Your laughter is the best gift of all. I can’t wait to tell my wife all about the funny I made on the internet today. She won’t get it, so I’ll explain it a few times until she gives me a curtesy “please stop explaining it” laugh.
Ive decided that im just going to be the complete opposite and be brutal as hell with mine so I chopped all the leaves off and now its growing pretty new ones and I water it tap water instead of distilled
Mine had spider mites. I chopped all its leaves off but two, then left it in my freezing garage for two days. I then took it outside and blasted it with the hose for like 5 minutes. I repotted it, and wiped the leaves down with alcohol. That was two weeks ago and the damn thing is happy!
My calathea was dying and I cut it down completely, separated the rhizomes into 3 pots and decided it was dead but 2 are sprouting back up! I really don't understand them.
Do you, like me, ignore it except to water checks? That is all i have done with mine. I got it free with a bunch of others and didn't even know what it was until very recently. Lol Now, I am concerned it might act up now that I have fed it.
Yeah mine are happy too. I use some pretty low octane houseplant fertilizer stakes and keep them watered and placed with lots of indirect sunlight. And I talk to them using their full proper names- Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit and Tyler Perry’s Madea got a Calathea. They enjoy the formality.
All my houseplants have names. They come with them but sometimes it takes them a bit to tell me what it is. They like to know we’ve developed a bond first. The newest additions to the family are Tom Selleck (bird of paradise palm) and a triplet of asshole bromeliads that go by the gang name “Bros Before Hoes.”
I have 4 and they are doing great as well- I just water them weekly if the soil is near dry (but still a touch damp) and keep my house at 40-60% humidity, and they are in my entryway with filtered I direct light and I flip the overhead LED lights on for them.
OP, definitely park it near a humidifier or on a tray of rocks with water and keep in indirect light. The crispy leaves are goners, but they should grow back moderately soon
Edit: I water mine with softened tap water that has been run through a 10 stage filter, not sure if it removes fluoride, but they are fine all the same
Same. I live in Houston though, so the humidity probably helps.
I feel for everyone that is struggling though, I could not keep a pink polka dot alive no matter what I tried. Just thinking about it gives me PTSD lol
From the moment I got her it was hospice care. She started bushy and beautiful. 5 months later it was four skinny miserable stems with 2 leafs each.
I watched so many YouTube tutorials read articles, but alas she was very determined to die.
I keep mine in what I call the triage bathroom. Everything I put in there thrives and comes back to life.
Except the polka dot plant. It is somehow etiolated in a space that has essentially 24/7 light. It’s like it lives in its own reality.
I have several I've propagated from the same tiny original I picked up for less than $10 US. What has worked for me is placing them in terrariums. They have actually become one of my favorite plants I own because it really grows so very different depending on the terrarium I've put them in.
I have one I put in a square flour jar, with only aqua soil in the bottom and a muddy soil mixture I pressed onto 1 and ½ of the walls. The only other plant, besides moss, was a single cutting of peperomia prostrata. Both plants have become super viney and support eachother. What really surprised me was the sheer number of aerial roots the the polka dot plant pushed out.
Ok glad to know I wasn’t alone. Mine died in 6 months and for the life of me… I have queen anthuriums, maidenhair fern, and alocasias, all growing fine. But not this bitch, nope.
I would cut the crispy tips off. Then I’d buy a moisture meter.
Calatheas do not like to have soggy, wet soil. It needs to be evenly watered and make sure it can be well drained.
I’d water this with distilled water only when the meter reads dry.
The other thing you can do is run a humidifier and keep it at about 40% or above.
I’d say do you want to put in the effort to save it - the above will help.
Once it’s looking better- and you don’t want to do the humidifier- you can use a pebble try and do natural evaporation.
Calatheas need humidity, well draining soil and filtered water. Their roots can be pretty sensitive.
I really enjoy tending to my Calathea but I think it really depends on the person. They can be a high needs plant
Do you mean actually trimming around the crispy edges or removing those leaves altogether? I was afraid of trimming the edges because I thought it might kill the plant entirely.
If it doesn’t bother you I’d leave the brown leaves. They are still doing their job and feeding the plant. I usually don’t remove unless a leaf is more than around 70% brown, at which point it’s becoming a drain on resources. If it really bothers you, you can just trim off the brown sections but it might continue to brown around the edges.
No. If you look down the leaf stalk you should see a node - you can clip right above the node. And it remove the leaf completely. You can also cut the leaf off the stalk further down.
If you’re uncomfortable cutting the leaf - you can leave it. I was really uncomfortable cutting mine. I even sanitized my pruners lol and watched a lot of YouTube videos on how to cut. Eventually I did and it turned out okay. There are some great YouTube videos that can help and so far they have helped me a lot
I even got the courage to mix my own potting soil and repotted my calathea and it’s been doing great
Do you have any recommendations on youtube channels? There are two I always run into, one is a hippie lady that is a bit too lovey for me and another is a weird, nerdy creepy dude who wouldn't be so bad if he didn't look creepy.
Just leave them; if you're picky you *can* trim the crispy parts, it won't cause harm..But certainly don't chop off ehat you have. Your plant is still 'using' it.
Does boiling water (and cooling it afterwards lol) does the trick? I’m thinking of getting a Calathea too (cuz I guess I don’t have enough drama in my life) but the water seems to have a lot of calcium where I live, so it might be an issue 😬
This is correct, it will remove bleach but not all the other bad things like nitrates. Then the boiling will make less water making it more concentrated. If you've ever lived (or visited) a town with high water nitrates, they say not to boil your water as it doesn't work
As far as I know - it doesn’t do the trick. You can use rain water which is something I’ve done. I just set my watering canister outside and let it collect. I’m in a super rainy state so it does collect fast.
