Calatheas are known for their patterned leaves, which unfurl during the day and turn upwards in the evening to conserve moisture. But if you’re wondering why your calathea has brown edges on its leaves, you’re not alone.
“It’s a pretty common sight to see calatheas with brown, crispy leaf tips and edges,” explains Justin Hancock, horticulturalist at Costa Farms. “That’s one of the reasons this plant has a reputation for being a diva.”
But while browning leaves are relatively common in calatheas, they don’t need to plague your plants for good. These are some of the most common reasons calathea leaves turn brown and what to do about it.
Calathea plants are known for their gorgeous patterned leaves However, those leaves can easily be ruined by ugly brown spots If your calathea has developed these unsightly spots, don’t panic. There are several potential causes and solutions to help get your plant back to its beautiful self.
What Causes Brown Spots on Calathea Leaves?
There are a number of reasons you may notice brown spots popping up on your calathea’s leaves. Here are some of the most common causes:
Overwatering
Overwatering is one of the main culprits behind brown spots on calathea leaves. Too much water causes soggy soil leading to root rot. Brown spots are an advanced sign of root rot. At this stage the plant is often too far gone to save.
Compact Soil
If the soil is too compact, excess moisture is unable to drain properly. Calatheas need light, airy soil that allows water to flow through. A good potting mix is half potting soil, 20% charcoal, 20% orchid bark and 10% perlite.
Excessive Sun
Too much direct sun burns and scorches calathea leaves. This excessive sunlight results in brown spots and faded leaf colors. Place your calathea in bright, indirect light to prevent sun damage.
Dry Conditions
Calatheas prefer 40-60% humidity, higher than average home conditions. Low humidity leads to leaf discoloration and brown spotting. The leaves will eventually become crispy if humidity isn’t increased.
Overfertilizing
Feeding too much fertilizer can burn the tender leaves of your calathea. Brown leaf tips are a telltale sign of fertilizer burn. Calatheas only need to be fertilized at half strength once a month in spring and summer.
Poor Air Circulation
Without proper airflow, water drops will sit on the leaves for too long. This will cause brown spots where the water rested on the leaf surface. Ensure your calathea has good air circulation.
Diseases
Fungal or bacterial diseases like leaf spot can cause brown spots on calathea leaves. These diseases thrive in hot, wet conditions. Preventing disease is better than trying to cure it.
Pests
Sap-sucking insects like spider mites penetrate leaf tissues to feed, leaving behind brown lesions on the foliage. Treat pests quickly before they get out of control.
Cold Temperatures
Calatheas prefer temperatures between 65-80°F. Anything below 60°F can shock the plant, causing brown spotting on the leaves. Keep calatheas away from cold drafts.
Poor Water Quality
Tap water containing chlorine, fluoride and other additives can damage calathea leaves. Use distilled, filtered or rain water for best results.
Too Little Light
While less common than sun damage, insufficient light can also cause brown spotting on calatheas. Try moving the plant to a slightly brighter location if needed.
Underwatering
If your calathea isn’t getting enough water, its leaves may begin to dry out and crisp up. Ensure the soil is kept consistently moist to prevent underwatering issues.
Fertilizer Buildup
An accumulation of excess fertilizer in the soil can burn the roots and lead to brown leaf tips or spotting. Flush the soil periodically to remove salt buildup.
How to Fix Brown Spots on Calathea
Once you’ve diagnosed the cause of the brown spots, you can take action to treat the problem. Here are some remedies:
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Overwatering – Allow the soil to dry out completely before watering again. Check that drainage is adequate.
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Low Humidity – Use a humidifier, pebble tray or regular misting to increase humidity around the plant.
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Diseases – Remove affected leaves. Treat with copper fungicide if needed. Improve air circulation.
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Pests – Wipe leaves with insecticidal soap or neem oil. Apply horticultural oils or other organic pest treatments.
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Excess Sun – Filter light through curtains or move the plant back from bright windows.
