Place the plant in filtered sunlight for optimum growth. (max 2 MiB). Also, poor humidity, cold air, or misting with unfiltered tap water can cause unsightly brown margins on calathea leaves. Pruning or deadheading old or faded blooms improves your calathea's appearance and channels its energy into producing new foliage and blooms. Occasional dead leaves is not a cause of alarm, however, frequent or excessive yellowing may be an indication of disease or improper lighting and should be investigated. Zebra Plant (Calathea zebrina) This easy-to-care-for evergreen houseplant has light-green ovate leaves with dark green zebra-like patterns and stripes. The leaves of Calatheas, however, sometimes curl up from the outer edges inward toward the central vein. Richford holds a Bachelor of Science in secondary education from the University of Maine Orono and certifications in teaching 7-12 English, K-8 General Elementary and Birth to age 5. Cut leaves at the base where the leaf joins the main stalk with a pair of sharp scissors. Many gardeners mistakenly believe that high heat and strong light are requirements necessary for the Calathea zebra houseplant and its tropical cousins. Frequent misting, along with standing in a wide shallow tray filled with pebbles and water, kept topped up, stand the pot on top of the pebbles, though not sitting in the water, are things which will help provide the humidity it requires, along with keeping it in a warm, bright room that does not get too cold at night. These plants demand warm and humid conditions pretty much constantly, if you don't provide this then the leaves will quickly become tatty looking. The Zebra plant (scientific name - Calathea zebrina) is a perennial foliage plant that displays fairly large ovate leaves at the tips of it's long stalks, growing up to 1 metre tall. Tap water contains salts, chlorine, minerals and fluoride – all of which can build up in the soil of your plant causing the tips of the leaves to burn, turn brown, and curl up. As plants mature and leaves age, it is common for some of the outer leaves to yellow or brown. By having good watering practices and never allowing your Calathea soil to completely dry out, you will avoid those ugly crispy and brown leaves. By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Service. Thanks again. Hi wild edges, Thank you for your help. Drooping Calathea zebrina leaves is a sign of too cold temperatures or exposure to draughts. Otherwise it's probably not worth keeping, sad to say. Caterpillars, mealybugs, mites, and scales are the major arthropod pests of Calathea. A liqiud feed once a months. Calathea Zebrina Plant Care Light. You can use distilled water or collect rainwater for the plant. A calathea is not an easy-care plant, but like many unusual houseplants, well worth the effort. For example, the leaf edges will turn brown if the soil is completely dry. Sanderiana Another tricky element of Calathea zebrina care is fulfilling the plant’s high requirements for humidity. Why Your Calathea Leaves Are Turning Limp stem is an indication of over-watering or very cold temperatures. If you can find some way of providing the high humidity and constant warmth, then perhaps it will put out new leaves. Some common Calathea problems are – Brown leaves or brown tips: See some brown edges? Nannette Richford is an avid gardener, teacher and nature enthusiast with more than four years' experience in online writing. You can also provide a link from the web. Common Problem: If the leaves of your Calathea Medallion are turning brown on the edges, then it means that the quality of the water is harmful to the plant. See the last paragraph for more on that. I was advised to let this plant outgrow the pot when I bought it but I did repot in late summer against advice into a bigger pot. It needs humid environment. It also grows purple-white flowers in spring. Although it didn't finish up looking like yours does in the last image, I disposed of it after winter was over because all the brown edges were highly unattractive. As mentioned, Calathea Lancifolia is extremely sensitive to salts. Leaves occasionally get brown edges, but not in most gardens here, even in the middle of the dry season (February). But it actually looks very sad, with leaves sometimes rolling up, and all brown around the edges. A small amount of lime, when added to the plan… The dark to mid-green patterns on its velvety leaves resembles a Zebra’s skin. Allow your tap water to sit out overnight before watering so the chlorine and fluoride can evaporate. Lighting: bright indirect sunlight. In the morning, the leaves fold back down to catch the sun’s light. A point to remember is that such damage cannot be reversed if the problem persists for long. But it actually looks very sad, with leaves sometimes rolling up, and all brown around the edges. Click here to upload your image Plant name: Calathea Zebrina, Zebra Plant. As soon as your Calathea Rufibarba lacks