Howdy...This winter has been the harshest, coldest and driest ever.

Would you happen to know the humidity in the room your Calathea is placed?

Since leaves are brown and crispy, I think you're not watering enough.

Water thoroughly..until water seeps out of drainage holes.
When soil is slightly dry, give it another drink.

Which direction does your Calathea face, and what's the distance?

Cut brown leaves off..No sense leaving them on..they are unsightly. Believe me, my poor Cals have seen better days.

Do you have a photo? Toni

maranta and calathea normally loose old leaves in spring - new leaves grow from a rhizome. you should be able to see some new spikes when temps go up to 70s.

Hi, thanks for the replies and apologies for the late response!

Unfortunately I think the plant was beyond saving - I removed all the brown leaves and removed it from the pot to find that the lower half of the soil was still very wet (so I don't think it was underwatering?!) and I suspect it had root rot.....I tried drying out the soil and removing what looked like some of the rotted roots and replaced it in its position (which was south west facing, about 6 feet from the window) and over the following days it deteriorated even further - with the whole plant wilting significantly. I've since abandoned it :( but bought another one.........so, fingers crossed this one will fare better.

@hopefulauthor - I suspect your implication about humidity was the key - since I was (i think) watering it regularly enough I think it was probably just too dry in the room it was in - am looking into a pebble tray for the new plant to help.

Best,

ST

I just found out the name of the plant,my one is doing well even I don,t know much about it.I own it as a mature plant,and when the leaves were hanging down I cut them off,until I have to cut all of them off,before that it has nice little flowers right around the pot just above the soil.Now the new shoots are starting again and the plant is like it was before with leaves straight up.

I'd love to see a picture of your new plant!

I did cut the plant just above soil on the first of December and now it is 50 cm high,so in three months

By the way,I am living in New Zealand.

When the leaves hang down, that means it needs water. As soon as you water them they should come right back up. There is no need to cut them off unless they are browning and ugly, then you can just cut off the edges and not the whole leaf.