The calathea plant is a beautiful addition to any home, but it can be difficult to keep healthy and happy if you don't know what you're doing. This article will provide some tips on how to take care of your new friend so that you have a lifelong relationship with this plant.
Light Requirements
- Calathea plants need some light, but not direct sunlight. They can survive in low light conditions and should be kept in a bright room with an east- or west-facing window.
- Calathea plants grow well when kept moist but not too wet; water them once or twice a week (with distilled water if possible).
Calathea plants thrive in low to medium light settings, but not in full direct sun. Avoid placing your calathea in a window that receives bright, direct light. The leaves of your plant will burn if it is exposed to too much sunlight.
Calathea plants are sun-loving plants and thrive in low to medium-light settings, but not in full direct sun. Avoid placing your calathea in a window that receives bright, direct light. The leaves of your plant will burn if it is exposed to too much sunlight.
Watering
Watering is the number one way to keep your calathea plant healthy and happy. The leaves will turn yellow or brown if they dry out, so make sure that you water regularly and check that the soil is moist when you do so. Try not to overwater them!
If your soil gets too dry, give it a good soak with some fresh water before letting it dry out completely again (about 24 hours).
Water your calathea using room temperature water and keep the soil evenly moist. Never allow the soil to be soggy or dry out completely.
Watering frequency depends on the size of the plant. Generally, you should water calathea once every two weeks in winter and once a week during summer.
If you have a pot with soil that is too dry or soggy, it can cause root rot which will result in dead plants or even death of your plant if left untreated. If this happens to your calathea, simply add more moist peat moss into its pot until all excess moisture has been absorbed by the soil mix.
Fertilizer
Fertilize once every few weeks during the growing season. Use a balanced houseplant fertilizer diluted by half, and water it in well before planting.
Avoid fertilizing if your calathea is in active growth (spring and summer). This means that you should not apply fertilizer to this plant until after your calathea has finished flowering and is off to winter rest indoors.
If you have an older specimen of your plant, it's best not to feed it at all; instead, repotting is an option if you want more room for growth!
Feed your calathea once every few weeks during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced houseplant fertilizer diluted by half.
When feeding your plant, make sure it is evenly distributed throughout its potting mix, so that all surfaces are moistened. The best way to apply fertilizer is by using a hand-held sprayer or watering can with a fine mist setting.
If you prefer not to use fertilizer, you can use Miracle-Gro®® as well! It will help encourage new growth as well as promote blooms and fruit production in your plant.
Since calathea plants require special soil and water, feed your calathea once every few weeks during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced houseplant soil and fertilizer diluted by half.
Dilute the fertilizer with water according to the directions on the packaging. For example: if your plant is getting its nutrients from compost, you would use 1/4 cup of fertilizer in 8 cups of water or 1/2 teaspoon per 10 liters of water.
Pour this mixture into the bottom of an empty container that is large enough to hold all of the soil and roots of your calathea. Place this container over the top of your plant's pot so that it sits right next to it—this will allow air to flow through your plant's root system while keeping them moist at all times!
Trim and Prune
You can prune your Calathea plant to keep it healthy and shapely, as well as to remove dead leaves and stems. Trimming will also help you keep the plant from getting too large, which would be an aesthetic consideration if you're keeping this as an indoor houseplant. When trimming, look for any damaged leaves or stems that need removal.
If you want your Calathea plant to grow up rather than out, just let it go until it reaches its desired size—then cut off any extra branches that were growing too close together (or at all). If there are still more shoots coming off the main stem after this point has been reached, simply snip them off with scissors. This will leave plenty of room between each new shoot so that they won't crowd each other during their growth phase!
Trim off any damaged or diseased leaves as they appear and cut back on watering if the tips of the leaves begin to turn brown. Trimming off dead leaves helps stimulate new growth.
If you notice white crystals on the leaves of your calathea, it may be a sign of over-watering. This is caused by too much humidity in the air and can be remedied by increasing ventilation. If you don’t have a fan or access to one, try moving your plant near an open window or door during warm weather.
Keep your calathea plant happy by giving it consistent care and avoiding sudden changes in the environment.
If you want to keep your calathea plant happy, it's important to keep it in a location where it has consistent care and avoids sudden changes in the environment. It's best if you can keep your plant on the same windowsill or spot in the room. This will help ensure that water doesn't evaporate from its roots too quickly, which can cause stress for the plant.
If you need to move your calathea temporarily, try moving it into another room first before bringing it back into its usual spot afterward (if possible). It may take some adjustment time for both parties involved—you'll need patience while they adjust!
If you follow these tips and keep your calathea happy, it will grow into a beautiful plant with long-lasting beauty.