If you’ve noticed your Calathea leaves drooping, it could be for many reasons. The Calathea is a tropical plant well-known for its colorful leaves and bold, upright stature.
In most cases, the Calathea plant droops mainly because of water stress (overwatering and underwatering). But there are many other causes like Temperature stress, Low Humidity, Too much Sunlight, rootbound, pest and disease, and overfeeding.
In this article, I will focus on how to fix Calathea Leaves drooping. Discuss why they droop, the best conditions for the plant, how to correct those and other points of interest.
Why Are My Calathea Leaves Drooping And How To Fix It
If you’re the proud owner of a Calathea plant, you know that these beautiful plants are known for their striking, colorful leaves. But what do you do when your Calathea’s leaves start drooping?
There are a few possible reasons why your Calathea leaves are drooping. An example of causes responsible for your plant drop are:
- Water stress
- Low Humidity
- Temperature
- Transplant Shock
- Insufficient Light
- Rootbound
- Excess Application of Fertilizer
- Light Damage
- Pests and Diseases
Let’s discuss them!
Water Stress
One of the reasons Calathea Leaves droop could be due to too much or too little water. Before doing anything, check the Soil first to see if it’s too dry. If the Soil is dry, give your plant a good watering. And if you notice the Soil is waterlogged, keep the plant outside where it can get sunlight to dry up excess water.
Now, let’s discuss the factors responsible for Calathea water stress.
- Underwatering (Dehydration)
- Overwatering (Soggy Soil)
Underwatering
Neglecting Calathea’s water needs indicates that your plant’s drooping is caused by underwatering. If you water your Calathea whenever you want or forget to water for a long time, the drooping leaves signify the plant is dehydrated.
When Calathea plants are dehydrated, the cells in the leaves and stems begin to lose turgor pressure, causing the plant to droop. However, Calathea leaves drooping due to dehydration can serve as a survival mechanism employed by the plants to reduce further water loss through the leaves.
Check also; How Long Does It Take for Caladium Bulbs to Grow?
How to Revive an Underwatered Calathea Plant?
If you notice your Calathea plant drooping, it’s a sign that it’s not getting enough water. The leaves will droop and the stem will start to sag. If you see these signs, then do this;
- Give your plant good watering. Water thoroughly until water runs out of the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot. Let the Soil dry out slightly between waterings.
- Cut out dead and dried leaves to give room for new vibrant Leaves.
- Maintain a regular watering schedule to prevent underwatering from repeating.
Overwatering
Calathea plants thrive in moist Soil, but giving them too much water will result in overwatering. When the Soil is waterlogged, it eliminates air circulation and prevents the root from absorbing oxygen needed for vitality.
When this happens for a long time, the root will begin to rot, causing the plant to stop absorbing water and nutrients. This results in plant drooping due to insufficient water to keep the cells turgid.
How to Revive Overwatered Calathea Plants?
If your plant is suffering from overwatering, and the Soil is soggy and waterlogged, then do the following:
- Move the plant and repot it in well-drained and aerated Soil. You can add perlite to the potting Soil to improve its drainage ability. Check my post on what type of Soil does lavender like.
- If your plant is affected by root rot – cut out the dead away, and treat it with hydrogen peroxide before repotting.
- It is good to have drainage holes on the new pot you’re repotting the plant into.
What Does Overwatered Calathea Look Like?
Calathea leaves yellowing and drooping is one of the prominent signs that your plant is suffering from overwatering.
Apart from the yellowish appearance of the leaves, you will see your plant wilting because the roots are dead due to root rot. The rot prevented the root from absorbing water and nutrients from the Soil leading to the plant’s death.
How Often Do You Need to Water Calathea?
Calathea plants thrive in moist Soil but will wilt, droop, and die if left in waterlogged Soil.
Water your Calathea plant once or twice a week in the summer, while in the winter, water only when the soil is dried.
To check whether your Calathea’s Soil is dried or wet. Deep your finger into the soil about three inches down; if your finger comes out with no sand and feels dry, then you need to water.
Low Humidity
The Calathea plant will lose more water during transpiration in a low-humidity room.
Maintaining high humidity around your Calathea is essential. If the air around your plant is too dry, the leaves will start drooping, and the stem cells will weaken. Use a humidifier or pebble tray to increase the humidity around your plant.
Sign of Low Humidity in Calatheas
Sometimes low humidity and underwatering do have similar symptoms. You may be confused by their signs, which can lead to curling, drooping, browning, or crisping leaves.
While most homes have plenty of moisture in the air for people, plants like Calathea thrive in more humid environments.
How to Fix Humidity for Calathea Plant?
There are a few things you can do to increase the humidity around your Calathea plant:
- Mist your plant regularly with water.
- Place your plant on a pebble tray filled with water.
- Use a humidifier near your plant.
With extra humidity, your Calathea plant will bounce back up in no time!
Temperature Stress
One of the leading causes of Calathea leaves drooping is temperature stress. Your plant will let you know if it is too hot or too cold by drooping its leaves.
Calatheas are from the tropics and enjoy an environment with high temperatures. Therefore for this beautiful plant to flourish, you need to provide the right temperature for them.
