Curled leaves???
What is going on here? My calathea’s leaves rolled up all of a sudden. They’re not browned or crispy at all, they feel pretty normal, they just curled up and flopped. I thought it was a lack of humidity and put it next to a humidifier and that did nothing. Then my stromanthe did the same thing. Is there any hope? What on earth is happening?
#PlantTherapy #help
#PlantTherapy #help
13ft to light, indirect
4” pot with drainage
Last watered 3 weeks ago
9
@SharonH Could be caused by a number of factors. Calathea plants curl their leaves most commonly due to low humidity, which causes them to try and conserve moisture by curling up, but other factors like overwatering, underwatering, incorrect lighting (too much direct sun), extreme temperature changes, and poor water quality (mineral buildup) can also lead to leaf curling.
WOW! I'm so sorry that's very extreme.
If it's only your prayer plants then my big question is are you watering with tap water? Calatheas are extremely sensitive to tap water and it will kill them. I'm going to type out my care I've learned taking care of my calatheas. I'm not sure it will help at this point but you can try. I'm so sorry about your babies. I'll follow up with my tips below.
Calatheas are some of my favorites so through the years I have grown an extensive collection ❤️
If it's only your prayer plants then my big question is are you watering with tap water? Calatheas are extremely sensitive to tap water and it will kill them. I'm going to type out my care I've learned taking care of my calatheas. I'm not sure it will help at this point but you can try. I'm so sorry about your babies. I'll follow up with my tips below.
Calatheas are some of my favorites so through the years I have grown an extensive collection ❤️
Tips for prayer plants:
1. Only use distilled or rain water, they are very sensitive to chemicals in our tap water. They will suffer greatly with tap water and can die from it.
2. Plenty of indirect light. Direct sun will burn their leaves. Grow lights are great, I keep my collection under grow lights 12 hours a day.
3. Water when the soil is at least halfway dry. But never allow the soil to go completely dry.
4. Keep temperatures stable. They hate fluctuating temps. Interior walls are best the temps there are more stable.
5. They love humidity a humidifier is great. I increase humidity with pebble trays below the plant so as the water evaporates it increases humidity. I also cluster them together so they create humidity themselves.
6. Ceramic or porcelain pots are best. Terracotta and plastic are bad. Terracotta is terrible for these because it pulls moisture away from the roots. Plastic does not give the plant aeration so the roots will lack oxygen. Without oxygen the plant loses its ability to absorb water and nutrients.
Hopefully, something in here can help you pinpoint the cause. The important thing is to not give up. Keep trying, prayer plants can be difficult to learn how to keep them thriving. But, they are beautiful and worth it. ❤️
1. Only use distilled or rain water, they are very sensitive to chemicals in our tap water. They will suffer greatly with tap water and can die from it.
2. Plenty of indirect light. Direct sun will burn their leaves. Grow lights are great, I keep my collection under grow lights 12 hours a day.
3. Water when the soil is at least halfway dry. But never allow the soil to go completely dry.
4. Keep temperatures stable. They hate fluctuating temps. Interior walls are best the temps there are more stable.
5. They love humidity a humidifier is great. I increase humidity with pebble trays below the plant so as the water evaporates it increases humidity. I also cluster them together so they create humidity themselves.
6. Ceramic or porcelain pots are best. Terracotta and plastic are bad. Terracotta is terrible for these because it pulls moisture away from the roots. Plastic does not give the plant aeration so the roots will lack oxygen. Without oxygen the plant loses its ability to absorb water and nutrients.
Hopefully, something in here can help you pinpoint the cause. The important thing is to not give up. Keep trying, prayer plants can be difficult to learn how to keep them thriving. But, they are beautiful and worth it. ❤️
@SuperbRaspfern I have a ton of calatheas, they are some of my favorites too, and all the rest of them are totally fine! This is why it’s baffling me. Nothing has changed with the watering, grow light, anything.
That is extremely strange then I suspect @Kreoo is probably right. Overwatering is the likely suspect. If you want to get to the root of the problem quite literally. I would unpot one and look at the roots. I will also share my treatment plan for root rot although I suspect it may be too late for these. The reason I'm sharing is for your other calatheas.
What happens with overwatering is it does not allow oxygen to get into the soil this lack of oxygen then creates bacteria. It will grow and multiply rapidly and start feeding on the plants roots. Without ever knowing it's happening.
I suspect this because without oxygen your plant loses its ability to absorb the water and nutrients they need to stay healthy.
With winter it makes it happen more because growth is slowed the soil will stay wet for longer periods and it can sometimes be difficult to adjust to their needs. In the future and for your others I do recommend aeration of 50% in all plants it creates good drainage and allows oxygen to reach those roots.
Root rot treatment
1. Remove from your pot, to check the roots. If there is anything brown black or mushy you have rot and will need to cut it all off. Keep only the healthy roots they will be whitish in color
Now root rot comes from a bacteria that forms in your soil and then attacks your plant. So treatment is absolutely necessary.
2. Cut off all affected roots soak what is left in:
1 part peroxide + 3 parts water and leave in the peroxide mix to soak for 5 minutes this will kill off the remaining bacteria. It will bubble pot and fizz this is good it’s killing the bacteria.
3. Next is soil the best choice is to throw it away. It’s safest. Or bake it for 1 hour in a 200
Degree oven, not the greatest because it REALLY stinks. But it’s effective. Or the most risky way is to thoroughly flush your soil out with your peroxide mix twice! You need to be very careful and do it thoroughly because if even a teeny bit of bacteria is left your rot will come back.
4. Now the pot, it also has that pesky bacteria you must scrub it out with soapy water very well and then also scrub it down with the peroxide mix.
Now you can plant her again. Be sure to add some perlite to your soil for aeration. This will help oxygen reach those roots and avoid bacteria growth in the future.
What happens with overwatering is it does not allow oxygen to get into the soil this lack of oxygen then creates bacteria. It will grow and multiply rapidly and start feeding on the plants roots. Without ever knowing it's happening.
I suspect this because without oxygen your plant loses its ability to absorb the water and nutrients they need to stay healthy.
With winter it makes it happen more because growth is slowed the soil will stay wet for longer periods and it can sometimes be difficult to adjust to their needs. In the future and for your others I do recommend aeration of 50% in all plants it creates good drainage and allows oxygen to reach those roots.
Root rot treatment
1. Remove from your pot, to check the roots. If there is anything brown black or mushy you have rot and will need to cut it all off. Keep only the healthy roots they will be whitish in color
Now root rot comes from a bacteria that forms in your soil and then attacks your plant. So treatment is absolutely necessary.
2. Cut off all affected roots soak what is left in:
1 part peroxide + 3 parts water and leave in the peroxide mix to soak for 5 minutes this will kill off the remaining bacteria. It will bubble pot and fizz this is good it’s killing the bacteria.
3. Next is soil the best choice is to throw it away. It’s safest. Or bake it for 1 hour in a 200
Degree oven, not the greatest because it REALLY stinks. But it’s effective. Or the most risky way is to thoroughly flush your soil out with your peroxide mix twice! You need to be very careful and do it thoroughly because if even a teeny bit of bacteria is left your rot will come back.
4. Now the pot, it also has that pesky bacteria you must scrub it out with soapy water very well and then also scrub it down with the peroxide mix.
Now you can plant her again. Be sure to add some perlite to your soil for aeration. This will help oxygen reach those roots and avoid bacteria growth in the future.