When I bought my calathea I had no idea how fussy they were or how exactly to care for them. It seems that I accidentally gave it ideal conditions and it thrived. Then I went away for a few days and the weather got very warm, when I returned it was totally smashed, hanging over the sides of the pot, dried out and brown. I watered it well, cut off the brown bits and it did not appear to help! It died completely above the soil level. I had a feeling that all was not lost, so I waited ... two months later I saw a little green spike, then two more. I studied calathea on you tube and now it is bouncing back enthusiastically! Don't give up...
Wonderful lecture! God Calatheas are such a struggle. But my orbifolia and musaica and zebrina make me feel like it's all worth it. But still, I feel like I have three plants in the ICU 24/7.
Exactly! My Dottie, Rattlesnake and Tristar have been repotted in a custom made soil and are intensive care, grouped together with a mini humidifier running.
This is the most realistic and practical video I've seen. It was so helpful to see examples and I don't feel like such a failure knowing even experienced planties have the same issues. Thanks so much for sharing your calathea journey and tips!
My calathea was really struggling, and I could NOT find out what it was! So what I did was cutting back all of the uglier/dead leaves, and all of the sudden my plant is even prettier than I started with! This is a tip for people who can’t figure out the problem :) hope it helps for you too!
This gives me hope. I bought my first calathea this summer and it was doing great until I noticed it had become infected with spider mites. I treated the leaves, got rid of the mites and repot it with better soil but it still hasn’t bounced back. It doesn’t pray anymore and I’ve had to cut so many leaves that only 4 stems remain 🙁 Hoping it bounces back like yours did. Did you do anything extra once you cut back all the leaves?
I lightly mist and water with a very low level of H2O2. Mine are well over 20 years old, gorgeous and the soil is always stink free upon repotting. Cold damage. Trim off ALL damaged leaves. The plant will otherwise send all of its energy to attempt to heal itself, (which will ultimately kill roots), rather than its energy concentrating on producing from its roots to produce leaves. Once all damaged leaves are cut, water wisely and cover with a clear glass jar or even better a cut 2 liter clear plastic soda type bottle. It's the plant ICU "greenhouse" type of treatment. This works well with propagation as well... I have even successfully used minimally damaged cuttings to start new plants, later cutting off the original damaged leaves after new growth is hearty. I can't speak highly enough of the extra use of more Oxygen supplied by a 1%ish Hydrogen Peroxide addition to watering and misting. Bonus, it kills molds and fungus. H2O2 for the win.
First, wow! I would love to see your calatheas! And I really appreciate that you've shared some information about how to save a calathea from cold damage. This is so common during shipping, even with heat packs, and I am so appreciative to learn ways to help plants heal after cold exposure. I have never tried hydrogen peroxide in my plants, though I've read a lot about it. I think I'm afraid of wiping out healthy bacteria but I do think I'll try it, as it seems to aerate the soil really well and my calatheas are so oxygen senstitive. I wonder if using hydrogen peroxide would help plants whose soil has compacted. Yes, I will definitely have to try it! 😊
Great post! Do you just add some hydrogen peroxide to your water can or spray bottle? I have 3% hydrogen peroxide...do i just dilute that and add it to my distilled water? Thanks!
Wow, all bases were covered here on this beautiful plant. I learned so much and will now try to stop torturing my poor dear Calatheas. Thanks so much for the tips.
Nursery places selling these plants also over-fertilize. Then you get them home and you think it is something you did. Yes, water matters seriously with these plants. Distilled or rain only. Any misting water needs to be distilled also. I have never had any issues misting. I do it twice a day and it does help. The thing is, people need to understand you are misting, NOT drenching it until the leaves are soaking wet and it drips into the soil. THAT makes for the fungus infections. My white fusion is a real diva plant: I am actually sorry i got it now due to the constant attention needed to keep it looking good. A fabulous display plant though, IF you can keep it happy.
Great tips! Yes, fertilizer is such an issue and it's why I've switched over to worm castings for now. I also should have added that my neem solution also includes distilled water, just as you did regarding misting. My fusion white breaks my heart. It has almost finished regrowing all of its leaves after a rough winter so it is still exactly the same size that it was last year. Hopefully the diffuser will help it through this coming winter. :)
I agree with the statement that misting increases the chances of fungal infection. I personally lost a few plants before I understood this thing. I learned that if we mist it is important to have a good airflow around the plant - like a fan etc or else the water stays stuck between the node areas of leafs & causes fungal infection.
@@elizabethfigueroa3510 Even I wash my plants by shower but then i leave them in my washroom under a fan for many hours till it completely dries up. Misting is a big NO for me.
Thank you. A really helpful video that gives me some hope. I bought a calathea for the beauty of the green and purple leaves and had No Idea how much effort they require. I will repot this afternoon with new soil for better drainage and keep my fingers crossed.
Some calatheas just aren't worth the effort, I find zebrina to be by far the most sensitive you can do every single thing right and they'll still turn into a withered mess they just have no will to live.
I bought a very tiny zebrina and I will say that though it is growing, the slightest change in conditions sets this plant off. It will drop two to three leaves suddenly in the same day. At this point, it's doing okay but I often wonder if it will make it to full maturity.
agreed, my zebrina is the diva in my garden, i divided it recently and all 3 died back, bright yellowing of leaves, then brown crispy, im hoping the divisions can regenerate because i checked below the soil and all seems fine, all my other calathea are not so sensitive.
This was very useful....I bought a calethia ...as long as I remember I moved it to a brighter spot for a day...n I noticed the next morning...the leaves had changed colour...the underside was faded...I immediately moved the plant to the shade... Later the entire leaf became light brown...later dried...I lost most of the leaves....I discovered it as leaf bleach...I see one new growth....
I am glad it is regrowing. My windows have glass that blocks a lot of light to preserve energy in the house. While I have never seen leaf bleaching, I have seen a few "sun" spots and pull them back from the window during summer.
Guys... if you're gonna get these rare beautiful plants, invest in some expensive Fox Farm soil or a giant bag of really good coconut coir. Another good brand that people hate on is miracle grow moisture control but you have to add half perlite in your mix and a quarter vermiculite. You can also add half bark as well for more aeration but I've used that mix and the calatheas love it. It helps prevent root rot as well. I started using more perlite and more vermiculite in my potting mixes. Vermiculite helps with aeration, prevents fungus gnats, holds extra moisture for them as well. If you use fox farm (all of the soils are really good) add a lot more perlite bc I noticed it can become dry or like sludge over time. Truthfully? The best and cheapest soil to get is miracle grow moisture control combined with half perlite and a quarter vermiculite. If you use terracotta pots use more vermiculite since it dries out quicker.
I started using more perlite and more vermiculite in my potting mixes. Vermiculite helps with aeration, prevents fungus gnats, holds extra moisture for them as well. If you use fox farm (all of the soils are really good) add a lot more perlite bc I noticed it can become dry or like sludge over time. Truthfully? The best and cheapest soil to get is miracle grow moisture control combined with half perlite and a quarter vermiculite. If you use terracotta pots use more vermiculite since it dries out quicker.
This is great information. I fell in love with mine when I got it small and now it’s not going well. Thank you this really helps. I heard if the stripes fade , it has too much sun. They are so so sensitive and picky to take care of and still beautiful. Hope that I get mine back on looking better. It has brown leaves.
Mine have gone through so many phases. Since making this video, I've had some die back to the soil only to rebound looking more glorious than ever. Truly resilient despite seeming fragile. Not sure if I'll ever really understand them. 😊
I got a calathea medallion as one of my first plants. 2 weeks in after i got it, i started noticing droopy leaves, i left it at a brighter location and it went back to normal. a week later sprayed it with some pre mixed neem oil just as preventative treatment, and the next morning the leaves were burnt to crisps. i wiped off the residual neem oil and left it alone. through this whole time i water when it needs and keep the soil moist, but the leaves continue to be very droopy. i suspected it might has root rot, so i took it out of the nursery pot and repotted it for the first time after 3 weeks i got it. so i thought it was a humidity problem, so i gave it a pebble tray and a humidifier. i think it gave me 3 new leaves in total before repotting, and 2 in progress of growing and unfurling right now. the new leaves are relatively healthy and not too droopy, but the old leaves are always droopy and started to curl. the plant is looking very dead and sad despite some of the leaves are still doing ok. I'm not sure what's wrong with my calathea. Please help!!!
