than drooping leaves.
Conclusion
If you’re having trouble with paddle plant drooping leaves, it’s probably because your maintenance hasn’t been up to standard or because you’ve allowed prolonged exposure to the unfavorable environment.
Improper watering, too much fertilizer, and freezing temperatures can all harm the paddle plant and cause drooping leaves.
Often, it’s the combination of these factors that does the damage.
Still, drooping leaves are not the end of the world, and if you act on time you can revive the plant without too many negative consequences.
This is why it’s important to always keep an eye out and monitor your plant to be able to notice the first leaves as they start to droop, so you can swiftly act and prevent further damage.
This is one of the paddle plant issues that are the easiest to fix, but ignoring it for too long can cause bring serious harm to your plant.
