This article was last updated by Prince on February 13, 2023. Move your Calathea to a warmer place, away from other sources of unexpected temperature swings. Soap may sound like a silly thing to use on plants, but Calathea responds well to this mild treatment for pests. Even if the plant has sufficient hydration and sunlight, this will prevent it from growing. Calathea often struggles indoors because we tend to keep our homes around 40% ambient humidity. Pests can cause your Calathes leaves to become brown as they seek to destroy them and drain the nutrients. Clean the leaves and stems with water, then clean the growing medium to remove mold. Then the spot turns dark green and finally black. its leaves may begin to turn completely green and lose those characteristic white spots. The calathea plant is an incredibly stunning houseplant, one of my favorites for home decor. Check the soil every day or two, and keep the soil consistently moist. To solve this problem, simply flush the leaves with clean water to remove any deposits. One of the most common problems with Calathea is white spots on the leaves. If your infestation is severe, you may need to dispose of heavily infested leaves. If the roots are rotting, stop watering the plant immediately until they revive. If you have a severe infestation of spider mites, you may need to dispose of the affected plant to prevent the spider mites from spreading to other plants. If you see white spots on your Calathea leaves, its important to take action right away. Give small amounts of water consistently to find the proper balance. A better choice for suffocating stubborn pests like thrips, spider mites, and scale is the use of horticultural oil without neem as an ingredient. Can I use a soap solution to get rid of the pests? You should also inspect the plant regularly for signs of pests. Go get em!! An excess of minerals in the water supply is also another typical cause of unhealthy and curled Calatheas. Inadequate temperatures, low humidity, the wrong light conditions, fungal infections, insects, mineral accumulations in the soil. It's like they come out of nowhere and slowly eat your plants until leaf by leaf gets all wrinkly and dry. Keeping the leaves dry is the key to preventing this disease. Use Helminthosporium fungicides regularly. Give your plant a few weeks to recover if you have shifted it to a new place or repotted it. Spider mites are extra small pests that are hard to spot until it's almost too late. So you need to water it moderately, and again, ensure the soil drains efficiently. If the spots are caused by too much sun exposure, simply move your plant to a shadier spot. Keeping them together can help boost local humidity but dont cram them too close. Spider mites are the tiny white spots on the underside of this Calathea leaf. Mealybugs: These cottony-looking little beetles prefer to hide in the cracks of leaves and stems, draining the life out of your Calathea. Mealybugs are one of the most common houseplant pests. After about five minutes, turn off the water and allow the soil to fully drain and then empty any additional water from the catch tray and place back in its normally growing location. To care for Calathea White Fusion use a well-draining potting mix consisting of peat moss, perlite, and potting soil and water once the top 2" of soil are almost dry (5cm). Listed below are the common questions about white spots on Calathea leaves: Common pests that affect Calathea plants include spider mites, whiteflies, Scale, mealybugs, thrips, and fungus gnats. You can try spraying the plant with water to dislodge the insects. To prevent this, make sure to give your Calathea plant plenty of water. To the mixture, add 1/2 teaspoon of liquid soap and mix thoroughly. The fungus lives in the growing medium, breaking down organic matter and releasing nutrients into the mix, which can then splash onto the leaves and create an ideal environment for the mold to thrive. Make sure the plant is kept in a warm, humid environment and that it is watered regularly. 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Are Aloe Plants Toxic to Cats, Dogs, and Other Pets? To remove white spots from Calathea leaves, gently rub the spots with a soft cloth soaked in soapy water. You can trim off severely damaged parts of your Calathea. While these colorful and boldly patterned plants are generally easy to grow, they can attract a few pests. The larvae can damage roots if an infestation is severe, but mostly the adult gnats are just a nuisance. These pests suck the sap from the leaves, causing them to turn yellow and eventually die. Use pots with drainage holes to prevent overwatering. The most crucial factors in keeping your Calathea's leaves happy are proper soil and proper sun. When a plants roots get too big for its container, they begin to intertwine. Since soil does not always dry up at the same rate, make a habit of monitoring the soil before watering. A balanced all-purpose balanced fertilizer, such as one with a 10:10:10 nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium ratio, is suitable. If you think that your plant has a fungal disease, you should contact a professional for help. Calathea grows well in aerated soil with a pH of 6.5. If your white spots are caused by spider mites, youll need to treat the plant with an insecticide. Thoroughly clean the leaves undersides, and apply the soap/oil to all of the leaves according to the instructions on the packaging. If your Calathea leaves have speckled discoloration or are crisping, drying, or browning, you may need to use the magnifying lens. These plants collect moisture through their broad leaves, which curl and yellow if the air becomes too dry. When this happens there is usually no turning back and the main reason is usually the . Calathea is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family marantaceae.they are commonly called calatheas or (like their relatives) prayer plants.about 200 species . Calatheas do like moist soil, but not excessively moist soil. Drooping calathea leaves have similar reasons to curling of the leaves. Its recommended for treating spider mites in particular by many sources, but it can be too photosensitizing for Calathea. With a little bit of care, your Calathea will be healthy and beautiful in no time. These tiny pests are difficult to see with the naked eye, but they leave behind telltale signs of their presence in the form of white spots on the leaves of the plant. One of the most common problems with Calathea plants is white spots on the leaves. Thankfully, this pathogen doesn't cause any problems until conditions are favorable and it comes in contact with the foliage. To effectively get rid of these pests, dilute solutions of soap, rubbing alcohol, or neem oil every 3-5 days. This evergreen