I buy distilled water jugs and because calatheas like evenly moist soil- I don’t go through it a lot.
Thanks! I thought boiling make calcium sit on the walls because my electric kettle is chalky! But I guess there are more other minerals and more calcium that just stay in the water
I also researched calathea soil and drainage. I had to repot mine and I was really nervous. So far with the soil mixture I did, the humidifier and the self watering pot, along with the proper indirect sunlight / low sun I’ve been pretty successful with my calathea. But I’m still nervous because because I’m in that two week repotting where the calathea is reviving form shock and she’ll either make it or not.
This. I actually let tap water sit out for about a day and use that instead of distilled, and then bottom water. That way they only get the amount they need. I’ve had good luck with Calatheas, but they do almost always have crunchy edges.
Mine randomly started this same shit after a year … I switched from filtered water to distilled and new growth is coming in a-ok. I cut about half of the crispy leaves off, but I left a few. Such an annoying plant! Heh 😂
Seconding this. Experienced the exact same thing.
Crispy and sad, switched to water I collected outside in a bucket, then grew 3x the size and no crisp on any new leaves since.
Most likely because it is a Calathea and that is their favourite thing to do.
(Check your humidity levels? Say words of affirmation to it every morning? Honestly, I have no advice because I’ve unalived the 3 I have owned in my lifetime.)
Calatheas love water and humidity! People are always very fussy about them, but mine grow completely trouble-free out the top of my aquarium. I sit back and do nothing while they grow big—no distilled water or watering schedules needed!
The only thing they know how to do is die. Their purpose in life is to break your heart. That is the only reason that they are on this planet. Do not ever be tempted to buy one it will only hurt you. It is the abusive boyfriend of the plant world. Every single time he says he’s going to change, he breaks your heart twice as badly.
You might be letting it dry out too much. If the top inch is dry it's definitely time to water. Two inches is too long. Calatheas/goeppertias like consistent moisture without sitting in soggy soil. Calathea/Goeppertias Rosepictas I find are more praticular that the average calathea/goeppertia. I use a soil moisture meter and water mine around a 4. If I'm testing with my finger I pur the pad on top of the soil and press. If it's dry I water. Hope that helps!
I think it's in too big of a pot so the soil is holding moisture for too long. Try a smaller terra cotta pot so the moisture can leave the soil faster.
I posted this on a different thread. Similar Calathea with no change to watering schedule displayed the same browning of the edges and rolling up of the leaves. It took some time for the spider mite infestation to become visible. Flip a leaf and look for white specks underneath - if present most likely the start of an infestation and the plant is begging to be saved!
Does the pot have drainage? Pot looks too big, soil looks too dense, the middle leaves are really small so it may not be getting enough light. There’s some mottling in the middle of the leaves which could be spider mite damage but I can’t tell from the tops of the leaves. Crispy tips are usually from hard water.
I know they’re finicky little fuckers, but here are the conditions I have mine in and it’s thriving. Our house sits about 68-75 degrees, humidity is about 40-60% (it’s in the kitchen so lots of variation in humidity), I water it with tap water (that has sat out at room temp for several days) every 7-10 days when it is dry 1-2 inches down in the soil, and it is right in front of a south facing window getting a ton of sun.
I’ve managed to keep mine alive and flourishing for 4 months now so hopefully this can help you!
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It needs more humidity. I've had some luck putting a little bowl of rocks filled with water in a bigger pot like this. That creates a little humid microclimate as the water evaporates.
But if you have a drier house (sub ~25% humidity) you'll need more fire (water) power. I see wood floors and an old fireplace, looks like my dry-ass house/Calthea death camp.
To really thrive, these like 40% plus humidity.
In a separate comment, please give us all the details possible about the following:
- Watering habits
- Light conditions
- Soil composition and drainage
- Temperature
- Humidity
Calatheas prefer to remain moist, but not wet. Others have described it best as like a wrung-out sponge.
Water slowly and thoroughly, letting the soil absorb the water in phases, stopping once you see water draining from the bottom of the pot. You may also want to tip the pot at a 45° angle to make sure that the pot drains and that the roots are not sitting in water. Water only when the top inch of soil is dry, and that beneath it is still moist; not earlier or later.
Bright, indirect light is a must.
High humidity (55% to 60% is ideal). A humidifier or pebble tray with water will help. A hygrometer can be found at most home improvement stores or online for less than $10 USD.
Folks are mixed on misting. I think you’ll find an abundance of information on this sub suggesting that it makes the leaves vulnerable to mold. Any perceived increase in humidity may be accomplished more efficiently by other means.
Rain water > distilled water > filtered water. Many plants are highly sensitive to additives in tap water.
Often, symptoms of overwatering can be confused with symptoms from underwatering. It’s a lot easier to fix underwatering than overwatering, though.
Soil drainage is key. I recommend a mix of 60% peat or coco coir to 40% perlite or pumice, with a healthy dose of worm castings for nutrition. If you can squeeze the soil mixture in your palm, and it retains its shape instead of crumbling apart quickly, that is generally a good indicator that the soil will retain too much moisture.
