I've seen many many videos on calatheas and this is the best one so far. I own some myself, which I've managed to make very happy. The points you make are all crucial to my experience and most fail to mention all and most of these points you made.
Im one of those people with a Calathea medallion, which is doing fine without a humidifier😅 I spray it few times a day and sometimes put it in the kitchen whilst cooking so it gets enough humidity. Its my first calathea and so far its doing fine. I repotted it several weeks ago and its only lost one leaf last week since I got it (bought it 3 months ago). You made me a bit paranoid about spider mites. I check my plants frequently but will give them a closer look today. You plant collection is amazing!
I check for spider mites when I water. Then I use a bug preventative spray (Capt Jacks or Eight). That keeps them at bay pretty well. I haven’t had an outbreak since July 🤞🤞
Absolutely beautiful.. 😍 Calathea are my absolute favorite.. Nothing can beat them when it comes to beauty and foliage.. Though they are little finicky and they don't love me that much.. 🙃😁 But I'm learning gradually how to keep them happy.. Thanks for sharing.. It helps..
@@SoiledPlant I just got a rufibarba "Fuzzy Leather" one, which is also supposed to be super easy. I used to think it was boring compared to the more flamboyant ones, but the texture is gorgeous next to the others.
Ornata is the biggest pest magnet. I struggled with mine until I introduced beneficial bugs 🐞 to eat the spider mites. I use Californicus predatory mites. Amazing results!
Your cats seem to need something grassy to chew on... they do eat some grasses in nature. Provide them with plants that fulfill their need and are theirs to munch on: spiderplant (Chlorophytum), Cyperus Zumilla or sprouted wheat grass (there are seed sets for sale as well as sprouted grains). Replace when necessary. My cats don't bother other plants, including all my Marantacea. Luckily they are not toxic to pets.
@22:00 This happened to me with my Zebrina! The plant was gorgeous and healthy out of the box (shipped). By the next morning all the leaves had fallen over from underwatering. I wasn’t prepared for that AT ALL. I wish I would’ve seen this video first!
Here's a super easy way to get rid of spider mite. Use 2 tablespoons Murphy's oil soap to 1/2 gallon of water. Spray the leaves front and back and the stems about every 5-7 days until you get rid of all the spider mites. I would put them in a room and keep your cats out of it. I have 4 cats and they don't bother my plants unless they look like grass like a ponytail palm. I just have to put it up high where they can't get it. Check you plants every other day for dryness. You can sit it in a pan when you water it so it wets all the soil.
Everybody seems to be definite about which calatheas are easier, but I guess sometimes we're just unlucky with how the plant adapts to our environments and we generalize conclusions based on our experience with a sample of one. Granted about the notorious white fusion, but half plant owners say the ornata is one of the easiest and half say it's the definitely the hardest. I for one had a bought a lush ctenanthe and it's new growth started wilting as soon as it saw my house. Then it lost over half of its leaves for no apparent (to me) reason and 3 months later, I still hope that it comes back, while every other calathea, stromanthe etc I have ever cared did ok. I'm pretty sure the ctenanthe is rightfully considered one of the easiest plants in the family. In my experience, the one that seems to be coping best with natural lows in humidity (no humidifier) where I live is the makoyana. While the others were occasionally affected, that one didn't even get one crispy edge.
@@SoiledPlant That one is supposed to be one of the most difficult according to many people. Watching a ctenanthe for example it is easy to deduce that if it's generally more tolerant to lower humidity, it must be because its leaves are somewhat thicker. Your distinction about the stems seems interesting also, though I'm still unsure. In my country I've seen some huge calatheas in unlikely places such as in entrances of apartment buildings where it's either a tad too dark or the opposite and I'm sure they even forget to water them occasionally. So like you, I tend to think that they eventually become hardy, once they get established in a place. As long as they get there. Thanks, subscribed to keep up with your observations.
You are right about the white fusion. That was my first one too, and I basically killed it within one month. One thing you can do about teh brown leaves are to trim them off to the yellow part. At 8:04 you mentioned how it died back, that's because it went dormant. Plants from Marantacae (family) go dormant sometimes if they think the conditions aren't worth keeping the leaves. LIke you showed, they will grow back from the stumps. 12:19 Mine is going dormant, I just got it. I can see there is a new shoot off of yours, so it may be dormancy.
@@SoiledPlant Ooh! Have you ever seen your marantacae plants bloom? I'd love to see updates in the future! Maybe giving more ventilation (like a fan) will help with dealing with spidermites and also with mold. Having a fan might decrease the humidity a bit but I don't think it will affect it too badly.
When watering, hold the dirt in and turn the plant so you can use a hose or shower head to spray the undersides of the leaves to prevent spider mites. I mix water, dawn, and rosemary essential oil and spray it on them as well. Cinnamon and diatomaceous earth on or mixed in the soil helps as well for all pests. Also, the plant will come back as long as the rhizome is alive. My Dottie is a “rescue” and only has two leaves, but she tries. Keep caring for it like you would if it has foliage if the plant loses all the leaves. Double sided tape around the plant for the cats lol
I'm no expert at all. But my experience, might differ from others, is that terra cotta and a quite high amount of perlite, a very airy mix, works best. Water goes through it very quickly, which means no root rot and more frequent watering. All my calatheas seem to thrive much better in that than plastic or other none diffusive pots. Thats one of my realizations that made quite a difference. You should not let it sit in dry soil for long at all though, off course.
