Calathea care: flowers in the house. Video
Calathea is an ornamental plant characterized by unusual patterned leaves. However, in order for her to delight you with her beauty directly in your home, she needs to be provided with proper care.
Growing calathea at home is not easy enough, since this flower is very capricious and picky about the conditions in which it lives. The natural climatic conditions in which calathea grows in South America, from where it came to other continents, are different from ours, so in order for your plant not to die too quickly, you will have to provide it with everything it needs.
Love for the air saturated with moisture unites almost all representatives of the Kalata genus. Many calathea diseases appear precisely from insufficient moisture. The saffron calathea is most sensitive to overly dry air – the owners of this plant will need a special greenhouse for full care of the calathea flower.
The ideal air humidity for calathea is 90%, but this is difficult to achieve at home. The usual spraying procedure, combined with periodical processing of the leaves with a damp cloth, will come to the rescue. Only striped calathea does not experience a lack of humid air; spraying this flower can do more harm than good.
Sunlight and air temperature
Calathea is not too dependent on sunlight. Moreover, direct rays are contraindicated for her. However, it will not live long without the sun, so it is best to place the calathea in partial shade.
Calathea does not like heat; a moderate temperature is much more pleasant for her. To prevent your flower from dying, make sure that the air temperature in the room does not exceed 16-18 ° C, but also does not fall below 14 ° C.
Water is just as important for Calathea as it is for most other plants. Moreover, it is not only its quantity that is important, but also the quality. The health of the calathea can be negatively affected by the use of hard water, so it is best to water this moody plant with rainwater. You can also improve ordinary tap water, for this you need to add a little peat to it and let it brew for several hours.
When watering, do not let water get on the calathea leaves. They should receive all the necessary moisture from the air after regular spraying.
Calathea needs to be replanted every two seasons. Spring or early summer is best suited for transplanting. The soil for this plant must be chosen slightly acidic. Calathea loves space, so she will need a large flower pot.