Don’t fret about your tomato plant drooping just yet. Read my post to learn all possible causes behind this phenomenon as well as quick fixes to solve the issue.
Stick around for expert tips on how to prevent future drooping and best practices for growing thriving tomato plants. Let’s breathe life back into your tomato plant!
1 – Under- or Overwatering
If it’s your first time growing tomatoes, you probably didn’t know that they’re quite a thirsty plant. That’s also why many beginners mess up the watering schedule by either under or overwatering the plant.
With not enough water, the plant will naturally wilt. The leaves will feel dry and crispy, and the stem might be yellowish.
Alternatively, too much water causes the plant to be leggy. The leaves will show discoloration, and the plant will also wilt.
Additionally, the soil will be waterlogged, and wilting won’t be your only problem. You’d be barreling towards more serious issues, like root rot.
How to Fix: Set a Consistent Watering Schedule
A fixed watering schedule does wonders for your plants. My golden rule? Water once in the early morning and again in the late afternoon.
Other tips to keep in mind include:
- Water at soil level. Stay clear of the leaves and the stem.
- Test soil moisture before watering. Sometimes you won’t need to water the plant again, so do the finger test to test the soil beforehand.
- Water deeply. The top 8 inches of the soil must be moist.
Pro tip: Use straw mulch if necessary. It helps with moisture retention and keeps your plant healthy and strong.
2 – High Temperatures
If there’s one thing I’ve learned working with tomato plants, it’s that they love the sunshine but hate the heat. If you live in a Southern climate or hot area, you want to watch out for heat waves.
High temperatures (>85-90℉) cause more than drooping, too. The leaves turn dry and curl, fruit production stops, flowers fall, and the plant shrinks.
How to Fix: Protect Plant from Heat Stress
Just as you would shield yourself from strong sunlight, do the same for your tomato plant. Pick from several shading structures to protect the plant from sizzling summer temperatures.
Some excellent examples include:
- Retractable awnings: These structures give you the freedom to retract them on cooler days.
- Shade sails: A budget-friendly alternative and another retractable option.
- Roof overhangs: Perfect if you keep your tomatoes in flower beds or pots.
3 – Fungal Wilt Disease
Fusarium wilt (known as fungal wilt disease) is prevalent in hot climates. The disease affects the soil and directly affects the plant’s ability to absorb water – causing wilting.
Look out for symptoms of this soil-borne fungus, which include:
- Rapid yellowing and wilting of leaves
- Reddish-brown discoloration of stem and roots
- Gradual deterioration of plant’s health despite following care requirements
How to Fix: Remove the Infected Plant
Since the disease is soil-borne, there’s no cure for it. That doesn’t mean there’s nothing to be done, though!
You still need to manage and contain the disease as well as prevent it from taking the lives of more plants. Here’s your cheat sheet:
- Remove and destroy infected plants. Doing so stops the disease from spreading.
- Avoid planting new crops in the soil where you’ve identified the fungus.
- Disinfect garden tools after dealing with infected plants. It helps prevent cross-contamination.
- Practice crop rotation. To stop pathogens from building in the soil, annually rotate your tomato plants.
- Maintain optimal soil health. Ensure pH levels are between 6.5 and 7.0 and use calcium-nitrate-rich fertilizers.
Pro tip: If you’re still worried about your soil, opt for tomato plant varieties with high resistance to fungal wilt disease. Check them out here.
4 – Root Damage
Have you recently transplanted your tomato from one spot/pot to another? If so, you likely lost some secondary roots when doing so.
In turn, the root system was slightly compromised, making it weaker. Its ability to drink up as much water as before isn’t the same, which leads to the leaves wilting or turning yellow.
How to Fix: Be Patient
The remarkable thing about plants is that they can easily bounce back. They just need a little patience and a lot of care.
So, be patient. Let the root system get strong on its own; simply, increase watering frequency until it does.
Additionally, mix in compost with the soil to strengthen the root system quickly. Adding essential nutrients, such as phosphorus and potassium, will also help develop strong roots.
5 – Over Pruning
Beginner gardeners are always told not to neglect pruning their plants—and while it is important, it doesn’t apply to all plants (tomatoes included).
Why, though? Well, tomato plants need their leaves to protect them from strong sunlight and provide shade on hot days.
When you’re constantly pruning them back, you’re cutting the plant’s main defense line, and it ends up wilting.
How to Fix: Cut Back on Cutting Leaves
Don’t prune your tomato plant that often. For instance, when your plant starts maturing, it’s recommended to pinch/prune older leaves towards the bottom.
Doing so helps the plant better focus on fruit production.
Additionally, prune only in early June or late July – no sooner. A rule of thumb is: The first cluster of flowers should show before you start pruning.
Following the first pruning, wait from 10-14 days before you chop, chop again. Finally, remove suckers as you go for maximum crop yield.
3 Best Practices When Growing a Tomato Plant: How to Prevent Drooping
So, how do you save yourself another gardening scare? Check out some of the best practices I’ve picked up from my years of experience when it comes to growing tomatoes.
- Space Out Seedlings
This practice applies not just to tomatoes, but all plants. Spacing out seedlings reduces competition for water, soil resources, and nutrients.
Leaving about 18-24 inches between one tomato plant and another also allows each to soak up as much sunshine as needed. It minimizes the spread of diseases and makes it easier to maintain and prune your plants.
- Plant in a Sunny Area
It’s hard to nail how much sunlight a sun-loving plant like the tomato requires—especially since if you do it wrong, you risk scorching the leaves or the plant wilting.
The golden rule is to calculate the hours of sunshine your plant needs according to what growth stage it’s currently in. For instance, in the early germination stages, tomatoes need at least 8 hours of strong, direct sunlight.
- Support the Stem
Tomato stems aren’t strong enough to keep themselves upright. They’ll need supporting structures, such as stakes and cages, for improved air circulation as well.
Supporting structures also keep the plant’s fruit out of the dirt. Additionally, they help the plant better focus on fruit and flower production.
Final Thoughts
And that’s all I can offer you, green thumbs! I hope my post helped you realize where you went wrong with your tomato plant.
It’s simple, really. Just make sure there are no watering inconsistencies, high temperatures, underlying diseases, or worse, root damage.
Luckily, you’ve got the solution to everything above right here! So, go ahead and save your plant today.
Growing up with a mom who filled her home (inside and out) with all sorts of plants, Lisa got her start in gardening at a young age. Living now on her own with a home and yard full of plants (including an indoor greenhouse), she shares all the gardening tips she’s gained over the years.