Pocket Botanist
Check these first
- Check if you have been watering from above.
- Look at the soil to see if it is staying soggy for too long.
- Examine the spots to see if they are soft or mushy.
Likely causes
Overhead Watering
Most likelyHow to tell: Small, dark, or yellow-ringed spots appear on the leaf surface. This happens when water sits on the leaves for too long.
What to do: Water only the soil directly at the base of the plant. If you get water on the leaves, gently pat them dry with a paper towel.
Poor Air Circulation
PossibleHow to tell: Spots appear and the soil stays wet for more than 10 days. The plant looks generally unhappy.
What to do: Ensure the plant is in a spot with light airflow. Do not crowd it too closely with other plants.
Find out what's wrong with your calathea
The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.
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When to worry
If the spots are spreading rapidly or turning into large, mushy patches, it could be a severe infection. Remove the affected leaves to stop the spread.
Stopping it coming back
Always water the soil directly and keep the leaves dry. Ensure the plant has enough space for air to move around it.
Calathea: spots? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your calathea and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free
Questions people ask
- Are these spots contagious?
- Yes, fungal and bacterial spots can spread to other plants. Keep the affected plant isolated until it is healthy again.
- Should I cut off the spotted leaves?
- If the spots are small and not spreading, you can leave them. If they are large or multiplying, snip the leaf off at the base with clean shears.
More problems with Calathea
This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.