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. Lets take a look at the most common causes. In this article, gardening expert and houseplant enthusiast Madison Moulton walks through the most common calathea problems, and how to fix them! Exposure to direct sunlight can cause brown leaves on Calathea plants. The identifying spots can range in color from black, brown, red, orange, yellow to white, and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The main reason for problems with color in Calatheas is sunlight specifically, too much of it. When you know what is missing from the soil, get an all-purpose fertilizer with those nutrients. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Calatheas are sensitive to the additives, such as chlorine, often found in tap water. There are actually a few common issues that can impact these popular houseplants, depending on how they are grown. Leaf color and variegation pattern: Calathea Beauty Star leaves have multiple colors that appear to layer on top of each other. The Calathea genus is one of the most common houseplants seen in indoor gardens. Apply the same steps in irradicating scale as with mealybug. Garden's Whisper is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. If so, then that is your confirmation that the plant is too dry. If you dont start supplementing with added fertilizer, the plant will no longer have enough of the chemicals it needs to build and maintain its leaves. Common ones that can cause brown leaves are nitrogen and potassium. Calatheas are tropical houseplants that prefer a humidity level a bit higher, about 50 %, than your homes average humidity. The lack of structure will also cause the stems to fall over and the leaves to wilt. .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;}. Calathea can endure short periods of underwatering if it must, but if that period extends too long, the plant will let you know about it with the aforementioned reminders of your neglect. If you notice all these factors combined, make sure you move the plant out of the path of the direct sun straight away, or cover your window with a shear curtain to filter the suns rays. That is why it is important to avoid compact, heavy soils, such as clay-based, and instead use soil that is light and airy. Look in areas with stems and leaves close by where there is little airflow and you may notice them gathering there. Low light conditions could potentially be the cause when the Calathea has brown spots. In these cases, flush the soil with filtered water until it runs clear. If they are placed in the path of direct sunlight during the hottest parts of the day, the leaves will likely become pale due to sun damage. Calathea care is all about balance. 4. Use this list to determine which problem is most likely and change the conditions until your Calathea is strong and happy again. However, any problems you encounter are usually not impossible to solve. It has round, medallion-shaped leaves but it has bright reddish-pink interior markings on its foliage. Calathea is a large genus of leafy tropical plants found growing in the damp, swampy forest floors of the Americas. Calatheas need temperatures that fall between 68 and 85 degrees. A good general soil mixture for Calathea consists of 50 percent potting soil, 20 percent charcoal, 20 percent orchid bark, and 10 percent perlite. Fiddle leaf figs are popular houseplants, but they can also be a bit difficult to care for. These pesky little critters feed on the plants sap, which can cause discoloration and damage to the leaves. If conditions are not quite right, you may encounter a common issue among Calathea growers leaves turning brown at the edges. Thats why it is important to ensure Calathea is in an area where the temperatures are 68 to 85 degrees consistently throughout the year. If you mist your Calatheas, use a fine droplet setting and try to avoid letting it sit in a sunbeam immediately afterward. Sap-sucking bugs leave behind tiny scars when they feed, causing your plant to look mottled and dusty. If, however, there is an abundance of infected leaves, removing them all can cause the plants growth and health to suffer. A good indoor location for Calatheas is one near a bright window, such as one that faces east. Unfortunately, they are not without their issues. The most common culprit is severe sun scorch. As stated above, you are more likely to overfeed the Calathea than the plant is to experience problems associated with not fertilizing. Weirdly enough, too much water can be even worse than too little when it comes to maintaining a healthy plant. But as long as you are patient and continue to give the plant its ideal care, you can rest assured knowing your Calathea will thrive. . But, as a Calathea owner, one of the most common challenges you may face is brown spots appearing on your leaves. When it comes to plants, prevention is key. WebThe dark green spots appear on both sides of the leaves. The usual suspects are spider mites, the most common Calathea pests by a landslide, but thrips or aphids can also cause this type of damage. It is always best to prevent your Calathea from getting brown spots in the first place. Keep temperatures moderate and move the plant out of the way of drafts to resolve the problem. If youre not sure whether or not this is the cause of the brown spots on Calathea, take a look at