Colorful foliage and eccentric patterns of Calathea plants can make them quite enchanting for any indoor plant enthusiast. But if there is anything alarming, it could be when those yellow leaves begin to show up on your prized Calathea. As much as finding their cause may be complex, it is good to know what exactly has caused the yellowing to take care of the health and glory of these tropical beauties. Let’s now consider why the leaves of a Calathea turn yellow and look at how you can find effective solutions for regrowing your plant to green glory.
How to Take Care of a Calathea Plant
Care for the calathea plants requires certain specifics to be met for the plants to thrive. These tropical plants will do best in an area where ideal conditions can be maintained for their health. They do best in diffused indirect sunlight and their soil moist all the time. It should not be exposed directly to the sun, as they may burn off. The plant does best in high humidity, making it perfect in bathrooms or kitchens.
It is a temperature-sensitive plant that requires constant warmth to grow. Try to maintain the temperature above 60° F at all times. One nice care for Calatheas is to mist them regularly or set up a pebble tray to increase the moisture. Feed the plants with fertilizer sparingly, since they are not much feeders. A balanced, water-soluble fertilizer applied at half strength once a month when in its growing season is best.
Regularly check your Calathea for spider mites or aphids. You really ought to wipe the leaves with a wet piece of cloth; this keeps them free of dust and will let the plant continue photosynthesizing properly. You should be looking out for discoloration or texture changes in the leaves, as these are generally symptoms of problems with care. Proper understanding and implementation of care for a Calathea plant will keep it healthy and full of color.
Identifying Yellow Leaves on Calathea
Some of the signs of many problems which may occur in your Calathea plant include yellow leaves. Checking on your Calathea plant requires you to observe the leaves. The yellowing of leaves can sometimes arise due to either excessive moisture or less water in the soil. The issue with overwatering is that it causes the roots to rot meaning they are unable to uptake the nutrients required by the leaves hence causing them to droop.
In addition to the above, the possible reason for yellow leaves in your Calathea plant can be poor light. These plants require indirect light and may be sure to suffer under strong direct sunlight. This poor light is responsible for the breakdown of chlorophyll, which turns the leaves yellow. Place your Calathea in the right area with proper lighting to maintain its beauty.
First of all, in order to identify the very factor that has caused yellow leaves on your Calathea, one should consider the plant’s schedule of watering, light exposure, and general care routine. With quick responding and due care, you will be able to restore your Calathea to health, with fresh green leaves. This, of course, means that a little care and timely intervention have been quite important regarding the well-being of your plant.
Dealing with Over-Watering
Overwatering is one of the most common problems that can usually lead to yellow leaves on Calathea plants. Its signs are yellow and wilted leaves together with soggy soil. Care for overwatering involves having to first determine the average regular soil moisture level. Make sure the plant does not sit in water, and adjust the frequency of watering.
The first thing to do for a drowned Calathea is repotting it in well-draining soil. Gently remove your plant’s root ball. Work off the excess soil from around the roots and re-plant in a container that has holes on the bottom for proper drainage. Remove any mushy or rotten roots before putting it in its new pot to ensure a healthy root system. Let the plant dry out a little bit in between waterings for the time being.
This can then be adapted to prevent overwatering in the future. Stick your finger into the soil; if the top inch of soil is dry, this means it’s time to water. Do not continue to follow a specific schedule of watering, because this simply leads to further problems. If you wish for your Calathea to thrive, water your plant based on your plant’s specific needs to maintain suitable soil moisture levels.
Fixing Problems with Underwatering
Common symptoms when under-watering a Calathea plant include crispy leaves with some dryness, browning along the edges, and a wilted appearance. To remove this issue, you should increase the frequency of your watering per week, but without allowing the soil to be too wet.
Moreover, spraying the leaves or using a humidity tray can repair the moisture around the plant, ensuring that it will recover. If an extended symptom of underwater appears in your Calathea, then it is time for you to change the plant into fresh and well-draining potting soil in order to make it much healthier. Always monitor the subsequent signs of your plant, whether it shows recovery or worsens the condition.
