Young plants - annually, adults - once every 3 years 20-25 The soil must always be moist Species with smooth leaf blades can be sprayed every day, with velvety - not at all Diffused light or light partial shade
In nature, Calathea grows under the crowns of large trees that protect it from the sun. Straight sunlight harmful to the plant and leaves burns on the leaves.
The optimal lighting for calathea is diffused light or light partial shade.
The most difficult thing is to find a place for Calathea with a suitable one for her. The lack of light causes the leaves to turn pale, they lose their color. Too intense light, even diffused, causes yellowing of leaf blades.
The most suitable place for calathea is windows facing west, east or southeast. If the plant is standing where the direct rays of the sun fall, shading will definitely be needed at noon (from 11.00 to 15.00).
The length of daylight hours for this flower should be 14-16 hours. This can be achieved with the help of artificial lighting. Calathea grows well under fluorescent or fitolamps. It is especially important to use them in the autumn winter period when daylight hours are very short.
Calathea is very thermophilic. It needs a stable temperature throughout the year without sudden changes. You also need to protect the flower from cold drafts, do not place it near air conditioners and radiators.
You can not lower the temperature below 15 degrees, the calathea will die!
The optimum temperature for growing calathea is 20-25ºС. In winter, you can slightly reduce it, if you can’t do without it.But even a short-term decrease in temperature to 15ºС and below the plant does not withstand. Its leaves darken, wither and rot.
Since the plant is afraid of temperature changes and drafts, it is not recommended to take it out to Fresh air even in summer. Also next to it it is better not to open the window for ventilation in winter.
If in the cold season a pot of calathea is on the windowsill, it is recommended to put a dense fabric under it, for example, flannel. This will protect the calathea from hypothermia.
Watering the plant all year round so that the soil in the pot always remains moist. Even a short-term drying of an earthy coma will lead to the death of the plant.
You should also not fill the flower so that excess water does not remain in the ground. The water that has drained into the pan must be drained, otherwise cases of root rot are not uncommon.
Calathea should be warm, contain a minimum of salts and lime. Rain or melt water is perfect. If you have to water with tap water, it must be defended for 3 days. After that, a handful of peat wrapped in gauze is lowered into a container with water for acidification at night.
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You can spray only species with smooth leaf blades. They are sprayed daily, and wiped with a damp cloth once a week. For spraying, the same water is suitable as for watering.
Calathea varieties with velvety leaves cannot be sprayed and washed.
From the water, ugly divorces remain on them. Sometimes water causes the leaves of the plant to rot.. Velvety species moisturize in other ways. They are placed in deep trays with wet pebbles or in florariums.
Calathea soil should be loose, nutritious and slightly acidic. This plant does not withstand alkaline soils and quickly dies in them. The best mix for planting there will be purchased soil for arrowroot, which can be purchased at a flower shop.
If desired, you can mix the soil for calathea with your own hands. The composition of the land for calathea should include:
All components are taken in equal proportions.
Calathea is fed from the beginning of April to the end of August. In autumn and winter, top dressing is not carried out. Apply liquid complex fertilizers for decorative and deciduous indoor plants.
Top dressing is carried out every 2-3 weeks. It is important not to overfeed the plant, therefore, when diluting the mixture, you need to add 1.5-2 times more water than indicated on the package.
For flowering species, for example, Calathea Varshevich and Calathea saffron, additional fertilizing with fertilizers for flowering houseplants is necessary. It is carried out only during the growing season. Dosage - according to the instructions.
It is important not to overdo it with fertilizers. An excess of calcium and nitrogen affects the plant especially negatively.
It is optimal to fertilize the plant 15-20 minutes after watering. when the soil is saturated with moisture. If you fertilize in dry soil, you can easily burn the roots of Calathea.
In winter, they either refuse to feed at all, or spend them 1 time in 40-50 days, subject to good lighting.
All types of calathea are adapted to a humid tropical and subequatorial climate. It is impossible to maintain such humidity in the apartment. It is enough to humidify the air near the plant.
Humidification is carried out by spraying or placing a flower pot in a tray with a wet substrate.
An excellent option for growing calathea is to install it in a florarium.
In a large glass container, it is easy to maintain the required humidity. In such conditions, calathea grows very well.
Consider how to care for calathea at home when the flower is sick.
Despite its exactingness, calathea is little susceptible to various infectious and fungal diseases. Most often, the flower suffers from, which willingly settle on it and multiply in large numbers.
