A detailed guide to solving yellowing and curling leaves in Calathea leopardina
Calathea leopardina is an indoor foliage plant native to the tropical rainforest regions of South America to Central America. Its leaves are pale green, grayish green and other colors, with brilliant feather-like markings or irregular markings. The undersides of the leaves are often purplish red or grayish green, very beautiful. But during cultivation, various reasons may cause the leaves of Calathea leopardina to turn yellow, curl and so on, seriously affecting its ornamental value. A detailed guide to solving yellowing and curling leaves in Calathea leopardina and cultivation precautions.
I. Causes and solutions for yellowing and curling leaves in Calathea leopardina
1. Excessive light
Strong direct sunlight falling on the shade-loving Calathea leopardina easily causes the leaf tips and leaf margins to dry up and curl, with yellow spots appearing on the sun-facing parts of the leaves. Simply move the Calathea leopardina to a shaded location for cultivation.
2. Overwatering
If the young leaves of Calathea leopardina are dull yellow and lusterless, the old leaves show no obvious change, the stems are thin and yellow-green, and the new shoots shrivel and stop growing, it indicates that the Calathea leopardina has been overwatered. Remove the Calathea leopardina from its pot and place it in a ventilated, cool spot, let the soil ball dry, then put it back in the pot.
3. Underwatering
If the leaf tips or edges of Calathea leopardina dry up, become dry or even curl, and the old leaves turn yellow, wither and fall from the bottom up, but the new leaves of the Calathea leopardina grow relatively normally, it indicates that the Calathea leopardina has been underwatered. Just be sure to water thoroughly and generously.
4. Lack of light
If Calathea leopardina is placed in a shaded environment for a long time, the leaves cannot get enough sunlight and cannot form chlorophyll, causing the leaves of the Calathea leopardina to turn yellow and then fall off. Supplementing light can prevent the leaves of Calathea leopardina from turning yellow.
5. Too little fertilizer
If the young leaves of Calathea leopardina become lighter in color, turning yellow or pale green, while the old leaves remain relatively normal or gradually turn from green to yellow, it may be caused by too little fertilizer for the Calathea leopardina. Check the potting soil of the Calathea leopardina; if there is caking, the soil should be replaced. Usually apply light fertilizer frequently and water with some alum water at the appropriate time. The Calathea leopardina should be given fertilizer mainly based on nitrogen fertilizer.
6. Too much or too concentrated fertilizer
Applying too much fertilizer or too high a concentration can cause yellowing and curling leaves due to underwatering. It shows as dry brown tips on the new leaves of Calathea leopardina; generally the leaf surface of the Calathea leopardina is thick and lusterless, and uneven and not spreading out, while the old leaves scorch yellow and fall off. Fertilizing should be stopped immediately, and in severe cases, use a large amount of water to rinse away part of the fertilizer from the Calathea leopardina.
II. Precautions for cultivating Calathea leopardina
Calathea leopardina likes semi-shade, cannot tolerate direct sunlight, and adapts to growing in a warm, humid environment. The cultivation precautions are as follows:
1. When the temperature exceeds 35°C, it is unfavorable for the leaf growth of Calathea leopardina. Attention should be paid to ventilation and spraying water to lower the temperature, so that the Calathea leopardina has a cool and humid situation.
2. For the beauty of the Calathea leopardina, you can often use a clean soft cloth dipped in clean water to wipe the leaves of the Calathea leopardina, making the leaves of the Calathea leopardina bright and glossy.
3. When fertilizing Calathea leopardina, note that the nitrogen fertilizer content must not be too high, otherwise the leaves of the Calathea leopardina will lose their luster and the markings will fade.