I bet you’re right. My self watering pots do better with well draining soil, too. I have a hard time keeping up when I have to water more than weekly. But if I was setting up an ideal situation, I’d make it with airy soil. Just so long as the the aerating elements are smaller.
hello, new subscriber here from Philippines and i I'm so glad having your video about calatheas which i love to collect too and am thankful for your information about the care tips about it. Keep going, and God bless ❤️
I had ordered a Dottie took a week to get it was so wet water was running out of box have had 4 months I've reported 4times roots were black last time I took out of pot I washed roots with liquid zest soap now I see some white roots and it has 2leaves
I just got my first calathea today and I am absolutely TERRIFIED lol It is the the one that starts with the W that I will not attempt to spell lol I believe u said the nick name was velvet touch or something. Anyway, I started my plant journey about 5 mnths ago, I'm up to about 43-44, and I have been dreammmmmingggg of a calathea frm day one but learned early on they are probably one of the hardest.anywho, here I go, gunna try. But I'm absolutely in LOVE with this plant. The feel of the leaves blew my mind. Have it in my coffee table just in frnt of a south facing window so hoping that's a great spot. The watering is what really makes me nervous. I think I can be a bit of a heavy waterer . I do not own a humidifier as of yet but I think I'm going to have to invest in one now. Question, I live on the east side of Canada , we Dnt have alot of sun past summer. Will these plants still survive or do I need to get a grow light. (Really hoping I Dnt have to lol)
Putting diluted neem oil in the soil can help with spider mites. I feel like people who do well automatically with plants, it's about the climate they live in.
Your collection is beautiful. I usually avoid calathea like the plague but I kind of want to experiment with one and see if I can grow it with tap water since a lot of people say you can’t.
I personally use distilled to up my chances for success. I think an orbifolia or rotundifolia would be a good starter Calathea. They don’t get the burned tips as readily as the others in my limited experience.
Hello thank you for the video and tips!! i recently bought a calathea ornata/sanderiana out of impulse without learning about the habitat but with help and tips available from youtube i think im good since i'm in a tropical country with good humidity i hope mine turn out fine.
Hey Welcome to You Tube Channeling,I have been having a nightmare With The Rufi Barbara It was like yours far to many stems impossible to water through lack of Access but it looked beautiful it had constant new Growth I think it was benefiting through the essential Oil Humidifier Totally incidental, I think the Growth Spurt Causes the Collapse. Then winter comes and the Darker Days So I moved it and now every leaf has Brown Markings! it didn’t like being in a Crowd so trying a Grow light & moving it back I used a Bug Spray on it, after A few Grass hoppers hitched a ride with a Black Zee Zee plant,it’s a German non Toxic Spray Available on Amazon I don’t remember the Name. Great Video though well thought out and presented Thank you 🙏🏽 😊
I’ve subscribed to you as I too love the Calethea I have 4 so far: as they are actually hard to find for a reasonable price on the west coast of Canada Anyhow so far I keep them in my shower which remains over 55-% humidity all the time with a grow full spectrum on the ceiling fan Hopefully this set up works & in like 9 m when we have sunlight again maybe I’ll not have to leave that light on.. Anyhow I love your collection especially that last one
Gorgeous collection! Also... true about the green backs and not noticing spider mites... just spent 5 hours carefully examining and treating all my plants because I thiiiink my Zebrina and white fusion might have spider mites. Almost definitely for the white fusion, like I saw a big mite. So I’m in a bit of a panic, haha.
Hello. I like your humidifier. Didn’t find it in you accessories list. Would you please give the link of it or the brand name or anything? I thank you very much
Luckily the calathea and maranta aren't toxic to cats. My cat has no interest in any of my plants. I killed 2 pinstripes before I decided we would never be a good fit. lol The rattlesnake, for me, is the easiest of all the calatheas. I hope my lemon lime maranta gets as beautiful and large as yours!!
I actually made a video all about it. I’m going to try some new methods soon for more extreme cases. Stay tuned! Lol czcams.com/video/2DbgAu_sq1k/video.html
I have dottie, makoyana, triostar and pinstripe but I have problem with pinstripe just like you, it's acting like a diva and start curling up after repoting (plastic pot), all of it uses the same soil, same amount of light and humidity (I live in the tropics). Does pinstripe required different soil, what am I doing wrong?
I don’t know for sure. I’ve failed at keeping them happy. For my calatheas, I leave them in the nursery pots as long as possible because they don’t like having their roots disturbed. I am having some luck with my pinstripe growing back from the stem nubs, so don’t give up!
Strange. The Pinstripe I’ve got four months ago is doing awesome. I’m a complete plant beginner (got hooked during lockdown), the plant is still in its nursery pot, i water it with filtered water once a week and I have no humidifier. The humidity here in Germany this summer is around 40-50%. It’s getting around two hours soft rays of sun set. But I wonder if my Pinstripe and the huge Warzewskii I’ve will make it through winter.