I've experienced all these scenarios in the last 5 years and what I do is to just cut the leaves gradually and a new leaf grows. I live in the Philippines and I put them under a tree or direct but shaded area.
thank you so much for this video! Almost 2 months ago I ended up purchasing a medallion, white fusion, and rattlesnake. My rattlesnake is 95% dead and my medallion is hecka struggling with browning on the leave edges, my white fusion is hanging tougher than the other two but even then she, too, has her moments. I’m definitely getting gray hairs from how high maintenance they are and not being able to pinpoint exactly what’s going on. I wish they would whisper to me what hurts lol!
Mabuhay from the Philippines! My name is Susan and your new subscriber . I am starting on Calathea Plants and getting scared already. Just the same, i will accept the challenge of taking care of the rattlesnake that I have with me. your tips on taking care of Calatheas, I have written them down on my plant notebook as not to forget. Thank you for your tips and stay safe.
My prayer plant has gone mad. The leaves are in perfect condition and are sprouting every where... The best way I've found to water my plants is to wait until the soil is dry and then sit the bottom of the plant pot in water for ten minutes. It takes the water it needs. I also use tap water which hasn't affected the plant at all.
No need for an electric humidifier or essential oil diffuser. Just hang a slightly damp cloth near the plant - this will increase the humidity levels to more than 50% - and the humidification achieved is better than standing the plant pot on pebbles in a tray of water. However, you will need to re-damp the cloth periodically. In the kitchen, just place your damp dish cloths near the Calathea.
I am so glad I saw this! My calathea ornata is looking so bad. I’ve only had it for 6 weeks and it looked amazing, unfurled a new leaf and is currently in the process of unfurling another. All the small leaves towards the bottoms have turned brown and crispy, and are curled halfway up the leaves :( I’ve run a humidifier for three hours straight yesterday and today and know not to expect instant results, but the browning and curling happened so suddenly. Even the bigger leaves up top are now starting to brown, ugh. The plant has always been kept in the bathroom a few feet from the east facing window, and gets two big doses of steam every day several hours apart when my husband and I take turns showering. I started hanging a damp rag beside the plant yesterday and today out of curiosity more than anything, I am glad this is proven to work! I’m so worried for the plant…I believe it’s more than low humidity…not only are almost all the leaf tips severely brown and curled, but the stripes and leaves are yellowing as well, even the purple undersides are yellow and transparent around the edges, and overall just so dull :( I’m suspecting root rot or something :/
Thank you! I had to let my Calathea go because it was too much maintenance and I didn’t know how to help it. I understand now that it was the water I was using!
I am glad it was helpful. :) A friend of mine just switched her water and was surprised at how much of a difference it made. Calatheas are so sensitive!
very helpful video, thank you! a newly purchased calathea has just curled all of its leaves in the last two days, and i guess i'm going to unpot it and take a look at the roots!!
I am sorry I didn't see this comment sooner-- I'm having trouble with the comment system. It could be compacted soil around the roots. Were you able to check them out? Sorry again for the late reply!
Thank you so much! I only have 1 calathea and couldn't justify to myself to buy a huge humidifier to stop it from crinkling. The diffuser fixed it up in 2 days!
Very helpful video. I don't have calatheas but I have a big philodendron and a couple of leaves look exactly like the first plant you showed. I suspected it was a watering issue so I repotted it this morning in a faster draining mix - I hope that takes care of the problem.
I am glad that it was helpful! :) My monstera deliciosa had a similar problem with all of the new growth browning at the tips from water stress. For me it was under watering, as I was really trying to avoid over watering. Thankfully I seem to have figured it out for now! I hope your repotting is also a success!
I cannot explain how helpful this video has been for me. I burned my prayer plant it seems and the soil isn't aerated enough. I just couldn't figure what i was doing wrong. But i'm about to go save it. thank you!!!
Thanks for the video. It is very interesting to have all problems together. I have a musaica that started to have crispy leaves. Some even dried out entirely.. I tried changing its spot and have it now in a west facing room, 3 meters away from the window. I also realized that my house is very dry, so I also have an oil mistifier, which is not very powerful but seems to do the trick. The calathea is also sitting next to a monstera, theoretically that should help. Now the crispness has stopped and it even has new growth! I am so proud of my plant!
I must be lucky, my calathea is doing great, and is even flowering inside! I water once week, feed her once a month, i have a calathea Roseopicta “dottie”
I have (had) a beautiful Calithea not sure which variety. Thanks for the tutorial- I’ve felt is needed to repot it and I’ve wondered about the water so this all makes sense. I’ll add more drainage in a bigger pot and only use filtered water and see what happens. Will let you know. Best wishes
THANK YOU SO MUCH for sharing this! I accidentally scorched my calatheas leaves - I had it for over 3months. And I am so sad at how they look I didn’t know what to do.
Thank you for this. The lady who owns the plant shop where I buy plants gave me a free calathea with curling leaves. She was shy to sell it but I love it alot so she gave it for free. I am new in taking care of indoor plants and your video is a big help for me. I really want to save this lil plant. I am hoping these ideas will work.Thank you 😘💖😊
Perfect timing to see your video. I have just placed an indoor plant order which includes a Calathea Illustris - Peacock plant. I had no idea how fussy they are, so your tips are very welcome. When the plants arrive, I will be ready for the Diva, and fingers crossed, keep her alive🍃
Thank you so much for this video. My Calethea looks like it's gone through hell and I've watched several videos on Calethea care without relevant information to my specific problem. Now I know what to do :)
Very informative. I will be working on my house plants asap. I have a calathia with burned tips. I will be checking the roots and taking off the decorative rocks it has.
In my country. Humidity and degree are 80% and 30oC in the morning. Down to 60% and 32oC in the afternoon. My strategy is that, cocochips and pelite as the soil. Which can help a lot with the drainage, cocochips keep the root moist and pelite keep the soil loose so the root can "breath". Cause I tend to notice that horticulture sand or cactus soil hold too much water.
I wish I had your humidity! Very true that you have to adjust soil to conditions to your own home/outdoor space. I am sure this advice will help people!
Quick tips: get a moisture meter and humidity and temp monitor. Calatheas love at least 50% humidity. People who lives in cold areas specially needs this because air gets so dry that it will cause leaves to turn brown as well. Make sure you group them together because at night, the plants transpires and release water so they help each other out by creating micro climate. It increases humidity. It was a pain in the ass having the humidifier running everyday but it really will save your calatheas. She’s right about the fertilizer and using distilled water. I learned that the hard way. If you can, use a large terrarium with grow lights. It will keep these type of plants happy .
Thanks a lot, congrats. I'm in Guatemala Central America average Temps 68 to high 90 's... I'm going to use distilled water, one was sunburned had to remove those leaves, otherwise they are doing well. Cheers 🥂 😊
Thanks for the video!! what do you think caused the tiny holes on the leaves at 5:37? thanks! is it water burn mark, as in caused by water left on the leaves?
Thank you , I have a zebra plant the is getting curling inward/downward and brown crispy tips . And my calathea is identical problem . My humidifier doesn’t work-yet . Since I was using tap water after letting it sit for 2 days . I want to give them a good shower but my shower water isn’t going to work . It’s supposed to rain tomorrow, so I’m going to collect some . I think I’ll go buy distilled water since I think they are pretty dry .
