The tips of some of the leaves have started to turn brown...
1ft to light, direct
10” pot with drainage
Last watered 8 hours ago
4
My first guess would be overwatering because they are dying at the tips and the rest of the leaf looks hydrated, you also indicated it’s getting plenty of indirect light (so not in direct sun and no signs of sunburn).
If keeping up with the watering schedule means what is recommended by the app, those recs are AI and not always good… if you log watering only when you physically verified your plant needed it, the app will slowly adjust the watering schedule it recommends for that plant. Consider getting a moisture meter (don’t need anything fancy, just the cheap green one under $10, check the moisture level before watering then wipe it off and store it in a clean, dry place) to help you get a better sense of how frequently your plant actually needs water (it will help you learn the frequency for that plant, and then you can just whip it out on an as-needed basis)… you can use a wooden skewer (plunge it in for a few mins and see if the tip emerges cool or moist) in a pinch, but I find a MM is a a faster, easier way to get peace of mind when you’re learning to gauge what a specific plant needs.
Because the plant otherwise looks healthy, I would not bother with drastic action (pot removal, root checking, etc) and just delay watering and make sure sure it is dry before watering again. The damage that is done is done, just watch that it does not get worse and check for signs of healthy new growth.
If keeping up with the watering schedule means what is recommended by the app, those recs are AI and not always good… if you log watering only when you physically verified your plant needed it, the app will slowly adjust the watering schedule it recommends for that plant. Consider getting a moisture meter (don’t need anything fancy, just the cheap green one under $10, check the moisture level before watering then wipe it off and store it in a clean, dry place) to help you get a better sense of how frequently your plant actually needs water (it will help you learn the frequency for that plant, and then you can just whip it out on an as-needed basis)… you can use a wooden skewer (plunge it in for a few mins and see if the tip emerges cool or moist) in a pinch, but I find a MM is a a faster, easier way to get peace of mind when you’re learning to gauge what a specific plant needs.
Because the plant otherwise looks healthy, I would not bother with drastic action (pot removal, root checking, etc) and just delay watering and make sure sure it is dry before watering again. The damage that is done is done, just watch that it does not get worse and check for signs of healthy new growth.
are you watering with tap water? calathea tend to. e extremely sensitive to hard metals and substances in our tap water. the best kind of water to use is purified RO water, or even better, rain water. this could also be a nitrogen deficiency as the older leaves are effected first and begin at th he edges and tips. ♡
@JenobiBLU I don’t have a calathea but I have dragon trees which are also sensitive, and I’m super-sensitive to the taste of chlorine and other things in tap water… RO filters may not be an option for a lot of people (financially, geographically due to water costs/scarcity, ethically concerned about water waste / the rapidly depleting US water tables, renters), if anyone is looking for a water filter recommendation, I’ve been using ClearlyFiltered for over a decade, their filters are awesome and remove all sorts of things (metals, fluoride, etc) that your average cheap brita/pur/etc charcoal filter cannot remove. I use their pitcher because I rent, but they also have undersink and refrigerator dispenser options. They also have subscription discounts… In NYC I tend to have to replace it 4-5 weeks (it slows down to a drip, our water source is one of the purest in the US and requires little to no municipal treatment but that also results in a lot of dissolved mineral solids… which is what makes our breads so good but clogs up filters quicker), when living in other cities I’ve often gotten 2 months out of a filter.
Mine is several years strong, one of my absolute favs, but she’s had her moments! One time I had to cut a good portion of her back because of this problem 💔 I’d strongly consider water and soil condition as contributors. My ctenanthe - and her calathea relatives - sometimes develop this symptom with too much buildup in the soil from fertilizer or deposits from water. Having excellent drainage, and flushing thoroughly with rainwater that has settled, filtered water, or distilled bottled water I’ve found really helpful. I only use these to water, nothing tap. When this doesn’t work, Ive resorted to cleaning the roots thoroughly and repotting in fresh soil with eventual rebound. This is actually how I’ve rescued some crispy ones I’ve bought from the discount aisle! Im also sensitive about when I fertilize and err on the side of underdoing it when growth looks slower or stalled. In general, I’ve noticed my ctenanthe always gets some degree of these brown dry tips during winter - humidifier does help, but short of being in a greenhouse I don’t think there’s a way in my climate to completely prevent it from happening…Lastly, agree with others on avoiding any direct light - they do easily sunburn!
