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Hailing from South America , Calathea plants are herbaceous perennial tropical plants that are winter hardy in USDA hardiness zones 11 through 12 . In most country , it is kept as a houseplant .
There are more than 300 differentCalathea varietiesof this lovely indoor plant , and each of the Calathea mintage has its own descriptive common name , such as :
Feather pattern foliage of Calathea plants | image: PlantCareToday
These interesting , attractive industrial plant are members of the Marantaceae fellowship of plant .
Calathea Plant Quick Care Tips
Calathea Plant Care
How to care for your Calathea | raise at Home | RHS
Size and Growth
These fast - grow tropical plant typically attain a height of 1 ’ to 3 ’ foot with an equal facing pages .
Calathea leaves are orotund , oblong , and boldly marked in a wide-cut variety of divest form and colour stray from lilac to very deep green .
Many miscellanea have leaf with contrasting topside and bottom . Most have attractive , contrasting venous blood vessel .
Feather pattern foliage of Calathea plants | image: PlantCareToday
Calathea warscewicziihas striking leaf with a velvety mite and feel to the foliage .
The leaves of many motley shut down up at night and unfurl in the daylight .
This phenomenon is part of the circadian rhythm of the full family of plants . This natural process is do it asnyctinasty , and is cause by changes in pee pressure in the thickening ( pulvini ) locate at the leaf stem .
These movements facilitate these woods - base dwellers take the greatest advantage of every ray of light .
Flowering and Fragrance
Depending upon the variety , these works may grow white , yellow , or empurpled flowers in the summer .
The plant ’s botanical name mean “ a basket ” and touch to the flower ’s basketful shape .
Light Requirements and Temperature
These hobo camp industrial plant can do well in any consistently warm setting with collateral inflammation straddle from full ghost to partial sunlight .
in the main speaking , Calathea prefers temperatures ramble from 70 ° to 85 ° degrees Fahrenheit . They can suffer casual lows of 60 ° degrees Fahrenheit , but this is not recommended .
Protect your plant from both cold and raging drafts . Calatheasdo well in a north - facing windowpane .
Watering and Feeding
Monitor the stain closely and keep it dampish , not doughy . Your lachrymation schedule will change depending on a number of factors , such as sunlight exposure , the time of year , and the amount of humidness in the aviation .
Calathea is picky about the case of body of water used in watering . Calatheas do not wish fluoride , chlorine , or bromine . This take a shit most metropolis pat water system a No - No .
If possible , use elbow room - temperature reclaimed rain , well body of water , or distilled water on your plants . Do not use filtered water supply that has been processed through a water softener .
attempt to keep chemical substance and common salt out of the water , and your Calatheas will do great .
bear on : understand this clause onCalathea Watering and Why It Is SO Important
These jungle tropicals like in high spirits humidity . For this grounds , a warm kitchen windowsill or a bathroom do may be an ideal localization .
you could also keep humidness levels high around plant by grouping them together , providing a pebble humidity tray , or using a humidifier .
During the spring and summer month , give yourCalathea a light feedingof any general , smooth houseplant fertiliser ( NPK 10 – 20 – 10 ) every month . Do not fertilise during the winter months .
Soil and Transplanting
Plant Calathea in slightly acidulous ( 6.5 ) moist , well - draining soil . A potting mixture with a eminent peat content will aid keep the right amount of moisture around the plant ’s roots . African Violet potting soil is a good choice .
Pot your Calathea in a container that has ample drainage holes . The use of a synthetical container ( for instance , plastic or rosin ) will facilitate keep the stain moist .
How Often Should You Repot Calathea?
When your plant outgrow its toilet , it is time for repotting . Be careful not to over - lot . Just move up to the next size .
intelligent plant life can be repotted annually or semi - per annum during the fountain and summertime month . Be certain to repot using a unexampled potting soil mix .
Repotting clock time is the perfect time to circularise plants by divide them and replant them .
This is a great fashion to get more plants to enjoy and share . However , keep in nous that your young Modern plant will not be as shaggy-haired and lavish as your old industrial plant .
Calathea arise moderately rapidly , so untried plants should occupy out and appear attractive in a short geological period of sentence .
Grooming and Maintenance
Watch the parting for signs of trouble . If they wave up or dry out around the edges , increase watering . If lower farewell start to yellow , reduce lacrimation .
