How to Grow and Care for Calathea

With their eye-catching stripes and veining in a dazzling array of colors, it is not surprising that plants in the Calathea genus are popular houseplants. Native to Central and South America, these tropical plants need warmth but only a limited amount of light to thrive.Placing your calathea in a spot with filtered light or dappled shade is key but other than that, the plant is not difficult to grow. In the right conditions, calatheas grow rather quickly and reach their mature size within a year.

Calathea Care

Calathea needs light that mimics its natural habitat in the understory where there is no direct sun. The potting medium should be lightweight, rich in organic matter, and slightly acidic. Water the plant enough to keep the soil moist at all times but not wet and fertilize it once a month except during the winter. The plant is highly sensitive to cold and grows best in a warm, humid environment so ensure the air in your home isn’t too dry.

Light

Calatheas prefer filtered light or shade. They naturally grow beneath a canopy of trees on the jungle floor with dappled sunlight. Keep your calathea out of direct sun, as too much light burns the leaves and cause their vibrant patterns to fade. Indirect sun from an east-, south-, or west-facing window is usually best. Rotate your plant so all sides get an equal amount of light.

Leaves Folding up

You might notice the leaves of your calathea moving throughout the day, folding up at night and opening wider in the morning. This natural mechanism allows the plant to maximize sun absorbency.

Soil

Outdoors, plant calathea in loamy, humus-rich soil that has been amended with organic matter. For potted plants, use a potting medium with peat moss that is lightweight and airy, such as a potting mix for African violets. The soil should be slightly acidic to neutral.

Water

Water when the top two inches of soil feel dry to the touch. Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged.

Temperature and Humidity

Calathea plants don't tolerate temperatures lower than 60°F and thrive in temperatures between 70 and 85°F.

The plants prefer humidity levels of 50% and higher. Raise the humidity around your plant by placing a humidifier nearby or put the plant on a pebble tray filled with water (make sure the bottom of the pot isn't touching the water). Calathea is also a great plant for a bathroom or a terrarium where the conditions are naturally humid. You just need to find a terrarium large enough to host the sprawling leaves of the plant.

Fertilizer

For a luscious, full plant, treat your calathea once a month with a liquid balanced fertilizer at half strength throughout the spring, summer, and fall, following label instructions. Hold off on fertilizer in the winter months when the plant naturally grows less.

Types of Calathea

There are dozens of Calathea species, including:

• Calathea orbifolia: This species features silver-green stripes on its large leaves.
• Calathea makoyana: Commonly known as the peacock plant, this species features leaves of dark green, cream, purple, and pink hues with red stems.
• Calathea ornata: This species is referred to as the pinstripe plant due to its deep green leaves with pink stripes. A popular cultivar is 'Beauty Star'.

Pruning

Calathea plants don’t require regular pruning. The only maintenance you'll have to do in this department is to trim off brown, wilted leaves as they naturally die off. And that's really just to keep the plant looking nice and tidy, as the leaves ultimately will fall off by themselves.

Propagating Calathea

Spring or summer is the best time to propagate calathea due to its vigorous growth during this period. The most successful way to propagate calathea is through root division, but it should only be done if the parent plant is healthy and at least two years old.

Water your plant the day before you plan to divide it. Carefully remove it from its pot and tease apart the roots. Divide the plant into two sections. Replant the new sections in separate pots with fresh potting mix pots at the same depth they were previously growing. Water after dividing.

How to Grow Calathea From Seed

Starting calathea from seeds has a variable success rate but it’s worth a try if you’re looking to save money, as seeds are relatively inexpensive. The best time to start seeds is in the early spring. Fill small containers or a seed tray with moist seed-starting mix. Slightly press the seeds into the mix and cover the tray with clear plastic wrap to trap humidity, Place the tray in a warm spot with bright, indirect light.Keep the soil lightly moist but never soggy. You should see germination in two to four weeks.

Potting and Repotting Calathea

Plant calathea in a 8- or 10-inch pot with large drainage holes, preferably unglazed clay, which lets evaporate excess moisture. As the roots start to fill the container, repot the plant every few years in a container that is 1 to 2 inches larger than the old pot.

Repotting is best done in spring or early summer during the plant's active growing season. Follow the same instructions as for dividing a calathea above, watering it well a day or two before repotting, etc.

Overwintering

If nighttime temperatures in the summer don't drop below 60°F and your climate is humid, you can bring a calathea houseplant outside for the season. Make sure to bring the plant back inside for fall and winter as the weather gets cooler and examine the leaves and container for any garden pests.

Common Pests

Because calathea plants prefer a humid environment, they are susceptible to fungus gnats (which thrive when there's moisture). They generally do not impact the plant's health and are usually eradicated by using neem oil. Other common pests include aphids, mealybugs, spider mites, and scale. Many of these issues are controlled with several applications of horticultural oil orinsecticidal soap.

How to Get Calathea to Bloom

Calathea species feature flowers typically of purple, white, or yellow that appear on spikes in the spring to late summer. The flowers have an asymmetrical tubular shape with three petals and sepals. And they feature a mild citrus-like fragrance. Plants don’t require any special care when they’re in bloom; just make sure they continue to receive proper water, humidity, and warmth.

It’s rare for calatheas to bloom indoors, as they’re picky about having their exact natural growing conditions to produce flowers.If you're hoping for flowers to accompany the plant's vibrant foliage, consider the Calathea crocata species. It will sometimes, but not always, produce blooms in optimal indoor conditions.

Common Problems With Calathea

When grown in the environment they like, calatheas have few issues. But when conditions are even slightly off, some problems may arise.

Browning Tips

If you notice the edges of your calathea's leaves are browning or withering, that's a sure sign you need to up your watering cadence. If you feel dryness when you stick your finger an inch or two down into the soil, give your plant some water.

Leaves Turning Yellow

Calatheas are surprisingly picky when it comes to the typeof water they receive. They are sensitive to several minerals typically found in most tap water, which can cause their leaves to yellow. To avoid this, water your calathea with filtered water, rainwater, or tap water that has sat out overnight to let any chlorine or fluoride present evaporate.

From: thespruce