Tap-water sensitivity (fluoride and salts)
A neat brown rim outlining the leaf is the classic Calathea reaction to fluoride, chlorine, and salts in tap water.
Diagnosis
Tap-water sensitivity (fluoride and salts)
What's happening
Calathea Orbifolia is unusually sensitive to the fluoride, chlorine, and mineral salts in most municipal tap water. Those compounds build up in the leaf margins, which are the last point the plant pushes water to, and burn the thin tissue there. The result is a fine, evenly browned rim tracing the outline of each big round leaf while the center stays green and healthy.
How to fix it
Switch to filtered, distilled, or rainwater, or let tap water sit out uncovered for 24 hours to off-gas chlorine (this does not remove fluoride, so filtered or distilled is best for Orbifolia). Flush the pot every couple of months by running plenty of clean water through to wash out accumulated salts. Trim the browned rims with clean scissors, following the leaf's natural curve, and judge success by whether new leaves come in clean-edged.
What fixes it
- A long-spout watering can — Keep a dedicated can of filtered or distilled water at room temperature so it's always ready and chlorine-free.
If that doesn't fix it
This is general guidance based on common symptoms; individual plants vary.
Read the full Calathea Orbifolia care guide →
Reviewed June 2026 · how we check this