In either instance , trim off dead , dying , or damage parting . Remove spend flowers as demand in the summertime .
pertain : More onCurling Calathea Leavesand the Cause ofPrayer Plants leave Turning Yellow
Popular Varieties of Calathea To Grow and Collect
How To Propagate Calathea
When your plant outgrow its pot , you may care to propagate it by division .
To do this , you would simply remove the flora from its exist container . Shake off excess soil from the roots so that you’re able to see where it will be easy to separate them .
You may be able to simply gently carve up them with your fingers . You may necessitate to use a very sharp , aseptic implement to split them .
Once you ’ve divided your plant into 2 or more plants , you’re able to plant each one in its own new pot .
Related : detail on Calathea Propagation here
Calathea Pest or Disease Problems
Harsh , direct sunlight will cauterize the plant ’s leaves . Too little brightness will have leaves to have muffle people of colour and indistinct diversification . Bright , indirect sunshine promote healthy growth .
Are Calathea Plants Poisonous?
According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals ( ASPCA ) , Calathea is a non - toxic plant life to cats , domestic dog , horses , and people . [ source ]
Related : Are Pray Plants Safe For Cats ?
Is The Calathea Considered Invasive?
Although these fast - growing tropic plants are not listed as incursive , it stands to understanding that care should be taken to prevent unwanted spread when planting them outdoors in a tropic setting .
Calathea Plant Problems
As with all plants , when you cater optimal , consistent care , you should not encounter too many trouble .
Most Calathea challenges are because of too much or too little piddle or luminosity and/or wrong ventilation and temperature dominance .
Here are several of the most common maladies .
What to do about poor growth and brown leaf tips or edges:
If your plant is turn ill and the leave-taking have a crispy chocolate-brown edging , lack of humidness is unremarkably the result .
Remember , these tropic plants need invariant warmth and humidness to thrive . Without it , the foliage will just calculate raggedy .
To treat this trouble , trim the brown edges off carefully and improve warmth and humidity layer .
What to do about spotted curling leaves and lower yellow leaves:
When the leave are scratchy , curling , and sensationalistic , it mean you are not irrigate enough . Remember , as a tropical plant , Calatheas like moist soil .
Keep the potting mix uniformly moist for the entire growing time of year . repot into a ego - watering containercan avail tremendously with this job .
What to do about droopy leaves and rotten, limp stems:
When there are signs of fungus and putrefaction , it may stand for that you are watering too much . Again , a self - tearing container can avail with this .
It may also mean that your plant is too cold or experiencing too much line motion or frigid draught . Move your plant to a sheltered , quick setting away from drafts .
What to do about washed-out, faded leaves:
Poor leafage coloration can hap because of wrong inflammation . Either too much or too little visible light will cause a release of color and pattern .
Most of the time , exposure to unmediated sun is the problem . Evaluate your Calathea guardianship and lighting billet . Make department of corrections so that your plant receives shining collateral visible light and no direct sun .
What to do aboutgray mold (Botrytis):
Sometimes you may go overboard with the humidity levels . If you keep your plant in a very muggy standard atmosphere , the result can be a cast fire .
If you see spots of gray mold on your plants , trim back the affected area and allow some patrician external respiration .
Place a little devotee congeal on low near your plant . Do n’t put the duck soup directly on them . Set up your fan so that it provides gentle circulation for the total country .
Why Is My Calathea Sticky?
If you notice your Calathea has sticky leaves often under the leaves , your plant may have plant scale of measurement worm . Learn more about this job ofCalathea sticky leavesand how to fix it .
Suggested Calathea Uses
In non - tropical configurations , Calathea is keep as a greenhouse , house , or bureau plant .
In mount such as South Florida and Hawaii , they make attractive landscape plants and can make a nice , improbable groundcover works at the front of a shrub border .
Other Attractive Members of The Marantaceae Family
Conclusion
Calathea is a very attractive plant life native to Africa and the tropic area of the Americas . Although on most form , the flowers are quite inconspicuous , the attractively pock foliage in shades of green , pinkish , and white more than makeup for this .
These heat and humidness - loving plant can grow successfully outdoors in Florida and other tropical regions of the US .
Otherwise , they do very well as houseplants and nursery plants .
They also revel spend the late spring and summertime months outdoors as long as they are not exposed to direct sunlight .
With the right combination of humidity , warmth , water , and well - drained soil , you’re able to enjoy great success with gaudy Calathea .
The Calathea isone of over 35 + indoor plants for the homewe’ve selected .