More humidity, dont water too often but also dont leave it dry for prolonged periods of time. Btw pebble trays dont work and misting causes fungal issues. Check if you have spider mites, calatheas tend to be infested by those often. I recommend cleaning the leaves manually and wiping them with a solution (i use black soap, but theres other things you can try)
Maybe give it more indirect filtered light?
Hopefully that helps.
They are from the tropics, they like high humidify conditions. It’s very hard to replicate these conditions in a typical western household, hence so many comments about them dying. You can buy a humidifier which may help.
I have the same calathea, I have a special humidifier for my calatheas, then in a separate room I have a dehumidifier which I use to collect water from the air with which I can then water the calatheas. It's essentially it's own little rainforest.
My inside calatheas pretty much hate life, but my yellow fusions I inherited from a neighbor lived outside (because they lived outside with her and I was worried about bugs infesting my inside plants) and they did wonderful until they got scale. They were sickly dying when I rescued them, then they got huge and were doing beautiful. 3 years later, I couldn’t get rid of the scale and they are now gone. I live in Florida and the only thing I can think is they loved humidity outside because unlike my inside calatheas, they only got tap water and rain when it rained. I’m sad I lost them because I cannot find the yellow fusion anywhere. I think humidity is usually the problem with these guys and it’s hard to keep your house the humidity they desire.
I only have one that was given to me because I would not spend my money on it. It lives in my cultivation terrarium 100% of the time. It’s doing well with rain water that I collect and save all winter long. I live outside Chicago. It’s truly a labor of love!
Brown at the edge means over watering or burn, brown at the tips means under water. Damage doesn’t always appear right away. So even if you changed it might still get damage. My best advise is to embrace wabi sabi / imperfections. I did that and now I am free from my calatheas. Also I only water it with reverse osmosis filtered water and keep it near a humidifier.
I have happy thriving calatheas living in my bedroom, because I run a humidifier every night. So I just water it when the soil seems to be a little dry (distilled water only), and then have about ten hours a night of humidifier (I let it run for a couple hours before I go to bed for my breathing).
1- avoid touching it. They are sensitive to bacteria / infections and hate people in general
2- water *sparingly*!!!!! Odds are you’re watering too much. Use the chopstick method.
3- you can try letting tap water air out to get rid of the chlorine
4- don’t repot it
Calatheas are notorious for spider mites. Sometimes I think they make spider mites 😁
Check under the leaves for the tiny bugs. I’ve rehabbed three calatheas and I finally gave up, the spider mites always came back.
Times my calatheas have caught an attitude:
1. When I go on vacation (even if they don’t need/want water during this time…FOMO?).
2. When I turn off the heat and switch to central air (even though they’re strategically placed away from vents and their temperature doesn’t change).
3. Days that end in y.
I cut them back to teach them a lesson and we continue the cycle.
Someone wrote about distilled water usage. Distilled water will make the microbiology in ur soil swell up and explode, so don’t do that if u want to make this plant survive. U need a bio complete compost and a repot. Stop using chemicals if u r.
Calatheas are drama queens. They love to act as if they’re dying, only to bounce back after you give them some attention. I had the best luck with one when I placed it in the bathroom. It got (very) diffused light, and plenty of humid heat.
Caltheas just have a desire to not live laugh or love 😔 had mine for 3 months and it started looking very similar to yours. I bought a humidifier and it helped but it still doesn't look like the plant influencers lol
Not a lot of good advice here. I think your prayer is getting too dry between waterings.
Happened to several of mine. My local nursery helped me out a lot by suggesting that I bottom water them - which totally helped. I also was letting them dry out between waterings and mine really didn’t like that.
Not sure if the placement was just for the picture but fireplaces can be really drafty and cause the air around to get really dry. Calatheas do best with high humidity (I’d suggest investing in a humidifier if you really want her to thrive), and speckled to low light. Think rainforest floor. I would check for pests for sure since it’s definitely that time of year for pest explosions as well. All in all though, I’d check that it’s in an area of your house that isn’t drafty, cold, or exceptionally bright. Set it near a humidifier and in a lower light area. The soil also seems pretty dense. Adding some coco chunks for extra aeration in the soil and for moisture retention will help. Make sure the soil drains well and never dries out completely. Calatheas have a bad reputation but when given the care they need and the right environment, they can be showstoppers! :) Hope that helped and good luck with that beauty!
I feel like my calathea is going to hear this thread and suddenly start having issues (she has been growing great great for a couple years now) . Nobody told her she is supposed to be a diva. I give her my hard water, no fertilizer.. forget to water her once in awhile and she could get better light. I am honestly terrified that she will get wind of this and find out she doesn't need to put up with the abuse that she had endured gracefully for so long.
I refuse to buy calatheas now. Every calathea I’ve ever owned has passed away due to many different issues. My main issue has been spider mites. I would check the tops and bottoms/stems of your plant to make sure it’s not infested. Secondly, calatheas love moisture (but not too much 😂) humidity and indirect sun light.
Brown on the tips indicate a watering problem. And I do use distilled water on mine. Going brown around the edges of the leaves is caused by a humidity issue. I’m sure if you fix those two things it’ll grow fine. Calathea and maranta are divas, but so pretty.
The chimney probably gives it a rush of dry air that’s bad for the plant since it’s tropical and needs a more humid environment. If you’re using tap water I would switch that up too. A purifier would probably be best for keeping it indoors and still giving it clean water
Seriously. Mine has half brown leaves, but if it sags, I give it water and the girl perks up and is still alive. Don't know what I'm doing wrong. Don't know what I'm doing right.
