Overwatering
Wet soil plus yellowing lower leaves points squarely at overwatering — and Calathea roots are easy to drown.
Diagnosis
Overwatering
What's happening
Calathea Medallion likes its soil evenly moist but never soggy. When the roots sit in waterlogged mix they can't take up oxygen, so they begin to suffocate and rot, and the plant sheds its oldest, lowest leaves first — those turn a soft, uniform yellow and go limp before they drop.
How to fix it
Stop watering and let the top of the soil dry out a little. Slip the plant out of its pot and check the roots — healthy ones are firm and pale, so trim any brown, mushy roots with clean scissors and repot into fresh, light, well-draining mix in a pot with drainage holes. Going forward, water when the top inch feels dry; aim for evenly damp, not wet, and always empty the saucer so the pot never stands in water.
What fixes it
- A soil moisture meter — A moisture meter removes the guesswork — water when it reads dry an inch down rather than on a fixed schedule.
If that doesn't fix it
This is general guidance based on common symptoms; individual plants vary.
Read the full Calathea Medallion care guide →
Reviewed June 2026 · how we check this