Symptoms of Underwatering in Calathea
Under-watering symptoms in Calathea may be very discreet; however, they are some vital pointers showing that your plant is in dire need of more water for survival. They must be identified in time to save your Calathea from the onslaught of such a condition.
- Among the primary indications of underwatering in the Calathea plant are leaves that have wilted or drooped. Leaves droop as a water and energy conservation mechanism when the plant does not receive adequate water.
- Dry and crispy leaf edges: this is another common symptom that might arise from under-watering. If the amount of water inside the Calathea plant is too low, it may cause leaves to desiccate, thus showing some sort of parched texture along the edges.
- Stunted Growth: An underwatered Calathea will also show slow or stunted growth compared to well-watered ones. Probably this is because it can barely find sufficient water to support its basic metabolic activity.
These symptoms are the telltale signs of underwatering of your Calathea and must be recognized to implement remedial measures on time for the overall health and vitality of your plant. Such symptoms need immediate attention so that your Calathea may thrive well in conditions most conducive to its life cycle.
Solutions to Revive Parched Calathea Plants
In dealing with parched Calathea plants, the sooner you address this plant problem, the better. Here are some practical solutions to deal with this problem:
- Watering: Allow just the right amount of time to pass to avoid overwatering before soaking it again. Occasionally check your soil to adjust this frequency in favor of maintaining even moisture.
- Increased Humidity: Add humidity to the plant by misting it regularly or place it on top of a tray filled with water, which will raise moisture around the air.
- Lack of Direct Sunlight: Keep the Calathea away from direct sunlight, as this may lead to severe dehydration. One should filter the light or provide partial shade to avoid any damage to leaves.
- Pruning Damaged Parts: Prune completely desiccated or yellowed leaves to encourage new growth and use the plant’s energy on healthy leaves.
Changing Lighting for Calathea
Pruning light for Calathea is one of the important ways to keep this tropical plant healthy. The ideal conditions for calatheas include bright, indirect light, making it a good option for areas with filtered sunlight. Keep them away from direct sunlight, as it would burn the leaves and consequently cause discoloration.
Yellow leaves on your Calathea may indicate that the plant lacks sufficient light. Provide it with more indirect light by shifting it to the brighter side of your house. However, protect this plant against direct sun. Periodically rotate this plant to distribute light evenly on the leaves and for a balanced appearance.
On the other hand, if your Calathea gets too much light, it will also be bad for it because it can burn the leaves and stress out your plant. Prune it and set this plant in front of a place that does not get such intense light, or you can put sheer curtains to block out the sun’s rays. Observe the response of the plant thereafter, as the response will be important for its health and radiant foliage.
Adjusting the light exposure according to your plant’s needs will reduce yellow leaves and foster healthy growth in your Calathea. Keep in mind that you should watch how the plant reacts, adjust it when needed, and the plant should be in normal lighting for an overall health boost for this plant.
Conclusion and Tips for Healthy Calatheas
Following are some general care tips that you must follow to keep your plants happy and growing: Keep your plant in a warm and humid environment that is draft-free without cold temperature fluctuations. Mist leaves periodically to maintain the level of humidity necessary for peak growth potential. Another excellent thing you can do to create the right environment for your Calathea is to put a humidifier nearby.
Consistent watering will also be good to keep your Calathea healthy. You can add water when you think the top inch of the soil is dry enough to your fingertips. Additionally, you may water the plant with lukewarm water to avoid shocking it. Of course, overwatering would be unwanted, for this would cause root rot and make the leaves turn yellow.
Last but not least, fertilize your Calathea from time to time when the season is growing, so that it receives vital building blocks for healthy growth. The application of a balanced, diluted fertilizer prevents root burn. With good care and following of these tips, you will prevent yellow leaves on the Calathea plant and ensure luscious, vibrant leaves give a great show for your planted specimen.
In the end, good care for your Calathea plants will prevent them from developing yellow leaves. Knowing the signals of over- and underwatering, changing light conditions, and performing good maintenance will help you revive your plants and help them grow healthy. Remember, a well-balanced approach to having vibrant foliage is the key.
