Although lilac - not to be confused with the butterfly lilac, which belongs to another species - is basically a very robust plant, it can become limp after planting or transplanting. In this article you will find out why your lilacs are drooping and what you can do about it.

A lack of water causes the lilacs to droop their leaves

Transplant / repot lilacs correctly - you should pay attention to this

Especially after planting or transplanting, lilacs often let their leaves droop. This is completely normal and nothing to worry about, the plant usually recovers after a few hours or days. The reason is often the stress that transplanting means for the plant. She is then in shock, from which she must first recover. In addition, roots have most likely been injured, which is why you always have to cut back older lilacs by about a third before transplanting. The following measures will also help to ensure that your lilac does not look so sad after planting or transplanting:

  • The planting hole or the pot should be big enough, about a third of the root ball.
  • Choose a warm and dry day for planting.
  • Do as little damage to the roots as possible.
  • Do not remove the clinging old soil before planting, but leave it at the roots.
  • This makes it easier for the plant to root in the new substrate.
  • Potting soil should always be at about the same temperature as the plant.
  • For this reason, you should always warm up the substrate before repotting in early spring.
  • Even heavily fertilized plant substrate can cause drooping leaves.
  • Water the lilac plentifully, because drooping leaves after planting are often caused by lack of water.

The most common causes and their countermeasures

Other causes of drooping leaves include:

  • Lack of water due to prolonged drought - countermeasure: water
  • Waterlogging, caused for example by heavy soil - countermeasure: transplant, improve the soil
  • Root rot caused by fungal infection such as Verticillium or Honey fungus - countermeasure: strong pruning, possibly transplanting with soil improvement, often clearing
  • Wrong location, such as soil containing a lot of clay - roots cannot spread and can no longer supply the plant with water - countermeasure: transplanting, soil improvement, drainage

tips

Even if it may seem so at first: The reason for drooping leaves is not always a lack of water, but often the opposite. Therefore, first carefully check the causes before you carelessly reach for the watering can and possibly deal the deathblow to your lilac.

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Trees