Calathea Yellow Edges

Calathea yellow edges

The edges of my plant's leaves are turning yellow and brown. What can I do? Most often this is caused by inconsistent watering. With Calathea, yellowing and browning can be both signs of over and underwatering.

What to do when Calathea leaves turn yellow?

Calatheas need bright indirect light throughout the day. If your plant isn't getting enough light, it will stunt the growth, and the leaves' yellowing may appear. The further away from the window, the less light your plant gets. If you notice your plant struggling, move it closer to the window.

Why is my Calathea browning on the edges?

The most common reason your Calathea's leaves are turning brown on the edges could be due to your tap water. Tap water contains salts, chlorine, minerals and fluoride – all of which can build up in the soil of your plant causing the tips of the leaves to burn, turn brown, and curl up.

Should I cut yellow leaves off Calathea?

Pruning Older Leaves As plants mature and leaves age, it is common for some of the outer leaves to yellow or brown. Removing yellowed or browned outer leaves regularly improves the appearance of your calathea plant. Cut leaves at the base where the leaf joins the main stalk with a pair of sharp scissors.

What does an overwatered Calathea look like?

Limp or Rotting Stems or Drooping Leaves could be caused by overwatering, although more likely by cold temperatures or exposure to drafts. If the plant remains in these conditions the damage will not be reversible, so make sure to move the plant to a warmer spot or away from the cold draft immediately.

What does an Underwatered Calathea look like?

Underwatering. Consistent underwatering can cause yellow leaves on a Calathea. However, you'd also expect to see some other symptoms, like leaf droop and leaf curl, before they start discoloring.

Can yellow Calathea leaves turn green again?

When the leaf loses its chlorophyll, the plant abandons it and begins to absorb leftover nutrients from the leaf. That's why once the leaf turns yellow, you generally can't make it turn back green again. (Although in cases of nutrient deficiencies, sometimes yellow leaf color can green back up again with treatment.)

How often should Calathea be watered?

Calatheas enjoy weekly waterings, allowing the top 2' of soil to dry out partially. In winter, we recommend watering less frequently to prevent overwatering and root rot. This plant is not very drought tolerant, and extended periods of dryness will cause leaf edges to brown.

How often should Calathea be misted?

So plan on misting your Calathea regularly (once a week is ideal) to ensure it receives the moisture it craves. Misting is also a great way of interacting with your Calathea and keeping yourself busy without overwatering it, a common mistake that can cause damage that is difficult to undo!

Should Calathea be bottom watered?

When you water a Calathea, be sure that water leaks out the bottom of the drainage holes, and consider using the bottom-watering technique. Also important – do not use tap water when watering Calatheas – especially here in San Diego! The best water to use is distilled water, but filtered or rainwater will work as well.

How do I know if my Calathea has root rot?

Root rot is a common issue with specimens sat in too moist or waterlogged soil for long periods. Symptoms include rapidly yellowing leaves, stunted growth and a rotten brown base. Take the plant out of the pot and inspect health below the soil line.

Can I wipe my Calathea leaves?

Maintenance: Groom your calathea plant regularly to keep it looking beautiful. Wipe any dust off the leaves with a clean, damp cloth. Mist the leaves to ensure that all sides of the plants receive humidity and moisture.

How moist should Calathea soil be?

Potting Medium Calathea enjoys moist soil—but not wet soil.

Should I cut the yellow tips off my plant?

Trimming or plucking away yellowing or dead leaves is an easy way to help prevent any unwelcome plant pests from settling onto your plant, which are attracted to decaying or dead leaves more than healthy ones, and they are more likely to appear on a struggling plant.

Why are Calatheas difficult?

Like a lot of low light plants, Calathea tend to grow fairly slowly. They are considered to grow at a moderately fast rate, but they will not grow and spread out over their pots and become a problem. In fact, Calathea plants usually will only grow to about 2 feet in height and then stop.

What happens if you water Calathea with tap water?

Tap water with fluoride and other additives will cause ugly, crispy, brown leaf edges on your Calathea plants.

Can I mist my Calathea with tap 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. Calatheas need to be watered with filtered or distilled water, or rainwater – not tap water.

How long should you bottom water a Calathea for?

Bottoms Up! Then, place your Calathea in a bowl or sink filled with three to four inches of lukewarm water. Let the Calathea soak for about 45 minutes before testing its soil by touch. (By now, you know exactly what to look for!) If the soil feels moist, your plant is good to go!

How do you know if Calathea is happy?

Calatheas are well known for their gorgeous foliage and, as they are prayer plants, for their wonderful leaf movement. If you have a happy and healthy calathea you should see some level of leaf movement. As the night falls, your plant should fold its leaves up, closing them and showing the undersides of the leaves.

Should I mist my Calathea daily?

Just don't overdo misting your calathea's leaves otherwise you can encourage fungal diseases, especially if your air circulation is poor. What is this? One great way to achieve high humidity for your Calatheas and other plants is to simply get a humidifier.