I have some questions on the white fusion: Would you prefer watering it from top or let it soak from the bottom? Also do you spray it directly or are the leaves too delicate for that? And last, i s it true that you should not fertilize it too often and that she is very sensitive with wind and cold? Thank you in advance :)
Watering from top or bottom: either way. I’ve done both with no issues. Spray directly on leaves? Yes. At least my solutions I use (50/50 alcohol and water, capt jacks) are safe for the leaves Fertilizer: I fertilize half as often as my other plants. Sensitive to wind and cold? 100% they are very picky!
Thanks for the video it was very helpful! I am thinking about getting some calathea. You sort of did it here but could you rank your calatheas from easiest to hardiest?
Hardest is white fusion. If you can give it high humidity, they’ll thrive. That’s a tall order though. Easiest are Rattlesnake (I bought after this video was made), Ruffibarbra, and Zebrina.
May I ask how you treat spider mites for your calathea? I’ve had a couple of “possible false alarms” for spider mites where I just went ahead and treated the plant to be safe. I used the method of makeup brush method with a solution of water, rubbing alcohol, and a little dish dawn detergent. I’ve also used insecticidal soap spray. I find that in order to have minimal leaf damage I have to leave the plant in a significantly lower light settings for several days but some varieties seem to respond better than others. I also have an orbifolia and a zebrina too. Both are doing fine so far, but if I need to treat it I’m not sure what I should do to try to avoid lead damage. I had a smaller orbifolia that completely deteriorated when sprayed with fungicide (I think the main ingredient was neem oil extract It’s the store bought GardenSafe Fungicide3 that you can typically find at Lowe’s. I’ve used their insecticidal soap for my rattlesnake and calathea exotica and it seemed to have less damage -though they were the ones I let sit several days in low light before moving it back to their normal spot). Much appreciated if you get a chance to respond to this question ❤️
The treatment you describe is exactly what I do (alcohol soap water with a make up brush). I do that about once a week. Then spray with Captain Jacks between treatments once or twice. I make sure to do any treatments at night so the plant has enough time to dry and react to the treatment without light.
Thank you for your response!! Okay I’ll have to pick up captain jacks sometime to have it on hand because it was recommended on reddit too by calathea owners for not having issues with leaf damage :)
The cat struggle is real......mine think my Calathea collection is the most delicious salad buffet and/or play ground (the love the dangely leaves of my White Star and Maui Queen....). So glad to see someone with a healthy, but not picture perfect collection :) I am having some really serious problems with my Zebrina, i think it is going to die on me *cry*. Must have gotten a pest from the greenhouse, the leaves just kept getting yellow...Someone suggest it might be thrips and bcs i was scared i also decided to change all the soil...big fail as ist seems now, i must have damaged the roots as it is declining even faster now plus the stems got damaged from washing it off...Not sure yet wether i am going to throw it out and spare me the "pain" of seeing it's sorry state every day, or wether i a going to cut it all back and try to start grwoing it anew, as you did with some of your plants. I am not yet very experienced at plant care (until recently i was not informing myself but just making things up as i go...) Any tips on that?
What I’ve found is when Calathea decide to die, it’s hard to convince them otherwise. Some things I’ve tried and seem successful so far. 1) Try to disturb the soil as little as possible. If it needs a bigger pot, loosen the roots on the edges and only add soil around the edges and bottom. 2) After a Calathea decides to start dying, it can usually be revived if the conditions are okay (soil never dries out. Humidity above 45% if you can). It all depends on your willingness to have a pot of soil sitting around your house for a few months. It’s not cute, but they usually rebound. If any leaves can be salvaged, it quickens the process a bit. But I’ve cut calatheas down to soil lines, and slowly it does come back.
Looks like your orbifolia is in a lechuza pot. Did you use the pon that comes with the pot? I was worried to pot mine with their substrate at the base since the calatheas are so sensitive. Great video!
@@SoiledPlant Thank you! I really like the look of their pots. I have three currently, but my calatheas are in their nursery pots with decorative cover pots. I’m constantly on the hunt for their next step up pots. I will have to check out their website again
It’s their “cube” variety. I linked it below if that helps. It’s saved my Warsceweszii from my neglectful watering style. Lol www.lechuza.us/promotion/cube-glossy-14-white-high-gloss/13510.html
@@SoiledPlant Thank you so much! I will be ordering a couple of those. You should get a commission ...Ive spent a lot of time looking at their website and watching videos. I had no idea of that model
@@theresaconway6247 I planted a baby orbifolia into pon (I washed off all the soil and used only pon) and self-watering a few months back as a test and it's been super happy...and I love not having to worry about getting the watering right. I just put distilled water in the reservoir and that's it. There are already new roots coming out of the bottom. I have a dry apartment with no humidifier running and no crispy edges. I feel like the pon creates a kind of humid micro-climate that seems to help it a lot, so I'd strongly recommend it.
The humidifier I have has an auto shut off feature. So I set the humidity to 65% and when the humidity drops below 60%, it turns back on. In the winter, I have to refill the tank once a day.
Patience. I made sure the watering was right and waited for the new leaves to come in. I bought mine during winter, and it got mad at me because the lighting / conditions were worse.
