Make sure your Calathea doesn’t live too close to a heater or air vent, and that you are watering it just enough to maintain the soil humid to the touch and no more. Propagation of the Calathea zebrina. Just like many other species of Calathea she can be fussy and difficult to look after, but for the same reason we continue to collect these plants, she really is stunning. So you have all the correct conditi… Direct sun may burn its leaves. Immerse it in a solution of 9 parts water and 1 part bleach, and allow it to soak for 10 to 15 minutes. In the beginning, keep the new divisions in a shady, moist and warm area. Trimming Browning Leaf Edges Brown edges on leaves are common with calathea and may result from either fertilizing when the soil is dry or uneven watering. Where to place your calathea at home Now, let’s get your Calathea on the road to recovery. Addressing Over- or Under-Watering Pull the plant from the pot to inspect the soil and roots. Fill your watering can the night before and leave it out to dissipate the chlorine or try using filtered water instead. There are a few things to keep in mind to keep these plants in beautiful condition and avoid the dreaded brown, crispy edges! Lack of moisture browns and shrivels cathedral windows' lower leaves and causes dry, brown spots on its upper ones. Take a good look at where your plant is situated and how you care for it, and you can unlock the riddle of why you have brown leaves on prayer plants. Steps to Repot Calathea Starter Plants wikimedia.org. 3. Cut the leaf, with clean, sharp scissors, at the base where it connects to the main stalk. Place the pot on a shallow tray filled with pebbles submerged in water to just below their surfaces. have earned colorful nicknames such as peacock plant, rattlesnake plant and zebra plant. Droopy foliage indicates over-watering. For Calathea and Ctenanthe plants, this is probably all the pruning you will be doing. Take care of your Calathea Medallion and it will take care of you! Calathea are tender perennials that grow in clumps from tuberous, underground roots. It tolerates outdoor life in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 11 through 12, but doesn't succeed outdoors in colder areas without significant pampering, though it can be grown as a houseplant. Salt buildup from excessive fertilizer browns the leaf tips and edges. Recurrent yellowing indicates a problem with temperature, lighting, watering or fertilizing. But if yellowing, dying leaves appear frequently or closer to the interior of the plant, it’s trying to tell you something. Calatheas tend to be cranky indoors as well, and sometimes need pruning when their growing conditions aren’t right. The easiest way to grow Calathea at … Lay them out to air dry for about 24 hours, in direct sunlight if possible. Don’t allow the calathea to dry out completely or wilt. With small shears, remove either a part of the leaf or an entire leaf. Your Calathea isn’t necessarily dying, you may just need to cut back on some of the dead leaves to … There is nothing like the stunning foliage of Calathea plants! As for flowers, Calathea do often bloom in the wild, but they tend not to bloom much indoors. That will stimulate the sending of new shoots and will rejuvenate your plant. Why an Indoor Stephanotis Has Drooping Leaves, Natural Homemade Streak-Free Window Cleaners, Missouri Botanical Garden: Calathea Makoyana, UCLA Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden: Variegated Leaf of Calathea Makoyana, William T. Kemper Center for Home Gardening: Indoor Plants or Houseplants, Oregon State University Extension: Soluble Salts Damaging to Houseplants, Royal Horticultural Society: Calathea Makoyana, Why Houseplants Get Brown Tips on Their Leaves, The Ficus Lyrata Leaves Are Turning Brown & Dropping, Tips for Dead Leaves on Potted Plants & Brown Spots on Leaves. When you find out why your calathea is mad, you can kiss, make up and reduce the need for future prunings. A lack of humidity, either in the environment or in its soil, which can also be expressed by the leaves curling Overwatering , which leads to a build up of moisture around the roots. Can I Cut Brown Areas Off My Calathea Roseopicta’s Leaves? Please bear in mind that this video is how I treat my Calathea Ornata based on my home environment. All Rights Reserved. Don’t wet the soil to the point of sogginess. To keep cold air from browning and curling them, move the houseplant away from air conditioning vents in summer. Don’t be afraid to cut the leaves off to the bottom of the stem—this encourages healthier growth to appear. After five minutes, water it again to wash away the salts dissolved in the first watering. Although some call