humidity, you’ll notice its leaves turning brown on the edges. All you will need is a drainage tray and distilled water. It is not necessary to remove the entire leaf, as it will continue to grow even after trimming. The textured foliage is a delight and a must have for your plant collection. It loves moisture. Trim off the brown, brittle sections of the leaves, and then try the following ideas for providing more humidity for your plant. Your plant is Calathea crocata, which often has the common name Eternal Flame because of the orange flowers it produces. The edges of my plant's leaves are turning yellow and brown. On the other end, make sure that your plant is never sitting in watering for extended periods of time and always ensure that you have a drainage hole. @LondonRob no sunlight, yes, but it needs good daylight - and keep it well away from heat sources like radiators and some electrical equipment. When potted, these plants can be grown outside for the summer in warm climates, such as Sunset Climate Zones 14 and above — but most prefer to be moved inside in late fall. Native to: South America. This plant requires high humidity to keep its leaves from getting brown edges. It … Calathea prefers evenly-moist soil and suffers if it is allowed to dry out. This is a natural, healthy behavior for the plant. Water it and mist it regularly. Bay Area winters and lives to grow the next summer.Needs warmest shade and shelter we can give it. Fertilize with plant food diluted to 1/4 to 1/2 strength once a month during the summer months when the plant is actively growing. It’s a sign of stress and neglect. Brown edges along the leaves The plant cannot tolerate dry air. By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy, 2020 Stack Exchange, Inc. user contributions under cc by-sa, https://gardening.stackexchange.com/questions/36752/calathea-mix-brown-leaf-edges/36753#36753. Brown Edges - the air is too dry for your plant! 12. Calathea brown tips As it was mentioned earlier, browning leaf edges on Calatheas is often a sign of low humidity. When there are whole brown leaves on a plant, this can indicate several dozen problems; but when just the sides or tips of the leaf turn brown, there is only one problem — the plant is stressed. New leaves keep growing, but often they start to go brown before they even come out of their little rolled-up baby stage. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. I certainly had no idea it could flower! The Zebra plant makes for a beautiful table accent where you can enjoy the purple underside of the leaves. Trim away brown leaf edges with scissors by following the natural curve of the leaf. wide and 2ft. If the drooping is significant, there might be something else going on. I am happy with the overall condition of the plant, I just don't understand the drooping of the lower leaves ,they are not especially old or brown. Be sure to read over the care instructions and … The problem is it likes very high humidity, constant warmth, but no sunlight - the humidity it requires is very, very difficult to achieve in heated homes. You can either give the plant a spray of distilled water every morning, purchase an air humidifier, or bring it to the bathroom every once in a while to enjoy the humidity. Botanical Name: Calathea zebrina. What can I do? Either over- or under-watering your plants may cause leaf edges to brown. Brown crispy edges on the large calathea leaves are due to moisture issues. While bright light brings out the amazing colors in its leaves, it doesn’t need a lot of it to grow well. Potential Problems. The most common reason your Calathea’s leaves are turning brown on the edges could be due to your tap water. I'll go for regular misting and no sunlight. While this is a natural behavior, it’s not a healthy one. Alternatively, you can water with filtered water or … Leaves … These ornamental foliage plants create the illusion of tropical paradise when grouped together. Plants that wilt due to lack of water recover slowly and foliage may suffer permanent damage — such as browning of leaf tips. It’s ok, don’t freak out, since it’s pretty common. This plant also prefers relative humidity of 50 percent or more and benefits from misting or placing on pebble trays. Inconsistent watering habits are the main offender. Brown edges on leaves are common with calathea and may result from either fertilizing when the soil is dry or uneven watering. It’s common, though. One of the first signs of low humidity is brown edges along the leaves. Yellowing leaves: Older lowers leaves can sometimes yellow, that is natural, but if many do then overwatering could be an issue. Add misting to your watering routine or keep it on a bed of rocks and shallow water to add humidity. Crispy brown leaf edges and poor Calathea growth This problem would be a classic case of low humidity. This is a good plant for large terrariums, or steamy greenhouses. It is supposed to have wavy leaf-edges and a nice, rich red coloured underside. It can also be over-feeding and low humidity. Calathea encompasses a range of popular tropical houseplants including the striking zebra plant, rattlesnake plant and peacock plant. Humidifiers or pebble trays can be used to maintain humidity around Calathea. Removing yellowed or browned outer leaves regularly improves the appearance of your calathea plant. The plant rather deserves its finicky reputation. How to Cut Back Citronella for More Foliage, Logee's tropical Plants: Cultural Information Calathea. The calathea zebrina grows best in medium to bright, indirect light. Keep out of direct light as the leaves will lose their beautiful markings. 