What Causes Bee Balm to Droop?

Drought

• Although bee balm has a mild drought tolerance and grows well in a variety of different soils -- including loam, sand and clay -- long periods of drought cause drooping and wilt. Yellowing leaves, small or limited production of flowers and overall drooping of the bee balm plant are indicators of excessively dry soil, especially if it has not rained. Provide the bee balm with water to restore it to health. If the bee balm does not perk up after it has been watered, continue examining its growing environment for other issues.

Edema

• On the other side of the drought coin there is drowning, or edema, which is a condition of bee balm plants caused by exposure to excess water. Flooding, standing water or over-watering lead to edema, which is a swelling of the leaves. Edema is related to the suffocation and drowning of the bee balm plant's roots. Make sure the soil around the bee balm drains water quickly and does not have puddles to prevent problems with edema and drowning.

Powdery Mildew

• Powdery mildew is a fungal disease that affects many garden plants, ranging from trees and shrubs to vegetables and herbs. The fungi that cause powdery mildew come from a variety of genera, but the symptoms are the same. Bee balm plants infected by powdery mildew exhibit a white or gray covering on the leaves, followed by drooping, twisting and yellowing of the leaves and sometimes premature defoliation. Pinch off damaged leaves and spray the bee balm plant with a fungicide to control the spread of the disease.

Cercospora Leaf Spot

• The presence of brownish spots on the leaves of a bee balm plant indicate a fungal leaf spot disease. According to the University of Illinois Extension, bee balm plants are susceptible to cercospora leaf spot, which causes the plants to wilt and droop as it progresses. Infections contribute to the early death of bee balm plants if left untreated. Pinch off spotted leaves and remove any fallen leaves from around the plant. Treat the bee balm with a fungicide.