Plant smitten red spider mite, scale insect and thrips. These insects can quickly spoil its appearance, and sometimes cause death.
If the leaves turn yellow and dry, and insects are found on them, it is necessary to treat the bush with an insecticide as soon as possible to completely destroy the pests.
If pests are found on the plant, you can try to get rid of them. folk methods. For example, carefully wipe all parts of the plant with a cotton swab dipped in ethyl alcohol (70%).
Also, pests are afraid of laundry soap. Therefore, flower processing soapy water can help get rid of them. Such treatments are repeated every 2-3 days until the complete destruction of insects.
If there are a lot of pests, it is necessary to use insecticides, for example, Aktellika, Fitoverma, Inta-Vira.
When growing calathea, even experienced growers often face many problems. Usually, improper care of this plant leads to yellowing, curling and drying of the leaves.
Consider how Calathea reproduces. Indoor calathea is easiest by dividing the bush. Propagation by seeds is the most difficult way. It is ineffective and is practically not used due to the difficulty of acquiring high-quality seeds and the time spent on growing seedlings.
Large calathea bushes are divided during a spring transplant. The common rhizome gives rise to several young plants with 2-3 growing points and a root system.
Young plants are planted in separate pots, which are placed in a humid and warm place for 1-2 months.
Another way to propagate calathea is cuttings. This process is a little more laborious than dividing the bush, but also effective.
Part of the shoot or a healthy leaf is carefully separated from the bush sharp knife. It is optimal that the cutting has 3-4 leaves, and its length is at least 12-15 cm.
The cutting is treated with a root stimulator and placed in a moist rooting substrate. The container is covered with a plastic film, which can be removed after the rooting of the cutting (after 2-4 weeks).
Consider how to transplant calathea at home.
Transplanted calathea in early spring. Young specimens are needed annually, adults - every 3 years. It is important to know which pot is needed for calathea.
For transplantation, you will need a small size so that the root system of the flower fits freely in it. In shape, it should be wide enough and shallow.
Drainage from fine expanded clay is laid at the bottom of the pot. The thickness of the drainage layer should be at least 3 cm.Sprinkle some fresh soil on top.
Calathea is transplanted by transshipment so as not to damage the delicate roots. Empty spaces on the sides are filled with earth.
During transplantation, the roots of the plant should be examined. Dry, rotten and damaged roots are cut with a sharp knife and sprinkled with crushed charcoal.
After transplanting, the calathea should be watered abundantly and placed in a cool, shady place.. This will help her adapt after the transplant. The next watering should be carried out no earlier than 8-10 days after transplantation.
Now you know everything about caring for a calathea at home, as well as about transplanting and propagating a plant.
In the gallery you will see calathea in the process of care at home and in the natural environment.
Calathea, or as it is customary to call the plant, is a prayer flower. Refers to representatives of the maranth family. V natural environment culture lives in South, Central America near water bodies. Houseplant gardeners grow and propagate for decorative leaves. Arriving at a flower shop, you can not help but turn your eyes to this enchanting flower. Leaves of different colors and shapes are fascinating.
Calathea in care is a finicky plant, especially decorative varieties bred by breeders. V indoor floriculture such species are especially common: Calathea Makoya, Striped, Medallion.
For amateur flower growers or beginners in gardening, the plant will be too tough. First you need to gain experience and certain skills, and only then start growing a prayer flower on the windowsill.
Choose a plant depending on room content. Each species requires special cultivation and care manipulations that are responsible for the growth of the plant. The most demanding and capricious are flowering varieties.
Calathea endures shady content. However, it is forbidden to send the beauty to a dark corner of the room. From the lack of light, the leaves will lose their beauty, become smaller and slow down their growth. The direct rays of the sun cauterize the leaves. Optimal location placement of culture - penumbra.
The moderate temperature for calathea is in the range of 16-19C. It is important to avoid significant temperature fluctuations in the room. In another case, the foliage crumbles, the stems become soft, rot. Also, the plant is contraindicated in drafts.
Calathea categorically does not tolerate hard water. Watering should be carried out with melt or rain water. She must be warm. In the summer, the plant is watered well. With the advent of winter, watering is reduced. In order not to rot the roots, the remaining water is drained from the pan.
Calathea loves high humidity. It is desirable that there is a source of direct moisture not far from the flower. This may be equipment for irrigating the air, an ordinary container with water.
If automatic humidification cannot be installed, you need to regularly spray calatheas from a spray bottle (up to three times a day). A couple of times a month, do a warm shower, covering the top of the soil with a film.
