Calathea Vittata leaves curling and stems starting to ben...
Help save my plant, please!
The health of my #calatheavittata has been slowly declining.
3 weeks ago, a few leaves started curled up and getting a little crispy, so I focussed on increasing humidity and warmth (it's the middle of a cold winter here in Australia).
I've tried:
- spraying water on the leaves daily
- running a small humidifier next to her
- putting the container on a pebble tray
- moving her into the bathroom for extra humidity and warmth
More leaves continue curling and a few of the stems have bent over from the weight of the leaf (see photo).
She was last watered over 2 weeks ago and the soil is still moist. Indirect light source is from a skylight about 3m / 9ft above.
No sign of gnats or other pests.
My last resort is to repot her but I want to wait until the beginning of Spring.
Do you have any hot tips or advice to help revive her?
#saveaplant
The health of my #calatheavittata has been slowly declining.
3 weeks ago, a few leaves started curled up and getting a little crispy, so I focussed on increasing humidity and warmth (it's the middle of a cold winter here in Australia).
I've tried:
- spraying water on the leaves daily
- running a small humidifier next to her
- putting the container on a pebble tray
- moving her into the bathroom for extra humidity and warmth
More leaves continue curling and a few of the stems have bent over from the weight of the leaf (see photo).
She was last watered over 2 weeks ago and the soil is still moist. Indirect light source is from a skylight about 3m / 9ft above.
No sign of gnats or other pests.
My last resort is to repot her but I want to wait until the beginning of Spring.
Do you have any hot tips or advice to help revive her?
#saveaplant
2ft to light, indirect
8” pot with drainage
Last watered 3 months ago
9
There are several possible reasons the leaves on your beautiful Calathea are curling and the stems are bending. Transplant shock, temperature stress, low light, watering with hard (or water containing high minerals) and etc..
💧insufficient watering: It’s probably overwatered. Usually when a plant curls its leaves it’s trying to reduce water loss. So using the humidifier is a good idea. The stems bending is also a sign of water stress. During the wintertime tropical plants will go dormant and require less water.
💦 The best method to determine when to water your plant is the finger- soil dip. Only water your plant when the top one (2.54cm) inches of the soil feels completely dry. The first knuckle on your index finger is approximately 1 inches or 2.54 cm. When you see water dripping out of the drainage hole, stop watering your plant, because the rootball of the plant is hydrated and it’s not endanger of being under-watered.
▫️soil Compaction. If the soil is too compact, then the soil will stay wet too long. Calathea grows best in loose, well draining soil. perlite is a good soil amendment, but this plant needs more soil amendments that will aerate the soil and enhance drainage. Consider adding Pumice, orchid bark or vermiculite or etc. perlite-vs-pumice/" target="_blank">https://gardentabs.com/vermiculite-vs-perlite-vs-pumice/
▫️The best time for repotting is early spring or early summer, so I understand why you don’t want to repot your plant. But consider aerating the soil by using a chopstick to gently poking air pockets in the soil.
🙏 I hope your plant will make a speedy recovery. https://houseplantauthority.com/calathea-leaves-curling
💧insufficient watering: It’s probably overwatered. Usually when a plant curls its leaves it’s trying to reduce water loss. So using the humidifier is a good idea. The stems bending is also a sign of water stress. During the wintertime tropical plants will go dormant and require less water.
💦 The best method to determine when to water your plant is the finger- soil dip. Only water your plant when the top one (2.54cm) inches of the soil feels completely dry. The first knuckle on your index finger is approximately 1 inches or 2.54 cm. When you see water dripping out of the drainage hole, stop watering your plant, because the rootball of the plant is hydrated and it’s not endanger of being under-watered.