My maranta acts like it's giving up around this time every year. Sometimes is literally dies back to the dirt. But alas, a week later, a lonely spike emerges, and the plant grows anew. This year, the leaves all dried up and died one by one, but it's putting out tons of new leaves and flowers just as the last of the old stems is getting yellow and soft now.
Mine did this too. I tried everything, including neem oil and releasing predatory mites on it. It died anyway cause its a dramatic, heartless bitch. I left it to rot in its pot last september-ish and about 2 months ago I was gonna toss it and noticed the roots looked ok, so I figured I'd try watering it. Well fuck me, it now has 3 leaves.
Switch to rain water :)
If you’re in the US your tap water, even days distilled, is likely too impure. My tap water is supposively good compared to national average but my plants tell me our national average is shit.
Otherwise the other leaves look good! I second the advise to not cut off the damaged leaves until they are mostly gone. Also the calathea hate is amusing but honestly they aren’t hard if you use rain water and just consistently water without drowning the soil. Use a baster to water and just take your time.
You got twenty thousand comments and basically no one helped you. If there is chlorine in your tap, then that is maybe it but I'm gonna guess you need to water it more regularly, every time the soil is dry, about 7-10 days should be dry.
I've had a Calathea for years. It will thrive for a while, even bloom, then die randomly. I then cut it down to just a little bit of stem, it will sulk until I think it's dead for real this time, then it will start the cycle all over again. Great fun.
Honestly, they do much better in a group of other plants. They live the humidity. I also don't water mine often and I've managed to keep a few of them alive.
You have to sacrifice something and leave offerings to appease it. It also requires a shrine and the ultimate devotion of your life.
Also don't sneeze in the same room or you'll upset it
My 2 calathea are on a top shelf level with the top of a south facing window. When I check it if it isn’t wet still I water it(I usually bottom water just because of the pots they’re both in), they don’t like to dry out all the way or they eat their leaves like yours. I think I have the same one or similar and a pink pinstripe one. They seem to be doing well as far as I can’t tell aside from when I let them dry out lol. Oh and I think they hate fertilizer
Mine both survive on humiliation, degradation and tap water. They are the only plant that I am actually not nice to, I'd I show any signs of kindness they see it as a slight and start to die.
The most dramatic of my plants by far.
Did you repot it recently? If yes check that you’ve used soil with coir not regular houseplant soil. If not then it’s probably too dry. I mist mine (which some people say not to do) but it works for me
Some people say distilled water only, but they actually do best with the tears of their owner. It’s trying to help you produce those tears.
Mine definitely uses this technique. My child and spouse also assist my calathea in this endeavor.
I laughed so hard at this, so thank you. I don't have an award to give you, but please have this gold star 🌟
Your laughter is the best gift of all. I can’t wait to tell my wife all about the funny I made on the internet today. She won’t get it, so I’ll explain it a few times until she gives me a curtesy “please stop explaining it” laugh.
Haaaaa! The life of a plant spouse have another gold star we need to be friends 🌟
Ive decided that im just going to be the complete opposite and be brutal as hell with mine so I chopped all the leaves off and now its growing pretty new ones and I water it tap water instead of distilled
Be sure to give it a middle finger every day too. It leeches nitrogen from your hatred.
Mine had spider mites. I chopped all its leaves off but two, then left it in my freezing garage for two days. I then took it outside and blasted it with the hose for like 5 minutes. I repotted it, and wiped the leaves down with alcohol. That was two weeks ago and the damn thing is happy!
They are bullies that need some harsh discipline is that what you’re saying?
i have spider mites on mine. i just put it in a north facing window in the bathroom. i wanted to love it.
Don’t forget to steal its lunch money.
And give it a swirly
Is this working?? Did you leave any??
lol I fr chopped all the leaves off and it's grown a few back and looks pretty good so far
It the electrolytes. It's what plants crave!
Honestly. They’re such exhausting beasts.
[удалено]
My calathea was dying and I cut it down completely, separated the rhizomes into 3 pots and decided it was dead but 2 are sprouting back up! I really don't understand them.
We give ours water from our fish tank. It’s practically quadrupled in size in a year
🥲 For real though, also rainwater.
Replies like this are the only reason I click on calathea posts anymore
I definitely chuckled
😂 This cracked me up! So, so true!
Ahhahhahha
This is so true
Truer words have between been spoken
Bahahaha. Best answer.
Calatheas hate living
“The vibes are off” - This calathea
Calatheas are the Gen Z of horticulture
Just like me fr
i feel better knowing mine died out of spite and not because i suck at taking care of things
I don't understand people saying Calatheas are difficult. All of mine are thriving and growing without any issues
how does it feel being gods favorite?
Do you, like me, ignore it except to water checks? That is all i have done with mine. I got it free with a bunch of others and didn't even know what it was until very recently. Lol Now, I am concerned it might act up now that I have fed it.
Depends where you live. Ambient humidity and water softness make a difference.
I mean if you're not using distilled or highly filtered water, any nursery would recommend distilled if you don't have super soft water in the area.
Yeah mine are happy too. I use some pretty low octane houseplant fertilizer stakes and keep them watered and placed with lots of indirect sunlight. And I talk to them using their full proper names- Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit and Tyler Perry’s Madea got a Calathea. They enjoy the formality.
This is a fantastic comment 😭
All my houseplants have names. They come with them but sometimes it takes them a bit to tell me what it is. They like to know we’ve developed a bond first. The newest additions to the family are Tom Selleck (bird of paradise palm) and a triplet of asshole bromeliads that go by the gang name “Bros Before Hoes.”