Due to the dryness of the air, the calathea looks lethargic, its leaves lose their elasticity, dark spots appear on them, and perhaps the edging of the leaves will begin to curl. Remember that the culture cannot be kept near the batteries. It is better to place it in a dark place with high humidity. Lack of light will do less harm than increased dryness of the air.
When caring for calatheas at home, you need to take care of the pot and soil. When preparing a mixture for a flower, do not forget that it should consist of: sand, leafy soil, peat, humus. The soil pH should be slightly acidic. Drainage is usually laid at the bottom of the flowerpot.
If we talk about a pot, then better than a deep one. In such a "house" Calathea will feel comfortable until a future transplant.
The plant is fertilized 2 times a month, from April to the end of August, with liquid preparations specially created by biologists. Flowering species are fed with products for flowering crops. Do not forget, calathea is sensitive to nutrients, you do not need to get carried away here.
Every 2 years, the calathea is transplanted. The optimal time for manipulation is early spring. It is important to take care of drainage when transplanting.
In home gardening, calathea propagates in 2 ways: dividing the bush, cuttings. The seed method of growing crops is not appropriate.
Propagation by seeds at home is almost never practiced. The seed material of the culture does not germinate well. If the young growth has risen, it will require special attention, precise observance of the water balance and temperature. Otherwise, the seedlings die. This method Calathea breeding is suitable only for professionals.
The cutting or leaf is separated from the bush. Thereafter seedling material placed in a separate container and covered with a film to create a greenhouse effect. Remove the cellophane when the cut pieces have sprung roots.
Most The best way culture reproduction. The plant is divided into several parts. Each of them is strengthened in a separate pot 7-9 cm in diameter. For young animals, a special substrate is prepared: sand, peat, and hardwood are mixed in equal proportions. For dividing a bush, flowers with good roots. It makes no sense to divide a small plant - this will lead to the death of both seedlings.
Successful reproduction depends on such a rule: maintaining a temperature of 20-24C.
With unfavorable care for calathea at home, the gardener may encounter such problems:
To solve the problem, you need to figure out what you are doing wrong. Once again, study the rules for growing and caring for a flower in indoor floriculture.
Taking into account all the capriciousness and character of the arrowroot, we can advise a number of representatives of the family with luxurious flowers, decorative leaves for breeding in the house. The most common and hardy indoor plants of this species, see below.
Big culture. Its leaves reach a length of 30 cm to 1 m. The leaf blades are slightly curved, oval-elongated. On top, they are a soft dark green tone with light herringbone patterns. Bottom plate dark purple colors. The pedicel is presented in the form of spikelets on small burgundy peduncles. The plant blooms in late spring for 3 weeks. 
The "goddess" from the banks of the Amazon River is especially attractive with the beauty of "false" flowers. They are collected in short inflorescences on tall pedicels. Real flowers are unsightly and small, pink or red, hidden in large bracts of saffron and orange tones. They are often mistaken for flowers. Against the background of velvet leaves 20-30 cm dark green, bright orange inflorescences give the culture an unusual charm. Crocat blooms in early spring or from autumn to winter.
Another name for the flower is wonderful calathea. It is characterized by narrow leaves with a wavy edging of an elongated shape. The color of the leaves is light green with small and large spots drawn on the plate. The underside of the leaf is purple.
The natural nature of the growth of this type of flower is the tropics of the Brazilian forests. He doesn't like spraying. Therefore, it is optimal to breed a crop in greenhouses, where air humidity is high. In artificial light, the flower does not lose its variegation.
The type of calathea (photo) differs in large leaves on elongated cuttings up to fourteen centimeters. On dark green oval-shaped leaves, another leaf of the same shade is “drawn” by nature. On the underside of the plate, the pattern is repeated, but in burgundy shades. The unusual color of the leaves is especially visible with the advent of evening.
Grows up to 90 cm tall. Oval-shaped leaves up to 30 cm long, 10 cm wide. Powerful, shiny, dark green. The upper side of the leaf has yellow-green stripes, the lower yellow stripes on a red background. Flowers are collected in inflorescences in the form of spikelets. Usually blooms whitish.
Grows up to half a meter. The leaves are lanceolate: width 5 cm, length 15 cm. From above, the leaves are light green in color with dark spots. It blooms with spike-shaped pedicels of a yellow tint.
The variety has an unusual coloring. Usually the pattern on the leaves of the flower is symmetrical, and the leaves of this species are painted on top in yellow and green spots of an asymmetric shape. The bottom leaves are green, not purple, like other relatives of the culture.