They’re hard to see with just your eyes. Generally, they’ll look like little white spots. Almost like dust. They concentrate on the underside of the leaf, mainly in the vein’s groves. I have a story about it in my Instagram if you’d like to see what a bad infestation looks like.
I think I overwater my Calathea's 😭 and their leaves began to turn yellow. 4 pots loose all of their leaves. Hopefully, they'll get back to life after a month or two 🙏
There’s a lot of good fertilizer options. I use Neptune (organic) and dilute it to 1/4 - 1/2 of what the label says. Only fertilize during growing season unless you live close to the equator and can fertilize year round.
@@holyfox94 My marantha grows all year round plus the fact that here in California it's basically spring all year round, that's why im confused as when i should stop fertilizing. But i did pick up your choice of Neptune Organics and will let you know how it goes. Thanks
Ty for your informative video 😊 I have a question about grow light bulbs.. is that what you have behind you? If so can you tell me what bulb it is and how long you leave it on for the plants 😊 also how high of humidity do you keep them at? Thanks 😊
Give it medium light. Keep the soil relatively moist (never wet). Humidity ~60%+. Once you have those all set, make sure you don’t have bugs. Use whatever treatment you prefer. I like the method from Kreatyve Laydiiee czcams.com/video/9FW3Ps6suag/video.html
@@Daisy.florina Yes to which part? The scenarios I mentioned above are different things happening. Or at least most likely. 9/10 it’s an issue with watering or light. Leaves can fold on themselves if they’re getting too much light sometimes. Droopy stalks can mean that the plant is just top heavy or that it’s being watered too much or too little. All depends. But check that you light and watering is correct. That’s probably the issue you’re seeing. And always check for pests. Can’t be too sure!
I've seen many many videos on calatheas and this is the best one so far. I own some myself, which I've managed to make very happy. The points you make are all crucial to my experience and most fail to mention all and most of these points you made.
Thank you! I’m glad your experience has matched mine. Calatheas aren’t as hard when you get the settings right.
The calathea warscewiczii is absolutely GORGEOUS. My first attempt at them and I am very worried I will lose it. Thanks for the tips
That one doesn’t like to dry out much I’ve found. Keep the watering can handy 🌱
Im one of those people with a Calathea medallion, which is doing fine without a humidifier😅 I spray it few times a day and sometimes put it in the kitchen whilst cooking so it gets enough humidity. Its my first calathea and so far its doing fine. I repotted it several weeks ago and its only lost one leaf last week since I got it (bought it 3 months ago). You made me a bit paranoid about spider mites. I check my plants frequently but will give them a closer look today. You plant collection is amazing!
I check for spider mites when I water. Then I use a bug preventative spray (Capt Jacks or Eight). That keeps them at bay pretty well. I haven’t had an outbreak since July 🤞🤞
Absolutely beautiful.. 😍
Calathea are my absolute favorite.. Nothing can beat them when it comes to beauty and foliage.. Though they are little finicky and they don't love me that much.. 🙃😁 But I'm learning gradually how to keep them happy..
Thanks for sharing.. It helps..
Absolutely! That is the Calathea way.
12:18. Sigh. Shakes head. "I cant even." .... I felt that. We try, but the struggle is real. And I subscribed lol.
It’s true 😂😭 thanks for subscribing :)
I really appreciate your honesty with sharing both your successes and failures. I love calatheas and am determined to have some better success.
Thank you! Calatheas are definitely tricky, but they’re not impossible. Once the calatheas are happy, they are very rewarding plants.
OMG, Medalions are the bane of my existence. White Fusion too, but I'm seeing if I can keep it alive. Rattlesnake and Peacock I find easiest of all
I’ve found those to be easier as well. I’ll never do medallions again 🤣
@@SoiledPlant I just got a rufibarba "Fuzzy Leather" one, which is also supposed to be super easy. I used to think it was boring compared to the more flamboyant ones, but the texture is gorgeous next to the others.
Ornata is the biggest pest magnet. I struggled with mine until I introduced beneficial bugs 🐞 to eat the spider mites. I use Californicus predatory mites. Amazing results!
I like your Never Give Up attitude
Keep up the good work
Thank you!
Finally added a warscewiczii today. I’ve had some success growing the red, lime and rabbit track prayer plants. Fingers crossed this one likes me ❤
Your cats seem to need something grassy to chew on... they do eat some grasses in nature. Provide them with plants that fulfill their need and are theirs to munch on: spiderplant (Chlorophytum), Cyperus Zumilla or sprouted wheat grass (there are seed sets for sale as well as sprouted grains). Replace when necessary. My cats don't bother other plants, including all my Marantacea. Luckily they are not toxic to pets.
@22:00 This happened to me with my Zebrina! The plant was gorgeous and healthy out of the box (shipped). By the next morning all the leaves had fallen over from underwatering. I wasn’t prepared for that AT ALL. I wish I would’ve seen this video first!
Here's a super easy way to get rid of spider mite. Use 2 tablespoons Murphy's oil soap to 1/2 gallon of water. Spray the leaves front and back and the stems about every 5-7 days until you get rid of all the spider mites. I would put them in a room and keep your cats out of it. I have 4 cats and they don't bother my plants unless they look like grass like a ponytail palm. I just have to put it up high where they can't get it. Check you plants every other day for dryness. You can sit it in a pan when you water it so it wets all the soil.