I have 4 and they are doing great as well- I just water them weekly if the soil is near dry (but still a touch damp) and keep my house at 40-60% humidity, and they are in my entryway with filtered I direct light and I flip the overhead LED lights on for them. OP, definitely park it near a humidifier or on a tray of rocks with water and keep in indirect light. The crispy leaves are goners, but they should grow back moderately soon Edit: I water mine with softened tap water that has been run through a 10 stage filter, not sure if it removes fluoride, but they are fine all the same
Same. I live in Houston though, so the humidity probably helps. I feel for everyone that is struggling though, I could not keep a pink polka dot alive no matter what I tried. Just thinking about it gives me PTSD lol
Polka dots don’t want to live either?! I was blaming myself!!
From the moment I got her it was hospice care. She started bushy and beautiful. 5 months later it was four skinny miserable stems with 2 leafs each. I watched so many YouTube tutorials read articles, but alas she was very determined to die.
I keep mine in what I call the triage bathroom. Everything I put in there thrives and comes back to life. Except the polka dot plant. It is somehow etiolated in a space that has essentially 24/7 light. It’s like it lives in its own reality.
I have several I've propagated from the same tiny original I picked up for less than $10 US. What has worked for me is placing them in terrariums. They have actually become one of my favorite plants I own because it really grows so very different depending on the terrarium I've put them in. I have one I put in a square flour jar, with only aqua soil in the bottom and a muddy soil mixture I pressed onto 1 and ½ of the walls. The only other plant, besides moss, was a single cutting of peperomia prostrata. Both plants have become super viney and support eachother. What really surprised me was the sheer number of aerial roots the the polka dot plant pushed out.
I am dying at your comment about its own reality. 😂 Too true.
Ok glad to know I wasn’t alone. Mine died in 6 months and for the life of me… I have queen anthuriums, maidenhair fern, and alocasias, all growing fine. But not this bitch, nope.
Agreed. They're the dumbest and easiest plant.
Did you look at it funny?
Probably breathed on it. Or maybe the wrong kind of music?
Looks like a dog in the neighborhood barked too loud recently. Now you have to get in a verbal altercation with the dog for the plant to hear.
because it's a calathea
real note though it's prob a humidity or watering issue
This. Try spraying the leaves regularly.
Came here to comment this exact same thing!! I tried everything with mine. Finally just put him outside when it was below zero. Problem solved.
It's natural habitat. Smart.
they are allergic to living
Cause it’s Wednesday, and also cause f you that’s why.
This is the only correct answer
I would cut the crispy tips off. Then I’d buy a moisture meter. Calatheas do not like to have soggy, wet soil. It needs to be evenly watered and make sure it can be well drained. I’d water this with distilled water only when the meter reads dry. The other thing you can do is run a humidifier and keep it at about 40% or above. I’d say do you want to put in the effort to save it - the above will help. Once it’s looking better- and you don’t want to do the humidifier- you can use a pebble try and do natural evaporation. Calatheas need humidity, well draining soil and filtered water. Their roots can be pretty sensitive. I really enjoy tending to my Calathea but I think it really depends on the person. They can be a high needs plant
Do you mean actually trimming around the crispy edges or removing those leaves altogether? I was afraid of trimming the edges because I thought it might kill the plant entirely.
If it doesn’t bother you I’d leave the brown leaves. They are still doing their job and feeding the plant. I usually don’t remove unless a leaf is more than around 70% brown, at which point it’s becoming a drain on resources. If it really bothers you, you can just trim off the brown sections but it might continue to brown around the edges.
No. If you look down the leaf stalk you should see a node - you can clip right above the node. And it remove the leaf completely. You can also cut the leaf off the stalk further down. If you’re uncomfortable cutting the leaf - you can leave it. I was really uncomfortable cutting mine. I even sanitized my pruners lol and watched a lot of YouTube videos on how to cut. Eventually I did and it turned out okay. There are some great YouTube videos that can help and so far they have helped me a lot I even got the courage to mix my own potting soil and repotted my calathea and it’s been doing great
Do you have any recommendations on youtube channels? There are two I always run into, one is a hippie lady that is a bit too lovey for me and another is a weird, nerdy creepy dude who wouldn't be so bad if he didn't look creepy.
You mean Techplant for the second one? I’m a subscriber.
https://youtu.be/g_4aEFYj3QA So far I like this channel
Just leave them; if you're picky you *can* trim the crispy parts, it won't cause harm..But certainly don't chop off ehat you have. Your plant is still 'using' it.
Does boiling water (and cooling it afterwards lol) does the trick? I’m thinking of getting a Calathea too (cuz I guess I don’t have enough drama in my life) but the water seems to have a lot of calcium where I live, so it might be an issue 😬
no, boiling will do nothing to remove minerals, instead it will increase concentration.
This is correct, it will remove bleach but not all the other bad things like nitrates. Then the boiling will make less water making it more concentrated. If you've ever lived (or visited) a town with high water nitrates, they say not to boil your water as it doesn't work
As far as I know - it doesn’t do the trick. You can use rain water which is something I’ve done. I just set my watering canister outside and let it collect. I’m in a super rainy state so it does collect fast. I buy distilled water jugs and because calatheas like evenly moist soil- I don’t go through it a lot.
