Caring for Calathea plants can be a rewarding and enjoyable experience. With a few simple tips, you will be able to keep your Calathea plants thriving and looking their best. Bright indirect light, high humidity, and frequent watering are essential for Calathea plants, but it’s also important to remember that different varieties may need slightly different care. With a little bit of research and experimentation, you can create the perfect environment for your Calatheas.
Environment
Providing your Calathea plants with the right environment is key to their happy, healthy life. Make sure they get plenty of bright indirect light. Place them at least a few feet away from a window with sheer curtains or blinds to filter out sunlight.
Give them high humidity, misting your plants regularly with room temperature water. You can also try using a cool-mist humidifier.
When it comes to watering, you’ll want to keep the soil damp but not soggy. Water about once a week, or when the top 2 inches of soil are dry.
To test the moisture level, stick your finger into the soil.
You can use distilled or reverse-osmosis water to avoid build up of salts in your soil. It’s also helpful to fertilize every two weeks with a half-strength fertilizer. If your Calathea have any pests, you’ll want to act fast.
Check for signs of pests like mealybugs and spider mites. If you do find any, gently wipe them away with a wet cotton swab. If that doesn’t work, treat with a low-toxicity insecticide.
Light
Providing Calathea plants with the right light is essential for keeping them healthy. Place them in bright, indirect light so that they get about four to five hours of sunlight every day. Avoid direct sunlight as it can burn their leaves.
If you don’t have adequate natural light, you can supplement with artificial light. Make sure you keep the light source at least 12 inches away from the plant to avoid burning.
If your Calathea’s leaves are drooping, it may be a sign that it isn’t getting enough light. To revive it, move it to a brighter spot.
Humidity
Humidity is especially crucial for Calathea plants. To keep your Calathea healthy, you should try to provide it with a humidity level of around 70%.
A great way to increase the humidity is by misting the plant with lukewarm water every day. You can group plants together or place your Calathea on top of a tray of moist pebbles. This will help increase the humidity around your Calathea. Be careful, however, not to overwater, since Calatheas don’t like to be soggy!
Watering
Watering is one of the most important aspects of caring for Calathea plants. It is important to water them frequently, and use only clean, lukewarm water. You should water your Calathea until the water comes out of the drainage holes in the bottom of the pot.
Allow the soil to dry out about halfway down before watering again.
Watering too little can cause your Calathea to wilt, while too much can cause root rot. Fertilizing your Calathea will help keep it healthy and strong, but it should be done sparingly. A general-purpose fertilizer with equal parts nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium is a good choice. Every two to three weeks is usually enough to keep your Calathea healthy, but you should adjust this based on the weather and other conditions.
How Often
When it comes to caring for Calathea plants, it’s important to get the watering schedule just right. During the warmer months, you should water your Calathea about once a week.
Make sure the top inch or two of soil is dry before you water it again. As the temperatures cool down, you can reduce the frequency of watering your Calathea.
During winter and cooler months, water your plant every 10-14 days. If you’re unsure, take a look at the soil. If it’s dry, it’s time to water it.
Overwatering can be just as damaging as underwatering.
Be sure to never let your Calathea sit in soupy soil for too long. Make sure it has good drainage, as soggy soil can lead to root rot. Always check the soil first to determine when your Calathea needs water.
What Type of Water
When it comes to watering your Calathea plant, it’s best to use filtered or distilled water. Tap water often contains minerals and chemicals that can build up over time, leading to poor health.
If you must use tap water, let it sit out overnight before applying it to your plant to allow the chlorine and other particles to evaporate. Make sure to water your plant generously, allowing the soil to become completely saturated each time. Allow the top few inches of soil to dry out before watering again.
If you are unsure of when to water, stick your finger in the soil. If it feels moist, wait a few days before watering again.
Too much water can cause root rot and can even kill your plant, so make sure to maintain a good balance. When it comes to fertilizing your Calathea, do so every two to three months with a liquid fertilizer that is diluted to half strength.
Don’t use a fertilizer with too much nitrogen, as it can be too strong for the plant. Keep an eye out for yellow leaves, as this could signal an over-fertilization. If you notice an increase in yellow leaves, reduce the amount of fertilizer you’re giving your plant.
Fertilizing
Fertilizing your Calathea plants is important for their overall health and growth. To properly fertilize your Calathea plants, you should use a balanced fertilizer specifically designed for houseplants. It’s best to fertilize your plants once a month, but generally it’s ok to fertilize them every two to three weeks.
