Natural leaf aging
An occasional yellow lower leaf on a healthy Rattlesnake Plant is completely normal.
Diagnosis
Natural leaf aging
What's happening
Calathea retires its oldest leaves to put energy into new growth from the center of the clump. If only one or two of the lowest, oldest leaves are yellowing and the rest of the plant looks lush and patterned, nothing is wrong.
How to fix it
Snip the spent leaf off at the base if you like the tidier look, and carry on with your normal care. Just keep an eye out that the yellowing stays limited to the oldest leaves and doesn't start spreading to the newer growth.
If that doesn't fix it
This is general guidance based on common symptoms; individual plants vary.
Read the full Rattlesnake Plant care guide →
Reviewed June 2026 · how we check this