I’m so sad. This plant was flourishing then suddenly it t...
23ft to light, indirect
6” pot with drainage
Last watered 3 months ago
5
Demi prefers soil that is consistently moist but not waterlogged. Both overwatering and underwatering can lead to brown leaves. Overwatering can cause root rot, while underwatering can cause the plant to dry out and the leaves to shrivel. A good practice is to water when the top 1-2 inches of soil feel dry to the touch and as a plant native to tropical rainforests, Demi requires high humidity levels to thrive. Dry air, especially she is sensitive to chemicals like chlorine and fluoride found in tap water. These minerals can build up in the soil and cause the leaf tips and edges to burn and turn brown. To prevent this, consider using distilled water, rainwater, or filtered water. Letting tap water sit out for at least 24 hours can also help some chemicals dissipate.from heating or air conditioning, can cause the leaves to lose moisture and become brown and crispy. Increasing humidity can be done by misting the leaves regularly, using a pebble tray with water, or placing a humidifier nearby. She prefers bright, indirect light. Direct sunlight can scorch their delicate leaves, causing burn-like brown spots and fading the vibrant patterns.
To help Demi recover, it is recommended to trim off the brown, damaged parts of the leaves with clean, sharp scissors. The brown areas will not turn green again, and removing them allows the plant to redirect its energy to new, healthy growth. It is important not to remove more than 20-25% of the leaves at one time to avoid shocking the plant.
To help Demi recover, it is recommended to trim off the brown, damaged parts of the leaves with clean, sharp scissors. The brown areas will not turn green again, and removing them allows the plant to redirect its energy to new, healthy growth. It is important not to remove more than 20-25% of the leaves at one time to avoid shocking the plant.
Hi @TrueMira72 👋. Oh those calatheas! It’s very typical for them to be drama queens! I swear they save up the drama and give it to us all at once. Typically I’ve found it’s a combo of good humidity levels, water quality and getting the watering right that leads to a happier calathea. As @PlantAgenet117 said heaters and a/c dry out the air so be sure she’s not near a heater or has a vent blowing on her. A table top humidifier can help & are pretty reasonable $$. Pebble trays help too but be sure the plant is on top of the pebbles and not soaking up any water from the tray. Misting is questionable as it increases humidity only as long as you are misting it. Also increases possibility of mold on leaves so unless there’s great air circulation around her like an open window or fan then I wouldn’t do it. Water quality is important where tap water is hard or soft. Many people use distilled water or capture rainwater and see much improvement. Nadia @DreamMachine just wrote yesterday about great results using rainwater 🌧️🙌. Regarding chlorine and fluoride in water, check with your local water district. Usually their water quality report is available on their website. I found out ours doesn’t use fluoride at all and they don’t use chlorine gas they use chloramine which isn’t a gas. So leaving my water out does nothing except bring it to room temperature, which is good 😊. The drops used for fish tanks can remove chlorine and chloramine but be sure it also removes the ammonia component too. I use our hard tap water but I filter it and use fertilizers with low calcium. We the Wild has organic fertilizers specifically for “well water” and hard water that are naturally higher in calcium. Hope this info helps you out. Please know you are in very good company with plant parents who struggle with calatheas!! 🤣🤪😜
Hi @TrueMira72
This looks like very typical sunburn to me, as it is the lighter color in the middle of the leaves that are burnt. It can happen almost instantly.
It will be fine and put out new growth, just keep it away from too much light.
If it hasn't been in the sun or under a grow-light, it might be some kind of mineral- or fertilizer-burn. If that is the case you should flush the soil and preferably use rainwater or destilled.
Watering- and humidity-problems usually show whith crisping edges of the leaf, not the middle, and leaf-curling.
Otherwise, for caring I agree with the above.
Just be a little careful with the water now as it needs less when you trimmed so many leaves.
This looks like very typical sunburn to me, as it is the lighter color in the middle of the leaves that are burnt. It can happen almost instantly.
It will be fine and put out new growth, just keep it away from too much light.
If it hasn't been in the sun or under a grow-light, it might be some kind of mineral- or fertilizer-burn. If that is the case you should flush the soil and preferably use rainwater or destilled.
Watering- and humidity-problems usually show whith crisping edges of the leaf, not the middle, and leaf-curling.
Otherwise, for caring I agree with the above.
Just be a little careful with the water now as it needs less when you trimmed so many leaves.