The calathea is a tropical plant that can be found in many different colors and sizes. My personal favorite is the Calathea Roseopicta, which has a bright green leaf with red veins running through it. It’s really beautiful and looks great in my living room!

The calathea is known to be a hardy plant that can thrive indoors without much care, although there are always things you can do to help your plant stay healthy for longer.

One common problem I see on social media sites, like Reddit or Pinterest, is someone asking about why their calathea has crispy leaves. If you’re one of these people, I’ve created this blog post to give you the answers you’re looking for…

Why Does My Calathea Have Crispy Leaves?

Your calathea has crispy leaves because it has not been given enough water. Simply put, your calathea has dried out!

This happens to many plant owners that don’t want to give their plant too much water, or simply forget to water their plants. This is incredibly easy during the summer when the sun is hot and dries out your plant in no time at all.

How to Prevent Crispy Calathea Leaves?

You can prevent this from happening by giving your plant a bit of water at least once per week. Use room temperature or lukewarm water, and ensure that the soil is properly moistened at all times.

You should always test the soil before giving your calathea any more water. Dipping the top inch of soil should be enough to test the soil. If you want ultimate accuracy, you can use a moisture meter.

You should also be mindful of how hot the temperature is. While every fortnight may be enough in the winter, it is likely not enough water to give your calathea when the summer arrives.

One great way to add more moisture to the leaves is by using a humidifier or humidity tray. I keep my tropical plants together (which helps to raise humidity) in the same room with a humidifier that is on for a few hours a day. It keeps the humidity above 60% to keep my tropical plants happy.

If your calathea has crispy leaves because of incorrect lighting conditions, then the plant should be moved into the shade as soon as possible. Find an area that gives an adequate amount of shade or shelter from trees.

FAQ

Should I cut off crispy calathea leaves?

No, there’s no need to cut off the crispy leaves. Depending on how damaged they are, they will likely make a full recovery. If the leaves are dark brown from sunburn, then feel free to cut them off with a pair of sterilized scissors.

Will too much sunlight cause crispy calathea leaves?

Yes, too much sunlight can cause crispy calathea leaves. If the problem persists, then you will need to move your plant away from direct sunlight and ensure that it gets some shade when the sun is the hottest.

Should I mist my crispy calathea leaves?

Yes, misting will give more moisture to your calathea leaves and reduce the crispiness. Alternatively, you can a humidifier to add humidity to the whole room, so all tropical plants will benefit.

How do I grow a calathea in shade?

To grow a calathea in the shade, you should look for an area that’s shaded from direct sunlight but still gets a few hours of dappled light. You can also use live plants to create even more shade if needed!

Why does my calathea look burnt?

Your calathea looks burnt because it has not been given enough water, or because of too much direct sunlight. Ensure that you are giving your plant the right amount of water and moving it to a shadier location if necessary!

Will crispy calathea leaves turn green again?

It is hard for leaves to turn green again, but it can happen in rare cases. It depends on how badly damaged the leaves are.

Conclusion

In conclusion, your calathea has crispy leaves if it is not given enough water. This can happen because of the heat, but you should also be mindful that your plant will require more or less water depending on the time of year.

To prevent this from happening, ensure that you are giving your plant the right amount of water! Be mindful of how hot it is outside, and remember to test if the soil needs more or less water.

This blog post should help you understand why calatheas have crispy leaves and what can be done about this problem! If you ever need any other information on caring for a calathea, then feel free to check out our website today.