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Underwatering – Water more frequently, allowing the soil to nearly dry out between waterings.
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Poor Water Quality – Use distilled or rain water. Let tap water sit out before using.
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Fertilizer Buildup – Flush the soil to remove excess salts. Avoid overfertilizing.
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Nutrient Deficiency – Test and amend soil nutrients if needed. Apply a balanced fertilizer at reduced strength.
Preventing Brown Spots on Calatheas
With proper care, you can avoid many issues that lead to brown spotting:
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Water thoroughly when the top inch of soil dries out. Don’t overwater.
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Use a well-draining potting mix. Add amendments like orchid bark or perlite.
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Give bright, indirect light. A few hours of filtered morning sun is ok.
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Keep humidity around 50%. Use a humidifier or pebble tray if needed.
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Grow in temperatures between 65-80°F. Avoid cold drafts.
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Flush soil periodically to prevent fertilizer buildup.
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Inspect regularly for pests. Quarantine new plants before introducing.
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Provide good airflow by spacing plants appropriately.
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Use distilled or rainwater. Let tap water dechlorinate before using.
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Watch for early signs of disease and treat quickly. Remove affected leaves promptly.
With proper care, your calathea should make a full recovery from any brown spots it develops. While existing damaged leaves won’t recover, new leaves will emerge flawless as long as you remedy the underlying cause. Just be patient and keep giving your calathea the conditions it needs to thrive.
Water Contaminants
Even if you get your watering schedule right, calatheas can sometimes develop browning or curling leaves from tap water that has a high concentration of fluoride, salt, chlorine, or other minerals.
“Calatheas are a little more sensitive to fluoride in water than a lot of other houseplants, and they show this sensitivity by browning at their leaf tips,” Hancock says.
Hancock adds that the tap water from most municipalities is safe 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 doesn’t,” Hancock says. “This inadvertently increases the fluoride concentration.”
Watering with water straight from the tap can keep fluoride from building up and causing problems. But you can also reduce contaminant exposure by watering calatheas with bottled water, rainwater, or distilled water and occasionally flushing potting mixes, from the top-down, with bottled water.
Too Little Water
When calathea leaves start to brown, the first thing you should do is assess your watering schedule.
“Calatheas like consistent moisture levels,” Hancock says. “And when they get too dry, their relatively thin leaves show it by drying out from the edges in.”
If you catch dry soil early, the browning may be confined to the leaf tips alone. However, if the soil stays dry for an extended period of time, your plant’s leaves may turn completely brown and fall off.
To avoid this issue, stick to a regular watering schedule and never allow your calathea plants to get too dry. These plants should be watered about once a week in summer and a little less in winter—or whenever the top 1 to 2 inches of potting mix feels dry.
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10 Awesome Tips to Stop Brown Tips on Your Calathea
FAQ
How do you get rid of brown spots on Calathea leaves?
Increase the humidity around your plant by misting the leaves regularly, using a pebble tray, or placing a humidifier nearby. For an easy boost, use our autonomous plant mister to mimic your Calathea’s leaves’ natural tropical environment. Your Calathea prefers soil that is consistently moist.
How do you treat brown spots on leaves?
Brown spots on plant leaves can be caused by various factors, including fungal or bacterial infections, pest infestations, or improper watering.
Should I cut off brown Calathea leaves?
Although brown calathea leaves won’t turn green again, you can improve the look of your plant by cutting brown leaves and leaf tips away with sterilized scissors. If needed, prune just a few leaves at a time, and never remove more than 20% of your plant’s leaves in one go.
What is the leaf spot disease in Calathea?
Bacterial leaf spot of Calatheas can be caused by either Pseudomonas cichorii which is fluorescent in culture or another Pseudomonas sp. which is nonfluorescent. Symptoms of Pseudomonas leaf spot (P. cichorii) are characterized by water-soaked spots that turn dark green to black.