Ah, very informative and so useful thanks... I loved my Calathea plant, i was away for a while and when I returned it had got completely run down... I wasn’t sure what did it but from this It seems that it was the cold temps for long periods of time, whilst I was in a warmer climate... I wonder if there are other plants similar that you recommend? that may be more resilient/easier... Great vid btw! 👏🏻
Yes! My triostar stromanthes are just as beautiful but I've found that they can deal with dry air, temperature shifts and even pests, much better. There are a variety of stromanthe to choose from, some easier or harder to get depending on where you live. Maranta plants are also a little bit less fussy from my experience and don't have the dramatic reactions that calatheas do. I hope this helps! :)
I have a suggestion to help save a severely damaged Calathea due to cold snap (or from accidental neglect). I have several different types in my FL home & while all were thriving, I had one that I was convinced was a goner (for reasons unknown). Before I retired it to the compost pile, I decided to try switching it to semi hydro. Shook as much soil out from the roots as possible, got a cotton wick, Leca pebbles & placed it in a self watering planter. Used distilled water & high diluted fish emulsion. When I first replanted my Calathea, it has no viable leaves, all were brown & wilted, but I left it alone. It took a very long time, maybe even a couple months, but eventually a new leaf sprouted! That was about 6 months ago & it hasn’t stopped growing! Not only did it bounce back, but it’s thriving! Still putting out new leaves, all winter long. I eventually transferred another Calathea to semi hydro after it also began to struggle. They both have never looked better. I will prob transfer the rest of them as I find the right planters. Seems to work great for me here in FL, prob b/c the a/c really drys out the air (even tho I do the same thing as u & use diffusers throughout the house to increase humidity) but I always have issues w/ my Calatheas eventually having crunchy leaves. The semi hydro set up has fixed that problem completely
I am so sorry I missed this comment for so long! This is wonderful information. I have never heard of this method before and I am very excited to know it's possible! 😀 Not that I hope I get another plant with cold damage, but it is really nice to know that there might be a way to save the next one that I get. Thank you so much! 😊
Do you cut off the curled, brown leaves or just repot the plant and they bounce back? I can't figure out what the issue is with mine. I have a humidifier next to them now, which gives them 67% humidity, they are not getting direct light, but the leaves just don't uncurl. Any tips?
Ty now I understand. I rescued one from a local hardware store recently. It was in a plastic pot with drainage holes. But the plastic pot was in a snug fitting, beautiful, clay pot. So there was no way for it to drain. I’m praying I can save it. Thanks again.
I'm so grateful for your channel! I adore my calathea and I think I've given it water damage:( Your video is the most informative thing I've found (and I've spent all day googling and in FB groups). Is the only solution time and flushing? I flushed it yesterday BEFORE realizing that the water wasn't as pure as I thought it was, so I'm torn about flushing again, and about repotting in case it stresses her out. I don't want to just wait if I should do something...
I re-potted my Peacock plants because the leaves were browning and they came with green fertilizer pellets. I bought distilled water and watered them after re-potting and left them in the bathroom with the hot shower running to get them some humidity. My question is, when I examined the roots, I found bulbs. They seemed a bit soggy. What are these bulbs and should I not have removed a few?
They might be root nodules ...I have read that some calathea are known to have root nodules (you can do a Google search and find some pretty informative results using the keywords: calathea root nodules or goeppertia root nodules). I have a few calathea that have these, too. They are usually there to store water/nutrients from what I've read. In the future, I would leave them there. Not all of my calathea have them and I don't know what triggers their growth or if they are only present in specific species. Using "nodules" as a search term though should help if you want to learn a bit more about them (I will probably read up on them myself!). Take care. 😊
Hi. Bought my calathea medallion for nearly 3 weeks now on clearance. Eventhough it wasn't in good condition still bought and gave a new home. The problems are brown tips, 2 pale leaves ( think they are new leaves), some leaves doesn't close at night time and droopy, lastly the stems are dark ( is that normal?) Do I need to repot it? What soil mixture to use? Please help me, I'm a newbie and want to revive this beautiful plant.
my ornata is such a diva, I almost regret buying it because how high maintenance it is but it's so beautiful so I'm trying so hard to keep it alive. I think for mine it's a humidity problem since I live in the high desert in CA and it's so dry out here. thank you for the tips!
.. Ohh, sounds like I need to do a repot, again 😳 I bought a little onata about 2 weeks ago, and when home I realised it was soaking wet, so it sat on my kitchen table over night when I desired to repot it the next day.. Once out of the pot it was dripping with water and I moved half of th soil and filled up with well drained soil, put it back on the table and within minutes it curled up the Leaves.. Today I noticed that several of the leaves are damaged and the poor thing doesn't look very happy.. From what I can understand, it could be root rot, as I actually let it keep the soil surrounding the roots although it was soaked.. I have to give it the chance and hope for the best..
How often do you add worm castings? Thank you for preparing me for a few calatheas I have getting delivered 👍 Also, have you tried distilling your own water?
Thank you! My very first calathea had suffered from root rot a few weeks ago. But seeing this video, I am not sure if I managed to get the roots healthy again. I repotted her and cleaned the roots but she lost 2 or 3 leafs since then. But all the other leafs look very healthy, no browning tips, no curling. Calatheas can be so confusing 😂
They are confusing! I just checked on a calathea rosy and it looked like one of the leaves was curling, which panicked me. Turns out it was just a new leaf that got caught under another as it was trying to unravel. Whew. Repotting and checking the leaves does shock the plant a bit, but sometimes it just can't be avoided due to larger issues (like root rot!). I hope your calathea is doing well now. 😊
Interesting about the cold, I do keep calathea all winter inside and on my patio in very cold climate. for three months we wouldn't have a day with temperatures over 60F. But still seem to live, grow a little and maintain pretty healthy leaves. Not sure how that is, based on the concept they will get damage under 65F. And I never use a heater in the house.
The temperature comes from a variety of sources (I use a lot of university horticulture sheets to track certain traits/conditions). I think it really depends on the conditions the plant was grown in, even its age, as some are definitely hardier than others though they are tropical plants. As I do have a lot of my plants shipped, I definitely avoid winter now for calatheas. It doesn't get all that cold where I am but I have lost a number of calatheas to the cold and I've yet to see a calathea recover from cold damage. Some growers I buy from lose whole batches when their power/heating goes out. I think it should be noted that these are often young plants. My first Calathea Dottie video is a good example of a plant that suffered from cold damage.
THANK YOU for sharing the info on root damage and the cold 🥶 damage I think that’s what I have going on, but I’m impatient to fix wilty leaves and I think I just made a bad problem worse 😪 w too many different actions
Thanks for the video! I have my calathea for almost a year and I'm struggling with it's brown leaves for months! While I fix the issue should I cut the brown part of the leave or should I cut the entire leave? Only have 3 healthy leaves 🙈
Thank you so very much for this video I was having problems with mark calathea and now I know what the problem is so I can fix it. thank you so very much.😀
I took my zebrina out of soil..she looked very good before the switch..gently washed her roots,spayed with peroxide and let dry..moved to leca, in her new pot,over night,all leaves have curled...bummed,not sure if it is just transitioning, have to wait and see..roots looked very good and healthy..
I got a calathea for my birthday from my aunt, and the edges were brown. I think she bought it a few days in advance and then brought it to my house (an hour car ride) so It most likely is water stress. The soil looks really dry so I’ll probably water it soon. One thing, tho, is that my aunt told me to cut the brown edges off (she’s really into plants so I trust that’s what im supposed to do) but I didn’t cut in the shape of the leaf 😭. So hopefully that doesn’t damage it more.
Oh, it should be fine! :) The dead organic matter can attract pests, so it can be a good idea to get rid of it if that's something likely to happen. I hope yours is doing well.
