Calathea folio have stunning pattern and colors bring in them a highly attractive leaf plant .
With such gorgeous leaves , one job that can unquestionably impact its beauty is the appearance of chocolate-brown spots .
Brown Spots on Calathea Leaves can be a resolution of disease like algal leaf patch , anthracnose , septoria foliage spot . inadequate environmental condition such as low humidness , redundant light , and Robert Frost can also direct to the same destiny . In rare casing , pest infestation is the culprit behind the chocolate-brown maculation .

In this article , I will tattle about this particular job and give you pointer on how to deal with it .
Contents
Causes of Brown Spots on Calathea Leaves
That is why you have to be keen on observing your calathea plants to know which exactly is the causal agent of the brown spots .
Algal Leaf Spot
This is a type of disease that is make by the parasitic algaeCephaleuros virescens .
It move not only the farewell but even the twig of your calathea . The spot would look like patch that may be dark-green - gray or greenish - John Brown in color .
The leave of the calathea may even wrench chickenhearted and drop in advance . It happens when the leaves get heavily infected . ( Source : Clemson University )
Fungal Diseases
One possible ground for the browned spots present in your calathea is a fungal disease . Here are the common fungal diseases that can taint your calathea plant :
This disease is have by the fungus bonk asAlternaria alternata . Infected calatheas will show small spots that are piddle - soak in show . They look like reddish - chocolate-brown lesions on the leaf surface .
Caused byDrechslera setariae , this type of leaf spot disease causes the leaves to develop water - soaked lesions .
Thespots are ab initio yellowbut by and by grow brown . Through time , the small spot join together and create big marks on the leaves .
Calathea industrial plant infected with fusarium wilting will show wilting and yellow of the downhearted leaves .
This is because the base of the plant where it was cut dies and molder . Fusarium oxysporumis the pathogen behind this disease .
Anthracnose
If you notice that the calathea folio tips are yellowing and then turning tan then brown , it probably is a disease hump as anthracnose .
The toasting in the leaf lead extend on the entire leaf until it totally dies . ColletrotrichumandGloeosporiumare the fungi behind this disease .
Wounded works are more susceptible to anthracnose fungus kingdom . If you ’ve used a antecedently infected tool , the chance to transfer the disease - have federal agent is high .
Septoria Leaf Spot
Septoria leaf place often affects the lower and onetime leave of absence of your calathea plants .
more often than not , the leaf would appear yellow to brown . Affected leaves will eventually wither and die .
When you attend nearly , calathea leaves have modest brown spot that have a whitecenter .
Powdery Mildew
One distinct thing you ’ll observe with calathea foliage infect with powdery mildew is the comportment of a powdery bloodless texture .
At times , the leave would have a dark-brown and papery grain . This is due to the pathogen get laid as Oidium species .
This pathogen can transfer from the decaying materials present in the soil to the plants . They can also travel through the air .
Bacterial Leaf Spot of Calathea
Bacterial leaf office on calathea may be caused either byP. cichorii or Pseudomonas sp . These bacteria affect the leaves of particular species such asC. roseo - pictaand ` Vandenheckei ’ as well asC. roseo - lineata .
The lesions are water - soaked in show with tan to chocolate-brown color and may have a size of 1 - in in diam .
The symptoms ofPseudomonas sp.are mostly seen in younger leaves . TheP. cichoriiaffects the sure-enough parting of calathea . They incline to enlarge when the wet condition stay .
Nutrient Deficiency
The lack of any essential nutrient induce the farewell to grow chlorosis and/or necrosis .
Chlorotic and/or necrotic leaves ab initio come along as yellow while others develop brown border .
The symptoms will count on the type of macronutrient or micronutrient that is lacking .
Edema
Edema is a physiological answer that a works does to certain environmental factor .
It is touch to uneven water relations inside the industrial plant . As a outcome , sealed plant percentage such as parting , stem , and petioles spring up protrusions .
