Help! What's wrong with my Calathea?

Hi everyone,

I've had this plant about two years. It lives below an east-facing window so has plenty of daylight without being in direct sun. The room's got an average 50% humidity and the central heating doesn't go above 21 celcius, and is off at night and weekdays.

I throw in a glass of tapwater with a few drops of plant food every 7 days spring/summer and every 10 days in winter.

It has been happy until about a month ago - several strong stems with wide leaves. Of late it's started having yellow edges and brown bits to some leaves, and the stalks are splaying horribly - see picture!

Can anyone who knows this plant advise me?!!

Overwatering? Underwatering? Too much/too little plant food? Too hot or cold, not enough or too much direct sun?

My thanks in advance! :)

Thumbnail by Ed22323
Powder Springs, GA(Zone 7b)

Read the sticky at the top of the forum. It will tell you everything you need to know.

San Francisco, CA

Yes, but to me the obvious problem is drought - it needs water more often.

Contra Costa County, CA(Zone 9b)

Try this:
Get a large enough container that the whole pot will fit in (perhaps a 5 gallon bucket) and plunge the whole thing under water. Hold it until it stops bubbling. Then let it drain.
This will make sure that all the soil is thoroughly wet.
After that you can water enough to thoroughly wet the soil without having to do this for a couple of months, then repeat the thorough soaking.

Athens, PA

Calathea like a higher humidity. I would put it in a saucer with stones or gravel in the bottom and keep water in the saucer just below the pot to boost the humidity.

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