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Calatheas are gorgeous crops, however not due to any flowers or spectacular leaf patterns (though some species are variegated). As a substitute, the 60 present Calathea crops are among the many most well-known unique houseplants referred to as “prayer crops.”
Particular nodes on the base of their leaves function joints, opening every leaf pair huge through the day, angling them to take care of simply the correct quantity of solar, then folding up right into a prayerlike pose at evening.
These are very straightforward crops to take care of, however they’re not with no few issues when you fail to take care of their fundamental care wants.
When this occurs, the plant will get confused and cry for assist by a number of clear indicators. Of those, maybe the commonest signal is yellow leaves.
Calathea Leaves Yellowing
Except you will have variegation that features yellow, it’s by no means good to have yellow leaves on a Calathea.
This frequent warning signal can imply loads of issues, making it a little bit complicated to deal with, however this may typically be solved by analyzing different signs or by the method of elimination.
Listed here are a few of the causes your Calathea leaves are yellowing.
Previous Age
This one can catch individuals off guard in the event that they’re not paying consideration. Because the older decrease leaves attain the tip of their lives, they’ll flip yellow.
That is completely regular, because the plant is recouping its sources to put money into youthful leaves, and you may merely prune away these dying leaves.
Improper Watering Habits
Maybe the commonest reason for indoor plant issues can also be the simplest to forestall.
Underwatering could be troublesome to determine with out sticking your finger within the soil, as it might probably produce watering but in addition shares signs with root rot.
In the meantime, overwatering simply causes yellow leaves, though utilizing faucet water or having poor drainage can create the identical signs.
The soak-and-dry technique is ideal for any plant that doesn’t completely obscure the bottom beneath it (akin to groundcovers and grasses), and it ensures you gained’t overwater or underwater your crops.
Start by sticking your finger straight into the soil to test its dampness.
For Calathea crops, it’s finest to not water till the soil feels dry 1″ to 2″ inches down (to the primary or second knuckle, respectively).
Use distilled or pure rainwater and pour slowly and evenly, so the soil is absorbing on the identical price you’re pouring.
Work your approach across the plant, however don’t get the Calathea itself moist.
Cease if you see moisture starting to seep from the container’s drainage holes or the soil floor is not in a position to take in all of the water as quick as you’re pouring.
Improper Daylight
Calatheas want at the least 8 hours of vibrant, oblique daylight per day. After they’re not getting sufficient, they will flip yellow.
The leaves could scorch if uncovered to direct daylight, inflicting yellow leaves. Lastly, sudden modifications in lighting also can trigger plant stress and yellowing.
The pure colour of the leaves additional exacerbates this.
These with reddish leaves are likely to fare higher with rather less gentle, whereas inexperienced wants brighter gentle, and variegated leaves will lose their colour in the event that they don’t get sufficient solar.
Discover a good east or west window to catch the solar when it’s much less harsh.
Alternatively, you’ll be able to place the plant beside a southern window the place the solar[‘s rays won’t hit it directly or use a sheer curtain to filter the light.
Infections And Infestations
Aphids, mealybugs, scale, and spider mites are known to infest prayer plants.
These little vampires suck the sap right out of your plant’s leaves, causing the leaves to fade and turn yellow as they lose chlorophyll.
A neem soil soak can eliminate these infestations and help prevent them.
Meanwhile, fusarium wilt is a common fungal infection that can cause the leaves to wilt and turn yellow while making the stem veins brown.
Root Rot is another nasty which destroys your plant’s root system, leading to symptoms of underwatering and malnutrition.
You’ll need to uproot the plant and discard the old pot and soil in both cases.
Rinse all traces of soil from the plant (and prune away any diseased roots in the case of root rot, which will be brown or black and mushy), then repot in a new pot with fresh, sterile soil.
Finally, this is one of many plants susceptible to the cucumber mosaic virus, an incurable and highly contagious plant disease.
When this is the cause of yellowing, the only recourse is to carefully dispose of the plant, pot, and soil so the disease won’t spread.
Low Humidity
Tropical plants are used to very high humidity levels, although they need a little less than indoor plants.
Depending on your species or cultivar, Calatheas prefer a range of 50% to 70% percent or 60% to 80% percent.
Of these, the most tolerant to low humidity is the rattlesnake plant (Calathea lancifolia), although not by much.
Symptoms can include browning or yellowed leaves and leaf curling.
For remedy, give your Calathea a pebble tray or humidifier, or group it with other plants.
Malnutrition
Your prayer plant doesn’t need a lot of fertilizer, and the exact amounts and HPK ratios can vary a bit between species and cultivars.
When you give your plant too little fertilizer, it may become malnourished and suffer from some yellowing.
More seriously, giving it too much fertilizer can cause chemical burns to the roots and stem, leading to yellowing and other damage.
You’ll need to uproot the plant, rinse the roots well, and repot it in fresh soil.
Also, remember that you might need to flush the soil occasionally to remove any mineral salt buildup unless you’re repotting every 2 to 3 years with fresh soil.
Poor Drainage And Rootbinding
Two different factors can cause this problem.
Ensure your plant’s container has adequate drainage holes so excess water can escape.
Secondly, the soil may be compacted and need to be amended.
Try mixing in perlite, vermiculite, or coarse sand so that up to 30% percent of your potting mix is an aggregate.
On a related note, if you see roots poking from the drainage holes or soil surface, your Calathea plant is rootbound.
This can cause the roots to become so compacted that they have trouble absorbing nutrients and moisture, leading to symptoms resembling underwatering while also causing the soil to retain excess water.
This can be solved by simply repotting the plant in a slightly larger container.
Temperature Changes
Calatheas do best in a temperature range of 62° to 81° degrees Fahrenheit.
Straying too far from this range or exposing the plant to sudden drafts or other quick temperature shifts can shock the plant, resulting in leaf yellowing.
The solution for this particular problem is simply keeping it in a room where the temperature stays within this range.
Don’t place Calatheas close to vents, air conditioners, or frequently used doors to avoid sudden drafts.
More On Growing and Caring For Calatheas
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