What it is
The plant runs out of water in the soil. Without water it can't keep its leaves firm (leaves are held up by water pressure inside, like a balloon), it closes its pores to avoid losing more and stops photosynthesizing: it stalls.
How to tell
The leaves droop limp and soft, like a wet rag, and feel thin. The pot weighs little and the soil pulls away from the edge. If it lasts, the lower leaves turn yellow and dry, and the root tips die.
What to do
Water, but slowly: very dry soil becomes "water-repellent" and the water runs down the sides without wetting it. It is best to water a little, wait 10 minutes and finish watering. In a few hours the leaves lift back up on their own.
How to avoid it
Learn the weight of the pot dry and wet. In flowering and in the heat, check every day. A bigger pot holds more water. And if you won't be around, a system like wick or drip.
Watch out: don't mix them up
Overwatering also makes the leaves droop, but stiff and curled. The difference is in the weight of the pot: light is thirst; heavy is too much water.
🎮 Practice it in UnderGrow
With the water bar at 0 % the panel says "damage in x": a bit of stress. When the soil dries out completely, it says "dies in x": it loses health every hour and after 30 game hours dry it dies. The lens sees it before you do.
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