The leaf plate is white, almost transparent in color, divided into bright green or yellow with green veins into small rectangles. When you first see the coloring of the leaves, you might think that they are really made up of a mosaic.
Of course, growing and caring for calathea at home is quite hard work. However, taking care of good lighting and high humidity, the gardener will receive a flower of delightful beauty, capable of decorating any interior with its decorative effect 365 days a year.
Among other indoor flowers, calathea immediately attracts attention with its painted leaves. It belongs to the ornamental deciduous plants of the arrowroot family, which are distinguished by the species diversity of the pattern and shape of the leaves. In this article, you can learn about the intricacies of caring for a calathea at home, as well as enjoy a photo of this beauty.
In the native tropical forests of South America, hiding from the hot sun under the crowns of large trees, some types of calathea grow up to 80 centimeters. Botanists know up to 130 species of plants, differing in the shape and size of the leaves, the pattern on them. Calathea blooms, releasing a spikelet of white, pink or bright orange. The flower is pollinated by bees, which carry pollen from one bud to another. Flowers pollination mechanism is arranged in an original way. A bee, sitting on a flower, does not reach the pollen with its proboscis. But in an attempt to get it, she presses a special protrusion inside the bud, while this hook works like a trigger. As a result, pollen from the legs of the bee gets inside the flower. This is how calathea is pollinated in natural conditions.
Calathea has a nickname - "prayer flower". She received it for the interesting behavior of the leaves throughout the day. In the morning, the leaves of the plant are lowered down, and in the evening they rise up, so that the underside of the leaf becomes visible. It is like hands raised up in prayer. Hence the second name appeared - “prayer flower”.
To grow beautiful plant at home, it will be necessary to create certain conditions and daily care. Therefore, capricious calathea is not suitable for beginner flower lovers. Indeed, in natural conditions, it exists in a warm climate with a humidity of almost 90 percent. It does not tolerate drafts, sudden changes in temperature.
In indoor floriculture, many varieties of calathea are grown, each of them is beautiful and attractive in its own way.
Varshevich 
Medallion 
Zebra
lanceolate 
colorized 
Lubbers
Rufibarba 
Mosaic 
Veitch
For planting or transplanting Calathea best time- early spring. It does not need frequent transplanting, so this procedure is done once every two years, when the roots of an adult plant begin to crawl out of the bottom of the pot. It is necessary to choose a wide pot, because new leaves sprout from the rhizome, which lets out side shoots. A layer of drainage is poured at the bottom of the pot to prevent root rot.
Ready-made soil mixture used for azaleas and rhododendrons is suitable for calathea.
Importantly, the earth mixture should not contain lime.
Experienced flower growers can prepare an earthen mixture on their own. To do this, you need leaf and humus soil, peat and sand in a ratio of 1: 1: 1: 0.5. For loosening, we recommend adding coconut fiber, crushed charcoal.
Calathea lends itself to reproduction by the main methods:
The division of the bush is carried out during the spring transplant. The rhizome is divided by hand into parts containing several leaves and developed roots. Do not use a knife to cut the rhizome. For better rooting the lower part is sprinkled with "Kornevin".
Sprouts are placed in small pots with an earthen mixture and a layer of drainage. From above, the pot is loosely covered with a plastic bag. They are placed in a place protected from direct sunlight. To ensure moisture, you can put the pot on moistened expanded clay. Seedlings need to be regularly watered, sprayed, fed. Of great importance is the temperature, which should be in the range of 22-24 degrees.
cuttings Calathea
If cuttings are formed on the mother bush, then calathea can be propagated by cuttings.
It is important that an independent growth point is present on the handle.
The ground cutting is cut off with a sharp knife, the cut is sprinkled with Kornevin for better rooting or crushed activated charcoal. The cutting is planted in a small pot, covered with a bag. When the calathea starts cuttings, it can be grown as an adult plant.
Propagation by seeds is a lengthy process that does not always end successfully even for experienced flower growers. Seeds are sown in a mixture of leafy soil and sand (1: 0.5), sprinkled with a thin layer, covered with film or glass. When the sprouts grow up, they swoop down and plant them in the same mixture. When the seedlings grow up, they are planted in small pots.
Calathea belongs to the flowers that need careful observance of the conditions of detention.
Calathea does not like both dry land and the bay. It must be watered as the earthen coma dries up, pouring out the rest of the water from the pan. Otherwise, root rot cannot be avoided. Water for irrigation is taken settled, but better fit melt water. But the water must be warm.