Everybody seems to be definite about which calatheas are easier, but I guess sometimes we're just unlucky with how the plant adapts to our environments and we generalize conclusions based on our experience with a sample of one. Granted about the notorious white fusion, but half plant owners say the ornata is one of the easiest and half say it's the definitely the hardest. I for one had a bought a lush ctenanthe and it's new growth started wilting as soon as it saw my house. Then it lost over half of its leaves for no apparent (to me) reason and 3 months later, I still hope that it comes back, while every other calathea, stromanthe etc I have ever cared did ok. I'm pretty sure the ctenanthe is rightfully considered one of the easiest plants in the family. In my experience, the one that seems to be coping best with natural lows in humidity (no humidifier) where I live is the makoyana. While the others were occasionally affected, that one didn't even get one crispy edge.
It does seem really arbitrary which Calathea are easy vs hard. For example, my wars that I featured as easy is now acting up.
@@SoiledPlant That one is supposed to be one of the most difficult according to many people. Watching a ctenanthe for example it is easy to deduce that if it's generally more tolerant to lower humidity, it must be because its leaves are somewhat thicker. Your distinction about the stems seems interesting also, though I'm still unsure. In my country I've seen some huge calatheas in unlikely places such as in entrances of apartment buildings where it's either a tad too dark or the opposite and I'm sure they even forget to water them occasionally. So like you, I tend to think that they eventually become hardy, once they get established in a place. As long as they get there. Thanks, subscribed to keep up with your observations.
Great video! I'm glad everything that was said in both our calathea videos was very similar. I get really scared that I give off wrong info lol
Yes! I try to be as accurate as possible. Research is great, but the internet sources aren't always the most factual.
You are right about the white fusion. That was my first one too, and I basically killed it within one month. One thing you can do about teh brown leaves are to trim them off to the yellow part.
At 8:04 you mentioned how it died back, that's because it went dormant. Plants from Marantacae (family) go dormant sometimes if they think the conditions aren't worth keeping the leaves. LIke you showed, they will grow back from the stumps.
12:19 Mine is going dormant, I just got it. I can see there is a new shoot off of yours, so it may be dormancy.
You are 100% correct. The plant you mentioned at 12:19 has completely bounced back and is a whole new plant. Unrecognizable.
@@SoiledPlant Ooh! Have you ever seen your marantacae plants bloom? I'd love to see updates in the future! Maybe giving more ventilation (like a fan) will help with dealing with spidermites and also with mold. Having a fan might decrease the humidity a bit but I don't think it will affect it too badly.
I put worm casting ,and sometimes diluted coffee and sometimes scatter coffee grounds on all plants
New subscriber, thanks for all the info on these fussy ones. They are one of my favorites 💖
Thanks so much! I’m glad you like it :)
When watering, hold the dirt in and turn the plant so you can use a hose or shower head to spray the undersides of the leaves to prevent spider mites. I mix water, dawn, and rosemary essential oil and spray it on them as well. Cinnamon and diatomaceous earth on or mixed in the soil helps as well for all pests. Also, the plant will come back as long as the rhizome is alive. My Dottie is a “rescue” and only has two leaves, but she tries. Keep caring for it like you would if it has foliage if the plant loses all the leaves. Double sided tape around the plant for the cats lol
I’ve brought a few rehab calatheas back from the dead. Literally, nothing more satisfying as a plant parent. 10/10 would recommend :)
Wow just amazing 😍 looking forward for some more amazing stuff
I have a notebook full of them :)
@@SoiledPlant 😀😀😀
Great tips on some of the plants i have been considering for a while. Thanks!.
Glad it was helpful!
I'm no expert at all. But my experience, might differ from others, is that terra cotta and a quite high amount of perlite, a very airy mix, works best. Water goes through it very quickly, which means no root rot and more frequent watering. All my calatheas seem to thrive much better in that than plastic or other none diffusive pots. Thats one of my realizations that made quite a difference. You should not let it sit in dry soil for long at all though, off course.
I bet you’re right. My self watering pots do better with well draining soil, too. I have a hard time keeping up when I have to water more than weekly. But if I was setting up an ideal situation, I’d make it with airy soil. Just so long as the the aerating elements are smaller.
Pretty plants
Your videos are very good you explain things very good
Great video. Liked the detail about the distance from the window etc. Thanks a lot
That’s great. Glad you could get some info out of the video. Thank you!
hello, new subscriber here from Philippines and i I'm so glad having your video about calatheas which i love to collect too and am thankful for your information about the care tips about it. Keep going, and God bless ❤️
Thank you! Calatheas are my favorite despite their care needs. Very rewarding plants to care for!
I had ordered a Dottie took a week to get it was so wet water was running out of box have had 4 months I've reported 4times roots were black last time I took out of pot I washed roots with liquid zest soap now I see some white roots and it has 2leaves
I just got my first calathea today and I am absolutely TERRIFIED lol It is the the one that starts with the W that I will not attempt to spell lol I believe u said the nick name was velvet touch or something. Anyway, I started my plant journey about 5 mnths ago, I'm up to about 43-44, and I have been dreammmmmingggg of a calathea frm day one but learned early on they are probably one of the hardest.anywho, here I go, gunna try. But I'm absolutely in LOVE with this plant. The feel of the leaves blew my mind. Have it in my coffee table just in frnt of a south facing window so hoping that's a great spot. The watering is what really makes me nervous. I think I can be a bit of a heavy waterer . I do not own a humidifier as of yet but I think I'm going to have to invest in one now.
