The Calathea, also known as the basket marante, comes from the rainforests of South America. The plant therefore places great demands on care. Humidity, temperature and amount of irrigation water must be precisely dosed. If this is not guaranteed, brown leaves will appear and the plant will slowly die.
Can I save my Calathea?
It'sit's always worth it to try to save the Calathea. Whether this succeeds depends on the severity of the damage and the cause. The houseplant is very demanding and often dies if not cared for properly.
Why is my calathea dying?
A Calathea needs a lot of attention andproper care. If the conditions are not right for the plant, the leaves will discolor or dry out. Common care mistakes are:
- Too little water causes the leaves to dry out
- Too much water can cause root rot.
- When the humidity is low, the plant curls up the leaves and shows brown leaf tips.
- Heavy fertilization leads to yellow leaves on Calathea.
- Pests cause the leaves to become crippled.
You can quickly recognize these care mistakes on your Calathea. Then you should react immediately before the plant dies completely.
How do I save my Calathea from drought damage?
If you notice dried leaves on your Calathea, you should give the plantmore moisture. If the root ball is dry, give your Calathea a dip. To do this, place the plant in a bucket and fill it with water up to two centimeters above the top edge of the pot. If bubbles no longer form, remove the plant. Then place the Calathea in a partially shaded location and ensure that the potting soil is moist but not wet when watering.
What helps with over-fertilization and root rot in Calathea?
If your calathea suffers from root rot or overfertilization,repotting is the best solution. To do this, take the houseplant out of its current pot and remove the damaged roots and leaves. Then pot the plant in fresh substrate and water it carefully. If your plant is severely damaged by pests such as spider mites, this is usually due to care errors. Increase the humidity and spray the houseplant regularly with the shower spray.
Tip
Propagate Calathea through cuttings
Your Calathea is sick and only consists of a few green shoots? Take advantage of the opportunity to propagate the plant through cuttings. To do this, separate seedlings with at least two he althy leaves from the plant with a sharp knife. Put these in flower pots with potting soil and place a glass over the pots.
