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Pruning guide

How to prune calathea

Best time
Any time of year
How often
As needed — remove dead or heavily damaged leaves only
Technique
Cut the entire petiole (leaf stem) of damaged leaves at the base with clean scissors. Do not trim individual leaf edges — remove the whole leaf instead. Address the cause (low humidity or fluoride in tap water) rather than continually pruning symptoms.

More calathea care

Pruning calathea — FAQ

When should I prune calathea?

Any time of year. Cut the entire petiole (leaf stem) of damaged leaves at the base with clean scissors. Do not trim individual leaf edges — remove the whole leaf instead. Address the cause (low humidity or fluoride in tap water) rather than continually pruning symptoms.

How often does calathea need pruning?

As needed — remove dead or heavily damaged leaves only. Calathea (Goeppertia) needs only minimal pruning. Remove individual leaves that have browned or crisped — a common issue with low humidity — by cutting the entire leaf stem at the base. Do not attempt to trim brown edges off leaves mid-blade; it looks untidy and the brown re-appears. No structural pruning is required.

How do you prune calathea?

Cut the entire petiole (leaf stem) of damaged leaves at the base with clean scissors. Do not trim individual leaf edges — remove the whole leaf instead. Address the cause (low humidity or fluoride in tap water) rather than continually pruning symptoms.