Question, I live on the east side of Canada , we Dnt have alot of sun past summer. Will these plants still survive or do I need to get a grow light. (Really hoping I Dnt have to lol)
Putting diluted neem oil in the soil can help with spider mites. I feel like people who do well automatically with plants, it's about the climate they live in.
Thanks! I’m fighting an uphill battle being in Michigan :)
How do you mix (components and %of them) of soil. Love this video 💚
Your collection is beautiful. I usually avoid calathea like the plague but I kind of want to experiment with one and see if I can grow it with tap water since a lot of people say you can’t.
I personally use distilled to up my chances for success. I think an orbifolia or rotundifolia would be a good starter Calathea. They don’t get the burned tips as readily as the others in my limited experience.
@@SoiledPlant that’s what I was thinking to test the orbifolia or the makoyana
Beautiful collection
Thank you! Calatheas are my absolute favorite :)
Thank you. God bless you. I enjoyed your video , you are so informative . I appreciate it.
Absolutely 🙏
Hello thank you for the video and tips!! i recently bought a calathea ornata/sanderiana out of impulse without learning about the habitat but with help and tips available from youtube i think im good since i'm in a tropical country with good humidity i hope mine turn out fine.
Yes, that’s great! Diffused light is key :)
Hey Welcome to You Tube Channeling,I have been having a nightmare With The Rufi Barbara It was like yours far to many stems impossible to water through lack of Access but it looked beautiful it had constant new Growth I think it was benefiting through the essential Oil Humidifier Totally incidental, I think the Growth Spurt Causes the Collapse. Then winter comes and the Darker Days
So I moved it and now every leaf has Brown Markings! it didn’t like being in a Crowd so trying a Grow light & moving it back I used a Bug Spray on it, after A few Grass hoppers hitched a ride with a Black Zee Zee plant,it’s a German non Toxic Spray Available on Amazon I don’t remember the Name. Great Video though well thought out and presented Thank you 🙏🏽 😊
You want to try using stress coat in your water . Think you will find it will solve a lot of your problems
You have such a beautiful collection!
Thank you!
I’ve subscribed to you as I too love the Calethea
I have 4 so far: as they are actually hard to find for a reasonable price on the west coast of Canada
Anyhow so far I keep them in my shower which remains over 55-% humidity all the time with a grow full spectrum on the ceiling fan
Hopefully this set up works & in like 9 m when we have sunlight again maybe I’ll not have to leave that light on..
Anyhow I love your collection especially that last one
That sounds like a great set up 👍 Calatheas are fairly low light tolerant, so you should be okay.
Gorgeous collection! Also... true about the green backs and not noticing spider mites... just spent 5 hours carefully examining and treating all my plants because I thiiiink my Zebrina and white fusion might have spider mites. Almost definitely for the white fusion, like I saw a big mite. So I’m in a bit of a panic, haha.
They’re the worst. Consistency in treatment is key! You can do it!
Soiled Plant thank you! I have almost all my plants quarantined and/or in plastic bags now just in case.
Hello. I like your humidifier. Didn’t find it in you accessories list. Would you please give the link of it or the brand name or anything? I thank you very much
Luckily the calathea and maranta aren't toxic to cats. My cat has no interest in any of my plants. I killed 2 pinstripes before I decided we would never be a good fit. lol The rattlesnake, for me, is the easiest of all the calatheas. I hope my lemon lime maranta gets as beautiful and large as yours!!
I recently got my first rattlesnake Calathea. I hope it does well like yours ♥️
Thank you for the great video! I love calatheas. I want to ask how do you deal with the fungus gnats?
I don’t get them very often. When I do, I use Mosquito Bits. I put a few into the soil then water the plant normally. Should do the trick
Knock on wood no bugs on prayer plants but I wipe leaves every week must be working
My prayer plants all sit on a ledge between kitchen and living room i do not use a humidifier i water them the same way i water all my other plants,
Thank you
Nice plants🎄thanks for sharing
Thank you 🤗
Great Video! I know the video is a bit old, but wondering what you use or your method in treating plants/ Calatheas in case of spider mites?
I actually made a video all about it. I’m going to try some new methods soon for more extreme cases. Stay tuned! Lol
czcams.com/video/2DbgAu_sq1k/video.html
Im on my second Dottie it has crisp edges......again and two leaves dropped😒
I have dottie, makoyana, triostar and pinstripe but I have problem with pinstripe just like you, it's acting like a diva and start curling up after repoting (plastic pot), all of it uses the same soil, same amount of light and humidity (I live in the tropics). Does pinstripe required different soil, what am I doing wrong?
I don’t know for sure. I’ve failed at keeping them happy. For my calatheas, I leave them in the nursery pots as long as possible because they don’t like having their roots disturbed.
I am having some luck with my pinstripe growing back from the stem nubs, so don’t give up!
Strange. The Pinstripe I’ve got four months ago is doing awesome.