To maximize the health of your Calathea plants, you should also supplement their fertilizer with a liquid, water-soluble fertilizer every two to three weeks as well. When it comes to fertilizing your Calathea plants, be sure to avoid using an over-the-counter fertilizer as these can be too strong and can burn the delicate leaves of your plants.
It is also important to avoid fertilizing your plants in the heat of the summer as this can shock your plants. You should always water your plants before and after fertilizing to help the fertilizer absorb into the soil and to prevent any burning of the leaves.
In conclusion, fertilizing your Calathea plants is an important part of their overall care. Be sure to use a balanced fertilizer specifically designed for indoor plants and make sure to use a liquid, water-soluble fertilizer to supplement it as well. Make sure to water your plants before and after fertilizing to help the fertilizer absorb into the soil and to prevent any burning of the leaves.
How Often
When it comes to watering your Calathea, it is important to maintain a consistent and frequent schedule. Aim to water your Calathea every 7-14 days, or when the soil has dried out.
To determine if your Calathea needs water, stick your finger into the soil and feel for moisture. If the soil is dry, it is time to water. It is important to not overwater your Calathea, as it can cause root rot.
When watering, it is best to use lukewarm water, as it will better mimic the natural conditions Calatheas grow in. Tap water is acceptable, however, make sure to let it sit out for a few days to ensure any chlorine or other chemicals dissipate.
If you can, collecting rainwater or using distilled water is ideal. It is important to remember to fertilize your Calathea plant.
To ensure your Calathea is healthy, it is recommended to use a weak liquid fertilizer every two weeks or so during its active growing season. A 20-20-20 NPK fertilizer is best, however, be sure to dilute it to one-quarter of the required strength.
What Type of Fertilizer
When it comes to feeding your Calathea plant, you want to use a balanced fertilizer with equal parts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Plan to fertilize your Calathea every other month with a liquid fertilizer diluted to half the strength recommended on the label. Make sure to read the instructions on the label carefully and don’t over-fertilize!
Calathea plants are sensitive to too much fertilizer and can be damaged by it. If you have a tap water with high levels of chlorine or fluoride, try using distilled water for fertilizing your Calathea plant.
This will prevent potential damage to the plant. Bottom line, when it comes to fertilizing your Calathea, use a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half the strength recommended on the label and use only distilled water if your tap water contains high levels of chlorine or fluoride. Using the right type of fertilizer and water will help you keep your Calathea healthy and thriving.
Common Pests
Common pests can be a nuisance when it comes to caring for Calathea plants, but don’t worry – there are ways to tackle them. Identifying the type of pest is the first step. If you see whiteflies, mealybugs and spider mites, these are the most common pests that can affect Calathea plants.
To treat these pests, try using natural insecticidal soap or neem oil.
These products are safe to use around your plant, and can help get rid of any pesky insects. Make sure you keep your Calathea plant away from any infested plants, as insects can easily spread from one to the other. Don’t forget to keep your Calathea plant clean, as this will also help to reduce the risk of any pests.
Identifying
Identifying common pests on your Calathea plant can be tricky, as they are often difficult to spot. Look out for small webs, which can be a sign of spider mites or whiteflies. You may see yellow or brown spots on the leaves, which can suggest aphids or mealybugs.
You may notice small holes or tunnels in the leaves, which can be caused by caterpillars or other similar insects. If you notice your plant wilting or drooping, it may be a sign of an insect infestation.
If you find anything out of the ordinary, investigate further to identify any potential pests.
If you are unsure or haven’t noticed any of these signs, take your Calathea to a local gardening store or expert, they may be able to help diagnose any potential problems. You can search online for information, or take photos of your Calathea and post them on gardening forums for advice. It’s important to identify any potential pests, as they can often cause damage to the plant which can be difficult to reverse. Acting quickly and correctly can help keep your Calathea healthy and thriving.
Treatment
When it comes to treating pests for your Calathea plant, the key is to act quickly. Identify the pest as soon as possible and take action. If you are in doubt, a quick Google search can help you identify the pest and how to best treat it.
Many pests can be taken care of with a natural, home remedy such as neem oil or insecticidal soaps. If the pest infestation is more severe, then you may need to seek help from a professional.
When treating your Calathea plant for pests, it is important to remember that no matter what remedy you use, you should always follow the instructions carefully.
Over application of these remedies can be harmful to your plant as well as any beneficial insects such as ladybugs. It is also important to be sure to keep an eye on your plant after treatment to ensure the pests are gone. Keeping your Calathea plant healthy and pest-free is important for its longevity. Taking the time to properly identify and treat any pests quickly will help keep your Calathea happy and healthy for many years to come.