Plant Wilting in Dry Soil

Water Significance

• Dry soil due to a lack of rainwater or irrigation causes plants to wilt. Plants constantly absorb water from the soil through their roots. This water moves throughout the plants and eventually re-enters the atmosphere when plant leaves release it as water vapor. Plant parts without enough water start to droop as they become dehydrated. Since plants constantly release water, they need a regular water supply in the soil to keep them from releasing more water than they absorb and wilting.

Irrigation

• Some plants like cacti and succulents that grow natively in deserts grow best when their soil dries out in between waterings. Most plants, however, need rain or irrigation from a gardener to keep their soil at least somewhat consistently moist. Gardeners can monitor soil moisture by sticking a finger into the soil and watering plants when the soil begins to feel dry to the touch an inch beneath its surface. Researching the water amount that a specific type of garden requires also helps. The University of Illinois Extension recommends about 1 inch of water per week for most types of gardens.

Soil Type

• Sandy soils hold less water than loamy or clay soils, and many plants wilt in sandy soils. Their larger particle sizes allow water to pass through quickly, leaving plants without access to water for as long as they would in soils with smaller particles. Plants from naturally sandy environments, like desert and coastal plants, may grow well in sandy soils. However, most plants prefer soils that hold more water than sandy soils. The National Gardening Association recommends gardeners add organic matter such as compost to sandy soils to help retain the correct amount of water.

Potted Plants

• The smaller a plant's container, the more water it needs. Plants in small pots do not have as much soil to retain moisture as plants in large pots. Therefore, soil dries out more quickly, causing plants to wilt more easily. Large planters with several plants in them will usually require less irrigation than individual smaller pots.

Other Considerations

• Heat also affects plant wilting and soil moisture content. The hotter the weather, the faster soil dries out. Gardeners should add more irrigation than normal during especially hot and dry weather, instead of always watering plants the same amount. The time of day also has an effect on water evaporation. The University of Illinois Extension recommends watering plants in the morning, because more water can soak into the soil without evaporating during cool morning temperatures than hot afternoon temperatures.