How to Fix Temperature Stress?
- Make sure you keep the room at a stable temperature. Disable temperature should be at 65 to 75° Fahrenheit.
- If the temperature is too hot, you’ll need to move your plant to a more fantastic location.
- It’s best to avoid placing your Calathea near windows or vents where it can be exposed to drafts.
- When the temperature is too cold, move the plant to a warmer spot. A room with stable temperatures is ideal for Calatheas.
Using a humidifier, you can also help regulate the temperature around your Calathea. This will help increase the air’s moisture, protecting your plant from both hot and cold temperatures.
Insufficient Light
Another reason for Calathea drooping leaves could be a lack of light. All plants need light for their biological activities.
When there is insufficient light for Calathea plants, they will starve; Calathea plants need bright, indirect light to thrive. If your plant is not getting enough sunlight, its leaves will start to droop.
For Calathea plants to survive, they convert the sun’s light into sugar through photosynthesis. Therefore, if you cut off their light, you cut off their food.
The best light level that Calathea plants enjoy is close to the open rainforest floor – bright, indirect lights.
Move your plant to a brighter spot and see if that helps.
Rootbound
At a certain point of Calathea plant growth, it may become pot-bound, meaning the roots have filled the pot and have nowhere to go but up. This causes the plant to become rootbound, which leads to the problems of drooping leaves, yellowing leaves, and stunted growth.
Signs Your Calathea is Rootbound
The first thing to do is gently remove the plant from its pot and inspect the roots. The plant needs to be repotted if they are tightly packed and white. If the roots are brown or black, the plant is fine and does not need to be repotted.
How to Fix Rootbound for Calathea?
Once you have determined your Calathea is rootbound, then it needs repotting.
- Choose a new pot that is two inches wider and two inches deeper than the current pot
- Ensure to use a pot with drainage holes for excess water outflow
- Fill the bottom of the new pot with fresh potting mix and place the Calathea plant in the pot
- Gently apply the Soil around the base of the plant and water it enough
- Place the potted plant in a location with indirect sunlight to keep the potting mix moist
Transplant shock
When repotting our plant from an old pot to a new one, we risk hurting or damaging the root.
Calatheas also undergo transplant shock because they dislike it when their roots are exposed to air for a long time. Another cause could be the pH level, and soil nutrients of the old pot might differ from the new environment.
If the damage is severe on Calathea’s root, it can prevent or stop water absorption. When the roots cannot absorb enough water to replace those lost through transpiration, they lose their strength and drop.
How to fix Transplant Shock in Calathea?
- A Calathea plant in shock needs extra care and enough time to adjust to the new environment before you start seeing new growth.
- Applying fertilizer should be avoided at this time because it can burn the new root growth.
- Calathea Does recover from transplant shock between 3 to 4 weeks.
Excess Application of Fertilizer
If you apply too much fertilizer to your Calathea plant, it may cause drooping leaves. Too much fertilizer results in fertilizer salt forming a blockage that restricts water drainage.
Fertilizer can burn the plant’s roots and cause the leaves to wilt. Let’s say you have applied too much fertilizer. Here is how to fix it;
- Flush the potting mix with water to remove any excess.
- Allow the potting mix to dry out entirely before fertilizing again.
Light Damage
Too much sunlight is another reason your Calathea leaves are drooping. When plant leaves are exposed to strong lighting for extended periods, their stems can weaken and droop.
How to Fix Light Damage?
Move the plant to a shadier location or remove some lights if you suspect your plant is receiving too much light for its liking.
Pests
Pests attack can make Calathea leaves droop. Check the leaves for signs of pests, such as aphids, mealybugs, or scale insects. If you see any pests, remove them with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol. You can also use horticultural oil or insecticidal soap to eliminate pests.
horticultural oil***
insecticidal soap***
Why Is My Calathea Drooping and Curling?
Are your Calathea plant’s leaves drooping and Curling? Don’t panic! There are a few reasons for this common problem; fortunately, there are also some easy solutions.
Not getting enough water is one reason your Calathea plant may have droopy and curled leaves. These plants like to be kept moist, so check the soil before watering. If it feels dry to the touch, it’s time to give your plant a drink.
Another likelihood is that the air around your plant is too dry. This can cause the leaves to droop, curl, and turn brown at the edges. Try misting your plant regularly or placing it on a pebble tray filled with water to fix this.
If you think your plant may be getting too much light, this can also cause leaves to curl and droop. Move it to a spot where it will receive indirect sunlight and see if the situation will improve.
Finally, if the above solutions can’t eliminate those curly and droopy leaves, your Calathea plant needs repotting. Ensure to use fresh potting mix and a pot that has drainage holes. With a bit of care and attention, your Calathea will bounce back.
Conclusion on Why are My Calathea Leaves Drooping
There are many reasons why your Calathea plant leaves are drooping, but luckily, there are just as many ways to fix it.
With patience and care, your Calathea plant will look healthy and vibrant in no time. Do you have any tips for keeping Calathea plants healthy? Please share them with us in the comments below!