I have had this Pinstripe since last summer from a local nursery in Chinatown. The plant grew a couple new leaves like 2-3, but I have also cut off some dying leaves about the same amount 2-3

Have only watered when soil feels dry. And try to look at the bottom of the pot see if there's any leftover water.

Previously it sits nearby a East window with indirect bright light but have noticed the leaves getting crispy which starts at the tip and works it's way inward.

Now I have moved it to the west patio door, which gets also bright indirect light.

There are 3 leaves right now getting crispy and curling up.

@willc

It has been getting too much direct sun and maybe not enough water. Keep it close to a sunny window, but just far enough away that the rays of the sun do not fall on it directly at any time during the day.

Water it thoroughly as soon as the top half-inch of soil feels dry to the touch.

I have pulled off the dying crispy leaves.
I don't think the potting media barely have any soil. It's mostly of those bark woods.

The plant sit by the patio door which gets bright indirect light.

Should I repot it and mix in more soil? The media is what it came with when I got the plant.

@willc

I believe the bark chips are just topdressing to cover the soil that the roots are actually growing in. Those bark chips can be removed. If you don't find any soil deeper in the pot, let us know. No need to repot.

@willc

There seems to be soil but looks like very fast draining soil. Feels very loose soil. Should I leave it as is?

This is the location where I have it. West patio door.

The larger bark chips were placed on top as a top dressing. There are some smaller chips mixed in the potting mix to add porosity and that's fine. No need to change it.

That location is fine as long as the direct rays of the sun never fall directly on the foliage at any time during a sunny day - not today!

A little update...during the beginning of summer when I last posted this guy was doing well and recovering. Now it's doing bad again?...idk why. I've been monitoring my watering, checking soil moisture with my finger etc.

It stayed at the same spot west facing, indirect bright light. I've notice the leaves curling and getting crispy, the stripes changing color, some white some pink stripes. Now this is the first time I've noticed pale looking leaves...

There were about 2-3 new leaves that grow and I can see another one growing. One of the new leaf is very pale looking.

Any idea on a solution to this problem?

There are also these white fuzzy specks on the underside of the leaves....is it a pest problem?














@willc

bump!!

Calathea ornata is a difficult plant to grow. That potting mix looks too coarse and porous to me. I would go with a peat-based mix, and keep the thing evenly moist through the growing season. In the winter, it would need to dry out more, but never all the way through. Some browning will probably be inevitable. Like I said, not an easy plant to grow.

thanks for the input. I will hold off on repotting until next Spring.
what about the white specks \ webbing substance on the under side of the leaves? That is not a pest infestation?