-
Step 1
Provide a calathea with moderate light. Direct sunlight will make the leaf color less attractive and possibly burn the foliage. A window with direct sunlight coming in should be shaded by a transparent curtain. The best place for a calathea is an east or a west window with either a curtain or shade from a tree.
-
Step 2
Increase the humidity of your calathea's environment. High humidity is essential to a calathea and unfortunately, most homes have low humidity. Increase the humidity by placing the plant on a tray of pebbles, placing it around other plants and misting it with soft water daily. Running a humidifier near the plant is a drastic but more successful method.
-
Step 3
Give a calathea a temperature of 60 degrees Fahrenheit to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. A somewhat warmer room will be tolerated, however the warmer the room the more humidity the plant needs. Because increasing the humidity sufficiently is challenging, temperatures less than 70 degrees Fahrenheit are best.
-
Step 4
Water your calathea frequently enough to keep most of the potting mix moist. When the top of potting mix is dry but there's moisture several inches into the soil (gauge by sticking your finger down into the potting mix), it is time to water. The water must be room temperature, so let the water sit in your watering can for 15 minutes before watering.
-
Step 5
Check the calathea every spring to see if it needs repotting. If roots have wrapped around the bottom of the plant, move the plant into the next size pot.
Comments
Salnorm said
on 4/19/2008 I have a Calathea Crocata and am having some trouble with the flowers. They seem to be drying out and basically dying! I have the plant in partual shade, feed it regually and make sure it has the right levels of water. Previous to tputting the plant in the shady area i had it on a window sill but moved it as soon as i realised the plant didnt like it. I would like to know, are the flowers constant or do they die and grow back, or have i done something wrong? If i have , can anyone help me to make my plant better? Any advice welcome, Thank you.
robertz120 said
on 12/1/2007 Hello: I had been looking for a regular Prayer Plant for awhile now and came across a beautiful Calathea at my local home and garden store. It's more exotic looking so I figured it couldn't be that hard to grow indoors right? Well, my questions is how to avoid yellowing leaves?? According to the steps and tips above it should be happy as a clam? Maybe it's just the recent change in environment? Any ideas are greatly appreciated! Thanks!
robertz120 said
on 1/28/2008 Hello: I had been looking for a regular Prayer Plant for awhile now and came across a beautiful Calathea at my local home and garden store. It's more exotic looking so I figured it couldn't be that hard to grow indoors right? Well, my questions is how to avoid yellowing leaves?? According to the steps and tips above it should be happy as a clam? Maybe it's just the recent change in environment? Any ideas are greatly appreciated! Thanks!
robertz120 said
on 1/28/2008 Hello: I had been looking for a regular Prayer Plant for awhile now and came across a beautiful Calathea at my local home and garden store. It's more exotic looking so I figured it couldn't be that hard to grow indoors right? Well, my questions is how to avoid yellowing leaves?? According to the steps and tips above it should be happy as a clam? Maybe it's just the recent change in environment? Any ideas are greatly appreciated! Thanks!
robertz120 said
on 1/28/2008 Hello: I had been looking for a regular Prayer Plant for awhile now and came across a beautiful Calathea at my local home and garden store. It's more exotic looking so I figured it couldn't be that hard to grow indoors right? Well, my questions is how to avoid yellowing leaves?? According to the steps and tips above it should be happy as a clam? Maybe it's just the recent change in environment? Any ideas are greatly appreciated! Thanks!