But if youre wondering why your calathea has brown edges on its leaves, youre not alone.
Thats one of the reasons this plant has a reputation for being a diva.
But while browning leaves are relatively common in calatheas, they dont need to plague your plants for good.
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These are some of the most common reasons calathea leaves turn brown and what to do about it.
Meet the Expert
Justin Hancockworks as a horticulturist at Costa Farms.
Can you fix the brown edges on a calathea?
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Too Little Water
Whencalathealeaves start to brown, the first thing you should do is assess your watering schedule.
Calatheas like consistent moisture levels, Hancock says.
If you catch dry soil early, the browning may be confined to the leaf tips alone.
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“This happens as the roots suffocate and start to die.
With fewer living roots, the calathea cant absorb enough water to support its leaves.
But if your soil has gotten too soggy, you might oftenfix overwatered plantsby repotting them.
Hancock adds that the tap water from most municipalitiesissafe for calatheas.
But problems can arise if you leave tap water out for a while before watering your houseplants.
The water evaporates, but the fluoride doesnt, Hancock says.
This inadvertently increases the fluoride concentration.
Watering with water straight from the tap can keep fluoride from building up and causing problems.
Low humidity is often cited as the most common reason for brown leaf tips in calatheas, Hancock says.
However, Hancock explains that calatheas are less likely to struggle from humidity issues if theyre watered regularly.
Overwatered calatheas commonly display yellow or dark splotches on their leaves, and they may also start to wilt.
The main difference is their soil will feel dry to the touch.
