Reasons and Solutions for Curling Leaves on Calathea setosa

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

1. Caused by Direct Sunlight

Calathea setosa does not have high lighting requirements. It is a plant that prefers partial shade 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 combined with the light can easily scorch the leaves, causing the leaves of Calathea setosa to burn and curl. However, Calathea setosa cannot do without light either, so in this situation, try not to give it too much sun in summer, and give it appropriate sun in winter, avoiding excessive direct sunlight so that the curling edges will not occur.

2. Curling Caused by Lack of Water

Calathea setosa likes shade and also likes moisture. If the soil in the pot is too dry, the leaves of Calathea setosa can easily wither, thus drying out and curling. You can dig into the soil to take a look; generally you need to dig down about ten centimeters to see whether the roots are short of water. Therefore, you need to manage the watering of Calathea setosa well. In spring, summer, and autumn, you should keep the soil in the flower pot 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 drier side.

3. Curling Caused by Pests and Diseases

If it is not root dehydration or lack of direct sunlight, then the roots may have been affected by pests or 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 a 1000-fold dilution of carbendazim for treatment. If common scale insects or whiteflies are found, you need to use specialized pesticides for pest control and care.

The above are the solutions brought to you by Qinnongnet regarding what to do when Calathea setosa leaves curl. As a relatively fine foliage plant, if the leaves of Calathea setosa 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 setosa, you can refer to this article to analyze the cause and then treat the symptoms accordingly.