Troubleshooting
Calathea Princeps problems — and how to fix them
Calathea Princeps (Goeppertia princeps) is generally forgiving once you match its basics, but a few issues come up again and again. Here is what each one looks like, why it happens, and the fix.
Brown, crispy leaf edges
Low humidity or hard-water minerals on the big leaves. Raise humidity and water with filtered, distilled or rainwater.
Yellowing lower leaves
Often overwatering or poor drainage. Allow the top of the soil to dry slightly and check the pot drains freely.
Fading pattern and purple undersides
Too little light weakens the colour. Provide brighter indirect light without exposing leaves to direct sun.
Spider mites
Dry air encourages mites on the undersides. Increase humidity, rinse the foliage and treat with insecticidal soap if webbing appears.
Prevent calathea princeps problems before they start
Most calathea princeps issues are care-mismatch, not bad luck. Dial in the basics:
Looking for calathea princeps in general rather than its problems? Read the full calathea princeps care guide — light, water, soil and feeding.
Calathea Princeps problems — FAQ
Why is my calathea princeps brown, crispy leaf edges?
Low humidity or hard-water minerals on the big leaves. Raise humidity and water with filtered, distilled or rainwater.
Why is my calathea princeps yellowing lower leaves?
Often overwatering or poor drainage. Allow the top of the soil to dry slightly and check the pot drains freely.
Why is my calathea princeps fading pattern and purple undersides?
Too little light weakens the colour. Provide brighter indirect light without exposing leaves to direct sun.
Why is my calathea princeps spider mites?
Dry air encourages mites on the undersides. Increase humidity, rinse the foliage and treat with insecticidal soap if webbing appears.