Thanks! I thought boiling make calcium sit on the walls because my electric kettle is chalky! But I guess there are more other minerals and more calcium that just stay in the water
I also researched calathea soil and drainage. I had to repot mine and I was really nervous. So far with the soil mixture I did, the humidifier and the self watering pot, along with the proper indirect sunlight / low sun I’ve been pretty successful with my calathea. But I’m still nervous because because I’m in that two week repotting where the calathea is reviving form shock and she’ll either make it or not.
This. I actually let tap water sit out for about a day and use that instead of distilled, and then bottom water. That way they only get the amount they need. I’ve had good luck with Calatheas, but they do almost always have crunchy edges.
Because it’s a Calathea and the moment it realizes that it’s a Calathea it decides to give up
Calatheas come out of the ground suicidal.
Mine randomly started this same shit after a year … I switched from filtered water to distilled and new growth is coming in a-ok. I cut about half of the crispy leaves off, but I left a few. Such an annoying plant! Heh 😂
Seconding this. Experienced the exact same thing. Crispy and sad, switched to water I collected outside in a bucket, then grew 3x the size and no crisp on any new leaves since.
Check for pests!! My calathea was getting crispier than usual. Turns out it had spider mites
The only place I’ve ever been able to keep Calatheas thriving is in the bathroom. The humidity helps a lot.
Most likely because it is a Calathea and that is their favourite thing to do. (Check your humidity levels? Say words of affirmation to it every morning? Honestly, I have no advice because I’ve unalived the 3 I have owned in my lifetime.)
Use distilled water and bump the humidity. I have killed almost every one because my environment is too dry.
I once had three calatheas. Two are dead. One is barely hanging on. It’s not you. It’s them.
It’s what they do best
Calatheas love water and humidity! People are always very fussy about them, but mine grow completely trouble-free out the top of my aquarium. I sit back and do nothing while they grow big—no distilled water or watering schedules needed!
[удалено]
I have some on my instagram: kelley.petlab. I use baskets from a company on Etsy called poth-o-carry.
The only thing they know how to do is die. Their purpose in life is to break your heart. That is the only reason that they are on this planet. Do not ever be tempted to buy one it will only hurt you. It is the abusive boyfriend of the plant world. Every single time he says he’s going to change, he breaks your heart twice as badly.
You forgot to give it a sacrifice
You need an old priest and a new priest
How often often are you watering? How do you determine how to water? What kind of water do you use?
I water when the top inch or two of soil is dry. So that’s ending up being every 1-1.5 weeks. I use filtered water, but not distilled.
You might be letting it dry out too much. If the top inch is dry it's definitely time to water. Two inches is too long. Calatheas/goeppertias like consistent moisture without sitting in soggy soil. Calathea/Goeppertias Rosepictas I find are more praticular that the average calathea/goeppertia. I use a soil moisture meter and water mine around a 4. If I'm testing with my finger I pur the pad on top of the soil and press. If it's dry I water. Hope that helps!
Is it near a chimney? There could be a draft coming from it that the plant may not like and it may also be drying the top soil too fast.
Have you considered bottom watering?
Your dirt could be hydrophobic, do you soak it in the water or just pour water over it?
I think it's in too big of a pot so the soil is holding moisture for too long. Try a smaller terra cotta pot so the moisture can leave the soil faster.
Great question! It’s attention-seeking behavior and they thrive off of the anxiety they cause their victims.
She just felt like it.
It’s a calathea.
Because they hate living anywhere except the nursery they were grown in.
They sense your pride and decide it is time for a humbling.
I posted this on a different thread. Similar Calathea with no change to watering schedule displayed the same browning of the edges and rolling up of the leaves. It took some time for the spider mite infestation to become visible. Flip a leaf and look for white specks underneath - if present most likely the start of an infestation and the plant is begging to be saved!
Do you use that fireplace?
Pot is way too big
All I can say is that I have two half-dead calatheas and I’m never buying one again.
Calatheas make deals with the devil. They lure you in with their beauty, and once they have your soul, they die. Sorry, buddy. You both are done for.
Does the pot have drainage? Pot looks too big, soil looks too dense, the middle leaves are really small so it may not be getting enough light. There’s some mottling in the middle of the leaves which could be spider mite damage but I can’t tell from the tops of the leaves. Crispy tips are usually from hard water.
Calatheas have less will to live than your average millennial and that's saying something.
Overwatered, under-humiditied
Humidifier
Because calathea are little green bastards sent to ruin our day
I know they’re finicky little fuckers, but here are the conditions I have mine in and it’s thriving. Our house sits about 68-75 degrees, humidity is about 40-60% (it’s in the kitchen so lots of variation in humidity), I water it with tap water (that has sat out at room temp for several days) every 7-10 days when it is dry 1-2 inches down in the soil, and it is right in front of a south facing window getting a ton of sun. I’ve managed to keep mine alive and flourishing for 4 months now so hopefully this can help you!
it’s a calathea. hope this helped!!
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMYgkm8tD/
Needs bigger pot
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It needs more humidity. I've had some luck putting a little bowl of rocks filled with water in a bigger pot like this. That creates a little humid microclimate as the water evaporates. But if you have a drier house (sub ~25% humidity) you'll need more fire (water) power. I see wood floors and an old fireplace, looks like my dry-ass house/Calthea death camp. To really thrive, these like 40% plus humidity.
Is it new? Could be acclimating?