To soften the water, you can take a small amount of peat, pour it into a rag bag and place it in a bucket of water overnight. Such water is recommended to be used for watering indoor flowers.
In plant lighting, it is also important to observe the golden mean. Although Calathea is considered a shade-tolerant flower, with a lack of lighting, the ornament disappears on the leaves, they lose their attractiveness. But you can not put the flower in direct sunlight. The ideal place for it would be a window sill on a window facing west. For the winter, you can rearrange to the south window. If the flower is placed in a place where there is a lack of light, then it is recommended to organize artificial lighting with fluorescent lamps. The time of such illumination should reach twelve hours.
A native of the humid tropics, the flower requires maintaining the ideal temperature for it. In cold weather, the air temperature in the room should not fall below eighteen degrees. And in summer, Calathea will feel comfortable at 20-24 degrees.
It is important for a plant to provide not only the desired temperature, but also to protect it from drafts and temperature changes. For example, we do not recommend placing a pot of calathea on a cold windowsill. Cold can cause root rot. Therefore, it is necessary to organize a stand under the pot. It should also not be taken out to the balcony even in summer due to the difference in day and night temperatures.
In addition to a constant temperature, the plant needs high humidity, which in natural conditions reaches ninety percent. To ensure such conditions, daily moistening of the surrounding air is carried out by spraying water from a spray bottle, wipe the leaves with a damp sponge. It is useful to put the pot in a pan with expanded clay, which is kept moist. It is important that the pot does not stand in the water! To do this, use a stand according to the size of the pot. Some flower growers place calathea in old aquariums, equipping florariums. If you combine several moisture-loving plants in a group, you can create beautiful compositions. By the way, calathea grows better in a group of arrowroot, the same lovers of high humidity.
For better development Calathea is regularly fed with fertilizers for decorative leafy plants in the spring and summer. The flower does not tolerate an excess of fertilizers, therefore, a half-reduced rate is applied to it with a period of two times a month. Rooting plants are fertilized once every three weeks.
Flowering plant species need to be fertilized with fertilizers for flowering plants. Flowering usually occurs in early spring or late autumn, when the day is eight to ten hours.
If conditions are violated, calathea often has problems with leaves. Consider the main problems:
A plant weakened as a result of improper care is often attacked by pests on calathea. These are the most common pests of indoor flowers: scale insects, thrips and spider mites.
When withering and yellowing of the leaves of Calathea, first of all, you need to make sure that there are no pests. Careful examination of the leaves from both sides reveals the following changes:
When a calathea is damaged by a scab, a sticky coating appears on the leaves. Sometimes a black plaque forms at the site of the lesion with a scab - this is a sooty fungus. It is easily removed with a damp sponge.
If you provide the “prayer” flower with good conditions, then it will delight you for a long time. By the way, it is believed that calathea is able to relieve negative mood, improve the microclimate in the office or at home. It also contributes to the achievement of goals, restores energy flows.
A bright representative of a large family of arrowroot. Among variegated (variegated) potted cultures, arrowroots are represented by the widest variety of ornamental deciduous crops. Their natural habitat is the humid climate of the rainforest. They all love warmth and moisture.
Calathea (calathea) is a rhizome perennial. Quite high - in good conditions grows up to a meter. The leaves are usually large, oval, slightly elongated. They sit on elongated petioles. Some varieties are distinguished by lanceolate leaves.
From the rhizome rise short, upward shoots. Sheet rosettes are formed on them. The number of leaves varies. In some varieties, only one formed leaf unfolds on each shoot.
Calathea blooms in the warm season - in spring or summer. Inflorescences of various colors, spicate type. Flowering is beautiful, but this is not the main advantage of Calathea. It is more valued for the original color of the leaves. A number of varieties have a monochromatic leaf color. In room culture, variegated varieties with spots and stripes of various colors are more common. Some flower growers compare the pattern on the leaves of Calathea with the plumage of a peacock.
The people called calathea a prayer flower for an interesting property. With the onset of dusk, the leaves of the calathea rise up, folded like hands in prayer. This unusual feature of Calathea formed the basis of the belief that it attracts well-being and family happiness to the house.
There are many varieties of Calathea. The following types are most common in pot culture.
The leaves of the flower were previously used for weaving baskets, making mattresses, and wrapping fish. It is from the word basket (kalathos) that the name calathea came from.