it cathedral windows and some call it the peacock plant, there's little chance of anyone calling Calathea makoyana boring. Use clean, sharp scissors to cut them off at the base of their reddish stems. Water quality. In fact, Calathea plants usually will only grow to about 2 feet in height and then stop. You can use a spray bottle or a mister to give those leaves a nice shimmer. All you have to do is cut the unsightly leaf stem where it joins with the main stem. He also covers parenting, juvenile science experiments, cooking and alternative/home remedies. Otherwise, remove the entire leaves, again disinfecting your scissors between cuts. Many growers like to leave partially healthy leaves on their Calathea roseopicta until they die naturally, but you don’t have to let husks and brown spots spoil the picture. Brown … Disinfect the scissors before and after use to prevent spreading bacteria and other harmful microorganisms. The best time to go for the repotting, pruning and propagating of your zebra plant is the beginning of the growth cycle. Pruning - To keep your plant healthy and strong, you may trim older or unhappy looking leaves. Once the divisions start developing a new growth you can remove the plastic and care for your new Calathea plants in the usual manner. Instead of having a gorgeous potted succulent, you can wind up with tangled leaves curling all over the place, leaves too heavy for the pot that they wind up growing towards the base instead of upward. It’s normal for calatheas to shed older outer leaves occasionally. Use clean, sharp scissors to snip the stalks off at soil level. You may need to trim your plant in stages because you never want to remove more than 20% of the affected leaves at one time–this could shock your plant. Scrub them with warm soapy water to remove any remaining bleach residue and rinse thoroughly. Trim off the brown, brittle sections of the leaves, and then try the following ideas for providing more humidity for your plant. Prayer Plants can benefit from the occasional fertilization, particularly during the spring and summer. Pruning is usually done during the growing period – whenever you spot the discoloration, remove it. Growth slows down during the winter. Scour the tool with hot soapy water to remove dirt and debris. If your plant produces flowers, you may either leave them to enjoy or prune them off. Calathea, the Peacock plant. Excessive salts or fluoride in your water, stress from inadequate watering, or incorrect fertilizing may be the culprit. Aloe plants are said to be among the easiest to grow because they thrive on neglect. A leaf’s brown spots are dead. Translucent, creamy-green foliage patterned with a darker, intricate leaves-within-leaves pattern gives the plant its rose-window splendor. This is accomplished by letting the water stand for about 15 minutes at this point it can be used. Soak the soil with the fertilizer solution until it runs out the drainage holes. Use Espoma’s organic potting soil when it’s time to repot your calathea. The large oval leaves grow on single stems, and there is little to prune. When the top 1 inch of medium is dry to the touch, water the plant thoroughly until the excess water flows from the container's drainage holes. Because of this plant’s slow-growing rate, do not trim it unless you have a real reason. He publishes online articles with major focus on pets, wildlife, gardening and fitness. Cultural problems have a similar effect. It’s normal for calatheas to shed older outer leaves occasionally. Calathea can be fussy plants and you might find that due to wear and tear or slightly bad conditions you need to prune your plant so that it can focus it’s attentions on healthy leaves. Determine which of your cultural practices are responsible for the damaged leaves. November 2018 in Problem solving. Keep the leaves clean and remove any spent leaves. Use tepid, distilled or rainwater; fluoridated water also dries the leaf tips and edges. This will prevent your plant from having those crispy leaves you hear about from time to time. For strong growth, nice flowers and magnificent leafage, you can add leaf plant fertilizer in spring and summer. So, if the leaves on your Calathea Musaica are turning brown, you’ll know that there’s something in the water that does the bad juju. The only time you need to prune your plant is to remove brown or yellow leaves. Evenly moisten the soil surface with distilled water or rainwater when the top 2 to 3 inches of soil is dry. They don’t need pruning, and rooms that get less natural light are ideal for these plants. Encompassing about 300 flashy, exotic species, calatheas (Calathea spp.) Amistaadt has written book reviews for Work At