I’m a complete plant beginner (got hooked during lockdown), the plant is still in its nursery pot, i water it with filtered water once a week and I have no humidifier. The humidity here in Germany this summer is around 40-50%.
It’s getting around two hours soft rays of sun set.
But I wonder if my Pinstripe and the huge Warzewskii I’ve will make it through winter.
I have some questions on the white fusion: Would you prefer watering it from top or let it soak from the bottom? Also do you spray it directly or are the leaves too delicate for that? And last, i s it true that you should not fertilize it too often and that she is very sensitive with wind and cold? Thank you in advance :)
Watering from top or bottom: either way. I’ve done both with no issues.
Spray directly on leaves? Yes. At least my solutions I use (50/50 alcohol and water, capt jacks) are safe for the leaves
Fertilizer: I fertilize half as often as my other plants.
Sensitive to wind and cold? 100% they are very picky!
@@SoiledPlant Would you recommend to put a plant lamp for the winter time when there is just little light outside for the fusion white?
@@annaqura3360 It should be fine without a grow light. Lights never hurt though.
Thanks for the video it was very helpful! I am thinking about getting some calathea. You sort of did it here but could you rank your calatheas from easiest to hardiest?
Hardest is white fusion. If you can give it high humidity, they’ll thrive. That’s a tall order though. Easiest are Rattlesnake (I bought after this video was made), Ruffibarbra, and Zebrina.
@@SoiledPlant thanks so much!!
Beautiful plants 🌱
Thank you!
May I ask how you treat spider mites for your calathea? I’ve had a couple of “possible false alarms” for spider mites where I just went ahead and treated the plant to be safe. I used the method of makeup brush method with a solution of water, rubbing alcohol, and a little dish dawn detergent. I’ve also used insecticidal soap spray. I find that in order to have minimal leaf damage I have to leave the plant in a significantly lower light settings for several days but some varieties seem to respond better than others. I also have an orbifolia and a zebrina too. Both are doing fine so far, but if I need to treat it I’m not sure what I should do to try to avoid lead damage. I had a smaller orbifolia that completely deteriorated when sprayed with fungicide (I think the main ingredient was neem oil extract It’s the store bought GardenSafe Fungicide3 that you can typically find at Lowe’s. I’ve used their insecticidal soap for my rattlesnake and calathea exotica and it seemed to have less damage -though they were the ones I let sit several days in low light before moving it back to their normal spot). Much appreciated if you get a chance to respond to this question ❤️
The treatment you describe is exactly what I do (alcohol soap water with a make up brush). I do that about once a week. Then spray with Captain Jacks between treatments once or twice. I make sure to do any treatments at night so the plant has enough time to dry and react to the treatment without light.
Thank you for your response!! Okay I’ll have to pick up captain jacks sometime to have it on hand because it was recommended on reddit too by calathea owners for not having issues with leaf damage :)
The cat struggle is real......mine think my Calathea collection is the most delicious salad buffet and/or play ground (the love the dangely leaves of my White Star and Maui Queen....). So glad to see someone with a healthy, but not picture perfect collection :) I am having some really serious problems with my Zebrina, i think it is going to die on me *cry*. Must have gotten a pest from the greenhouse, the leaves just kept getting yellow...Someone suggest it might be thrips and bcs i was scared i also decided to change all the soil...big fail as ist seems now, i must have damaged the roots as it is declining even faster now plus the stems got damaged from washing it off...Not sure yet wether i am going to throw it out and spare me the "pain" of seeing it's sorry state every day, or wether i a going to cut it all back and try to start grwoing it anew, as you did with some of your plants. I am not yet very experienced at plant care (until recently i was not informing myself but just making things up as i go...) Any tips on that?
What I’ve found is when Calathea decide to die, it’s hard to convince them otherwise. Some things I’ve tried and seem successful so far.
1) Try to disturb the soil as little as possible. If it needs a bigger pot, loosen the roots on the edges and only add soil around the edges and bottom.
2) After a Calathea decides to start dying, it can usually be revived if the conditions are okay (soil never dries out. Humidity above 45% if you can). It all depends on your willingness to have a pot of soil sitting around your house for a few months. It’s not cute, but they usually rebound. If any leaves can be salvaged, it quickens the process a bit. But I’ve cut calatheas down to soil lines, and slowly it does come back.
Looks like your orbifolia is in a lechuza pot. Did you use the pon that comes with the pot? I was worried to pot mine with their substrate at the base since the calatheas are so sensitive. Great video!
The pot I got is one that doesn’t use the pon. I put the soil-filled nursery pot into the Lechuza pot as is with a moisture wik.
@@SoiledPlant Thank you! I really like the look of their pots. I have three currently, but my calatheas are in their nursery pots with decorative cover pots. I’m constantly on the hunt for their next step up pots. I will have to check out their website again
It’s their “cube” variety. I linked it below if that helps. It’s saved my Warsceweszii from my neglectful watering style. Lol
www.lechuza.us/promotion/cube-glossy-14-white-high-gloss/13510.html
@@SoiledPlant Thank you so much! I will be ordering a couple of those. You should get a commission ...Ive spent a lot of time looking at their website and watching videos. I had no idea of that model
@@theresaconway6247 I planted a baby orbifolia into pon (I washed off all the soil and used only pon) and self-watering a few months back as a test and it's been super happy...and I love not having to worry about getting the watering right. I just put distilled water in the reservoir and that's it. There are already new roots coming out of the bottom. I have a dry apartment with no humidifier running and no crispy edges. I feel like the pon creates a kind of humid micro-climate that seems to help it a lot, so I'd strongly recommend it.