How to care for calathea? This is a tricky plant. Any violation of the conditions of detention or the rules of care leads to a decrease in decorativeness, and sometimes even death of the flower. Professional flower growers recommend adhering to the following rules.
The sticky drops that form on the stem of the calathea are not a sign of pest damage, but a feature of the plant. The appearance of such droplets indicates that the air in the room is too dry.
There are several ways to propagate calathea. All of them are quite complex, require compliance with a number of rules.
Simultaneously with the transplant, you can seat the calathea. The rhizome is freed from the substrate, carefully divided into parts, leaving roots and several leaves on each division. Delenki are planted in small pots with a diameter of not more than 9 cm.
They withstand a strict regime, since it is necessary to take care of the calathea after transplantation with particular care. They put the planted delenki in partial shade, provide high humidity. It is not easy to root a calathea even when dividing a bush - parts of the plant take root for a long time.
Description . Cuttings take root for a long time and reluctantly. They demand special conditions light, temperature and humidity.
Procedure
Description . Growing calathea from seeds at home is considered the most in a complicated way. Even high-quality seeds bought in a specialized store have very low germination.
Procedure
Reproduction of calathea by a leaf does not apply. It is difficult to root even full-fledged cuttings and delenki. For the development of the plant, a growing point is required.
Even experienced flower growers face difficulties. Inappropriate care, unfavorable conditions of detention are immediately reflected in the appearance of the calathea. The most common growing difficulties and causes of problems are summarized in the table.
Table - Difficulties in growing calathea
| External manifestations | Likely Causes |
|---|---|
| Calathea leaves dry and curl | - draft; - dry air |
| Foliage darkens, dry spots appear | - Cold draft; - dry air; - cold room |
| The plant turns yellow | - Dry air; - cold; - drying of the soil or overflow; - excessive amount of fertilizer |
| Leaves become thinner and stretched | - lack of light |
| Spots appear on the leaves | - Sunburn; - spraying from a spray gun with a large spray; - inaccurate watering; - pests; - fungal diseases |
| Calathea dries up | - Insufficient watering; - low air humidity; - sunny place |
The combination of heavy watering with low air temperature often leads to root rot. Resuscitation of Calathea is difficult, but possible. The plant is taken out of the pot, the roots are freed from the ground. They cut and clean all rotten areas, dip the roots in a solution of any fungicide. The sections are densely sprinkled with coal powder, the diseased calathea is left to dry for two to three hours. Excess leaves are removed, the remaining ones are shortened by half. Calathea is planted in light soil, moderate soil moisture is maintained.
There is a recipe for a universal fertilizer for weakened, sick, poorly developing plants. Five egg whites are poured with a liter of water and left for a week. The resulting infusion is diluted in a ten-liter bucket of water. The solution is watered with weakened plants. This recipe can be used when rooting or resuscitating calathea.
You have to deal with pests quite often. Pests attack weakened plants, their active reproduction can provoke high temperature and dry air. The most common calathea pests and how to deal with them are summarized in the table.
Table - Calathea pests
| insect name | Signs of appearance | Procedure |
|---|---|---|
| whitefly | - The appearance of small white flying insects resembling moths; - white spots with yellowness on the leaves; - curling, yellowing and falling of leaves | - Hanging flypapers for flies; - three-time spraying with insecticidal agents with an interval of 3-7 days; - removal of affected leaves |
| Red spider mite | - A thin, barely noticeable cobweb on the back of the leaves; - dots on the leaves; - clarification, yellowing and flying around the leaves; - wilting calathea | - Spraying with insecticidal preparations "Aktellik", "Derris"; - increasing the level of air humidity |
| thrips | - Light dots on the leaves; - silvery coating on the leaves | - Spraying with any insecticides; - increasing the level of air humidity; - maintaining the temperature no higher than 25˚С |
| Shchitovka | - Brown plaques that are easily removed from the stems and leaves of Calathea; - loss of color, drying of leaves | - mechanical cleaning from insects with a soapy sponge or alcohol; - spraying with a 0.15% solution of the drug "Aktellik" |
The greatest danger to calathea is fungal diseases. Their development is provoked by excessive dampness of the soil, cold content. Treatment of fungal diseases, rot consists in the removal of the affected parts of the calathea, treatment with fungicides.
The plant is considered difficult to grow, so you need to know all the features of caring for a calathea in a pot. Only by strict observance of the rules of maintenance can its high decorativeness be achieved.Calathea– bright representative a family numerous in species diversity, bearing the name Marantovye. South America is considered to be the birthplace of calatheas, where the plant grows in the second tier of humid forests of the tropics. It is the fact that in nature Calatheas hide from the scorching rays of the sun under the canopy of tall trees of the first forest tier, largely dictates the rules for caring for these whimsical beauties in indoor floriculture.
