When conditions are extremely dry, consider misting the Calathea to help keep the leaves moist, while also increasing the humidity level. It could also signal that the air is too dry. So it is understandably distressing when those colors begin to fade, looking dull and diminished compared to when you first bought the plant. Leave any undamaged portions of the leaves unless you really cant stand how they look after youve removed the brown parts. Curling calathea leaves may look more severe than wilting leaves, but the causes are largely the same. They dig their teeth in and settle down to feed on any water and nutrients that come through the stems, depriving the leaves. Thats because roots need some oxygen to function, which they normally draw from tiny air pockets in the soil. Although less likely on Calatheas, you also need to keep an eye out for scale insects. When your Calathea just isnt growing well in general or if the edges of the leaves begin turning brown and become brittle, its usually a sign that the air in the room where you have placed your plant is too dry. You may also be interested in: How Often to Water Calathea Plants (So They Thrive). Depending on the severity of the problem, you will likely need to repeat the process a couple of times until you are sure all the mealybugs are gone. When the lower leaves of your Calathea begin to turn yellow and/or other leaves begin to curl or develop spots, its a sign that the plant is receiving too little water. Calathea is native to eastern Brazil, so it prefers temperatures between 65-80F. Salt build-up from overfertilizing can lead to the same issue. .wp-block-kadence-spacer.kt-block-spacer-_359b0b-cd .kt-block-spacer{height:6px;}.wp-block-kadence-spacer.kt-block-spacer-_359b0b-cd .kt-divider{border-top-width:1px;height:1px;border-top-color:var(--global-palette2, #2B6CB0);width:100%;border-top-style:solid;}. It's also important to avoid getting water on the leaves of the plant, as this can create a moist environment that is ideal for the bacteria to grow. Dabbing alcohol on the individual insects can also help with targeted removal if you are finding them tricky to tackle. In this article, gardening expert Emily Horn walks through the most common causes of droopy leaves and how to fix it! Look in areas with stems and leaves close by where there is little airflow and you may notice them gathering there. Pileas are fairly low maintenance plants, but they can have occasional problems. 9 min read. When your Calatheas pot is utterly drenched, the water fills in those little gaps and starts to choke the roots. Calatheas need temperatures that fall between 68 and 85 degrees. Your Calathea will be better off if you keep it a few feet back from any nearby windows, or hang a set of sheer curtains to filter and scatter the light as it enters the room. Snip off the affected leaves with gardening shears, cleaning the shears between each cut. Calathea plants need to be watered about once a week and misted regularly to maintain the proper humidity levels. To do this, look for any signs of overwatering, underwatering, exposure to direct sunlight, pests, diseases, or nutrient deficiencies. Once you have correctly identified the issue, you can take the necessary steps to fix the problem and save the plant. You can also help reduce the chance of overfeeding the Calathea by reducing the amount of fertilizer you give the plant by 1/2 of its strength. 50+ Names to Get You Started. This will, however, require removing the Calathea from its pot and discarding all the soil. The easiest way to determine whether or not overwatering is the problem is to look at the soil in the pot. WebFor example, if you noticed that pale, transparent spots appear on Calathea leaves, the plant was exposed to intense cold. If you have lower than that, you may need to raise the humidity in your home. When the root system is damaged or deprived of water, the parts of the plant that are farthest from their source of hydration run dry first. When a Calathea has outgrown the space in its pot, the roots begin to double back on themselves, circling and twisting into a tight clump that doesnt let in enough water or nutrition to keep the plant healthy. Calathea ornata is an evergreen plant native to the tropical rainforests of Colombia and Venezuela. Excess fertilizer. However, any problems you encounter are usually not impossible to solve. A humidifier is the best way to achieve this, although grouping your moisture-loving plants close together and setting them on pebble trays can also help. On the other hand, stressed leaves can also be a sign of more persistent health issues. Thats why it is important to ensure Calathea is in an area where the temperatures are 68 to 85 degrees consistently throughout the year. Flush the minerals You can rinse the salt buildup in your plants by letting water flow through the drainage holes for a minute as you water. Keep the soil moist from spring to autumn, and provide some humidity by misting the leaves daily or standing on a tray of moist pebbles. With proper care, your Calathea can live for many years, but the individual leaves have shorter lifespans. Webcalathea growers only during the past year or two. The issue of overwatering isnt something to fool around with, since it makes the roots soggy, which leads to root rot. The first step to solving the mystery is to identify the cause. Again, isolate the plant and treat as many times as required to remove the problem. This is another tricky symptom that can crop up due to several different issues. A Calathea that stays in the same pot for a long time will eventually consume all of the nutrients mixed into the potting soil. Why Your Monstera Deliciosa Is Crying, Sweating and Dripping Water. Ensure that the soil is well-draining and allow it to dry out between waterings. Pesticides and insecticides help protect your houseplant when nothing else will work. Scale can be tricky to spot as they are so easily camouflaged. Increase the amount of humidity in the room. Then repot the Calathea in a clean, sterilized container with fresh soil. However, this isnt nearly as common of a reason as too much sun. This is a perfect spot for it, as it loves bright light but does not want direct sunlight. Low humidity, lack of light or transplant shock after repotting are other potential causes. Jungle Calathea soil requirements. It is grown as a potted houseplant for its striking leaves. Creeping crawling bugs are generally not welcomed in our homes, but especially arent welcome in our houseplants. Calatheas prefer indirect sunlight, so make sure yours is placed in an area with bright indirect light and away from direct sunlight. Check your Calatheas potting mix every few days by poking it with your