10 Causes of Calathea Drooping Leaves and How to Revive It
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Calathea leaves are drooping due to inconsistent watering, temperature stress, nutrients deficiency, direct sunshine, dry air, low quality soil, diseases and pests among others.
Calathea may droop after repotting for a short period as it adjusts to the new growing conditions due to repotting shock. If your Calathea is drooping after watering, it is an indication that the plant is extremely pot-bound and needs immediate repotting.
Generally, Calathea Plants thrive in bright indirect light (dappled light), warm and humid conditions, and moderately moist, fertile, well-drained soils coupled with monthly feeding in the growing season. Learn how to grow and care for Calathea Plants.
If you fail to provide these conditions, your plant may begin to develop problems like drooping. Below are 10 reasons why a Calathea may droop and how to fix them.
10 Reasons Why Calathea is Drooping with Remedies
1. Dry air
Very dry air will result in low humidity which will cause stunted growth, drooping leaves and brown leaf tips. If not corrected it may lead in plant death.
How to fix it
Calathea require a humidity of 60-80%. To increase humidity, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier.
You may also grow the plant in a closed terrarium or a well-lit bathroom, kitchen, laundry area and other humid areas in the home.
2. Low quality Soil
Low quality soil does not drain well and easily becomes compacted or soggy. These will cause Calathea leaves to begin to droop as the plant can not take up water to the leaves and other parts of the plant.
How to fix it
Grow your Calatheas in loose, well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter to prevent waterlogging while providing the necessary nutrients to the plant. A blend of 2 parts potting soil and 1 part perlite or vermiculite (for proper drainage) is ideal for these plants.
3. Pest infestations
Calathea are prone to spider mites, mealybugs, aphids and scale insects infestations which are prevalent in dry conditions. These sap-sucking insects will cause the plant to become dehydrated leading to wilted and drooping leaves.
How to fix it
Regularly inspect your Calathea fo these pests and take timely control measures.
Seperate the affected plant from the rest of the plants to minimize spread and treat it with an insecticidal soap or neem oil. Ensure to follow the manufacturers' recommendations.
To discourage these pests, set the pot a wet pebble tray, use a cool mist humidifier or group the plants together to raise humidity.
Keep the plant well pruned by removing dead and yellow foliage at they act as the hiding places for these pests.
Clean the leaves regularly by damp-wiping with a soft cloth to reduce infestations.
4. Root-rot disease
Calathea is prone to root-rot which is characterized by yellowing, wilting and drooping leaves, followed by browning and plant death if not prevented. The disease is prevalent in soggy soil brought about by poor soil drainage.
How to fix it
Carefully, slip the Calathea out of its pot and inspect the roots. Brown-black mushy roots indicate root-rot, trim them off and treat the healthy roots with a copper-based fungicidal solution as directed by the maker.
Disinfect the pot with the fungicidal solution or use a fresh pot to repot the plant in fresh, well-draining soil. Keep it dry for some time before you can resume watering.
Use a pot with a drainage hole and free-draining soil to prevent sogginess. Ensure to empty excess water from the catch plate after watering.
Cut down on water in the cold season since growth is minimal at this time, therefore, the plant does not require much water.
5. Inconsistent watering
Underwatering will result in too little moisture in the soil. This means the plant has no water to take up to the leaves. Thus, the leaves begin to wilt and droop.
Overwatering causes the soil to become soggy which leads to the death of the roots due to lack of oxygen. This implies that the roots cannot take up water, therefore, the leaves begin to curl and droop.
How to fix it
Water Calathea when the top few inches of soil feel dry to touch but never allow the soil to dry out completely for a prolonged period. Do not water on a schedule
6. Nutrients deficiency
Both overfeeding and overfeeding result in shortage of nutrients needed by the plant. Insufficient nutrients in the actively growing tips causes nutrients to be withdrawn from the older lower leaves which begin to droop and eventually die.
How to fix it
Feed your Calathea with a balanced, liquid fertilizer once monthly in spring and summer. Do not feed in fall and winter to avoid fertilizer burn as growth is slowed at this time.
7. Temperature stress
Drafts will cause sudden temperature changes, resulting in reduced growth, wilting, yellowing, curling and drooping leaves.
How to fix it
Keep your Calathea away from sources of drafts like windy windows and doors, AC units, heat sources, hot air vents among others, to avoid temperature flactuations, to maintain an average warmth of 15-260C.
8. Direct sunshine
Exposing your plant to direct sunlight will cause scorching, wilting, drooping leaves and may result in death of the plant.
How to fix it
Position your Calathea in medium to bright indirect light. Keep it away from direct sunshine and put it in a shaded place or instal a light curtain to filter the sunlight.
9. Being extremely pot-bound
Being extremely pot-bound means the roots have filled the pot, therefore, there is very little soil to hold water when the plant is watered. This implies that the plant cannot take up to the leaves therefore they begin to wilt and droop.
How to fix it
Check the bottom of the pot for a lot of roots growing through the drainage hole; repot the plant into a pot one size larger or divide it into several sections to propagate new plants.
Thereafter, repot your Calathea every 2 years at the beginning of the growing season (spring to early summer), when pot-bound. Use a pot that has a drainage hole and well-draining soil. Check out these ceramic pots with drainage holes on Amazon.
Note that a plant may droop after repotting for a short period of time. However, as it continues to take root and adjust to the new growing conditions it will recover.
10. Salts buildup
Excess salts from use of hard water or from the fertilizers used will cause the roots to die. As such, the plant cannot take up water to the leaves causing them to begin to wilt and droop.
How to fix it
Water your Calatheas with water that is free of chlorine, flourides and other chemicals, like rain water or filtered water.
Flush out excess salts regularly by running a stream of water through the soil until it drips through the drainage hole.
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