So beautiful plants
Thank you!
Soiled Plant hi I will join your channel hope you will do the same stay connected friends
Amazing
Thanks ♥️
In many of your videos I can see humidifier working. My question is - for how many hours?
The humidifier I have has an auto shut off feature. So I set the humidity to 65% and when the humidity drops below 60%, it turns back on. In the winter, I have to refill the tank once a day.
@@SoiledPlant Thank you.
Beautiful
I love it
Thank you 🙏
how did you rehabilate Ca l Zebrina ?. I have mine with brown edges and crispy .
Patience. I made sure the watering was right and waited for the new leaves to come in. I bought mine during winter, and it got mad at me because the lighting / conditions were worse.
Hi A question for you, what is the name of the self watering pot/s you use? Thanks. K.
The ones I have are from Lechuza. You can buy them directly from their website or from Amazon. I’ve been meaning to try out other varieties as well.
thank you :)
all my calathea are In self-watering pots
I’m getting closer and closer to that point! Lol
Which ones would you classify as too fussy to ever try again?
For some reason the roseopicta “Medallion” just refuses my love. Most people have no issue with it. Mine always die.
@@SoiledPlant Good to know it's a short list ;)
Just subscribed your channel much love from Pakistan
I divided my medallion and they are huge
Where can I buy these calathea plants?
Um.. I’ve got 4 Calethea now for only a few months
Can anyone tell me what does the spider mites look like so I can look out for it ?
They’re hard to see with just your eyes. Generally, they’ll look like little white spots. Almost like dust. They concentrate on the underside of the leaf, mainly in the vein’s groves. I have a story about it in my Instagram if you’d like to see what a bad infestation looks like.
I think I overwater my Calathea's 😭 and their leaves began to turn yellow. 4 pots loose all of their leaves. Hopefully, they'll get back to life after a month or two 🙏
This has happened to several of my calatheas. Don’t give up on it. They grow back :)
@@SoiledPlant Thank you so much. your video really helps 😊💚🌿
Subscribed🥰❤️
Thank you!
Soiled Plant welcome ❤️
Hug❤️
hi thank u for the video. CareA of maranta would entail some sort of an organic or chemical food? All year round?
There’s a lot of good fertilizer options. I use Neptune (organic) and dilute it to 1/4 - 1/2 of what the label says. Only fertilize during growing season unless you live close to the equator and can fertilize year round.
@@SoiledPlant Excellent choice. Could you date what the growing season window is? Thank you.
Billie Mann Late Spring & Summer🤷🏼♀️
@@holyfox94 My marantha grows all year round plus the fact that here in California it's basically spring all year round, that's why im confused as when i should stop fertilizing. But i did pick up your choice of Neptune Organics and will let you know how it goes. Thanks
Ty for your informative video 😊 I have a question about grow light bulbs.. is that what you have behind you? If so can you tell me what bulb it is and how long you leave it on for the plants 😊 also how high of humidity do you keep them at?
Thanks 😊
Love your collection! That ornata is sitting in such dry soil though 😭
It looks that way, right? But I promise it wasn’t dry at all. Just the very tippy topmost layer was dry, which is what most calatheas do well in.
You’re right. It looks so deceptive and is probably the reason I overwater sometimes 😹 Thankfully I finally got the moisture meter.
I want to know exactly how to rehab my white fusion!!
Give it medium light. Keep the soil relatively moist (never wet). Humidity ~60%+. Once you have those all set, make sure you don’t have bugs. Use whatever treatment you prefer. I like the method from Kreatyve Laydiiee
czcams.com/video/9FW3Ps6suag/video.html
@@SoiledPlant thank youuuu!!!
Btw, I have the exact same humidifier
I wipe all my prayer plants leaves weekly
Hi!😊 Do you have an experience with Calathea White Beauty?
I’ve never heard of that one. I’ve had White Fusion, Beauty Star, and White Star.
@@SoiledPlant calathea white star I mean 😁
my Ca Zebrina leaves have collapsed what happened ?
Has the stem/stall collapsed, or just the leaves? Are the leaves droopy or folding in on themselves like a taco?
@@SoiledPlant yes the entire plant it was doing so well and some folding in
@@Daisy.florina Yes to which part? The scenarios I mentioned above are different things happening. Or at least most likely.
9/10 it’s an issue with watering or light. Leaves can fold on themselves if they’re getting too much light sometimes. Droopy stalks can mean that the plant is just top heavy or that it’s being watered too much or too little. All depends. But check that you light and watering is correct. That’s probably the issue you’re seeing.
And always check for pests. Can’t be too sure!
@@SoiledPlant thanks
Apparently they love warmer temperatures and don’t like drafts 🥴
They sound like me 😆 very relatable 🌱
youre xooo cuteee
🥰
Nice video *(&
Thank you!