Hello everyone, a few months ago I bought my first Calathea from a nursery. It was very small and half-dead, but I managed to bring it back to health. The problem is that, no matter how much it grows, its leaves always look “burnt.” On top of that, there are always little gnats flying around it. My partner added some moss at the base to help keep the soil a bit more humid, but I’m not sure if that was a good idea. What can I do to improve the situation?
by Objective_Branch6532
3 Comments
For one I wouldn’t spray the leaves! I found this makes the crispy edges worse and actually does nothing for the humidity;
Are you using tap water to water it? These plants are (apparently) sensitive to minerals and other additives, such as chlorine and fluoride, which also causes them to turn crispy. I’ve switched to distilled water and the new leaves come out fully green and happy
I don’t know about the gnats, did you check for pests?
If you see gnats it’s probably overwatered. Let the soil dry out a bit more in between waterings and really emphasize letting it drain completely after a watering. If the issue still persists, consider repotting it in a more airy soil mix. You don’t want the soil to be wet for long at all. Stop spraying the leaves regularly. It does nothing to help humidity, because it’s not humidifying the air. The only effect is that it increases the risk of fungal problems, by promoting anaerobic bacteria
I agree with all of this, emphasis on the drying out! My orbifolias especially seem to love getting bone-dry before I water them, I think it’s super weird but it’s working. They were crisping like this before I started doing that, I would think that would make them less appealing to gnats too. I have to use distilled water where I live, and I actually had to move mine to a bright north-facing room because a south-facing window was too much light for them. Once winter comes I may have to move them back, but for now they seem to prefer a gently bright atmosphere.