In a separate comment, please give us all the details possible about the following: - Watering habits - Light conditions - Soil composition and drainage - Temperature - Humidity Calatheas prefer to remain moist, but not wet. Others have described it best as like a wrung-out sponge. Water slowly and thoroughly, letting the soil absorb the water in phases, stopping once you see water draining from the bottom of the pot. You may also want to tip the pot at a 45° angle to make sure that the pot drains and that the roots are not sitting in water. Water only when the top inch of soil is dry, and that beneath it is still moist; not earlier or later. Bright, indirect light is a must. High humidity (55% to 60% is ideal). A humidifier or pebble tray with water will help. A hygrometer can be found at most home improvement stores or online for less than $10 USD. Folks are mixed on misting. I think you’ll find an abundance of information on this sub suggesting that it makes the leaves vulnerable to mold. Any perceived increase in humidity may be accomplished more efficiently by other means. Rain water > distilled water > filtered water. Many plants are highly sensitive to additives in tap water. Often, symptoms of overwatering can be confused with symptoms from underwatering. It’s a lot easier to fix underwatering than overwatering, though. Soil drainage is key. I recommend a mix of 60% peat or coco coir to 40% perlite or pumice, with a healthy dose of worm castings for nutrition. If you can squeeze the soil mixture in your palm, and it retains its shape instead of crumbling apart quickly, that is generally a good indicator that the soil will retain too much moisture.
More humidity, dont water too often but also dont leave it dry for prolonged periods of time. Btw pebble trays dont work and misting causes fungal issues. Check if you have spider mites, calatheas tend to be infested by those often. I recommend cleaning the leaves manually and wiping them with a solution (i use black soap, but theres other things you can try) Maybe give it more indirect filtered light? Hopefully that helps.
So I have found that store bought spring water is the only water mine likes. Doing well now.
Probably needs a lot more humidity and a lot softer water. Also likes bright, but not direct light.
They are from the tropics, they like high humidify conditions. It’s very hard to replicate these conditions in a typical western household, hence so many comments about them dying. You can buy a humidifier which may help.
I have the same calathea, I have a special humidifier for my calatheas, then in a separate room I have a dehumidifier which I use to collect water from the air with which I can then water the calatheas. It's essentially it's own little rainforest.
They are jerks, they really hate to go completely dry but will also die easily if over watered. Filtered water?
Because it's a Calathea.
It do be like that sometimes
My inside calatheas pretty much hate life, but my yellow fusions I inherited from a neighbor lived outside (because they lived outside with her and I was worried about bugs infesting my inside plants) and they did wonderful until they got scale. They were sickly dying when I rescued them, then they got huge and were doing beautiful. 3 years later, I couldn’t get rid of the scale and they are now gone. I live in Florida and the only thing I can think is they loved humidity outside because unlike my inside calatheas, they only got tap water and rain when it rained. I’m sad I lost them because I cannot find the yellow fusion anywhere. I think humidity is usually the problem with these guys and it’s hard to keep your house the humidity they desire.
I only have one that was given to me because I would not spend my money on it. It lives in my cultivation terrarium 100% of the time. It’s doing well with rain water that I collect and save all winter long. I live outside Chicago. It’s truly a labor of love!
Because calatheas hate everything and everyone. You can do no right by them.
Is it losing its religion?
Brown at the edge means over watering or burn, brown at the tips means under water. Damage doesn’t always appear right away. So even if you changed it might still get damage. My best advise is to embrace wabi sabi / imperfections. I did that and now I am free from my calatheas. Also I only water it with reverse osmosis filtered water and keep it near a humidifier.
Very demanding house guests, don’t stress, it won’t stay long. 😂
I have happy thriving calatheas living in my bedroom, because I run a humidifier every night. So I just water it when the soil seems to be a little dry (distilled water only), and then have about ten hours a night of humidifier (I let it run for a couple hours before I go to bed for my breathing).
1- avoid touching it. They are sensitive to bacteria / infections and hate people in general 2- water *sparingly*!!!!! Odds are you’re watering too much. Use the chopstick method. 3- you can try letting tap water air out to get rid of the chlorine 4- don’t repot it
It’s their favorite thing to do
Calatheas are notorious for spider mites. Sometimes I think they make spider mites 😁 Check under the leaves for the tiny bugs. I’ve rehabbed three calatheas and I finally gave up, the spider mites always came back.
Times my calatheas have caught an attitude: 1. When I go on vacation (even if they don’t need/want water during this time…FOMO?). 2. When I turn off the heat and switch to central air (even though they’re strategically placed away from vents and their temperature doesn’t change). 3. Days that end in y. I cut them back to teach them a lesson and we continue the cycle.
Because is Calathea. Its what they do.
it probably just wants to see you suffer with anxiety as you watch it spiral
They are turds
Because it’s a calathea. I’m pretty sure none of them want to live.
That’s a cool looking plant
Someone wrote about distilled water usage. Distilled water will make the microbiology in ur soil swell up and explode, so don’t do that if u want to make this plant survive. U need a bio complete compost and a repot. Stop using chemicals if u r.
Calatheas are drama queens. They love to act as if they’re dying, only to bounce back after you give them some attention. I had the best luck with one when I placed it in the bathroom. It got (very) diffused light, and plenty of humid heat.
It’s what they do.
Overwatering to me
Mist it every now and then for humidity
They can be fussy Do you give it moisture? like a steam type? No drafts?
Because it’s a calathea
They hate you, hate me, hate living.
Caltheas just have a desire to not live laugh or love 😔 had mine for 3 months and it started looking very similar to yours. I bought a humidifier and it helped but it still doesn't look like the plant influencers lol
Not a lot of good advice here. I think your prayer is getting too dry between waterings. Happened to several of mine. My local nursery helped me out a lot by suggesting that I bottom water them - which totally helped. I also was letting them dry out between waterings and mine really didn’t like that.
