These calathea care tips will help keep your houseplant thriving .
Calathea plants(Calatheaspp . ) have rapidly become one of the most popular houseplants due to theirdiverse leaf forms and colors . Native to Central and South America , these looker thrive in affectionate , humid surround and peck of filtered , collateral sun , where their leave-taking bewitch the igniter and stand up out even among the dumb foliage of tropic timberland .
Like their relatives , supplicant plants(Maranta leuconeura ) , calatheas turn up up their leaves at night into a petition - like pose . For this rationality , calathea is also sometimes call prayer plant , leading to some confusion in the swop . Like their relatives , calatheas require some additional effort to keep them salubrious in the plate environment . This pathfinder covers best practices , cuss prevention , propagation , and a few of the common species you might determine available .
Credit: Denny Schrock
Where to Plant Calathea
outdoors of the semitropics and tropics , calathea plantsmust be turn indoors as houseplants . Keep the works in a warm , well - lit localisation out from fastball vents and strong fans . kitchen and bathrooms tend to provide higher humidity ; if brilliant enough , they make excellent location for your calatheas to flourish .
How and When to Plant Calathea
Calatheas can be transplant orrepotted in refreshing potting soilat any time of the year when turn indoors . When it is time to repot your plants , follow the general rule of up - sizing or “ up - potting ” one size large ; move from a 4 - column inch pile to a 6 - column inch pot or from a 6 - inch corporation to an 8 - inch grass , for example .
Calathea Care Tips
Light
Calatheas preferbright , collateral light . While they are often sold as “ broken - light ” plants , this term is subjective , and they ’re sometimes given conditions far too dim for their survival of the fittest . A locating next to an eastward , Dixie , or W - facing window just out of the verbatim sun will typically give calatheas plenty of light .
Soil and Water
Calatheas preferwell - drained soiland quickly become unhealthy in overly saturate conditions . Standard potting soil can be rectify for well drain by combining three character potting soil to one part perlite .
Keep the calatheas moist at all times and water as needed rather than on a set schedule . Drench the grime thoroughly during each watering and allow all excess water supply to run out away from the root . yellow or wilting leaves betoken overwatering , so if you notice these problems , switch off back on your watering schedule .
Temperature and Humidity
Calatheas are tropical plants that thrive in warm , humid conditions . Keep them in a warm location where temperatures rarely leave out below 65 ° F . A horticultural heating lodgings can be beneficial in cooler locations .
While spritzing plants with a water bottle doesn’tprovide enough extra humidityto benefit your plants , using a way humidifier can importantly raise the moisture level for calatheas to thrive while also benefit the elbow room occupants .
Fertilizer
Most potted plants benefit from occasional fertiliser applications , and calatheas are no exception . Use abalanced liquid - soluble fertilizerevery third tearing while the plants are actively growing or flowering , follow the product packaging for the correct quantity . Calatheas run to retard their growth during nerveless months , and fertilizing should cease during this time .
Potting and Repotting Calathea
When you repot a appeal plant , pick out a stool one sizing largerthan the nursery container or previous mass . Calatheas are comparatively tiresome growers , so they only involve to be repotted every one or two twelvemonth . Remove the plant from its pot , shake it to dislodge any lax soil , and repot it in fresh stain .
Pests and Problems
Calatheas are passing sensible to lacrimation and should be kept moist — but not besotted — at all times . Underwatering and overwateringare the most plebeian problems agriculturist have with their works . Self - watering pots and other watering devices are not recommend as they tend to over - saturate the ground , which lead to root bunkum . Soggy compost can also get ascendent rot , which will be evident if the flora base is blackened . Allow the compost to dry out before adding any more water .
pestilence vernacular to calatheas includemealybugs , whiteflies , and spider mites . Before using pesticides , spray the flora with warm , pressurized water to physically wash aside the pests . Tipping the industrial plant to the side while rinsing them directs the pests off the leaves and aside from the flora and soil below . After plants have been clean with warm urine , constitutional pesticides such as pyrethrin andneem petroleum can be usedif water alone does n’t clear up the problem .
How to Propagate Calathea
Calatheas are bestpropagated by dividing fledged plants . bump off the plant from the pot and gently sway it to tease the ground . lightly rip apart the ancestor clod with your workforce to divide off individual plant life . Use clean scissors or shear to cut any join stems or root word . Fill a pot with new pot territory and point each sectionalisation into its own pot at the same deepness it was uprise in the original container . Water the individual smoke to remove melodic line pockets and keep the plant life in a warm , undimmed localization .
Types of Calatheas
Several specie of calatheas are widely available on the market , and most have standardized growing conditions . Here are a few coarse metal money you might find .
Rattlesnake Plant
Goeppertia insignis(syn . Calathea lancifolia ) is a narrow - leaf plant that gets its common name from its uniquely patterned green leaves and wine - stained leaf undersides . This take in it an exceedingly attractive houseplant .
Zebra Plant
The zebra plant(Calathea zebrina)is another coarse and readily available calathea on the market . It looks a number like its relatives , theprayer plant , combine with an unrelatedsmall banana tree plant . The light green farewell with dark mottling on just plants that grow to about 3 feet are bound to attract aid .
Peacock Plant
Another flashy flora , the peacock butterfly plant(Calathea makoyana),produces large , rounded leave of absence in dapple green with a slight purple tint on the undersides . Under good condition , they originate to about 2 foot tall and make a beautiful centerpiece that can be see from all angles .
Frequently Asked Questions
If your otherwise intelligent plants are not moving at night , it ’s possible they ’re meet too much artificial light , whether from nightlights or street lamps .
No , calatheas are atoxic and do not pose a threat to humans or other beast .
Calatheas postulate a high level of humidity to thrive . irksome leaves that lack a shine often indicate that the humidness is too scummy . Clean the leaves with quick waterto launder off any rubble that might have accumulated , and move the works to an country with in high spirits humidity .
Credit: Jay Wilde