Hi very good video, you have a new subscriber 😄 ! I have a calathea and he's doing great for the moment, i have him for almost 6 months and i putted him on a saucer full of water ( the pot is not touching the water ) i mist him 2 or 3 times a week and he is with a lot of others plants it helps i think ! But i just bought a triostar and i already noticed that this one Will be harder To maintain 😂 ( sorry for possible mistakes im french 🙂)
Thank you for all the good information I'm gonna get some distilled water when I go to town today l only have 2 prayer plants want to feed them and water them how's the best
These are really helpful tips and demonstrations! I have a calathea crocata that has been temperamental since I got it, about 4 months ago. Oddly enough I got a calathea makoyana at the same time that I've basically ignored other than to move it around the house and I've had zero problems with it. I accidentally burned off all the flowers on the crocata and many of the leaf tips with too bright sunlight, but then the leaves started to pale when I put it farther from the window. I recently discovered an intense spider mite infestation and had to prune off many of the older leaves. Surprisingly there's a lot of very healthy looking new growth under the mess, but the leaves still look a bit pale and the tips are slightly crispy and it's really disappointing on such beautiful dark foliage. What do solidly pale leaves and crispy tips mean? Less light, or more? More fertilizer? More water? More humidity? Some combination of all of these? I haven't been able to find any pictures online that match what I'm seeing, and I would love to save this beautiful plant!
Mine grow lush and beautiful. I have found that the secret is to sprinkle with water on the soil like light rain. I do this every 3 days. If I give them more water than this, the leaves will yellow . I do not feel that they do well with deep watering. Every two months or so I will give them more but mostly just water the top.
I try to clip them as close to/right at the soil line as possible. That isn't always an option because sometimes a new stem will come out of an existing stem/leaf that is dying. When that happens, I clip as far down as I can without hurting the other stem. I hope this helps!
Worm castings, while often marketed as a fertilizer, are more accurately classified as a soil amendment. They are deficient in nitrogen and other essential plant nutrients, and therefore do not meet the criteria to be considered a fertilizer. Despite this, companies are permitted to label worm castings as a fertilizer, leading to confusion.
Did it survive!? I bought a Calathea for my office at work. It was strong and healthy for 4 days, then I was off work for 4 days after. When I came back to work I found the plant almost dead. I hate co-workers. I'm currently trying to save it. The leaves are all curled. I'm scared to water it though but the soil feels dry.
All of the calatheas in the video are still here. I would give it some water and see if it starts to uncurl. If not, you might need to check the roots. But first, I would make sure it didn't get too hot/cold, or is close to a draft or too much direct light. Best of luck to you!
Thank you for this info! I’ve killed all my Calathias so far. The new one I bought is in my bathroom with a humidifier and I’m using room temp filtered water from the fridge. Do you think I should buy distilled water instead?
If you can get distilled water--I would use that. From my understanding, some of the natural minerals that occur in water that is perfectly healthy for us to drink can still result in root damage in calatheas. Filters also might not catch fluoride (this hard to remove from water, from what I've read) and not all filters can remove chloramine.
I was just reading using a diffuser doesn’t increase humidity at all as it’s so fine used for oils it’s not enough moisture, hardly any. To help indoor plants
No, an oil diffuser certainly won't significantly raise humidity levels in a room, that's for sure. However, it has been enough in my house for small clusters within 1 foot of it when the heater is running during the winter. For instance, it has worked a lot better for me than say a pebble water trays, over winter.
So glad I found you! This has been very helpful, I do have a quick question. I bought a calathea this winter and it was doing great till this summer. I bought a tap filter but it doesn't seem to be improving. Do u think something else is the problem or should I go a step farther getting clean water.
I've had a Rattlesnake Calathea for a week now and it's already driving me crazy lol. Took mines outside as well and the leaves curled with in minutes. Hope I can save it.
My Calathea Ornata is one of the most beautiful plant's I have ever owned but it just isn't happy :( some of the leaves are fading and turning yellow and after watching your video I think the plant shop did cause some fertiliser burn, does anyone else live in London? I think the hard water is killing it :( I'm going to start collecting rain water. The backs of the leaves also have this salt like residue which again I think is a water problem. I've brought back lots of plants before and I'm generally quite green fingered but this calathea is kicking my butt!
I feel your pain. Ornatas are one of the fussiest calatheas, so sensitive. I hope someone else from London can respond regarding the water. I would love to try rain water myself!
I use a diffuser for my calethea and I *lightly* mist them daily, I do use tap water that has been sat out for 24 hours and so far no problems but I have very soft water so maybe thats an advantage
Some municipalities/water providers certainly have better water quality than others. Ours smells like chlorine, though I know the City uses chloramine here, and has a lot of minerals that my calatheas don't like. I'm glad you can use your water for calatheas! :) I'd love to live somewhere someday where I can do that, too.
My Vittata was very healthy and it was shocked from an unexpected heatwave 2 weeks ago. The leaves curled and only a couple ended up opening back up. The rest just browned and died. Hopefully it will get better. On the other hand, my Triocolor Stromanthe curled up a few leaves but immediately opened up within the next day. A week later, I realized all 3 emerging leaves dried up and wilted. I pulled them out and the bay leaves were crisp. Not sure if I was doing the right thing or not, I hope it’ll rebound and produce leaves again.
Very helpful! What would you recommend for soul for a calathea if repotting? I suspect the soil it came in isn’t draining well, or perhaps root rot? But want to have soil ready to go before I pull it out to inspect. I’m a newbie with calatheas! Help!
Hi there! This is a great video! For how long do you let your calatheas sit with the humidifier? Do you set them with the humidifier every day? Thank you!
When I bought my calathea I had no idea how fussy they were or how exactly to care for them. It seems that I accidentally gave it ideal conditions and it thrived. Then I went away for a few days and the weather got very warm, when I returned it was totally smashed, hanging over the sides of the pot, dried out and brown. I watered it well, cut off the brown bits and it did not appear to help! It died completely above the soil level. I had a feeling that all was not lost, so I waited ... two months later I saw a little green spike, then two more. I studied calathea on you tube and now it is bouncing back enthusiastically! Don't give up...
I have an extensive experience with caletheas and gosh are they suicidal or something!
Some of mine seem to be!
IKR!!!!!
Same here. Hahaha. My triostar is not happy at all.
They just really like the rainforest and I think they are not happy tbh to be in homes.
I do agree. Lost so many over the years that I’ve given up on them . I’ve tried all the tricks and more. Nothing, nothing seems to work 😔
Wonderful lecture!
God Calatheas are such a struggle. But my orbifolia and musaica and zebrina make me feel like it's all worth it. But still, I feel like I have three plants in the ICU 24/7.
Yes! I have an ICU, too! :) I am way too smitten with them to mind, too, I guess. They really are amazing plants.
Exactly! My Dottie, Rattlesnake and Tristar have been repotted in a custom made soil and are intensive care, grouped together with a mini humidifier running.
This is the most realistic and practical video I've seen. It was so helpful to see examples and I don't feel like such a failure knowing even experienced planties have the same issues. Thanks so much for sharing your calathea journey and tips!
I'm glad I'm not the only one with the calathea struggles D: lol. I bought it to be my new friend and RELIEVE stress but that's not what's happening 😂
Right?! And I have the nerve to CONTINUE buying more of them. #GluttonForPunishment
My calathea was really struggling, and I could NOT find out what it was! So what I did was cutting back all of the uglier/dead leaves, and all of the sudden my plant is even prettier than I started with! This is a tip for people who can’t figure out the problem :) hope it helps for you too!
Do u cut just the brown edges? Or u cut off the whole leaf?
@@karenjaramillo7143 just cut out the damage leaf
This gives me hope. I bought my first calathea this summer and it was doing great until I noticed it had become infected with spider mites. I treated the leaves, got rid of the mites and repot it with better soil but it still hasn’t bounced back. It doesn’t pray anymore and I’ve had to cut so many leaves that only 4 stems remain 🙁 Hoping it bounces back like yours did. Did you do anything extra once you cut back all the leaves?
Merci pour le conseil, je vais essayer
I lightly mist and water with a very low level of H2O2. Mine are well over 20 years old, gorgeous and the soil is always stink free upon repotting.
Cold damage. Trim off ALL damaged leaves. The plant will otherwise send all of its energy to attempt to heal itself, (which will ultimately kill roots), rather than its energy concentrating on producing from its roots to produce leaves. Once all damaged leaves are cut, water wisely and cover with a clear glass jar or even better a cut 2 liter clear plastic soda type bottle. It's the plant ICU "greenhouse" type of treatment. This works well with propagation as well... I have even successfully used minimally damaged cuttings to start new plants, later cutting off the original damaged leaves after new growth is hearty.
