---
title: "Hi all! Struggling with my lovely Calathea. Top down it seems to be…"
description: "Hi all! Struggling with my lovely Calathea. Top down it seems to be doing okay, but then if you look underneath all the lower leaves are browning one by one,…"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/MHDCEEvjSYaZAT8jdVgR2w/65a2a0ae956497353fe2a692"
community: "Prayer Plant Allies"
author: "Good JuJu"
published: "2024-01-13T14:39:42.183Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/T89F2j20WAk3pgclS3nosg58jMf54fFxf0eytV2SFno/bc96a0f1af7a48a888863a32f6f0b2f7.webp?size=large"
---

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# Hi all! Struggling with my lovely Calathea. Top down it seems to be…

_Posted by Good JuJu on 2024-01-13_

Hi all! Struggling with my lovely Calathea. Top down it seems to be doing okay, but then if you look underneath all the lower leaves are browning one by one, and I haven’t seen any new growth. Any ideas what might be wrong? It’s so hard to tell if I’m overwatering, under watering, have too much light, not enough light, etc. I also thought it could be pests but I’m not seeing any, and I live in a pretty new insulated apartment building. Thoughts?? I welcome any advice!!

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/T89F2j20WAk3pgclS3nosg58jMf54fFxf0eytV2SFno/bc96a0f1af7a48a888863a32f6f0b2f7.webp?size=large)

## 5 comments

### Bettina-Marie commented on 2024-01-13

I have two new plants one these pretty temperamental ladies is one of them. I have never had such drama with plants.  
They don’t like direct sun light. My grow light burned some of her leaves. So I moved her to where she has some, but not much from the light. I’m still learning too.

### Tara 🪴👶🏻 commented on 2024-01-13

I have a calathea and I’ve found it’s better to water them with distilled water. They’re a bit fussy. I have mine under a grow light and water as per the app (of course checking the soil before using a chopstick). I also just added a humidifier to my plant room and keep it at around 55%.

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/mb5DEgbTUutgxP-qfQt83HeTnHdP7Mo84-W_hgg12dc/e8e0970d8c9c451aa0444394ea2cd8f4.webp?size=large)

### Good JuJu commented on 2024-01-13

Appreciate all the tips! Does anyone have thoughts on whether or not I should pull out all the browned leaves?

#### Ella replied on 2024-01-14

You should remove the brown leaves if they are completely brown. They do not benefit the plant at all. But if it’s a leaf with just a brown tip then you can simply cut off the brown. If there is till green on a leaf then it is producing some energy for the plant.

### Spencer commented on 2024-02-06

I have one of these and it’s one of the most dramatic of my three Calatheas 🤦🏾‍♀️ I just moved it to a sunnier spot so with all my other plants to add humidity. Hopefully she doesn’t burn to a crisp out of spite

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