My pothos went from perky to completely limp over about two days. The leaves are hanging down and look sad but they are still green. Nothing changed that I can think of. Should I water it, or is that going to make it worse?

A pothos that flops overnight while staying green is usually just thirsty. Check the mix before you water, because wet soil means the opposite problem.

Why is my pothos drooping?

Sudden, dramatic, still green, no other symptoms. Nine times out of ten a pothos that flops like that is simply thirsty, and it will be back up within hours of a proper drink.

The likely cause

Pothos are theatrical about drought. They hold themselves upright until the last possible moment and then collapse all at once, which makes a missed watering look like a catastrophe. Check the mix before you do anything: if it is dry a couple of knuckles down and the pot feels light, that is your answer. If the mix is wet and the plant is still drooping, you have the opposite problem, because roots that have started to rot cannot draw water even while sitting in it.

How to fix it

Confirm before you water. Dry mix and a light pot means water. Soggy mix and a sour smell means stop watering and treat it as root rot instead.
Water thoroughly, not lightly. Soak until it runs from the drainage holes so the whole root ball rehydrates. A splash only wets the surface and leaves the roots dry.
Move it out of any direct blast. A radiator, a heat vent, or harsh afternoon sun through glass will pull water out faster than the roots can replace it.

What to expect

A thirsty pothos usually stands back up within four to twelve hours, and it is genuinely satisfying to watch. If it is still limp after a full day and the mix is damp, the trouble is at the roots.

Start here: why is my plant dying? — the four checks and the five things that kill nearly every houseplant.

Answers are written by AI and safety-checked by code before they post — no feeding doses, no medical advice, anything toxic to cats or dogs flagged. No human reads a question or an answer before it goes up, so treat this as good, careful guidance rather than professional or veterinary advice. If the plant is precious, or you suspect a spreading pest or disease, get human eyes on it too.