I can't speak highly enough of the extra use of more Oxygen supplied by a 1%ish Hydrogen Peroxide addition to watering and misting. Bonus, it kills molds and fungus. H2O2 for the win.
First, wow! I would love to see your calatheas! And I really appreciate that you've shared some information about how to save a calathea from cold damage. This is so common during shipping, even with heat packs, and I am so appreciative to learn ways to help plants heal after cold exposure. I have never tried hydrogen peroxide in my plants, though I've read a lot about it. I think I'm afraid of wiping out healthy bacteria but I do think I'll try it, as it seems to aerate the soil really well and my calatheas are so oxygen senstitive. I wonder if using hydrogen peroxide would help plants whose soil has compacted. Yes, I will definitely have to try it! 😊
I just starting using h2o2 on my plants and they are very happy and it keeps freezing fungus gnats from taking hold
Great post! Do you just add some hydrogen peroxide to your water can or spray bottle? I have 3% hydrogen peroxide...do i just dilute that and add it to my distilled water? Thanks!
Perfect!!! Thank you so much!!!
What is this H2O2 and Oxigen you are talking about? Some liquid you buy it?
Wow, all bases were covered here on this beautiful plant. I learned so much and will now try to stop torturing my poor dear Calatheas. Thanks so much for the tips.
I am so glad it was helpful, Darcy!
Nursery places selling these plants also over-fertilize. Then you get them home and you think it is something you did.
Yes, water matters seriously with these plants. Distilled or rain only. Any misting water needs to be distilled also. I have never had any issues misting. I do it twice a day and it does help. The thing is, people need to understand you are misting, NOT drenching it until the leaves are soaking wet and it drips into the soil. THAT makes for the fungus infections.
My white fusion is a real diva plant: I am actually sorry i got it now due to the constant attention needed to keep it looking good. A fabulous display plant though, IF you can keep it happy.
Great tips! Yes, fertilizer is such an issue and it's why I've switched over to worm castings for now. I also should have added that my neem solution also includes distilled water, just as you did regarding misting. My fusion white breaks my heart. It has almost finished regrowing all of its leaves after a rough winter so it is still exactly the same size that it was last year. Hopefully the diffuser will help it through this coming winter. :)
I agree with the statement that misting increases the chances of fungal infection. I personally lost a few plants before I understood this thing. I learned that if we mist it is important to have a good airflow around the plant - like a fan etc or else the water stays stuck between the node areas of leafs & causes fungal infection.
That is a great tip, Rahul!
So can i clean the leaves with a cloth and distilled water or does that cause fungal infection also
@@elizabethfigueroa3510 Even I wash my plants by shower but then i leave them in my washroom under a fan for many hours till it completely dries up. Misting is a big NO for me.
Thank you. A really helpful video that gives me some hope. I bought a calathea for the beauty of the green and purple leaves and had No Idea how much effort they require. I will repot this afternoon with new soil for better drainage and keep my fingers crossed.
Some calatheas just aren't worth the effort, I find zebrina to be by far the most sensitive you can do every single thing right and they'll still turn into a withered mess they just have no will to live.
I bought a very tiny zebrina and I will say that though it is growing, the slightest change in conditions sets this plant off. It will drop two to three leaves suddenly in the same day. At this point, it's doing okay but I often wonder if it will make it to full maturity.
Violent Rainbow water with rain water and keep near a humidifier and you should have no issues
Dangit... Thanks for the warning (T_T) *Why do I still want it though?!*
agreed, my zebrina is the diva in my garden, i divided it recently and all 3 died back, bright yellowing of leaves, then brown crispy, im hoping the divisions can regenerate because i checked below the soil and all seems fine, all my other calathea are not so sensitive.
The very reason I’m on here 😅
This was very useful....I bought a calethia ...as long as I remember I moved it to a brighter spot for a day...n I noticed the next morning...the leaves had changed colour...the underside was faded...I immediately moved the plant to the shade...
Later the entire leaf became light brown...later dried...I lost most of the leaves....I discovered it as leaf bleach...I see one new growth....
I am glad it is regrowing. My windows have glass that blocks a lot of light to preserve energy in the house. While I have never seen leaf bleaching, I have seen a few "sun" spots and pull them back from the window during summer.
Guys... if you're gonna get these rare beautiful plants, invest in some expensive Fox Farm soil or a giant bag of really good coconut coir. Another good brand that people hate on is miracle grow moisture control but you have to add half perlite in your mix and a quarter vermiculite. You can also add half bark as well for more aeration but I've used that mix and the calatheas love it. It helps prevent root rot as well. I started using more perlite and more vermiculite in my potting mixes. Vermiculite helps with aeration, prevents fungus gnats, holds extra moisture for them as well. If you use fox farm (all of the soils are really good) add a lot more perlite bc I noticed it can become dry or like sludge over time. Truthfully? The best and cheapest soil to get is miracle grow moisture control combined with half perlite and a quarter vermiculite. If you use terracotta pots use more vermiculite since it dries out quicker.
I've never tried Fox Farm soil; I am going to have to take a look!
Wow impressive tips!!!
thank you sooo much for this! many say don’t use terracotta because it wicks away the moisture but I rather it do that than sit and rot my plants!
I started using more perlite and more vermiculite in my potting mixes. Vermiculite helps with aeration, prevents fungus gnats, holds extra moisture for them as well. If you use fox farm (all of the soils are really good) add a lot more perlite bc I noticed it can become dry or like sludge over time. Truthfully? The best and cheapest soil to get is miracle grow moisture control combined with half perlite and a quarter vermiculite. If you use terracotta pots use more vermiculite since it dries out quicker.
This is great information. I fell in love with mine when I got it small and now it’s not going well. Thank you this really helps. I heard if the stripes fade , it has too much sun. They are so so sensitive and picky to take care of and still beautiful. Hope that I get mine back on looking better. It has brown leaves.
Mine have gone through so many phases. Since making this video, I've had some die back to the soil only to rebound looking more glorious than ever. Truly resilient despite seeming fragile. Not sure if I'll ever really understand them. 😊
I got a calathea medallion as one of my first plants. 2 weeks in after i got it, i started noticing droopy leaves, i left it at a brighter location and it went back to normal. a week later sprayed it with some pre mixed neem oil just as preventative treatment, and the next morning the leaves were burnt to crisps. i wiped off the residual neem oil and left it alone. through this whole time i water when it needs and keep the soil moist, but the leaves continue to be very droopy. i suspected it might has root rot, so i took it out of the nursery pot and repotted it for the first time after 3 weeks i got it. so i thought it was a humidity problem, so i gave it a pebble tray and a humidifier.
i think it gave me 3 new leaves in total before repotting, and 2 in progress of growing and unfurling right now. the new leaves are relatively healthy and not too droopy, but the old leaves are always droopy and started to curl. the plant is looking very dead and sad despite some of the leaves are still doing ok. I'm not sure what's wrong with my calathea. Please help!!!
I've experienced all these scenarios in the last 5 years and what I do is to just cut the leaves gradually and a new leaf grows. I live in the Philippines and I put them under a tree or direct but shaded area.
Where do you cut the leaf? At the ground or all the way up at the leaf?
This was definitely one of the most helpful troubleshooting videos on calathea! Thank you!
thank you so much for this video! Almost 2 months ago I ended up purchasing a medallion, white fusion, and rattlesnake. My rattlesnake is 95% dead and my medallion is hecka struggling with browning on the leave edges, my white fusion is hanging tougher than the other two but even then she, too, has her moments. I’m definitely getting gray hairs from how high maintenance they are and not being able to pinpoint exactly what’s going on. I wish they would whisper to me what hurts lol!
I bought calythia for the first time today and wanted information on how to take care of it. This video was very helpful.
