A plant condition where foliage droops and loses turgor pressure, caused by either insufficient water availability or vascular disease blocking water transport.
In plain terms
Wilting is a sign something's wrong. Wilting in dry soil = underwatering; water and recover. Wilting despite wet soil = vascular disease (root rot, vascular infection) or root damage; water can't reach foliage. The distinction determines the fix: drought stress = more water; vascular disease = remove plant, improve drainage, sanitize.
Why this matters
Understanding wilt's cause prevents wrong treatments. Watering a plant with root rot makes it worse; it needs drainage improvement or removal.
In practice
Examples
Plant wilts in dry soil; soil dry to 6 inches; water deeply; recovers in hours.
Same plant wilts in wet soil; soil soggy; roots rotting; repot in fresh soil; wilting stops.