Why is my peace lily plant drooping?

Peace lily drooping usually means the roots are not supplying water well, most often because the pot is too dry or too wet.

Answer what you can see

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Push a finger two inches into the soil. What does it feel like?

Which leaves are affected?

Where does it live?

How fast did this happen?

Some causes overlap by appearance: underwatering and hot sun can both give dry soil and fast all-over drooping, while waterlogged roots and too little light can both give damp soil and slow drooping, so use the soil check, window position, drainage, and a close pest check together.

The causes in full

Underwatering or a dried-out root ballMOST COMMON

How to tell
The soil feels dry two inches down or has shrunk away from the pot, and the whole plant flops rather than just one damaged patch.

What to do
If the soil is dry two inches down, water thoroughly until water runs from the drainage holes. If it is bone dry and pulling from the pot, soak the pot in a bowl of water for 20-30 minutes, then drain it fully.

Waterlogged soil and root rot diseaseCOMMON

How to tell
The soil is soggy or stays damp for days, the pot may sit in water or lack good drainage, and roots may look brown, black, soft, or smell sour.

What to do
If the soil is soggy or roots are soft, empty the saucer, slide the plant out, trim mushy roots, and repot into fresh mix in a pot with drainage holes. After repotting, water only when the top two inches have begun to feel dry, not while the soil is still wet.

Hot direct sun through glassCOMMON

How to tell
The drooping or scorch is worst on the side facing the window, especially after strong sun, and the soil may dry much faster than usual.

What to do
Move the plant out of direct sun into bright but indirect light. Water only if the soil is dry two inches down; if it is still damp, let it recover in gentler light without adding more water.

Cold draught or temperature shockLESS COMMON

How to tell
The plant drooped suddenly after a cold night, an open door, an air-conditioner blast, or being pressed against a cold window.

What to do
Move it away from cold glass, doors, heaters, and air-conditioning vents to a steady warm spot with bright indirect light. Water only if the soil is dry two inches down; if the soil is damp, do not add water just because the leaves are drooping.

Too little light keeping the pot wetLESS COMMON

How to tell
The plant is in a dim corner or far from a window, the soil stays damp for a long time, and older leaves slowly yellow or droop.

What to do
Move it closer to a window where the light is bright but indirect. If the soil is damp or soggy, wait to water until the top two inches have begun to feel dry, and make sure the pot drains freely.

Mealybugs, scale, or spider mitesRARE

How to tell
Look under leaves, along stems, and where leaves meet the base for white cottony clumps, brown shell-like bumps, fine webbing, sticky residue, or tiny moving specks.

What to do
Isolate the plant, rinse pests off, wipe leaves and stems, and treat with a labeled insecticidal soap or horticultural oil, repeating as the label says. Water only if the soil is dry two inches down, because pests can cause drooping even when the pot is not dry.

Will it recover?

Leaves that are only limp often stand back up after the cause is fixed, but yellow, brown, scorched, or mushy leaves will not recover and the goal is healthy new growth.

Stopping it happening again

Keep the plant in bright indirect light, use a pot with drainage holes, empty the saucer after watering, check the soil before watering, and keep it away from strong sun, cold draughts, and heater or AC blasts.