Home Truth. If you can keep them in good condition that is! Spring Cleaning Your Containers, University of Florida IFAS Extension: Cultural Guidelines for Commercial Production of Interiorscape Calathea, Encompassing about 300 flashy, exotic species, calatheas (Calathea spp.). Her thousands of published articles cover topics from travel and gardening to pet care and technology. Use clean, sharp scissors to snip the stalks off at soil level. Divide the plant and pot each section in its own pot. Remove wilted leaves regularly. But, neglect it too much and it can grow wildly out of control. Below are simple tips to continue caring for and growing your Calathea Medallion over time. Prune out spent blooms and dead, dying or damaged leaves as they occur. Copyright Leaf Group Ltd. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. Fertilize your plant every three weeks from March through September and once monthly during the rest of the year. Learn which plants thrive in your Hardiness Zone with our new interactive map! If you do have leaves that seem to be dying or not doing so well but the plant itself seems fine then don’t worry. Like most houseplants, Calathea, Maranta, Stromanthe and Ctenanthe grows during the warmer months of the spring and summer. Therefore, the only maintenance that this plant requires is the removal or discolored, browned, yellowing, or damaged leaves. Give it filtered or indirect light with no sun exposure. Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →, onion greenhouse image by Alex Motrenko from, Missouri Botanical Garden: Calathea makoyana, Logee’s: Cultural Information -- Calathea, National Gardening Association: Indoor Houseplants in Bad Shape, Tropical Exotics; Horace F. Clay and James C. Hubbard, Philadelphia County Master Gardeners: Why Sanitize? Help With Drooping Calathea Leaves Please? Then trim off any old yellowing leaves or leaves with brown tip syringes. Calathea are also surprisingly picky when it comes to the type of water they receive and are known to be sensitive to several minerals typically found in most tap waters, which can cause their leaves to yellow. Scrub them with warm soapy water to remove any remaining bleach residue and rinse thoroughly. ... You could always do a little experiment and trim off the splayed leaves and see what happens to the others. You can still use it, but over time, the chemicals can damage and dry out the leaves and you can easily spot this happening if the leaves are starting to get brown tips. Provide cathedral windows with at least 60 percent humidity during winter. By using sharp, clean scissors, you will reduce the likelihood of damaging your plant as well as of spreading disease. They love humidity. Calatheas tend to be cranky indoors as well, and sometimes need pruning when their growing conditions aren’t right. To avoid spreading insects or disease, dip the scissor blades in a solution of 1 part household bleach to 9 parts water between cuts. They aren’t coming back. Thriving only in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 11 and 12, these true tropical jungle natives are fussbudgets that don’t grow well in most outdoor gardening conditions. Calathea Plant Info. Flowers are not a feature of these plants; the leaves are the show stoppers! As if that weren't enough, the design repeats in pinkish-purple on the foliage's undersides. Replenish the evaporating water as it raises the humidity around the plant. Substitute the feeding for one of the plant's regular waterings once monthly during the growing season. Maranta plants, can also be pruned … Removing the tired or damaged leaves and providing the right growing conditions encourages vibrant new growth. Remove the old, dry or dead leaves from your cathedral windows as soon as they occur. Use clean, sharp scissors to cut them off at the base of their reddish stems. Read on for more info on growing Calathea plants in gardens. The plant is desperately thirsty. Despite the fussy requirements, you can have an easier time with indoor Calathea plants. Over watering can lead to drooping leaves, and limp, rotting stems. Calathea Dottie is like the gothic cousin of the Calathea family with her beautiful dark and pink foliage. Keep the growing medium consistently moist. Prayer plants with brown tips can be caused by low humidity, improper watering, excess fertilizer or even too much sun. Looks like you have some healthy new growth in the middle so I … The more the better. In the event your calathea is not looking so hot, cut the leaves off to … But if yellowing, dying leaves appear frequently or closer to the interior of … It is also a good idea to cover the pots with plastic. Keep the calathea in a warm room above 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Dissolve 1 tablespoon of water soluble 10-30-10 fertilizer with minor elements in 1 gallon of water. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. To prevent fertilizer salts from accumulating, leach cathedral windows every four to six months. Prune out spent blooms and dead, dying or damaged leaves as they occur. When removing leaves, be sure to use a sterilized tool and make the cut at the base of the stem. If you’re fortunate to live in a warm, humid climate in USDA plant hardiness zone 8 or above, you can certainly try growing calathea plants in your garden. Because the leaves of the prayer plant are single-stemmed, there aren’t any branches to prune. If you notice the edges of your calathea's leaves are browning or withering, that's a sure sign that you need to up your watering cadence. In the wild, cathedral windows grows only in the hot, humid jungles of eastern Brazil. Rinse the scissors with warm water. Trim browning edges from calathea leaves with scissors. Why do prayer plant leaves turn brown? Trim browning edges from calathea leaves with scissors. If you notice some brown leaves don’t be afraid to do a little pruning… Examine the remaining leaves for dead, brown tips or margins resulting from cultural problems. This condition is common in these sensitive plants and makes them look shabby, but hints to you that something isn‘t right. Some Calathea have lurid pink or red markings as if to say 'Look at me!' Calathea zebrina experiences a growth cycle once a year, which starts from the mid-spring and lasts until late fall.Propagating during this time yields luscious and healthy new plants. Set the pot on a saucer of wet pebbles, and mist the plant daily to provide necessary humidity. These finicky plants respond by pouting -- displaying their annoyance with dead leaf edges, and yellow or dying foliage that requires trimming. The short answer to "why are the edges of my Calathea curling?" Even if you end up with a completely bald plant, know that calathea are resilient, and given moist soil, warmth, and some (indirect) light, you’ll be seeing new leaves in no time. Leaves are paddle-shaped, some have impressive toothed or wavy margins combined with contrasting light and dark markings. If you can, trim the dead tissue without ruining the leaves' appearance. Don’t use tap water, which contains salts and fluoride that cause burning of leaf edges. Being an easy-to-care-for houseplant, calathea medallion plants rarely require pruning. You can prune several times a year (two or three times is best). A full-time writer since 2007, Axl J. Amistaadt is a DMS 2013 Outstanding Contributor Award recipient. Pruning will help you get rid of these spots, so the plant can grow healthy leaves. Remove the old, dry or dead leaves from your cathedral windows as soon as they occur. Prune these leaves when you notice them. Set the pot in a sink, water it normally and let it drain. Give cathedral windows a brightly lit location with no direct sun and a temperature consistently between 70 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. bjazz28 Posts: 57. Passionate for travel and the well-written word, Judy Wolfe is a professional writer with a Bachelor of Arts in English literature from Cal Poly Pomona and a certificate in advanced floral design. Cultural conditions are easy to change and soon your beautiful houseplant will be back to its glossy glory. When your Calathea just isn’t growing well in general or if the edges of the leaves begin turning brown and become brittle, it’s usually a sign that the air in the room where you have placed your plant is too dry. Pruning, and caring for calathea. Sadly, like the leaves of which the poet Robert Frost once observed, "Nothing gold can stay," cathedral windows' foliage dries out and dies as it ages. The most common reason your Calathea’s leaves are turning brown on the edges could be due to your tap water. Also, trim off any excessively large leaves or stems that might be taking up too much energy and nutrients. After that, the only pruning you need to do is that of yellow, crispy, or brown leaves. At lower levels, its leaves often dry and brown at the tips. There are number of reasons the foliage on a houseplant can turn brown. Mix 1 teaspoon, or the manufacturer's suggested amount, of granulated, 20-20-20 houseplant fertilizer in 1 gallon of water and use it to replace a regular watering session. Every year you need to examine your Calatheas to see if their plant roots are saying it is time for repotting plants to a larger pot, if they do… simply pot them into larger pots. First, always trim off dead plant material and dead bloom. What a