The damaged parts would have blister - comparable structure on their surface . These blisters rupture and modernise into brown lesion later .
Excess Light or Leaf Scorching
Calathea requires medium exposure to sunlight . A low light consideration can do the leaves to turn pallid and weak .
On the other helping hand , excess light lead to tip mortification and even bleaching . Higher levels of light can burn the tissues of your calathea .
It then leaves brown markings on the Earth’s surface of the leaves as a result of scorching . The color also fade as the leaves experience bleaching .
Frost Damage
A temperature orbit of 65 ° F to 80 ° F ( 15 ° degree Celsius to 27 ° C ) is ideal for your indoor calathea .
Generally , they ’re not tolerant of cold temperatures . Thus , they get well damage with frost .
When the temperature get too cold for the calathea , the tissue can suspend and go .
Once melt , you ’d see brown spots appearing on the leaf . The frost damage on calathea leaves is irreversible .
Low Humidity
The calathea plant surely loves that extra moisture present in the air . This mean that it require a extremely humid environment in ordering to thrive .
It ask around 40 % to 60 % relative humidity to flourish and bring about gorgeous leave . When the air is too teetotal , calathea leaves will well develop brown bound .
Insect Infestation
Pests like mites , caterpillars , scales , and farinaceous bugs commonly rile decorative works like calathea .
They normally feed on the leaves puncturing the tissue and sucking the depicted object . The wound left to build up into brown lesions .
The comportment of a few insects is not a serious trouble . But , when they multiply and take over your plant , it will decidedly give you a worry . So , do n’t undervalue these pests when they appear .
Watering Problems
Since calatheas would only need intermediate watering , there is always the tendency to overwater or underwater the plant .
Improper watering can either dehydrate or drown the plant . In both cases , the plant suffers from pee focus and exhibit yellowing and/or browning of leaves .
Overwatering leads to rootle guff . Underwatering can shrink the roots due to desiccation .
As a result , the roots will have trouble ship water and nutrients from the stain to other plant parts .
Fertilizer Burn
One of the hurt of excess fertilizer is the burn of the leaf crest or the scorching of the leaves .
You would often see brown tips forming on the edge of your calathea leaves .
The soluble salts from too many plant food create a drouth precondition on the soil by pull away piss from the roots .
The lack of moisture in the soil result in wilt . Other times , direct contact with fertiliser may also lead to burning .
This can pass when the solution is not diluted to one-half or stern of the original testimonial .
How to Treat Brown Spots on Calathea Leaves?
Once you are certain about the real causal agent of the brown spots on your calathea , it ’s metre for you to take action .
Here are the simple solutions that we can recommend to help care for dark-brown spots on your calathea :
For Brown Spots Caused by Diseases (Bacterial, Fungal, etc.)
For Brown Spots Caused by Nutrient Deficiency
For Brown Spots Caused by Edema and Watering Problems
For Brown Spots Caused by Excess Light/Scorching
For Brown Spots Caused by Low Humidity
For Brown Spots Caused by Frost Damage
For Brown Spots Caused by Fertilizer Burn
For Brown Spots Caused by Insect Infestation
deal brown spot in calathea is not a one - time activity . You have to be patient in utilize the solution over and over again until you see irrefutable solution .
There ’ll be even times when you ’d need to experiment yourself to find a safe way to manage your calathea .
How to Prevent Brown Spots on Calathea Leaves?
Of naturally , browned spots would n’t look in your calathea if you ’re careful to provide the best growing conditions from the beginning .
So , here are some mode we recommend you do to prevent the recurrence of brown spot on your beloved calatheas .
Final Words
Generally , taking tending of a calathea works will require more sweat than with other indoor industrial plant . It is considered as a high sustenance houseplant . This means that you ca n’t be procrastinating when it do to tend a calathea .
But what it command for care and maintenance , it compensates with its beauty . Give the calathea what it involve and it will never disappoint you . The stunning leave that it will troop will be your greatest prize .
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