Previously, calathea was used as a material for the manufacture of wicker baskets, from which the name of this genus came from (from the Greek word "calathos" - basket)
Systematic position:
Department - Flowering (Magnoliophyta)
Class - Monocots (Liliopsida)
Order - Ginger (Zingiberales)
Family - Marantaceae (Marantaceae)
Genus - Calathea (Calathea)
Calatheas are herbaceous tuberous or rhizome perennials. Both tubers and rhizomes are, in fact, a container nutrients, which help this plant survive adverse periods in the process of their growth and development.
The leaves of the kalats are located on elongated petioles, but their internodes are shortened, which visually gives the impression that the arrangement of the leaves is rosette (i.e., all the leaves come out of one point). The leaf blades of many representatives of this genus are brightly colored. Leaf shape various kinds Calathea is very different from each other and can be from regular oval to elongated lanceolate, with a smooth or wavy edge. The uniqueness of calathea leaves lies in the fact that all of them, with rare exceptions, have a bright purple or pink reverse side.
The flowers of most types of calathea are inconspicuous, collected in compact spike-shaped inflorescences, having a wide variety of colors (from yellow to purple). Flowering period - early spring - mid-summer. With proper care, the plant can please with its abundant flowering for 2-3 weeks.
In nature, more than 130 species of kalats are described. The species composition of indoor kalats is also striking in its diversity. Most of these plants are grown for their beautiful ornamental leaves. The only exception is the species Calathea saffron (Calathea crocata).
Calathea saffron(lat. Calathea Crocata)
This type of calathea is valued for its flowering. However, it is not the flowers that give the plant a decorative effect, but bright yellow-orange bracts, which are collected in a shortened thyroid inflorescence crowning elongated peduncles. Directly, the flowers of the saffron calathea are inconspicuous: tubular, dark orange with pink-red tips, and are located between the bracts. With proper care, this beauty blooms within 2-3 weeks.
Unlike its relatives, saffron calathea is an unassuming plant. It must be watered in a timely manner, sprayed once a day, cut and removed damaged leaves. Calathea saffron is very sensitive to sharp drops temperature and insolation from direct sunlight. Feeding requires only during the period of active growth. Propagated by division of the rhizome.
A feature of Calathea crocata is that it must be encouraged to bloom every year, creating for it a period of shortened days and elongated nights. This is done in several stages:
This simple procedure provides the plant with a day period of 10 hours and a night period of 14 hours.
This must be done until you notice the appearance of the first flower stalks. This usually happens in late March - early April.
K. saffron
Calathea Makoya(lat. Calathea Makoyana)
This calathea looks no less decorative than the previous one, but is valued not for flowering, but for the unique pattern that covers the leaves of the plant. The drawing is an image of a deep green pen on a silvered background. upper side sheet. The same drawing is displayed on its lower side, with the only difference being that the background is magenta. Caring for Calathea Makoya is no different from the standard care for representatives of this family. Calathea Makoya propagates by dividing the rhizome.
K. Makoya Calathea round-leaved(lat. Calathea Rotundifolia)
It justifies its name with leathery leaves of a regular round shape of olive-green color, painted with light gray stripes. in care Special attention needs to be addressed to temperature regime and lighting mode. Categorically does not tolerate bright light, loves shade and weak partial shade. At temperatures below 16 ° C, the leaves begin to fall off, and the plant itself is deformed.
(lat. Calathea Zebrina)
The leaves of the striped calathea are velvety, elongated oval in shape with light green stripes decorating the main veins. Propagated by division of the rhizome. The plant is very demanding on the moisture regime. With insufficient air humidity, the leaf blade curls, the edges dry and the leaf dies.
K. striped (lat. Calathea Veitchiana)
A fairly large plant (up to 90 cm high) with glossy oval-shaped leaves that taper towards the outer edge. The pattern on the leaf is represented by emerald green stripes, dissecting the dark green leaf along its main veins. Back side leaf blade has a reddish-brown coloration. The flowers of Calathea Veitch are collected in a white-cream-colored inflorescence typical of this family.
K. Veitch (lat. Calathea Warscewiczii)
This species has rather large velvety rich green leaves with pale green spots and stripes decorating the main vein. The reverse surface of the leaf blade has a dark red coloration. Calathea Varshevich before flowering forms elongated cranked shoots, for which it is necessary to substitute supports in order to avoid damage. Bracts of pale cream color, collected in a short inflorescence typical for this family, conceal small flowers of white, pinkish or pale cream shade.
