Overwatering
Wet soil plus yellowing lower leaves points squarely at overwatering — the easiest way to lose a Calathea.
Diagnosis
Overwatering
What's happening
Rattlesnake Plant likes consistently moist but never waterlogged soil. When the roots sit in soggy mix they can't take up oxygen, so they suffocate and begin to rot. The plant responds by yellowing its oldest leaves first, which go soft and uniformly yellow before they collapse.
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, airy, well-draining mix in a pot with drainage holes. From now on, water when the top inch feels dry, keeping the soil evenly moist rather than wet.
What fixes it
- A soil moisture meter — A moisture meter removes the guesswork — water when it reads dry an inch down, before the soil ever goes soggy.
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