Why Do Plants Wilt? - Encyclopedia Britannica

You leave for work in the morning and your plant looks perfectly happy, but by the time you come home, it’s sad and droopy. So why do plants wilt? Usually because they are thirsty!

Many nonwoody plants rely almost exclusively on water pressure, or turgor, within their cells to keep them erect. However, plants are constantly losing water through small openings in their leaves (called stomata) in a process known as transpiration. While transpiration is vital for photosynthesis and helps transport nutrients from the roots to the rest of the plant, the vast majority of the water absorbed by the roots is lost through this process. On a hot, dry day (or after several days with no rain or watering), transpiration causes more water to be lost than is coming in, and the water balance within the plant can get thrown off. The dehydrated collapsing cells in the leaves and stems can no longer remain erect, and the plant begins to wilt. Interestingly, wilting also serves to reduce water loss, as the drooping leaves expose less surface area to the sun’s evaporative rays. Most plants recover quickly when given water, though prolonged dehydration can be fatal or cause leaf death.

There are also a number of plant diseases, known collectively as “wilt,” that cause plants to wilt and discolor. These infections can be caused by viruses, bacteria, or fungi, and many of these diseases will kill the plant if left untreated. If a wilted plant doesn’t perk up after receiving water and generally looks unhealthy, one of these culprits may be to blame. Many important food crops are susceptible to wilt diseases, but modern breeders have developed resistant strains and varieties for a number of these plants.

Related Topics: plant (Show more) See all related content

Finally, some plants, especially legumes, wilt at night—a phenomenon known as nyctinasty. The leaves of many of these species are fitted with jointlike growths called pulvini, which allow the leaves or leaflets to wilt in response to darkness and temperature. The turgor pressure in the pulvini is largely regulated by a chemical photoreceptor that triggers water to move from the joints at night and refills them during the day. The purpose of this unusual adaptation is unclear, though genetic studies suggest that it may aid in growth.