I am so glad to hear that, Dina! Congrats on your new plant. :)
Mabuhay from the Philippines! My name is Susan and your new subscriber . I am starting on Calathea Plants and getting scared already. Just the same, i will accept the challenge of taking care of the rattlesnake that I have with me. your tips on taking care of Calatheas, I have written them down on my plant notebook as not to forget. Thank you for your tips and stay safe.
My prayer plant has gone mad. The leaves are in perfect condition
and are sprouting every
where...
The best way I've found to water my plants is to wait until the soil is dry and then sit the bottom of the plant pot in water for ten minutes. It takes the water it needs. I also use tap water which hasn't affected the plant at all.
Wow, good for you! What type of Calathea do you have?
And what part of the world are you? Tropics? If they're entering a growth period in November??
No need for an electric humidifier or essential oil diffuser. Just hang a slightly damp cloth near the plant - this will increase the humidity levels to more than 50% - and the humidification achieved is better than standing the plant pot on pebbles in a tray of water. However, you will need to re-damp the cloth periodically. In the kitchen, just place your damp dish cloths near the Calathea.
I am so glad I saw this! My calathea ornata is looking so bad. I’ve only had it for 6 weeks and it looked amazing, unfurled a new leaf and is currently in the process of unfurling another. All the small leaves towards the bottoms have turned brown and crispy, and are curled halfway up the leaves :( I’ve run a humidifier for three hours straight yesterday and today and know not to expect instant results, but the browning and curling happened so suddenly. Even the bigger leaves up top are now starting to brown, ugh. The plant has always been kept in the bathroom a few feet from the east facing window, and gets two big doses of steam every day several hours apart when my husband and I take turns showering. I started hanging a damp rag beside the plant yesterday and today out of curiosity more than anything, I am glad this is proven to work! I’m so worried for the plant…I believe it’s more than low humidity…not only are almost all the leaf tips severely brown and curled, but the stripes and leaves are yellowing as well, even the purple undersides are yellow and transparent around the edges, and overall just so dull :( I’m suspecting root rot or something :/
Thank you! I had to let my Calathea go because it was too much maintenance and I didn’t know how to help it. I understand now that it was the water I was using!
I am glad it was helpful. :) A friend of mine just switched her water and was surprised at how much of a difference it made. Calatheas are so sensitive!
very helpful video, thank you! a newly purchased calathea has just curled all of its leaves in the last two days, and i guess i'm going to unpot it and take a look at the roots!!
I am sorry I didn't see this comment sooner-- I'm having trouble with the comment system.
It could be compacted soil around the roots. Were you able to check them out? Sorry again for the late reply!
Thank you so much! I only have 1 calathea and couldn't justify to myself to buy a huge humidifier to stop it from crinkling. The diffuser fixed it up in 2 days!
my prayer plant has everything! it is crispy, brown along the edges, started to wilt and curls in. oh no
Hi, Melissa. Have you checked it for pests?
Same here😭
Same here, I got one a few days ago and I left her in the window still by mistake so she’s already curling and browning 😅
@@AddyBeez mine does have REALLY tiny white bugs BUT WHAT DO I DO TO FIX IT OR IS IT OVER lol
@@remimerchant8354 look up how to treat spider mites
Very helpful video. I don't have calatheas but I have a big philodendron and a couple of leaves look exactly like the first plant you showed. I suspected it was a watering issue so I repotted it this morning in a faster draining mix - I hope that takes care of the problem.
I am glad that it was helpful! :) My monstera deliciosa had a similar problem with all of the new growth browning at the tips from water stress. For me it was under watering, as I was really trying to avoid over watering. Thankfully I seem to have figured it out for now! I hope your repotting is also a success!
Really appreciate the timestamps in the description!
I cannot explain how helpful this video has been for me. I burned my prayer plant it seems and the soil isn't aerated enough. I just couldn't figure what i was doing wrong. But i'm about to go save it. thank you!!!
Thanks for the video. It is very interesting to have all problems together. I have a musaica that started to have crispy leaves. Some even dried out entirely.. I tried changing its spot and have it now in a west facing room, 3 meters away from the window. I also realized that my house is very dry, so I also have an oil mistifier, which is not very powerful but seems to do the trick. The calathea is also sitting next to a monstera, theoretically that should help. Now the crispness has stopped and it even has new growth! I am so proud of my plant!
I am so glad to hear it! 😊 Humidity can be really tricky. I'm glad it worked for you!
So thankful for this video, my Calathea definitely has fertilizer burn or water stress. Still figuring it out I’ve only had it for 2 weeks
I must be lucky, my calathea is doing great, and is even flowering inside! I water once week, feed her once a month, i have a calathea Roseopicta “dottie”
I’m so happy for you! Can you please tell me what fertilizer you use? Thank you!
I have (had) a beautiful Calithea not sure which variety. Thanks for the tutorial- I’ve felt is needed to repot it and I’ve wondered about the water so this all makes sense. I’ll add more drainage in a bigger pot and only use filtered water and see what happens. Will let you know. Best wishes
How did it go?
THANK YOU SO MUCH for sharing this! I accidentally scorched my calatheas leaves - I had it for over 3months. And I am so sad at how they look I didn’t know what to do.
Thank you for this. The lady who owns the plant shop where I buy plants gave me a free calathea with curling leaves. She was shy to sell it but I love it alot so she gave it for free.
I am new in taking care of indoor plants and your video is a big help for me. I really want to save this lil plant. I am hoping these ideas will work.Thank you 😘💖😊
Perfect timing to see your video. I have just placed an indoor plant order which includes a Calathea Illustris - Peacock plant. I had no idea how fussy they are, so your tips are very welcome. When the plants arrive, I will be ready for the Diva, and fingers crossed, keep her alive🍃
Thank you so much for this video. My Calethea looks like it's gone through hell and I've watched several videos on Calethea care without relevant information to my specific problem. Now I know what to do :)
I am glad that it was helpful! 😊
Very informative. I will be working on my house plants asap. I have a calathia with burned tips. I will be checking the roots and taking off the decorative rocks it has.
I hope it goes well, Wandy! :) Best of luck!
what does it mean when my calethea eclipse leaves are turning downwards? like not curling but turning more downwards like this rainbow emoji 🌈
In my country. Humidity and degree are 80% and 30oC in the morning. Down to 60% and 32oC in the afternoon. My strategy is that, cocochips and pelite as the soil. Which can help a lot with the drainage, cocochips keep the root moist and pelite keep the soil loose so the root can "breath". Cause I tend to notice that horticulture sand or cactus soil hold too much water.
I wish I had your humidity! Very true that you have to adjust soil to conditions to your own home/outdoor space. I am sure this advice will help people!
Quick tips: get a moisture meter and humidity and temp monitor. Calatheas love at least 50% humidity. People who lives in cold areas specially needs this because air gets so dry that it will cause leaves to turn brown as well. Make sure you group them together because at night, the plants transpires and release water so they help each other out by creating micro climate. It increases humidity. It was a pain in the ass having the humidifier running everyday but it really will save your calatheas. She’s right about the fertilizer and using distilled water. I learned that the hard way. If you can, use a large terrarium with grow lights. It will keep these type of plants happy .
Great tips, Lynn! Thanks for sharing. :)
Lots of practical, useful information. Thank you for making this video.
You're welcome! I'm glad it was helpful. :)
Thanks a lot, congrats.
I'm in Guatemala Central America average Temps 68 to high 90 's... I'm going to use distilled water, one was sunburned had to remove those leaves, otherwise they are doing well.
Cheers 🥂 😊
Omgoodness, EVERYTHING I wish I would have known before my Calathea Medallion got so distressed. THANK YOU
Thanks for the video!! what do you think caused the tiny holes on the leaves at 5:37? thanks! is it water burn mark, as in caused by water left on the leaves?
I've had my calathea for 3 months and it's a mess ☹️☹️☹️
Hopefully I can save it! 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
I bought one that has the perfect soil. I believe it is Coco coir. It is one of the few plants I left and didn't repot. It is thriving
This is an awesome video. Thank you so much for all the detail you've put in. Really covered all the bases I can think of!