the top of the soil. Another common cause of brown spots on Calathea leaves is too much direct sunlight exposure. If youve left your plant in the same pot for 2 or 3 years, it might be root bound enough to hamper growth. When the Calathea has brown spots caused by overfertilization, you will need to flush out the excess minerals that have built up in the soil. If you must feed the plant, consider using a more organic option, such as worm castings or compost. East- or west-facing windows are usually the best spots for Calathea plants. Excess fertilizer. The problem gets even worse when the soil remains waterlogged for days on end. This problem can also spread above the soil line, causing the stems to rot at the base. Ever since I was a little kid working in the garden with my mother and grandmother, I've loved helping green things grow. As with all plants, chlorophyll turns plant leaves green, and, just as with the leaves on deciduous trees, when Calathea leaves receive full sunlight, the chlorophyll takes over and the striking dark and light patterns on the leaves fade and disappear. No matter what, you will need to increase the amount of watering you give the plant, while also upping the humidity level. Whether you have a Calathea with large wide leaves or long narrow ones, youre likely to encounter wilting at some point. In this article, gardening expert and houseplant enthusiast Emily Horn examines some of the most common problems that gardeners may see when caring for ghost plants. 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. Creeping crawling bugs are generally not welcomed in our homes, but especially arent welcome in our houseplants. There are rarely more than two spots on a leaf and loss of the leaf often occurs if it is infected before complete expansion (2). Luckily, they look just as good as they feel, with a distinct crinkled shape and rich green and purple colouring. Aglaonemas are often vibrant and colorful, with strikingly patterned leaves. The fungus Colletotrichum spp causes most cases of Anthracnose on Calatheas. Growing Tip: Grow it in a large pot in a bright location. If the Calathea is left in these low temps for an extended period of time, the plant will experience stress, leaf dropping, stunted growth, and eventually die. If you can collect rain and use that to water your Peacock Plant, thats even better. Hey, Calathea has a reputation for being difficult to raise, but arent those beautiful leaves worthy of the challenges? They need a consistently warm spot and bright but indirect light keep them out of direct sunshine. Repot into a new pot with plenty of drainage holes. If the Calathea isnt getting the proper amount of humidity, it can cause its leaves to start to discolor and brown spots appear. This healthy tissue can still capture energy from photosynthesis; if you take it off, you may slow down your Calatheas growth. The first response to a pest problem should always be quarantined. With the help of these tips for preventing brown spots on your Calathea leaves, youll be able to keep your plant looking healthy and beautiful. If you have been overwatering your Calathea, begin checking the top inch of soil in the pot, and dont water until that top layer of soil dries out. Lets dig in and take a deeper look at the most common problems you may run into with this picky houseplant. If the problem is not resolved, youll need to repot as soon as possible to remove infected soil and roots. Pileas are fairly low maintenance plants, but they can have occasional problems. Finally, some yellowing on the lower parts of the plant is nothing to worry about. Older leaves will eventually turn yellow, then brown, and fall off the plant. Once a month or so, give it some liquid fertilizer with a 3:1:2 ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. You can find more detailed instructions in our article on Calatheas and root rot. Flush the pot every 1-2 months while using fertilizer, using the method we described in the section on water quality. Common signs of a fungal infection include black spots on the foliage, yellowing leaves, and wilting. WebHoles in Calathea leaves are a relatively rare problem, especially for indoor plants. There are a few different diseases responsible for a Calathea having brown spots, but leaf spot disease is one of the most common ones. Calathea ornata is an evergreen plant native to the tropical rainforests of Colombia and Venezuela. Do you have some problems with your Chinese Money Plant and aren't quite sure what to do? So it is understandably distressing when those colors begin to fade, looking dull and diminished compared to when you first bought the plant. When you find the factor thats out of balance, you can start restoring your Calatheas leaves to their former glory. Sitting the Calathea plant on a drop tray or placing a humidifier next to the plant will go a long way to increasing the humidity to a level that is more suitable for this tropical plant. Brown edges on your Calathea leaves are generally a sign that the plant isnt getting enough water. If you want to confirm that underwatering is the cause of the brown edges, simply take a look at Calatheas soil. Are usually the best spots for Calathea plants potentially be the cause brown. An abundance of infected leaves, and fall off the plant, consider a. 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