root rot on Calathea Zebrina
Quick answer
If your Calathea Zebrina has root rot, the most likely cause is: Calathea zebrina is a tropical Brazilian understory plant that needs the compost evenly moist yet never waterlogged; when the pot is left sitting in drainage water or watered with cold tap water the roots suffocate, fungal rot sets in, and the lower leaves yellow and collapse while the rhizome turns soft.
Start here:
- 1. Always allow excess water to drain out of the pot drainage holes and never let the plant sit in standing water so the compost stays evenly moist but not sodden.
- 2. Water with distilled water or rainwater at room temperature rather than cold tap water, and divide congested plants in spring to refresh the root system.
Why Calathea Zebrina gets root rot
calathea zebrina
Calathea zebrina is a tropical Brazilian understory plant that needs the compost evenly moist yet never waterlogged; when the pot is left sitting in drainage water or watered with cold tap water the roots suffocate, fungal rot sets in, and the lower leaves yellow and collapse while the rhizome turns soft.
How to reverse root rot on Calathea Zebrina
- 1
Always allow excess water to drain out of the pot drainage holes and never let the plant sit in standing water so the compost stays evenly moist but not sodden.
- 2
Water with distilled water or rainwater at room temperature rather than cold tap water, and divide congested plants in spring to refresh the root system.
Keep root rot off this Calathea Zebrina
Repot each spring into a fresh loam-based or peat-based compost before the roots fully fill the pot, and keep the plant in light shade between 17-19°C in winter and 19-25°C in summer so the medium dries at a healthy rate.