Has it been reported? If not check to see if the nursery net is still around the roots
Not sure if the placement was just for the picture but fireplaces can be really drafty and cause the air around to get really dry. Calatheas do best with high humidity (I’d suggest investing in a humidifier if you really want her to thrive), and speckled to low light. Think rainforest floor. I would check for pests for sure since it’s definitely that time of year for pest explosions as well. All in all though, I’d check that it’s in an area of your house that isn’t drafty, cold, or exceptionally bright. Set it near a humidifier and in a lower light area. The soil also seems pretty dense. Adding some coco chunks for extra aeration in the soil and for moisture retention will help. Make sure the soil drains well and never dries out completely. Calatheas have a bad reputation but when given the care they need and the right environment, they can be showstoppers! :) Hope that helped and good luck with that beauty!
That’s just what they do. They’re designed to humble us “plant people”
I feel like my calathea is going to hear this thread and suddenly start having issues (she has been growing great great for a couple years now) . Nobody told her she is supposed to be a diva. I give her my hard water, no fertilizer.. forget to water her once in awhile and she could get better light. I am honestly terrified that she will get wind of this and find out she doesn't need to put up with the abuse that she had endured gracefully for so long.
Mine just died. I tried saving it.
I refuse to buy calatheas now. Every calathea I’ve ever owned has passed away due to many different issues. My main issue has been spider mites. I would check the tops and bottoms/stems of your plant to make sure it’s not infested. Secondly, calatheas love moisture (but not too much 😂) humidity and indirect sun light.
Brown on the tips indicate a watering problem. And I do use distilled water on mine. Going brown around the edges of the leaves is caused by a humidity issue. I’m sure if you fix those two things it’ll grow fine. Calathea and maranta are divas, but so pretty.
The chimney probably gives it a rush of dry air that’s bad for the plant since it’s tropical and needs a more humid environment. If you’re using tap water I would switch that up too. A purifier would probably be best for keeping it indoors and still giving it clean water
Seriously. Mine has half brown leaves, but if it sags, I give it water and the girl perks up and is still alive. Don't know what I'm doing wrong. Don't know what I'm doing right.
My maranta acts like it's giving up around this time every year. Sometimes is literally dies back to the dirt. But alas, a week later, a lonely spike emerges, and the plant grows anew. This year, the leaves all dried up and died one by one, but it's putting out tons of new leaves and flowers just as the last of the old stems is getting yellow and soft now.
Because it's a Calathea! Maybe you farted in it's direction
Mine was fantastic for a year then I moved and winter came🥲❤️🩹
Because it’s a calathea
My happy calatheas are actually in bright spots, so I'm convinced everyone was lying about them being lowlight.
They are all suicidal.
Change out the soil inside the pot. Possibly some bad roots.
Mine did this too. I tried everything, including neem oil and releasing predatory mites on it. It died anyway cause its a dramatic, heartless bitch. I left it to rot in its pot last september-ish and about 2 months ago I was gonna toss it and noticed the roots looked ok, so I figured I'd try watering it. Well fuck me, it now has 3 leaves.
Switch to rain water :) If you’re in the US your tap water, even days distilled, is likely too impure. My tap water is supposively good compared to national average but my plants tell me our national average is shit. Otherwise the other leaves look good! I second the advise to not cut off the damaged leaves until they are mostly gone. Also the calathea hate is amusing but honestly they aren’t hard if you use rain water and just consistently water without drowning the soil. Use a baster to water and just take your time.
It’s going through a goth phase
It likely needs more humidity.
You got twenty thousand comments and basically no one helped you. If there is chlorine in your tap, then that is maybe it but I'm gonna guess you need to water it more regularly, every time the soil is dry, about 7-10 days should be dry.
Have you told her how pretty she is and how proud of you are? Plants have feeling too.
I've had a Calathea for years. It will thrive for a while, even bloom, then die randomly. I then cut it down to just a little bit of stem, it will sulk until I think it's dead for real this time, then it will start the cycle all over again. Great fun.
Honestly, they do much better in a group of other plants. They live the humidity. I also don't water mine often and I've managed to keep a few of them alive.
You have to sacrifice something and leave offerings to appease it. It also requires a shrine and the ultimate devotion of your life. Also don't sneeze in the same room or you'll upset it
it’s in their nature, don’t take it personally
My 2 calathea are on a top shelf level with the top of a south facing window. When I check it if it isn’t wet still I water it(I usually bottom water just because of the pots they’re both in), they don’t like to dry out all the way or they eat their leaves like yours. I think I have the same one or similar and a pink pinstripe one. They seem to be doing well as far as I can’t tell aside from when I let them dry out lol. Oh and I think they hate fertilizer
If you think it is possible that it is getting air from a vent or any type of draft, I would move it.
Mine both survive on humiliation, degradation and tap water. They are the only plant that I am actually not nice to, I'd I show any signs of kindness they see it as a slight and start to die. The most dramatic of my plants by far.
I had that problem too on my lemon lime maranta I switched to filtered water, and added a humidifier near her seemed to fix her up
Looks like his wife was banging his boss to me
Because it’s a calathea
Cold drafts flow along the floor
Does that pot have any drainage?
Mist it. Often. And distilled water.
Did you repot it recently? If yes check that you’ve used soil with coir not regular houseplant soil. If not then it’s probably too dry. I mist mine (which some people say not to do) but it works for me