What a good video! Very informative and you are super likable. Thank you for the info!
Thank you , I have a zebra plant the is getting curling inward/downward and brown crispy tips . And my calathea is identical problem . My humidifier doesn’t work-yet . Since I was using tap water after letting it sit for 2 days . I want to give them a good shower but my shower water isn’t going to work . It’s supposed to rain tomorrow, so I’m going to collect some . I think I’ll go buy distilled water since I think they are pretty dry .
Ah, very informative and so useful thanks... I loved my Calathea plant, i was away for a while and when I returned it had got completely run down... I wasn’t sure what did it but from this It seems that it was the cold temps for long periods of time, whilst I was in a warmer climate... I wonder if there are other plants similar that you recommend? that may be more resilient/easier... Great vid btw! 👏🏻
Yes! My triostar stromanthes are just as beautiful but I've found that they can deal with dry air, temperature shifts and even pests, much better. There are a variety of stromanthe to choose from, some easier or harder to get depending on where you live. Maranta plants are also a little bit less fussy from my experience and don't have the dramatic reactions that calatheas do. I hope this helps! :)
I have a suggestion to help save a severely damaged Calathea due to cold snap (or from accidental neglect). I have several different types in my FL home & while all were thriving, I had one that I was convinced was a goner (for reasons unknown). Before I retired it to the compost pile, I decided to try switching it to semi hydro. Shook as much soil out from the roots as possible, got a cotton wick, Leca pebbles & placed it in a self watering planter. Used distilled water & high diluted fish emulsion. When I first replanted my Calathea, it has no viable leaves, all were brown & wilted, but I left it alone. It took a very long time, maybe even a couple months, but eventually a new leaf sprouted! That was about 6 months ago & it hasn’t stopped growing! Not only did it bounce back, but it’s thriving! Still putting out new leaves, all winter long. I eventually transferred another Calathea to semi hydro after it also began to struggle. They both have never looked better. I will prob transfer the rest of them as I find the right planters. Seems to work great for me here in FL, prob b/c the a/c really drys out the air (even tho I do the same thing as u & use diffusers throughout the house to increase humidity) but I always have issues w/ my Calatheas eventually having crunchy leaves. The semi hydro set up has fixed that problem completely
I am so sorry I missed this comment for so long! This is wonderful information. I have never heard of this method before and I am very excited to know it's possible! 😀 Not that I hope I get another plant with cold damage, but it is really nice to know that there might be a way to save the next one that I get. Thank you so much! 😊
Do you cut off the curled, brown leaves or just repot the plant and they bounce back? I can't figure out what the issue is with mine. I have a humidifier next to them now, which gives them 67% humidity, they are not getting direct light, but the leaves just don't uncurl. Any tips?
This only seems to happen to my Calathea medallion. All my others a throwing out growth and very happy, no criapy edges
Ty now I understand. I rescued one from a local hardware store recently. It was in a plastic pot with drainage holes. But the plastic pot was in a snug fitting, beautiful, clay pot. So there was no way for it to drain. I’m praying I can save it. Thanks again.
I'm so grateful for your channel! I adore my calathea and I think I've given it water damage:( Your video is the most informative thing I've found (and I've spent all day googling and in FB groups). Is the only solution time and flushing? I flushed it yesterday BEFORE realizing that the water wasn't as pure as I thought it was, so I'm torn about flushing again, and about repotting in case it stresses her out. I don't want to just wait if I should do something...
Great question
I re-potted my Peacock plants because the leaves were browning and they came with green fertilizer pellets. I bought distilled water and watered them after re-potting and left them in the bathroom with the hot shower running to get them some humidity. My question is, when I examined the roots, I found bulbs. They seemed a bit soggy. What are these bulbs and should I not have removed a few?
They might be root nodules ...I have read that some calathea are known to have root nodules (you can do a Google search and find some pretty informative results using the keywords: calathea root nodules or goeppertia root nodules). I have a few calathea that have these, too. They are usually there to store water/nutrients from what I've read. In the future, I would leave them there. Not all of my calathea have them and I don't know what triggers their growth or if they are only present in specific species. Using "nodules" as a search term though should help if you want to learn a bit more about them (I will probably read up on them myself!). Take care. 😊
Hi. Bought my calathea medallion for nearly 3 weeks now on clearance. Eventhough it wasn't in good condition still bought and gave a new home. The problems are brown tips, 2 pale leaves ( think they are new leaves), some leaves doesn't close at night time and droopy, lastly the stems are dark ( is that normal?) Do I need to repot it? What soil mixture to use? Please help me, I'm a newbie and want to revive this beautiful plant.
my ornata is such a diva, I almost regret buying it because how high maintenance it is but it's so beautiful so I'm trying so hard to keep it alive. I think for mine it's a humidity problem since I live in the high desert in CA and it's so dry out here. thank you for the tips!
.. Ohh, sounds like I need to do a repot, again 😳 I bought a little onata about 2 weeks ago, and when home I realised it was soaking wet, so it sat on my kitchen table over night when I desired to repot it the next day.. Once out of the pot it was dripping with water and I moved half of th soil and filled up with well drained soil, put it back on the table and within minutes it curled up the Leaves.. Today I noticed that several of the leaves are damaged and the poor thing doesn't look very happy.. From what I can understand, it could be root rot, as I actually let it keep the soil surrounding the roots although it was soaked.. I have to give it the chance and hope for the best..
How often do you add worm castings? Thank you for preparing me for a few calatheas I have getting delivered 👍
Also, have you tried distilling your own water?
Very informative! Thanks for all the info. Now I knew why most of my calatheas are dying or looking brown.
Thank you! My very first calathea had suffered from root rot a few weeks ago. But seeing this video, I am not sure if I managed to get the roots healthy again. I repotted her and cleaned the roots but she lost 2 or 3 leafs since then. But all the other leafs look very healthy, no browning tips, no curling. Calatheas can be so confusing 😂
They are confusing! I just checked on a calathea rosy and it looked like one of the leaves was curling, which panicked me. Turns out it was just a new leaf that got caught under another as it was trying to unravel. Whew. Repotting and checking the leaves does shock the plant a bit, but sometimes it just can't be avoided due to larger issues (like root rot!). I hope your calathea is doing well now. 😊
Interesting about the cold, I do keep calathea all winter inside and on my patio in very cold climate. for three months we wouldn't have a day with temperatures over 60F. But still seem to live, grow a little and maintain pretty healthy leaves. Not sure how that is, based on the concept they will get damage under 65F. And I never use a heater in the house.
The temperature comes from a variety of sources (I use a lot of university horticulture sheets to track certain traits/conditions). I think it really depends on the conditions the plant was grown in, even its age, as some are definitely hardier than others though they are tropical plants. As I do have a lot of my plants shipped, I definitely avoid winter now for calatheas. It doesn't get all that cold where I am but I have lost a number of calatheas to the cold and I've yet to see a calathea recover from cold damage. Some growers I buy from lose whole batches when their power/heating goes out. I think it should be noted that these are often young plants. My first Calathea Dottie video is a good example of a plant that suffered from cold damage.
THANK YOU for sharing the info on root damage and the cold 🥶 damage
I think that’s what I have going on, but I’m impatient to fix wilty leaves and I think I just made a bad problem worse 😪 w too many different actions
Just finding you and have grown to love calatheas! My question is: how have you learned SO much about them! Will be checking all the videos out! Ty!
Fabulous video! You definitely know your ishh! Thanks girl 🌱🕺💞
Such useful info! Saving these tips. Thank you so much.
Thanks for the video! I have my calathea for almost a year and I'm struggling with it's brown leaves for months! While I fix the issue should I cut the brown part of the leave or should I cut the entire leave? Only have 3 healthy leaves 🙈
LITERALLY SAME! I've trimmed the clearly dead, dried, brown bits away. Three very measly pieces of leaf. It's so upsetting!
