---
title: "I’ve had my calathea since august (got her as a gift) and I’ve been…"
description: "I’ve had my calathea since august (got her as a gift) and I’ve been very worried I’ll kill her because I know how high maintenance they can be. I just noticed…"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/lKxUkhzRR_aIJD7o1QvtwQ/OMM93FlNLrkoJHgPHQjoPh"
community: "Pests, diseases and problems"
author: "alyssa"
published: "2025-11-24T01:22:00.533439Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/uCRb0CVkWaxyVJlCJBa-JIN8BfA9NiQmZ7tFDOANJpU/_N6qGDtdSJCbxYr0_rM4Rw.webp?size=large"
---

[Community](https://getplanta.com/community.md) / [Pests, diseases and problems](https://getplanta.com/community/lKxUkhzRR_aIJD7o1QvtwQ.md)

# I’ve had my calathea since august (got her as a gift) and I’ve been…

_Posted by alyssa on 2025-11-24_

I’ve had my calathea since august (got her as a gift) and I’ve been very worried I’ll kill her because I know how high maintenance they can be. I just noticed this sticky residue on the underside of her leaves. I got mixed results from google, some saying it’s a pest and others saying calatheas just do that? Does anyone have any experience with this?

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/uCRb0CVkWaxyVJlCJBa-JIN8BfA9NiQmZ7tFDOANJpU/_N6qGDtdSJCbxYr0_rM4Rw.webp?size=large)

## 10 comments

### syd + tom commented on 2025-11-24

my calathea does this but is extremely healthy!

#### alyssa replied on 2025-11-24

That is so relieving to hear! I get so anxious when my plants have any type of pest. Thank you!!

### 🪴steph🪴 commented on 2025-11-24

mine was doing that before i switched to distilled water! now i havent seen it in months. also make sure you clean the top and bottom of the leaves 🙂

#### SuccySuccy replied on 2025-11-24

Seconding distilled water for her!

#### alyssa replied on 2025-11-24

I do use distilled water! Only the very first time I watered her did she get tap water because I didn’t have any in hand (none of my other plants are so picky). Thank you I will make sure to clean her leaves!

#### 🪴steph🪴 replied on 2025-11-24

something else ive changed is cleaning the leaves with The Plant Runner’s neem oil! i just use a microfibre cloth lightly dampened with distilled water and spray the neem on and wipe!! it seems to love it

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/bAG1pHed4yOWb1BisZ-kOZJXcdkOFGVnyN9jbiqm4Mw/yqIglWKFTZu61EkK5BQ0iw.webp?size=large)

### Phil commented on 2025-11-24

Pinstripe calatheas are the worst offenders for this. If you have no signs of pests, then your plant is fine. I recently gave mine away. Beautiful plant, but almost always has the sticky residue on back of the leaves. There was often white residue. I would haul it into the shower every couple weeks and sprayed it down. The amount of residue seemed to be more prevalent during colder months. Summer hardly has any.

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/OWAkyZxcZtwxk-v_HG7sG7i-GaZeWOFpvbl_VkIbhkY/2wPbSSBcSD2RLcnFKbKcDw.webp?size=large)

#### alyssa replied on 2025-11-24

Thank you! This is the first winter I’ve had her so it’s good to know

### plantgeek commented on 2025-11-24

some philodendrons do this too. it's leftover minerals and some glucose the plant didn't use, so it's expelling it through the leaves. normal as long as theres no other signs of pests

#### alyssa replied on 2025-11-24

Thank you! I’m glad to hear that it’s normal and I was panicking for nothing

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