What to Do When Calathea Leaves Curl? Causes and Solutions

Calathea is a foliage plant of the Marantaceae family native to the tropical rainforests of South America. Its shape and texture resemble feathers, which is why it is called Calathea. Its leaves open during the day and close at night, similar to the sensitive plant, which is quite peculiar. The leaves of Calathea have dark green stripes that look like zebra stripes, and it is now mostly used as a potted plant to decorate rooms and public places. After growing Calathea for a period of time, many people find that its leaves curl. What is going on? Today Qinnong Web will analyze the causes of dry, curled Calathea leaves and the related solutions.

1. Caused by direct sunlight

Calathea does not have very high light requirements. It is a plant that likes semi-shady environments and cannot be exposed to the sun for long periods, and it is especially intolerant of high temperatures. If it is exposed to strong light for a long time, the excessive ultraviolet rays plus the light can easily burn the leaves, causing the leaves of Calathea to scorch and curl. However, Calathea cannot do without light either, so for this situation, try not to give too much sunlight in summer, and in winter you can give appropriate sunlight, avoiding excessive direct sun so that the curling of the edges will not occur.

2. Curling caused by lack of water

Calathea likes shade and also likes moisture. If the soil in the pot is too dry, it is very easy for the leaves of Calathea to wither, thus drying out and curling. You can dig into the soil to take a look; generally you need to dig down about ten cm to see whether the roots are short of water. Therefore, you should manage the watering of Calathea well. In spring, summer and autumn, the soil in the flowerpot should be kept moist at all times. If it is too dry, you can also sprinkle water on the leaves. In winter, you need to water less and keep the soil in the pot on the dry side.

3. Curling caused by pests and diseases

If it is not a lack of water at the roots or direct sunlight, then it may be that the roots have been affected by pests and diseases. You can dig into the soil and carefully observe whether the roots have leaf spot disease or rust disease. If they have these two diseases, you can use 1000 times diluted carbendazim for treatment. If common scale insects or whiteflies are found, then professional pest control medication is needed for deworming care.

The above are the solutions brought to you by Qinnong Web regarding what to do when Calathea leaves curl. As a relatively fine foliage plant, if the leaves curl it will seriously affect its ornamental value. This article introduces three possible causes of leaf curling. If you encounter leaf curling when growing Calathea, you can refer to this article to analyze the cause and then treat the symptoms accordingly.