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Calathea yellow spots on some leaves?

6 years ago

My Calathea zebrina has some leaves with yellowing near the leaf edges. It's in a fast draining peat based media, in ~60% humidity, gets very early morning sun but has good air flow and is fertilized a couple times a year during late spring and early summer with Foilage Pro at half strength for maintenance. None of my other Calatheas have this, but their leaves seem more thick. Could it be a fertilizer issue? Or sunburn? Or a moisture issue?

Featured Answer

petrushka (7b)

6 years ago

they say that fluoride in water can cause leaf damage. I have several Calatheas, but the easier ones: Calathea princeps and vittata. and also Stromathe tricolor. they do get dried tips - but usually in winter and on old leaves. i don't sweat it.

your humidity is probably good if you have a lot of them? and keeping them rather moist , not letting them dry up more then 1/3 of pot height? and light on feed with periodic flushing :))))?

i looked at the first pic - it seems like you have tiny dots on yellow part - mites can cause that easily. and they are mite magnets ...even with high humidity.

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Comments (8)

laticauda
6 years ago
I learned that these plants probably wouldn't suit my growing style so i threw away all knowledge of it and replaced it with a big "do not buy this plant" 'sign'.

I am replying to give you a bump. Hopefully someone can help!
Laurie (8A)
6 years ago
In my opinion you don't have any issue. Your plant is almost perfect. Those tiny margins are so miniscule. These plants are not easy to keep attractive in the winter. I mean they are quite difficult for most people. If you have a collection of these and this is your sickest one, I would not change a thing in your care. Nice impressive growing.
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I found potatoes when I repotted my rattlesnake calathea too, gave me quite a fright. They're tubers and yes are normal (although my other calathea, a roseopicta, didn't have any but come to think of it that was the unhealthy one with dodgy roots so maybe that was why...) Not sure if you're supposed to do anything with them (I didn't) but I doubt it means you need to water more. It did put me off checking the soil moisture with a wooden skewer though, kept thinking I might impale them. Your roots look good to my untrained eye :)
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Shawn
Original Author
6 years ago
I know that it's minuscule and I'm not upset by it, but I am looking for input on what might be causing the yellowing since it doesn't seem to be a humidity problem because it does't begin at the periphery of the leaves.
petrushka (7b)
6 years ago
is it on oldest leaves? if so, it's normal. oldest leaves eventually start declining - it often happens in winter when the growth slows. but even in summer older leaves/crowns decline with time. most calatheas send out stolons and start a new crown and they grow better without separation as a cluster.

your plant is in superb condition!

i see 2 crowns, more should come with warmer temps - they like it really warm and steamy - rainforest style. when new crown starts the older one that it's attached to starts slow (or not so slow) decline.
Shawn
Original Author
6 years ago
Thank you, petrushka.
I definitely have an affinity to the Marantaceae family, I think I have like 15-16 species/hybrids at this point and I've never seen this odd yellowing before. The yellowing is on newer leaves actually and there isn't a pest problem.
Shawn
Original Author
6 years ago
It must be a nutrient disorder, I didn't even think of this. Ironic because I'm a chemist. Haha

Thank you!!

https://www.apsnet.org/publications/apsnetfeatures/Pages/Nutrients.aspx
petrushka (7b)
6 years ago
that's a great article, thanks!

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