Thank you so very much for this video I was having problems with mark calathea and now I know what the problem is so I can fix it. thank you so very much.😀
I am so glad it was helpful, Taylor! Thanks for the feedback. :)
I took my zebrina out of soil..she looked very good before the switch..gently washed her roots,spayed with peroxide and let dry..moved to leca, in her new pot,over night,all leaves have curled...bummed,not sure if it is just transitioning, have to wait and see..roots looked very good and healthy..
I got a calathea for my birthday from my aunt, and the edges were brown. I think she bought it a few days in advance and then brought it to my house (an hour car ride) so It most likely is water stress. The soil looks really dry so I’ll probably water it soon. One thing, tho, is that my aunt told me to cut the brown edges off (she’s really into plants so I trust that’s what im supposed to do) but I didn’t cut in the shape of the leaf 😭. So hopefully that doesn’t damage it more.
Oh, it should be fine! :) The dead organic matter can attract pests, so it can be a good idea to get rid of it if that's something likely to happen. I hope yours is doing well.
@@AddyBeez it’s doing great! Three leads unfurled a couple weeks ago!
Sooo helpful thank you! Love the oil infuser tip
Thanks, Cheryl! :)
For how long do you let the infuser to work?
Thanks! I just got one and was lookin for some care info. Very informative!!
This was so useful, thank you!
I'm glad it was helpful. :)
Hi very good video, you have a new subscriber 😄 ! I have a calathea and he's doing great for the moment, i have him for almost 6 months and i putted him on a saucer full of water ( the pot is not touching the water ) i mist him 2 or 3 times a week and he is with a lot of others plants it helps i think ! But i just bought a triostar and i already noticed that this one Will be harder To maintain 😂
( sorry for possible mistakes im french 🙂)
I am glad your calathea is doing well! :) They do love their humidity. Is your triostar giving you trouble?
@@AddyBeez Not really for the moment but it's a baby triostar for the moment so i will see 😊
Thank you for all the good information I'm gonna get some distilled water when I go to town today l only have 2 prayer plants want to feed them and water them how's the best
These are really helpful tips and demonstrations! I have a calathea crocata that has been temperamental since I got it, about 4 months ago. Oddly enough I got a calathea makoyana at the same time that I've basically ignored other than to move it around the house and I've had zero problems with it. I accidentally burned off all the flowers on the crocata and many of the leaf tips with too bright sunlight, but then the leaves started to pale when I put it farther from the window. I recently discovered an intense spider mite infestation and had to prune off many of the older leaves. Surprisingly there's a lot of very healthy looking new growth under the mess, but the leaves still look a bit pale and the tips are slightly crispy and it's really disappointing on such beautiful dark foliage. What do solidly pale leaves and crispy tips mean? Less light, or more? More fertilizer? More water? More humidity? Some combination of all of these? I haven't been able to find any pictures online that match what I'm seeing, and I would love to save this beautiful plant!
Mine grow lush and beautiful. I have found that the secret is to sprinkle with water on the soil like light rain. I do this every 3 days. If I give them more water than this, the leaves will yellow . I do not feel that they do well with deep watering. Every two months or so I will give them more but mostly just water the top.
I’m trying again with a new prayer plant, using distilled water, pebble tray, in bathroom.
So informative, Thank you 🙏🏽.
When you have to cut the dead leaves, how far down should you go...
I try to clip them as close to/right at the soil line as possible. That isn't always an option because sometimes a new stem will come out of an existing stem/leaf that is dying. When that happens, I clip as far down as I can without hurting the other stem. I hope this helps!
Good question!
Worm castings, while often marketed as a fertilizer, are more accurately classified as a soil amendment. They are deficient in nitrogen and other essential plant nutrients, and therefore do not meet the criteria to be considered a fertilizer. Despite this, companies are permitted to label worm castings as a fertilizer, leading to confusion.
My calathea curls when it wants water. Once I water it, it uncurls
Did it survive!? I bought a Calathea for my office at work. It was strong and healthy for 4 days, then I was off work for 4 days after. When I came back to work I found the plant almost dead. I hate co-workers. I'm currently trying to save it. The leaves are all curled. I'm scared to water it though but the soil feels dry.
All of the calatheas in the video are still here. I would give it some water and see if it starts to uncurl. If not, you might need to check the roots. But first, I would make sure it didn't get too hot/cold, or is close to a draft or too much direct light. Best of luck to you!
I am also facing the same issue.. Thanx for the suggestions
Great informative video on Calathea’s
Thanks. I think I need to check my roots and repot my plant.
Thank you for this info! I’ve killed all my Calathias so far. The new one I bought is in my bathroom with a humidifier and I’m using room temp filtered water from the fridge. Do you think I should buy distilled water instead?
If you can get distilled water--I would use that. From my understanding, some of the natural minerals that occur in water that is perfectly healthy for us to drink can still result in root damage in calatheas. Filters also might not catch fluoride (this hard to remove from water, from what I've read) and not all filters can remove chloramine.
You're right. Chloromides don't disapate if left. A rainwater tank is a good investment.
I was just reading using a diffuser doesn’t increase humidity at all as it’s so fine used for oils it’s not enough moisture, hardly any. To help indoor plants
No, an oil diffuser certainly won't significantly raise humidity levels in a room, that's for sure. However, it has been enough in my house for small clusters within 1 foot of it when the heater is running during the winter. For instance, it has worked a lot better for me than say a pebble water trays, over winter.
So glad I found you! This has been very helpful, I do have a quick question. I bought a calathea this winter and it was doing great till this summer. I bought a tap filter but it doesn't seem to be improving. Do u think something else is the problem or should I go a step farther getting clean water.
My orbifolia is a drama queen.I cut off the brown edges but she starts browning the rest of the leaves.Just don't know how to please her.😀
Thank you for this comprehensive video! Do you have any tipps on soil to avoid root rot?
I've had a Rattlesnake Calathea for a week now and it's already driving me crazy lol. Took mines outside as well and the leaves curled with in minutes. Hope I can save it.
My Calathea Ornata is one of the most beautiful plant's I have ever owned but it just isn't happy :( some of the leaves are fading and turning yellow and after watching your video I think the plant shop did cause some fertiliser burn, does anyone else live in London? I think the hard water is killing it :( I'm going to start collecting rain water. The backs of the leaves also have this salt like residue which again I think is a water problem. I've brought back lots of plants before and I'm generally quite green fingered but this calathea is kicking my butt!
I feel your pain. Ornatas are one of the fussiest calatheas, so sensitive. I hope someone else from London can respond regarding the water. I would love to try rain water myself!
I use a diffuser for my calethea and I *lightly* mist them daily, I do use tap water that has been sat out for 24 hours and so far no problems but I have very soft water so maybe thats an advantage
Some municipalities/water providers certainly have better water quality than others. Ours smells like chlorine, though I know the City uses chloramine here, and has a lot of minerals that my calatheas don't like. I'm glad you can use your water for calatheas! :) I'd love to live somewhere someday where I can do that, too.
How long do you let the diffuser run for ?
@@nonomerlos8263 Mines set at humidity so it just comes on when the humidity drops below 50% when I had littler ones i ran them 13 hours a day
My Vittata was very healthy and it was shocked from an unexpected heatwave 2 weeks ago. The leaves curled and only a couple ended up opening back up. The rest just browned and died. Hopefully it will get better.
On the other hand, my Triocolor Stromanthe curled up a few leaves but immediately opened up within the next day. A week later, I realized all 3 emerging leaves dried up and wilted. I pulled them out and the bay leaves were crisp. Not sure if I was doing the right thing or not, I hope it’ll rebound and produce leaves again.
Very helpful! What would you recommend for soul for a calathea if repotting? I suspect the soil it came in isn’t draining well, or perhaps root rot? But want to have soil ready to go before I pull it out to inspect. I’m a newbie with calatheas! Help!
Hi there! This is a great video! For how long do you let your calatheas sit with the humidifier? Do you set them with the humidifier every day? Thank you!