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Calathea 'Cobra' · Calathea zebrina

Why are my Cobra Calathea's leaf tips turning brown?

Brown tips on your Cobra Calathea are almost always a sign that the air is too dry or your water quality is off. This plant loves high humidity and sensitive roots. Check your humidity levels first to see if they are below 50 percent.

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Check these first

  1. Measure the humidity in your room with a hygrometer.
  2. Check if you are using tap water directly from the sink.
  3. Feel the soil to ensure it is not staying dry for too long.

Likely causes

  1. Low Humidity

    Most likely

    How to tell: The edges of the leaves become crispy and brown while the rest of the leaf stays green.

    What to do: Place a humidifier near the plant to keep humidity above 50 percent. You can also group plants together to create a microclimate.

  2. Tap Water Sensitivity

    Possible

    How to tell: Brown tips appear even when the air feels humid enough.

    What to do: Switch to using filtered, distilled, or rainwater. Avoid tap water because the chlorine and fluoride often cause these sensitive plants to burn.

Brown tips on other plants

Find out what's wrong with your calathea 'cobra'

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

It is normal to see a tiny bit of browning on older leaves, but if new growth is coming in with brown tips, you need to adjust your care.

Stopping it coming back

Keep your plant away from heating vents and use only filtered water to keep the foliage pristine.

Calathea 'Cobra': brown tips? Check yours with a photo

Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your calathea 'cobra' 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.

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Questions people ask

Will the brown tips turn green again?
No, once a leaf tip turns brown and crispy, it will not recover its green color. You can trim the brown part off with clean scissors if you do not like how it looks.
Do pebble trays actually help?
They provide a small amount of localized humidity, but a humidifier is much more effective for a Cobra Calathea.

More problems with Calathea 'Cobra'

Back to the Calathea 'Cobra' 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.