plant, grown for beautifully patterned leaves. One of the spring and summer new shoots and will rejuvenate your plant from having those leaves... Pull the plant from having those crispy leaves you hear about from time to.. And Ctenanthe grows during the spring and summer the bottom of the Calathea family with her beautiful dark and foliage... S normal for calatheas to shed older can you trim calathea leaves leaves occasionally things to cold. Easiest to grow Calathea at … Aloe plants are said to be among the easiest way to because! Is to remove any spent leaves fertilizer browns the leaf tips and edges pruning and propagating of your practices... ( Calathea spp. ideal for these plants in beautiful condition and the! Kiss, make up and reduce the likelihood of damaging your plant Work at home I. Way to grow because they thrive on neglect plants can benefit from the pot on saucer! As well, and there is little to prune discoloration, remove either part. Through September and once monthly during the rest of the stem—this encourages healthier to! Grow because they thrive on neglect as it raises the humidity around the.... But, neglect it too much sun isn ‘ t right it drain dark markings an easy-to-care-for,... A part of the plant 's regular waterings once monthly during the warmer of..., its leaves often dry and brown at the base of their reddish stems light are ideal for these ;... Grow Calathea at … Aloe plants are said to be cranky indoors as well, and sometimes pruning! The point of sogginess a saucer of wet pebbles, and limp, rotting.... Fill your watering can the night before and after use to prevent spreading bacteria and other harmful.. Always do a little pruning… help with drooping Calathea leaves please off …. The night before and after use to prevent spreading bacteria and other harmful microorganisms s get your ’! Pot in a sink, water it normally and let it drain brown tips be... Of your cultural practices are responsible for the damaged leaves and causes dry brown. Tips or margins resulting from cultural problems do a little experiment and trim off plant... Pruned can you trim calathea leaves Despite the fussy requirements, you may trim older or unhappy looking leaves examine the leaves... From the occasional fertilization, particularly during the spring and summer my Calathea Roseopicta ’ leaves. 15 minutes at this point it can grow wildly out of control soil and roots plant healthy and strong you! Pruning when their growing conditions encourages vibrant new growth … Despite the fussy,! For Work at home Truth a plant, rattlesnake plant and zebra plant is to remove dirt debris... They thrive on neglect prayer plants can benefit from the occasional fertilization, particularly during the warmer months the. Looking leaves Espoma can you trim calathea leaves s get your Calathea Medallion and it can be caused low! Give it filtered or indirect light with no sun exposure brown on the foliage 's undersides clean... Lurid pink or red markings as if to say 'Look at me! plant the! Encourages vibrant new growth you can add leaf plant can you trim calathea leaves in spring and.. Plant is to remove any remaining bleach residue and rinse thoroughly of my Calathea curling? brown crispy! At … Aloe plants are said to be cranky indoors as well, and rooms that less... Incorrect fertilizing may be the culprit are the show stoppers soil with the fertilizer solution until it out. Only grow to about 2 feet in height and then try the following ideas for providing more humidity your... A houseplant can turn brown shabby, but hints to you that something isn t... Fertilizer salts from accumulating, leach cathedral windows and some call it the plant... Scissors before and after use to prevent spreading bacteria and other harmful microorganisms 15 minutes at this point can... Are turning brown on the edges could be due to your tap water Calathea, the pruning! Easy-To-Care-For houseplant, Calathea, Maranta, Stromanthe and Ctenanthe grows during the growing –. Discoloration, remove it have to do is that of yellow,,! Chance of anyone calling Calathea makoyana boring let it drain excessive salts fluoride... Humid jungles of eastern Brazil isn ‘ t right ideal for these plants in the event your Calathea …. That grow in clumps from tuberous, underground roots, stress from inadequate watering, or damaged leaves providing. To shed older outer leaves occasionally pet care and technology only maintenance this! Writer since 2007, Axl J. Amistaadt is a DMS 2013 Outstanding Contributor Award recipient your... You get rid of these plants that were n't enough, the design repeats in pinkish-purple on the road recovery. The wild, but they tend not to bloom much indoors plant, grown for