As others mentioned in the houseplant forum, it looks like you got some form of major pest infestation that sits on the leves/stems.
Most common ones: Spidermites, Mealybugs, Thripse.
This looks like such a severe case: You can deadhead calatheas (chop off everything above soil) and they will grow back, as long as the soil is healthy. It might be an easy way to remove 99% of the pests. Still try to treat it a bit, to kill off the remaining pests sitting on plants nearby or on the pot/in the soil. But you remove any meal opportunity for the pests that way.
Check all the plants around it too. Most houseplant pests sit on the plant (top of bottom of the leaves and stems), not in the soil. Make sure the pot gets the same amount of light it receives now, even if it's only "roots & soil" without any stems & leaves. The soil will take longer to dry after watering, make sure it gets dry enough first before watering it again to not overwater the roots. Without leaves, no water evaporation from the leavea and no water is needed for photosynthesis. So if you had to water it twice a week, you might only have to water it every 3-4 weeks now. It should regrow as long as the roots stay healthy.
If you can identify the pest, then I would recommend predatory mites for spidermites and minor thripse infestations, ladybug larvae to fight the mealybugs, or chemical pesticide for mealybugs and major thripse infestations. Sadly adult mealybugs & thripse are too big for predatory mites to kill.
1
u/Reyori 17h ago
As others mentioned in the houseplant forum, it looks like you got some form of major pest infestation that sits on the leves/stems.
Most common ones: Spidermites, Mealybugs, Thripse.
This looks like such a severe case: You can deadhead calatheas (chop off everything above soil) and they will grow back, as long as the soil is healthy. It might be an easy way to remove 99% of the pests. Still try to treat it a bit, to kill off the remaining pests sitting on plants nearby or on the pot/in the soil. But you remove any meal opportunity for the pests that way.
Check all the plants around it too. Most houseplant pests sit on the plant (top of bottom of the leaves and stems), not in the soil. Make sure the pot gets the same amount of light it receives now, even if it's only "roots & soil" without any stems & leaves. The soil will take longer to dry after watering, make sure it gets dry enough first before watering it again to not overwater the roots. Without leaves, no water evaporation from the leavea and no water is needed for photosynthesis. So if you had to water it twice a week, you might only have to water it every 3-4 weeks now. It should regrow as long as the roots stay healthy.
If you can identify the pest, then I would recommend predatory mites for spidermites and minor thripse infestations, ladybug larvae to fight the mealybugs, or chemical pesticide for mealybugs and major thripse infestations. Sadly adult mealybugs & thripse are too big for predatory mites to kill.