K. Varshevich Calathea Lubbers(lat. Calathea Lubbersii)
A distinctive feature of this type of calathea is that the rather large rich green leaves of this plant have an asymmetric light green pattern located on the sides of the central vein. The underside of the leaf differs from most representatives of this family in that it is colored green.
(lat. Calathea Ornata)
Calathea decorated is called so due to the fact that the leaves of the plant are painted first with pink, and then with silvery paired stripes. Calathea decorated has several forms that differ from each other in the main color of the leaf blade.
Propagated by division of the rhizome.
K. decorated (lat. Calathea Insignis)
A distinctive feature of this calathea are long lanceolate glossy leathery leaves with yellow-green spots of various sizes, which alternate with each other.
K. wonderful A species feature of all kalats is that the leaves of this plant are located almost horizontally and can change their position, striving for a light source. There is one more interesting property of kalats - the plant folds its leaves at night and before the rain and raises them to a vertical position, and lowers and unfolds in the morning. For this feature, the calathea is also called the "prayer flower."
As already mentioned, calatheas in nature hide under the canopy of the leaves of the upper forest layer, therefore, at home, they do not tolerate direct scorching sunlight. The optimal location of the pot with the plant is the east or west window. However, if you are the owner of southern windows, do not despair. You just need to artificially shade the calathea in the spring and summer. If your windows face north, then you need to provide additional lighting with a fluorescent lamp (the total period of insolation should be 15-16 hours a day). You can evaluate the correctness of the selected lighting mode by the intensity of the color of the leaves of Calathea. With a favorable lighting regime, they will delight you with bright colors, color saturation; in low light, the leaves turn pale, the pattern on them becomes less expressive; with an excess of light, the leaves become smaller, fold into tubules, the pattern on them becomes less pronounced.
Calatheas are very sensitive to temperature fluctuations, especially in winter. Since they are representatives of tropical flora, the optimal temperature range for growing them at home lies between 23–30 ° C (summer) and 18–23 ° C (winter). It is especially important to monitor the change in soil temperature: it should not be lower than 180 ° C (and in summer - below 200 ° C). Lowering the temperature below causes wilting and death of the plant. In addition, calatheas do not tolerate drafts.
The plant requires frequent watering as the top layer of soil in the pot dries out (in winter and autumn, the frequency of watering is reduced). The water used for irrigation should be settled, soft, and always at room temperature.
It should be noted that excessive moisture leads to swamping of the earthy coma, and due to the fact that a lack of oxygen is formed in the soil, the plant dies. Therefore, in the irrigation mode, be guided by the well-being of your calathea and its appearance: the plant should have shiny leaves with elastic turgor.
[!] As soon as you notice that the leaves of the calathea wither and lose their density, or that small midges have appeared on the earthy coma, urgently change the irrigation regime.
Calatheas are representatives of tropical rainforests, therefore they require frequent spraying. Spray water should also be soft and warm (room temperature). The spraying regimen depends on the season: in winter and autumn it is enough to spray the plant once a day, in summer and spring - 2 times. But one should take into account the fact that when spraying it is necessary to choose a finely dispersed sprayer, since large drops of water on the leaves cause them to rot and the plant to die.
In addition, moss (expanded clay, pebbles, etc.) can be placed in the tray of a calathea pot and constantly moistened. This will be a source of additional moisture for the plant.
Calatheas feel very comfortable in florariums and terrariums, where air humidity is always increased due to the closed space.
Calatheas are not very picky about feeding. However, if you want the plant to please you with abundant and long flowering, you need to fertilize it. universal fertilizer for indoor flowers once every 2-3 weeks (spring and summer) and once every 5-6 weeks (autumn and winter).
The plant does not tolerate if calcium and nitrogen accumulate in the substrate in excessive proportions.
Calatheas have root system, surface type, therefore do not require a deep pot. The pot must be chosen small, shallow, preferably ceramic (this will protect the roots of plants from hypothermia on the windowsill in winter). Transplantation is done every spring in a pot a little bigger size than the previous one. A prerequisite is a good drainage layer. The soil is used either ready-made (for arrowroot and calathea), or they form it themselves from 6 parts of leafy soil, 3 parts of peat and 2 parts of sand. You can use the soil mixture for Saintpaulia, but with the addition of sand.