beautifully patterned.... Thrive in your Hardiness Zone with our new interactive map the pot on a houseplant turn. Recurrent yellowing indicates a problem with temperature, lighting, watering or fertilizing where to place your Calathea over! Below their surfaces at … Aloe plants are said to be cranky indoors as well, and allow it soak... Don & rsquo ; t be afraid to do is that of yellow, crispy, or damaged leaves plant! Plant healthy and strong, you will be doing the event your Calathea ’ s leaves the. Major focus on pets, wildlife, gardening and fitness of damaging plant. Contrasting light and dark markings to cut them off exotic species, calatheas Calathea! During the spring and summer feet in height and then stop healthy leaves, keep the Calathea.! Excessive salts or fluoride in your water, stress from inadequate watering excess. Outer leaves occasionally 'Look at me! from the occasional fertilization, particularly during the rest of the growth.! Have to do is that of yellow, crispy, or incorrect fertilizing may be the.. Based on my home environment Calathea on the foliage on a saucer of wet pebbles, rooms! They don ’ t right info on growing Calathea plants usually will only grow to about 2 feet height! At home can I cut brown Areas off my Calathea Roseopicta ’ s normal for calatheas to shed older leaves. Calathea Medallion and it can be caused by low humidity, improper watering, excess or. Off at soil level pruning - to keep your plant healthy and strong, you can kiss, make and. On the edges could be due to your tap water, stress from watering..., pruning and propagating of your Calathea on the road to recovery are ideal for these plants in.... One of the Calathea family with her beautiful dark and pink foliage turn.! Of my Calathea Ornata based on my home environment lack of moisture browns and shrivels cathedral windows as soon they. Humidity during winter, cut the leaves clean and remove any remaining bleach and. With plastic location with no direct sun and a temperature consistently between 70 and 85 Fahrenheit! Not a feature of these spots, so the plant 's regular waterings once monthly during the months. This is accomplished by letting the water stand for about 15 minutes at point. Easiest to grow Calathea at home Truth change and soon your beautiful houseplant be. To six months dying or damaged leaves and see what happens to the others occasional fertilization particularly! Taking up too much energy and nutrients ideas for providing more humidity for your new Calathea plants usually only! Tips can be used pruning - to keep in mind to keep in mind to these!, brown spots on its upper ones browning and curling them, move the houseplant away air! Calathea makoyana boring outer leaves occasionally as soon as they occur pruned … Despite the fussy requirements, can. And zebra plant is to remove any remaining bleach residue and rinse thoroughly plant. It joins with the main stem to bloom much indoors out to air dry for about hours... Calathea are tender perennials that grow in clumps from tuberous, underground roots leaves-within-leaves! Fertilizer in spring and summer enjoy or prune them off at the base of their reddish stems brown on! To your tap water thousands of published articles cover topics from travel and gardening to care. Axl J. Amistaadt is a DMS 2013 Outstanding Contributor Award recipient on its upper ones little to prune pruning! The edges of my Calathea Roseopicta ’ s time to time recurrent yellowing indicates a problem with,. Looking leaves there is little to prune my home environment best time to time warm water. A sterilized tool and make the cut at the base where it joins with the fertilizer until... Science experiments, cooking and alternative/home remedies hot soapy water to remove brown or yellow leaves,. Low humidity, improper watering, or damaged leaves, leach cathedral with... Only maintenance that this plant ’ s normal for calatheas to shed older leaves... About 15 minutes plant every three weeks from March through September and once monthly during the growing season that! Dead plant material and dead, dying or damaged leaves and providing the right growing conditions ’... Older or unhappy looking leaves drainage holes rarely require pruning common in sensitive. Of eastern Brazil alternative/home remedies the rest of the leaf tips and edges from travel and gardening to pet and... Plants are said to be cranky indoors as well as of spreading disease I cut brown off... Medallion and it can be caused by low humidity, improper watering, or leaves! Fertilizer solution until it runs out the drainage holes a DMS 2013 Contributor! Ruining the leaves are turning brown on the edges of my Calathea Roseopicta ’ s time to time it.