▫️soil Compaction. If the soil is too compact, then the soil will stay wet too long. Calathea grows best in loose, well draining soil. perlite is a good soil amendment, but this plant needs more soil amendments that will aerate the soil and enhance drainage. Consider adding Pumice, orchid bark or vermiculite or etc. perlite-vs-pumice/" target="_blank">https://gardentabs.com/vermiculite-vs-perlite-vs-pumice/
▫️The best time for repotting is early spring or early summer, so I understand why you don’t want to repot your plant. But consider aerating the soil by using a chopstick to gently poking air pockets in the soil.
🙏 I hope your plant will make a speedy recovery. https://houseplantauthority.com/calathea-leaves-curling
I'm sorry you're having issues, Nelson. If it makes you feel any better, those plants are PICKY!
I would recommend giving it more light. 3m/9' is pretty far especially in the winter when the days are shorter.
Before I killed mine, it was doing really well in my greenhouse in a dish of water. It got lots of sunlight and it had constsntly moist soil.
I would make sure the keep the soil evenly moist, give it more light, and possibly make it a humidity dome by putting a clear plastic bag over it if the plant is small enough. When mine was struggling, I put a gallon zip-bag over it to keep in the humidity.
Please keep us posted, Nelson! Im glad you found Greg!
I would recommend giving it more light. 3m/9' is pretty far especially in the winter when the days are shorter.
Before I killed mine, it was doing really well in my greenhouse in a dish of water. It got lots of sunlight and it had constsntly moist soil.
I would make sure the keep the soil evenly moist, give it more light, and possibly make it a humidity dome by putting a clear plastic bag over it if the plant is small enough. When mine was struggling, I put a gallon zip-bag over it to keep in the humidity.
Please keep us posted, Nelson! Im glad you found Greg!
As her soil is still moist, it is possible that she is suffocating and your problem is root-rot.
I understand your restraint to repot, but I really think you need to check the roots before it might be too late.
To help my struggeling calatheas I have put them in a transparent bucket or plastic bag to up the humidity while they are recovering. That way the leaves will get the humidity they need to survive while she can focus on regrowing her roots.
I understand your restraint to repot, but I really think you need to check the roots before it might be too late.
To help my struggeling calatheas I have put them in a transparent bucket or plastic bag to up the humidity while they are recovering. That way the leaves will get the humidity they need to survive while she can focus on regrowing her roots.
Thank you all for your tips and detailed responses. I'll try poking some air pockets into the soil and will inspect the roots on the weekend. Will definitely also try the bag covering idea to increase humidity.
I'll monitor how she responds and if there's no improvement, will relocate her to a brighter spot for more light.
If I do end up repotting, I'll be sure to use a mix that improves drainage.
Much appreciated! 👍
I'll monitor how she responds and if there's no improvement, will relocate her to a brighter spot for more light.
If I do end up repotting, I'll be sure to use a mix that improves drainage.
Much appreciated! 👍
Update: she's not doing well.
I expected root rot, but her roots were actually healthy and firm. After checking, I repotted with a well-draining indoor potting mix containing perlite and coir.
I also relocated her next to a window with filtered light. It's been 4 days now but her remaining leaves continue to curl up, before the stem gives way and bends.
It might be cold shock. The room that has the most consistent temperature is the bathroom I kept her in but there are no windows, only a skylight.
Weirdly, my Calathea Freddie, who also lives in that bathroom is doing just fine.
My once-gorgeous Calathea Vittata now looks like she's on her last legs ☹️
I expected root rot, but her roots were actually healthy and firm. After checking, I repotted with a well-draining indoor potting mix containing perlite and coir.
I also relocated her next to a window with filtered light. It's been 4 days now but her remaining leaves continue to curl up, before the stem gives way and bends.
It might be cold shock. The room that has the most consistent temperature is the bathroom I kept her in but there are no windows, only a skylight.
Weirdly, my Calathea Freddie, who also lives in that bathroom is doing just fine.
My once-gorgeous Calathea Vittata now looks like she's on her last legs ☹️
@immashiningstar, thanks for your tip. Yes I water with rain water. I have a suspicion that my toddler splashed her bath water into the pot, which might explain the mystery behind my calathea's decline ☹️