What to Do When Calathea Leaves Curl? Cause Analysis and Solutions

Calathea is a foliage plant of the Marantaceae family, widely distributed in China, though mainly in the southern regions. When growing calathea, poor management can lead to many problems. One of these is curling leaves, so what should we do when calathea leaves curl? Today, the editor will give you a brief introduction. Let's take a look below!

1. Water properly

There are many varieties of calathea, and different varieties have different water requirements. A large part of the reason for curled calathea leaves is improper watering. Too much water can easily cause waterlogging and root rot, leading to curled leaves, while too little water causes the calathea to lack water. So when watering, pay attention to the calathea variety. If the leaves are thin and large, water frequently, about once a day during the growing season. If the leaves are thick and large, extend the watering interval appropriately, watering about once every three days in summer. If the temperature is too low, reduce the amount of water promptly.

2. Light control

Calathea does not need much light during growth, and its tolerance for strong light is very poor. If calathea grows in a strong light environment for a long time, the leaves can easily be scorched, causing curling. So during the growing season, be sure to provide shade and avoid light. Especially in the hot summer season, never let calathea be exposed to direct sunlight; create a semi-shaded environment for it. Provide an appropriate amount of scattered light, but do not keep it out of light for a long time either, otherwise it will grow poorly and the leaves will become thin.

3. Improve ventilation

A suitable ventilated environment is also very important for calathea growth. If calathea grows in an environment with poor air circulation, its respiration will be very poor, which affects its growth and causes curled leaves, yellow leaves and other problems. So when growing calathea, maintain a well-ventilated environment. Ventilate appropriately every day to keep the air circulating. Especially if the humidity is high, keeping the air circulating is even more important, as it can both reduce bacterial growth and prevent excessively high humidity from affecting calathea growth.

4. Disease prevention and control

Disease is also a main cause of calathea leaf curling. A common disease of calathea is leaf spot, which is the disease calathea is most prone to during the growing season. After calathea contracts leaf spot, the main symptom is drying and curling. So if leaf spot occurs, promptly prune the affected branches and leaves, then burn them away from the plant to prevent the disease from spreading. Then spray an appropriate amount of Bordeaux mixture, taking care to control the concentration so it is not too high, to avoid phytotoxicity. Under normal circumstances, about two sprays can cure it, but prevention should still be the main approach.

The above is a brief introduction to what to do when calathea leaves curl. That's all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only, and we hope it can be helpful to everyone!