![]() Check it every few days until you have a good idea of its watering cycle.Ĭalatheas like the occasional gentle fertilizing. The soil should stay moist, not wet, as improper drainage can cause root rot or fungus gnats. Good drainage is key because the roots don’t like to sit in water. The soil is best mixed with some peat moss to retain more moisture water when the top inch or two is dry. If you’re going to be an inconsistent waterer, then you’ll see more crispy leaves than you’d like. If given the option, initially place the plant few feet from an east- or west-facing window and monitor it from there.Ĭalatheas do not like to dry between waterings. I tend to find that the broader-leaved varieties do well with less light, since the leaves are designed to catch as much light as possible. They can grow in the shade, but won’t do well in darkness. Full sun will burn the leaves, and too little light will stunt plant growth. The light ratio for these beauties is flexible, but there are definite guidelines that originate from its natural habitat underneath the tropical forest canopy. Your plants and your sinuses will thank you.Ĭalatheas thrive in indirect light. Doing this, however, makes your plant more vulnerable to fungus gnats, mold, and fungus infections. A less effective but still serviceable trick is to put the plant on a tray filled with water and pebbles-the pebbles keep the plant out of the water and the evaporation creates humidity around the plant. It’s worth mentioning that each situation varies, but if you see crispy edges on your plant, you’ll know it needs more humidity. I’ll bet you a rattlesnake plant ( Calathea lancifolia) that anyone who complains that these plants are hard to care for doesn’t have a humidifier in the room. How Do I Make a Calathea Thrive?Ĭalatheas love humidity! Say it with me: Calatheas love humidity! You can create humidity in two ways-use a humidifier, or group several plants together in the most humid place you can find (that provides indirect light, or has a plant light). ![]() Maranta leuconeura, just one of the species in this closely related genus. Their care requirements are the same (although a few will say that calatheas are more finicky), but calatheas have significantly more variety between leaf shapes and colors. Calatheas are second to marantas in speed, but they are still pretty similar. While their leaves are all quite colorful, you can differentiate maranta from calathea by maranta’s common pattern and oval leaves. The entire Marantaceae family is known for nyctinasty, with those in the Maranta genus being the most athletic (they are commonly known as prayer plants for this characteristic). The degree of movement will vary between calathea varieties, as with other plants in the family. The leaves can be used in food and floral decor.They move, and are the subject of interesting time-lapse videos.They are forgiving and will bounce back quickly.They handle a range of lighting conditions.Photo by Krzysztof Ziarnek.Īll calathea have leaves that move! This characteristic, called nyctinasty, allows the plant to move to a circadian rhythm by changing the water pressure at the joint where the leaf meets the stalk (pulvinus)-it pushes its leaves upward at night to efficiently gather the dew, and spreads its leaves during the day to follow the sun. They live under a tropical canopy and have adapted to thrive there in a variety of ways.Ĭalathea lancifolia. (Some plants formerly known as calathea are now classified in the Goeppertia genus and may still be labeled calathea.) They are tropical, but far from the tallest tropical plant. Within the genus are about 60 species and many cultivars. What Is a Calathea?Ĭalatheas are widely available as houseplants and come from the Calathea genus, part of of the Marantaceae, or arrowroot family. ![]() Once you understand their origins and needs, it’s a breeze to add loads of calatheas to your home and office to be the envy of any visitors. They offer striking leaves, handle a variety of lighting conditions, and are nontoxic to pets and easy to care for. ![]() Maybe we need to be reminded of this, right now, as we lock ourselves away again.Calatheas are a wonderful addition to any houseplant collection. He sings this with so much heart and humanity, so much gratitude and understanding of the nature of things. I adore this extraordinary footage of the great Louis Armstrong singing his late period hit ‘What a Wonderful World’ back in 1964.
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