Calatheas are popular plants, but their vibrant foliage can show signs of distress. Many mistakenly believe Calatheas enter true dormancy like outdoor plants, but these tropical beauties do not undergo a programmed dormancy cycle. Understanding their natural behavior and distinguishing it from stress is paramount for their health. This article clarifies what a Calathea’s “rest period” entails and how to differentiate it from environmental stress.
What Plant Dormancy Means
Plant dormancy is a biological survival strategy where a plant suspends growth and metabolic activity. This endures unfavorable environmental conditions like cold winters, extreme heat, or prolonged drought. During dormancy, plants conserve energy by slowing processes, remaining inactive until conditions suit growth. Deciduous trees shed leaves in autumn for winter, a clear example of true dormancy. Bulbs and perennials also enter arrested development, waiting for warmer temperatures and moisture to resume growth.
Do Calatheas Truly Go Dormant?
Calatheas, from tropical rainforests, do not enter true, programmed dormancy like temperate plants. Unlike deciduous trees, Calatheas may experience a “slowdown” or “rest period” when environmental conditions are less than ideal. This slowdown typically responds to reduced light, lower temperatures, and decreased humidity indoors during winter. Their growth rate diminishes, and they may not produce new leaves as frequently, but they remain metabolically active. It is an adaptation to less favorable conditions, not a biological clock signaling complete cessation of growth.
Recognizing Signs of Stress
A Calathea communicates stress through various visible symptoms often mistaken for dormancy. Leaf curling or rolling inwards often signals a lack of humidity, underwatering, or too much light. Browning leaf edges or tips indicate insufficient humidity, inconsistent watering, or poor water quality. Yellowing leaves can suggest overwatering, inadequate light, nutrient deficiency, or pest infestations. Drooping leaves, stunted growth, or crispy leaves also signify considerable stress, often indicating underwatering or waterlogged soil.
Preventing Calathea Stress
Proactive care maintains Calathea health and prevents stress. These plants thrive in bright, indirect light, ideally a few feet from an east or north-facing window. Consistent soil moisture is crucial; water when the top inch or two feels barely dry, avoiding sogginess or complete drying. High humidity (50-70%) is paramount; a humidifier or pebble tray helps. Stable, warm temperatures (65-80°F / 18-27°C) are preferred, as cold drafts or sudden fluctuations cause stress; during slower growth, reduce or cease fertilization to prevent root burn.
Reviving a Stressed Calathea
If a Calathea shows signs of stress, immediate environmental assessment and adjustment are necessary.
Check light levels, ensuring bright, indirect light without direct sun.
Review watering, allowing topsoil to dry slightly before rewatering, and consider filtered or distilled water.
Boost humidity with a humidifier or by grouping plants to alleviate leaf curling and browning.
Inspect the plant for pests.
If rootbound or soil compacted, repot into a slightly larger pot with fresh, well-draining soil.
Prune severely damaged or yellowed leaves to redirect energy, but avoid removing over 20% of foliage.
Patience and consistent, appropriate care are key to recovery.