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Help with Calathea

beckky08872beckky08872 Posts: 2
in Plants
Hello, good morning! 
I am new here and I wonder if you could help me with my calathea. I have been searching online and I can't find any thing that resembled this. 
My plant overall looks quite healthy (I am far from being an expert) but she has some brown spots in the edge of the leaves (only or 3 or 4 leaves) and some white "stuff" on the stems close to the soil and also the soil itself has this white thing on it. Is it mold? Or could it be caused by hard water? I water my plants with Brita filtered water but maybe it's not enough.
I hope you can help me, I am new at having plants but I want to give them the best care ❤️

Posts

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    The compost is too wet and causing the problem.
    They're very tricky plants to get the care just right - they need humidity and moisture, but give them a bit too much and that's what happens.
    I have a big C. Orbifolia that suffered the same problem last year and lost about 20 big leaves but this year it has mostly recovered.
    I think yours will also lose many leaves I'm afraid, but it should recover.
    Don't expect it to recover much over winter, but by next spring it should be looking better.
    Let the compost dry out a bit - but not too much - not easy to get just right.
    If you can use rainwater it would really appreciate that.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • beckky08872beckky08872 Posts: 2
    Hi, thanks for your reply 😊 Usually I water her once a week or less, maybe the potting soil needs to be replaced? My house has good humidity levels (for plants 😂), around 60%, maybe I should water them less than what is recommended. 
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    It's best to water only when needed rather than what is recommended.
    I use a finger pressed into the the top 1/2" of compost - if it's dry I water (with rainwater) if it's still damp, I don't.
    It will need feeding now and then during the growing season.
    I use seaweed extract on all my indoor plants once every 2-3 waterings whilst they're actively growing.

    You could repot it - either do it quite soon, or wait until spring.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
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