Why are there Brown Spots on Calathea Houseplant Leaves?
My plant has brown spots and dry brown edges. I do not know the name of the plant and do not know what’s wrong with it. Please help. Thank you. Anna
Hi Anna,
Your plant is a type of Calathea. These houseplants musy have very high humidity or their leaves develop brown spots and edges. You can increase the humidity by placing a Calathea Plant on a tray of wet pebbles (be sure the plant container is on the pebbles and not in the water), setting a humidifier near your Calathea houseplant, or by grouping houseplants together to create a greenhouse effect.
Calatheas are very sensitive to the water you use. Hard water, soft water, fluoridated water, or water of poor quality causes the leaves to turn brown from leaf burn. The best way to water is to use distilled water, rain water, or allow your tap water to sit out over night before using it. Keep the soil moist but never soggy. Allow the top 2-3” to dry out before watering. Never let a calathea plant sit in water.
Read all my care tips for a Calathea in the Popular Houseplant section of the website.