Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Measure the humidity in your room with a hygrometer.
- Check if you are using tap water with high mineral content.
- Inspect the soil to ensure it is not staying dry for too long.
Likely causes
Low Humidity
Most likelyHow to tell: The leaf tips and edges turn dry, brittle, and brown while the rest of the leaf stays green.
What to do: Place a humidifier nearby to keep levels above 50 percent. You can also group your plants together to create a microclimate or use a pebble tray filled with water.
Tap Water Salts
PossibleHow to tell: Brown tips appear even when the air feels humid, and the edges look slightly yellow before turning brown.
What to do: Switch to distilled, filtered, or rainwater. Minerals in tap water build up in the soil and burn the sensitive roots.
Find out what's wrong with your calathea orbifolia
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.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
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When to worry
A few brown tips are normal as the plant ages or adjusts to a new home. Worry only if the browning spreads rapidly across the entire leaf surface.
Stopping it coming back
Keep your plant away from heating vents and air conditioning drafts. Maintain consistent humidity throughout the year.
Calathea Orbifolia: brown tips? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your calathea orbifolia 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
- Should I trim the brown tips off?
- Yes, you can trim them for looks. Use clean, sharp scissors and cut just outside the green tissue to avoid damaging the healthy part of the leaf.
- Does misting help with brown tips?
- Misting only provides a temporary boost for a few minutes. It is better to use a humidifier for long term results.
More problems with Calathea Orbifolia
- Why does my Orbifolia Calathea have spider mites?
- Why are there spots on my Orbifolia Calathea leaves?
- Why are my Goeppertia orbifolia leaves turning yellow?
- Why is my Goeppertia orbifolia drooping?
- How do I fix root rot on my Goeppertia orbifolia?
- Why are my Goeppertia orbifolia leaves curling?
- Why is my Goeppertia orbifolia dropping leaves?
- Why is my Goeppertia orbifolia looking leggy?
Back to the Calathea Orbifolia guide
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.