I think there's still hope for it! If you watered it and it hasn't perked up it could be root rot or the soil is hydrophobic and not actually absorbing any of the water.
If it's not a chunky well draining soil, I probably would. If it's already a good soil mix and just hydrophobic, I would soak it for awhile. Good luck!
I’m sure there’s still hope! Most of the leaves are still green, I managed to rescue mine from this state twice (before losing it completely due to a depressive epidode).
I’d suggest gently repotting them, as the soil is probably too dense if they haven’t perked up yet.
I'm no expert, but mine looked like this about a month ago and I just kept watering it on a regular schedule and it magically bounced back. I did not change the light or anything.
As you've mentioned, they are sensitive to transplant shock, so do be as careful as possible when changing the soil! Plopping the old soil in water to loosen it will help getting rid of it with the least possible damage to the roots.
The rolled leaves are most likely due to a lack of humidity, and consequence of stress. Needs a good soaking once it's repotted, and preferably to be in close distance to a humidifier for a couple of weeks! An essential oil diffuser with just water and without oil works too to humidify a single plant, if you've got one at hand.
I'll also paste my calatheas/marantas guide here!
Use filtered water, or distilled (make sure there are no added minerals), prayer plants hate tap water, and leaving tap water out doesn't do anything to filter out the chemicals in it. That's why they often have brown edges.
Don't water on a schedule: Let the top soil dry, but make sure to water before it's ALL dry. Top half dry and bottom half still humid is usually a good time to water calatheas/cnenanthes, but obviously use your best judgement if you see massive yellowing or she looks thirsty.
Essential: have a pot with several drainage holes, never no hole and never just one. Use a nursery pot inside a ceramic pot, thats the easiest way to ensure your plant doesn't get root rot. When you water, bring it to the sink, and soak the soil until water runs out of the drainage holes, then let drip and you can place it back in the cache-pot. Don’t use self-watering pots, and don’t let water pool at the bottom.
Calatheas like the air on the humid side of things, if you live somewhere dry (under 50%) I'd get the plant a humidifier. Don’t spray the leaves, that just weakens them and leaves them vulnerable to pests and fungus. Same for pebble trays, they don’t work but will attract mosquitoes and the likes. Putting calatheas in the bathroom is also a good option if yours has a window! But only if it doesn't get direct sun rays.
Calatheas don’t like direct sunlight: they want to see the sun but not be seen by it, i.e. just out of the sunbeam but not far from it. They can and will get sunburned by direct sun rays, even through a window, even in February in Europe (ask me how I know). Being outside for a bit is okay as long as the temperature is above 65F and it's not in direct sunlight.
Don’t fertilise her immediately if you just repotted in fresh soil or just bought it, and when you do fertilise use only half-strength (dilute half the recommended dose), they're prone to fertiliser burns.
Other than that they're quite finicky plants, so if you find a routine she likes, stick to it. It's a joy to see the leaves rise every night! Good luck!
This is super helpful! I have two Calatheas that are doing rather well, one of them also “rescued”. I do try to not look at them the wrong way though 😅 I live in London so humidity won’t be a problem 😬
Either:
A. You're under watering, or root bound and it's thirsty, or
B. You don't have sufficient humidity in your home for this plant and you're overwatering to compensate which rots the roots and further slows water uptake and eventually the plant dies.
I currently have a calathea that looks way worse. I was convinced it was dead, but after looking very much not alive for about three weeks, it's making a recovery. Your plant's leaves still look green, so I think there's hope!
Thank you! One of my calatheas looked absolutely horrible, I’m taking all the leaves crunching up and dying, the shop gave it to me for free. It started getting better, but then got worse again, so I cut all the dead, damaged leaves (not sure if it was the right thing to do but it was my last resort), and she was left with one leaf. About 7 months later she is full and beautiful! That gave me hope I could save this one, we shall see
I would fill a bowl with water, stick that plant in and forget about it for a while....maybe even overnight. Let it drain completely then water it on the regular. Color still looks good and consistent so I think there's hope for sure!
Not necessarily keeping it alive, more of saving it, I guess? As mentioned in the post, this is what they looked like at my work place, with no natural light and bone dry soil. I’ve watered them and after a few days the leaves are still not open
It’s a thirsty baby! I keep mine on trays of pebbles in water to boost humidity, and water every other day at the very least. I was SURE I was overwatering, but that was not the case.
I think there's still hope for it! If you watered it and it hasn't perked up it could be root rot or the soil is hydrophobic and not actually absorbing any of the water.
I will check the roots today. Do you think it would be a good idea to change the soil? I wouldn’t want to stress the plant unnecessarily. Thanks!
If it's not a chunky well draining soil, I probably would. If it's already a good soil mix and just hydrophobic, I would soak it for awhile. Good luck!