finger, a moisture meter, or inserting a thin wooden probe down into the base (an unglazed wooden chopstick is perfect for this). WebWhen the lower leaves of your Calathea begin to turn yellow and/or other leaves begin to curl or develop spots, its a sign that the plant is receiving too little water. Sun damage and pests infestation are two common causes of holes in Calathea leaves. Many Calathea leaf problems, including discoloration, curling, or drooping, can be brought on by various stressors. Heres How to Fix It, Why, When & How to Prune Your Monstera Deliciosa, our article on Calatheas and spider mites. Related: Best Calathea Soil: Tips to Pick the Right Potting Mix. Calatheas do like their soil to stay moist, but not soggy, and not giving them enough water can cause their leaves to start drying out. Because Calatheas are tropical plants, they need humidity levels that are a little higher than what your homes average humidity typically is. No matter what, you will need to increase the amount of watering you give the plant, while also upping the humidity level. If root rot has set in, your plant needs immediate and drastic treatment. 6. . As stated above, you are more likely to overfeed the Calathea than the plant is to experience problems associated with not fertilizing. Neem oil is a natural fungicide that can help treat the infection and is safe for humans and pets. Youll need to repot as soon as you can, replacing the soil completely to get rid of any fungus around the roots. Additionally, proper air circulation is vital if you mist your Calathea. Last updated: February 18, 2023 | All these preventive measures are done to help reduce stress that can occur when pruning any plant. Even through they are considered low maintenance, ghost plants can still encounter their share of problems. Related: Best Calathea Fertilizer for Prayer Plants (+ When to Do It). WebUse half of the recommended dose If the amount of fertilizer is still causing your leaves to turn yellow, dilute it further with water. Immediately stop overwatering the Calathea, 8. Calathea plants are known for their vibrant and fascinating foliage that adds a touch of tropical paradise to any room. Calatheas need a good balance of nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus to thrive. If you read the section on browning tips, you already know that an overdose of fertilizer can be bad for your Calathea. I'm a freelance writer and editor living and working in Chicago. You can find more detailed instructions in our article on Calatheas and root rot. If your Calathea is not receiving enough nutrients, it can cause brown spots on the leaves. If youve encountered any problems with your Calathea, causing it to look a bit sad compared to when you first bought it, go through this list to find the cause and apply the relevant fix. Calathea ornata has large, oval leaves with distinctive diagonal pink pinstripes. 8 Steps to Nurse Your Calathea Back to Health, How to Choose the Best Pot and Soil for Your Calathea, When, Why, and How to Remove Brown and Dying Leaves from Your Calathea, Spider Mites & Calatheas: Prevent, Defend, and Cure Your Calathea of Pests, 8 Reasons Why Your Calathea May Have Stopped Growing and What You Can Do About It, Humidity and Calatheas: Everything You Need to Know, Plus Our Favorite Humidifier, Calatheas and Misting: To Mist or Not To Mist, That Is The Question, 13 Ideas for Displaying Your Climbing (or Trailing) Philodendrons, 9 Most Likely Reasons Your Pothos Leaves Are Turning Yellow, 7 Possible Reasons Your Pothos Isnt Vining and Trailing, What Should You Name Your Monstera Deliciosa? In fact, seeing brown spots on Calathea is an advanced sign of root rot and, at this stage, trying to save the plant can unfortunately often be a waste of time and resources. Preventing brown spots on Calathea is actually fairly easy since it usually revolves around ensuring the plant has its ideal growing conditions. So dont get discouraged if youre running into problems take it one step at a time and enjoy the journey of caring for your Calathea! In most cases, contact occurs when you water the plant from above, since this causes soil to splash up on the leaves. Watering the soil deeply or watering from the bottom until the soil is completely saturated should resolve the problem within a few hours. Calathea plants need consistent watering to stay healthy. Then, treat with insecticidal soap or horticultural oil to remove the bugs, using repeat applications at recommended intervals until all the pests have been removed. It also improves the quality of indoor air. Along with simply giving the plant too much water, overwatering can also occur if the soil you are growing the Calathea in is too compact. If underwatering is the issue, youll probably see your plants leaves and stems drooping before they begin to get discolored. Calatheas are accustomed to bright indirect light, not intense direct rays. If you suspect overwatering as the cause of your Calatheas brown leaves, start by allowing the soil to dry out completely between waterings. Alternaria leaf spot manifests itself as small, wet-looking reddish-brown spots. Excess moisture in the soil causes the leaves and stems to become mushy due to rot, resulting in the same wilting as with underwatering. This will result in brown spots forming on the leaf where the water drop sat. Once a month or so, give it some liquid fertilizer with a 3:1:2 ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. If your aloe vera plant is drooping or falling over, there could be many different reasons why. It also goes without saying that you should immediately stop fertilizing the Calathea, and then dont fertilize the plant again for a while. Observing how the leaves grow is the best way to check if your Calathea is getting enough light. This substance is a buildup of salt that occurs when you overfeed plants. These chemicals are often too harsh for Calatheas. If the excessive sun continues, the overall growth rate of the Calathea will suffer. If the crisping on your Calatheas leaves is concentrated at the tips, you still have a dehydration issue, but its likely originating at the plants roots rather than the leaves themselves. Another potential issue is new leaves that are small or misshapen when they emerge. WebCalathea roseo-picta and C. 'Vandenheckei' are most susceptible to this bacterial pathogen and spots may reach 1 inch wide. A Calathea placed by a drafty window in an otherwise warm room can suffer from temperature shock when the chill wind hits it. Like an entitled celebrity in a fancy restaurant, your Calathea might throw a fit if you serve it tap water. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 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