perennial plant thrives indoors with minimal care. You may need to treat your plant multiple times to get rid of all the scale. Once a week, spray your infected plant with isopropyl alcohol or wipe all over the plant. What do spider mites look like on a Calathea? Limit exposure to the bare minimum if the light intensity is too high. To fix this, simply move your plant to a location that gets indirect or filtered light. But, like any other plant, it becomes stressed when it is repotted addition; the variations in soil consistency and pH can cause the plant to be shocked and induce the falling of leaves. First, try spraying your plant with a mixture of water and dish soap. These plants are native to the shady rainforests of Brazil, so theyre not used to strong sunlight. (Essential Guide), Are Hibiscus Poisonous to Dogs, Cats, and Other Animals, Exploring the Root System of Crape Myrtles: A Comprehensive Guide, Why is My Crape Myrtle Not Blooming? . Leave the jug of water overnight before watering and it should resolve the issue. They live on the undersides of the leaves, where they create a spider looking web (thus the name Spider mites), where they lay their eggs. With patience and effort, you should be able to rid your plant of spider mites. But its actually sucking the fluids out of the plant and leaving behind honeydew that attracts other pests and diseases. Problem: Foliage yellowing at an alarming rate Causes: Watering issues, sunburn, shock, nutrient imbalance. How to treat white spots on Calathea leaves? They prefer 50% humidity and up, with higher numbers better for them due to their adaptation to native jungle habitat. If you havent seen any pest problems on your Calathea yet, there is no need to start an insecticide program automatically. Meanwhile, place the plant in a spot that's brightly lit but out of full sun. Re-pot the plant every 2-3 years and prune damaged or unwanted roots. Yellowing. Check your temperature and make sure it is between 65F-80F (18C to 27C) for optimal growing conditions when it comes to Calathea. If you have white spots on your Calathea leaves, its likely due to a pest infestation. Honeydew can attract other insects, as well as mold. Repeat as necessary until the white powdery mildew has gone. The Jungle Velvet Calathea ( Calathea warscewiczii) is a flowering tropical houseplant with soft velvety leaves. The leaves become dry and papery as the roots suffocate. Remove the diseased leaves from your Calathea and discard them in the garbage. Unfortunately, this is a very generic symptom. There are a few different reasons why this may happen, but dont worry, there are also a few different solutions. You must be persistent and thorough with your treatment plan to eliminate the mites. To prevent thrips from infesting your calathea, its important to keep the plant healthy. Repot plant when you believe the roots are getting too big for the pot. Its location must be out of any strong winds from doors or windows. Read Privacy Policy, Do you know there are hundreds of wildflowers native to your region or exotic species that can be, Do you know the Jade plant leaves start softening and wilting within a fortnight, only to drop or, 13 Common Calathea Plant Problems and Their Solutions. The yellowing of the plants core is considered more dangerous than external discoloration. This is because the leaves are not able to tolerate the intense heat and light from the sun. A balanced indoor plant fertilizer with a 10-10-10 NPK ratio (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) is recommended to apply during its growing period. Avoid evening or late afternoon watering to prevent the Helminthosporium leaf spot. Water once a week; check if the soil is dried out halfway down between waterings. By having good watering practices and never allowing your Calathea soil to completely dry out, you will avoid those ugly crispy and brown leaves. Pesticides and insecticides help protect your houseplant when nothing else will work. Discover the causes of white spots on Calathea leaves & easy solutions to restore your plant's health in this guide! Too much sunlight and temperature extremities may cause its leaves to curl. Use pruning shears to remove dead or dying leaves, and disinfect the blades between snips. Powdery mildew is most commonly caused by too much moisture or humidity in the air. Spring and summer are the best seasons to fertilize calathea for optimal growth. The affected leaves will typically be small and pale green or yellow. However, because the leaves of calathea move up and down in response to light, make sure that youre not mistaking natural movement for a need for water. Keep an eye out for little flies as well. Calathea white fusion are especially prone to brown spots on the leaves. This is entirely natural since the leaves fold up at night and unfurl throughout the day. It is caused by a build-up of water in the leaves, and is often the result of too much water being given to the plant. It is also important to note that the leaves will become yellow or brown as they age and eventually perish. Calathea plants, on the other hand, normally only reach a height of around 2 feet and then stop. But dont worry, there are solutions for each problem. The browning of leaf tips on older foliage is completely normal and results from tremendous photosynthesis throughout the leafs life. Spider mites, thrips, mealybugs, and whiteflies are all common pests of Calathea when grown indoors. The identifying spots can range in color from black, brown, red, orange, yellow to white, and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Fungal infections, pest damage, or nitrogen deficiency are possible causes. If you have Calathea in your home, you may have noticed small white spots on the leaves. Do not let the plant sit in water. Examine the undersides of the leaves and the points where the leaves meet the stem. Required fields are marked *. Its important to keep the plants soil wet but not soggy. Are you struggling to treat white spots on your Calathea leaves due to White mold? Note: No chemical treatment is available for Fusarium Root Rot. Leaf spot fungus often goes untreated because it is mistaken for crispy leaves. Poorly drained soils exacerbate problems like root and crown rots. You can also add compost or manure to your plants soil to boost its nitrogen content. As with many houseplants, good care is the key to preventing disease and pest pressure. The extra moisture will help the plant recover from the sunburn. Too much light. Nitrogen Deficiency Cause White Patches on Leaves. 3. There are a few things you can do to get rid of them. Andrew is the Editorial Director at Petal Republic. Treat the issue by fertilizing the plant with a nitrogen-rich fertilizer. 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