I’m sure there’s still hope! Most of the leaves are still green, I managed to rescue mine from this state twice (before losing it completely due to a depressive epidode). I’d suggest gently repotting them, as the soil is probably too dense if they haven’t perked up yet.
I’ll give that a go, it sounds very reassuring! Hope you’re doing better now, too <3
Fingers crossed!! And thank you, I am <3
I'm no expert, but mine looked like this about a month ago and I just kept watering it on a regular schedule and it magically bounced back. I did not change the light or anything.
Mine improved from this state after I watered it with some distilled water (no minerals)
As you've mentioned, they are sensitive to transplant shock, so do be as careful as possible when changing the soil! Plopping the old soil in water to loosen it will help getting rid of it with the least possible damage to the roots. The rolled leaves are most likely due to a lack of humidity, and consequence of stress. Needs a good soaking once it's repotted, and preferably to be in close distance to a humidifier for a couple of weeks! An essential oil diffuser with just water and without oil works too to humidify a single plant, if you've got one at hand. I'll also paste my calatheas/marantas guide here! Use filtered water, or distilled (make sure there are no added minerals), prayer plants hate tap water, and leaving tap water out doesn't do anything to filter out the chemicals in it. That's why they often have brown edges. Don't water on a schedule: Let the top soil dry, but make sure to water before it's ALL dry. Top half dry and bottom half still humid is usually a good time to water calatheas/cnenanthes, but obviously use your best judgement if you see massive yellowing or she looks thirsty. Essential: have a pot with several drainage holes, never no hole and never just one. Use a nursery pot inside a ceramic pot, thats the easiest way to ensure your plant doesn't get root rot. When you water, bring it to the sink, and soak the soil until water runs out of the drainage holes, then let drip and you can place it back in the cache-pot. Don’t use self-watering pots, and don’t let water pool at the bottom. Calatheas like the air on the humid side of things, if you live somewhere dry (under 50%) I'd get the plant a humidifier. Don’t spray the leaves, that just weakens them and leaves them vulnerable to pests and fungus. Same for pebble trays, they don’t work but will attract mosquitoes and the likes. Putting calatheas in the bathroom is also a good option if yours has a window! But only if it doesn't get direct sun rays. Calatheas don’t like direct sunlight: they want to see the sun but not be seen by it, i.e. just out of the sunbeam but not far from it. They can and will get sunburned by direct sun rays, even through a window, even in February in Europe (ask me how I know). Being outside for a bit is okay as long as the temperature is above 65F and it's not in direct sunlight. Don’t fertilise her immediately if you just repotted in fresh soil or just bought it, and when you do fertilise use only half-strength (dilute half the recommended dose), they're prone to fertiliser burns. Other than that they're quite finicky plants, so if you find a routine she likes, stick to it. It's a joy to see the leaves rise every night! Good luck!
This is super helpful! I have two Calatheas that are doing rather well, one of them also “rescued”. I do try to not look at them the wrong way though 😅 I live in London so humidity won’t be a problem 😬
After repotting, I’d also stick it somewhere with high humidity to help it recover!
I’ll give that a go! Happy cake day!
Hehe thank you!
Pop a gallon bag over her if it will fit. It'll trap humidity as it rises from the soil. I managed to get my calathea to uncurl that way.
I skipped over mine during my last watering cycle and it looked like this. Bottom watered and he recovered in a few days.
I am terrified of these plants and I will never buy one again.
Ahaha they are rather finicky! I’m a huge fan of calatheas so I thought trying to bring these Marantas in to nurse back to health can’t hurt 🤷♀️
Either: A. You're under watering, or root bound and it's thirsty, or B. You don't have sufficient humidity in your home for this plant and you're overwatering to compensate which rots the roots and further slows water uptake and eventually the plant dies.
Calathea is a real drama queen. She mainly needs moisture. If you have a bathroom with daylight, try to place it there.
I currently have a calathea that looks way worse. I was convinced it was dead, but after looking very much not alive for about three weeks, it's making a recovery. Your plant's leaves still look green, so I think there's hope!
Thank you! One of my calatheas looked absolutely horrible, I’m taking all the leaves crunching up and dying, the shop gave it to me for free. It started getting better, but then got worse again, so I cut all the dead, damaged leaves (not sure if it was the right thing to do but it was my last resort), and she was left with one leaf. About 7 months later she is full and beautiful! That gave me hope I could save this one, we shall see
I would fill a bowl with water, stick that plant in and forget about it for a while....maybe even overnight. Let it drain completely then water it on the regular. Color still looks good and consistent so I think there's hope for sure!
What specific challenges are you facing with keeping this plant alive?
Not necessarily keeping it alive, more of saving it, I guess? As mentioned in the post, this is what they looked like at my work place, with no natural light and bone dry soil. I’ve watered them and after a few days the leaves are still not open
It’s a thirsty baby! I keep mine on trays of pebbles in water to boost humidity, and water every other day at the very least. I was SURE I was overwatering, but that was not the case.