'Eternal' flame is absolutely a misnomer in my experience - if you buy it in flower, its very hard to get it to flower again, or at all if not in flower when purchased, though when growing well, the leaves are attractive in their own right. Indoors, a calathea plant rarely grows larger than about 2ft. Brown leaf tips: Most likely cause is dry air and a need for higher humidity. Why Your Calathea Leaves Are Turning Yellow. Moreover, calatheas can be sensitive to fluoride that is commonly found in tap water. The no sunlight thing is interesting. Cut off the … Why do calathea medallion leaves curl up? If you notice the tips or edges of your Calathea Dottie’s leaves are turning brown, often with a yellowish hue at the edge, it could be due to your tap water. That’s because in its native environment, it lives under the shade … I have a "calathea mix" (that's what the label says) that's supposed to look very much like this: Calathea show brown edges on the leaves if the air is too dry. Always water until it comes out of the drainage holes, and never water in small amounts. Calthea thrive in water controlled containers. All prefer moist, well-drained soil and partial to full shade. If something isn't right, leaves will let you know, turning brown at the edges, curling or even falling off. Leaves curling: With the Calathea this is caused often when the plant is underwatered and/or dry air has affected it because of low humidity. With Calathea, yellowing and browning can be both signs of over and underwatering. Common Problems: curling leaves, root root, spider mites, leaf yellowing, brown leaf tips. tall. Most often this is caused by inconsistent watering. You can also trim the leaves , either removing the entire leaf at the stem’s base, or trimming the leaf itself, following the natural shape to get the plant and/or its leaves looking sharp again! Brown leaf edges. Calathea zebrina and Aphelandra squarrosa are very similar in terms of care. Care: frequent watering, higher humidity, warm temperatures. Brown tips on spider plant: Causes & solutions. Positive: On Oct 28, 2008, BayAreaTropics from Hayward, CA wrote: So far the only Calathea that passes through average S.F. Water when the top dry out never let dry out completely. Most commonly brown leaf tips or brown edges on leaves are caused by the plant not getting enough water. Thanks for the great advice. This problem can be solved by flushing the salt every year. So, the leaf tips and edges may turn brown. Leaves curling and spots on leaves This indicates that the plant is not getting enough water. Phew, what a sensitive beast! Information can be found here:Calathea crocata. I've tried watering more, watering less, spraying with water, repotting, adding draining... why can't I keep this plant alive?? Both plants are semi-dormant in winter, when they require less water and no feeding, although temperatures should remain in a comfortable range all year. Without high humidity, the foliage will turn brown at the tips and edges, the leaves will curl and the plant will fail to thrive. You love your Calathea and try to give it optimal care – it can be frustrating if it develops yellow leaves in spite of your best efforts. Even though the calathea blooms are often indistinct and may be barely noticeable, regular deadheading gives your plant renewed vigor. Brown leaves often occur because of the accumulated salts in the soil. Cease fertilizing in the winter when the plant is dormant to allow it to rest. Calathea Zebrina is a beautiful, on trend & highly sought after house plant that doesn't hang around when we get them in stock! If the air turns too dry, the leaves may droop, calling for increasing the humidity. I have a "calathea mix" (that's what the label says) that's supposed to look very much like this: It is supposed to have wavy leaf-edges and a nice, rich red coloured underside. I did grow one of these some years ago, but as soon as winter arrived and the heating went on, mine did exactly what yours has done, developed brown edges to the leaves. Use care to water the plant before feeding and avoid applying fertilizer to dry soil. Lack of moisture results in dryness of the leaves. There are several reasons why this may happen. 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