Calathea

Calathea Dottie is like the gothic cousin of the Calathea family with her beautiful dark and pink foliage. Just like many other species of Calathea she can be fussy and difficult to look after, but for the same reason we continue to collect these plants, she really is stunning. If you follow our Calathea Dottie care guide then you should get a good idea of how it needs looking after but if you do have problems with this plant then you’re not alone.

Light

It’s very important that your Calathea Dottie does not receive direct light. If this plant is placed underneath direct sunlight it can burn the leaves and damage the plant. Firstly it can cause the colours to fade but even deeper than that it can cause substantial damage. Instead find a spot for it where it receives medium strength light and is protected from the sun. For this reason a north or east facing room can be a great choice.

Watering

Calathea are a plant that need to be watered often, they need to be kept fairly moist but this doesn’t mean that they should be sitting in water. You will probably need to water your Calathea Dottie around once a week but it’s better to gauge each plant individually. Check the moisture of the soil and as the top two inches are starting to dry out then it’s time to give your plant a drink. You might also find that tap water is too harsh for this plant and you may want to consider using filtered water instead.

Soil

Try to find a well draining soil. Since you need to water this plant often it’s important that the soil doesn’t remain soggy, so use a well balanced potting mix in a pot with drainage holes. We would also suggest adding perlite to the soil.

Humidity

Calathea Dottie will do well in higher levels of humidity. If the air is too dry the leaves will start to crisp and once this damage has happened it cannot be repaired. Misting your plant several times a week can help your plant get the moisture it needs but getting a humidifier can be an excellent solution to dry air in your home.

Our favourite humidifier is the Levoit model that you can find on Amazon. It has both cool and warm mist, automation, a high capacity and comes with a nifty little remote.

Propagation

Propagation can be done through root division. If you try to take a cutting from this plant you won’t have much luck. Instead wait until new shoots start appearing from out of the soil. When this happens take your plant out of its pot and gently pull the sections apart being careful not to damage any roots in the process. Once you have separated the segments repot the old plant and plant the new section into a pot of its own with a well draining potting mix.

Temperature

Keep your Calathea Dottie on the warmer side. If the plant gets too cold or if it is placed near a drought then you may notice it starts doing badly. If the air is warm make sure that it doesn’t become too dry as the plant doesn’t like this either. Finally keep it away from fires, radiators and heating systems to keep it from drying out.

Fertiliser

Like all Calathea plants, the Calathea Dottie can be sensitive to fertiliser so it’s important that you dilute the plant feed you use. Only feed your plant during the growing season and leave it over the winter months. It also does not require that much fertiliser and if you use too much it can burn the leaves so we would recommend fertilising once a month throughout spring and summer.

Calathea Dottie FAQ

Calathea Dottie can be a tricky plant to look after even if you do follow our Calathea Dottie care guide so if you find you’re still having problems with your plant or you just have some queries then take a look at some of the most recently asked questions right here.

Why are the leaves of my Calathea Dottie curling?

The leaves of your plant could be curling due to intense light or a lack of water. When these plants are underwatered or placed in sources of strong light this can cause their leaves to curl inwards in order to protect themselves. Test the moisture of the soil and try moving your plant to a less bright spot to see if this helps with the leaf curling issue.

Where should I keep my Calathea Dottie?

Keep your Calathea Dottie away from drafts and heating systems and make sure it has access to medium indirect light. It’s important that your plant is not placed in direct sunlight as this can scorch and damage it’s leaves. Humidity is also very beneficial to Calathea plants so a kitchen or bathroom can be good.

Are Calathea Dottie difficult to care for?

Yes Calathea Dottie can be relatively difficult to care for like all Calathea plants but if you follow your Calathea Dottie care guide then there is no reason why you shouldn’t get one of these plants even if you are a beginner.

Are Calathea Dottie really pink?

Yes Calathea Dottie have realy beautiful pink colouring on their foliage which can make them such an appealing houseplant.

Do Calathea Dottie have similar care needs to other Calathea?

Yes Calathea Dottie does have similar care needs to other types of Calathea which means if you already have one type of Calathea you should be fine with this type as well. It also means that keeping them together can be beneficial for the plants.

Can I keep Calathea Dottie with my other Calathea?

Yes we would recommend keeping all of your Calathea together. As they have similar care requirements it can be easier to find the optimal light, temperature and humidity for them if you keep them in the same place.

 

The Calathea Sanderiana is like the sophisticated relative of the Calathea family with it’s beautiful deep green leaves with their painted on pink stripes. The first time you see this plant up close you feel the need to inspect the leaves just to check the patterns real and someone hasn’t been at them with a pen. Just like many other Calathea plants the Sanderiana can be difficult to take of, it can be damaged easily and it can be a bit of a pain which is why we have compiled this Calathea Sanderiana care guide for you.

Light

Your Calathea Sanderiana will need medium indirect light. It’s not made for low lighting conditions, however it really does not tolerate bright direct light. If you place this plant too close to a light source then you will notice its colour starting to fade. If the foliage is underneath direct light then you may even notice scorching and burn marks appear on the leave which is not what you want as once this has happened the damage is irreversible.

Watering

Calathea Sanderiana requires regular watering. You do not want to allow the soil to completely dry out between waterings as this can damage the foliage and eventually kill the plant. Instead you should feel the plant and as the top two inches of soil begin to feel dry you need to water your plant. Even though they like regular waterings you definitely don’t want your plant sitting in soggy soil or still water so make sure your plant pot has drainage holes.

This is a sensitive plant and can sometimes be affected by regular tap water. If you notice scorching on the leaves that you can’t explain then consider switching to filtered water.

Soil

As you will need to water your Calathea Sanderiana often, it’s important that the plant is potted in well draining soil so that the mix doesn’t become heavy and soggy. Try adding perlite to help with the aeration of the soil, Espoma do a great perlite that you can to a well balanced potting mix for great drainage and aeration.

Humidity

As this plant originally comes from the tropics it should come as no surprise to you that it likes higher levels of humidity though it can tolerate moderate levels. If the air is too dry then your plant will start to crisp which can ruin the appearance of it or even damage the plant irreparably. A Calathea Sanderiana will also benefit from a light misting several times a week as this helps the leaves collect moisture. Be aware of things that can dry the air out for your Calathea like placing it too close to a radiator or fire place.

Fertiliser

If you are going to fertilise your Calathea Sanderiana make sure you only do so in the growing seasons. Also this plant can be quite sensitive to fertilisers so you will need to dilute your feed. You also won’t need to fertilise your plant more then once every two weeks or even once a month.

Propagation

Just like many other Calathea plants, the Sanderiana can be propagated through root division. If you take a cutting you won’t have much success. Instead wait until new shoots have appeared in the soil away from the mother plant and take it out of its pot. Then gently separate the new section away from the main plant while being careful not to break any roots. Replant the original section and plant the new section in a pot with a well draining potting mix.

Temperature

The Calathea Sanderiana prefers to be kept warm so try to avoid exposing it to cooler temperatures and definitely keep it away from droughts. Although it likes to be kept warm you will also want to keep it away from radiators and fire places as these can dry the plant out.

So there you have it, our complete Calathea Sanderiana care guide, we hope it’s been useful for you. To summarise, in order to care for this plant you will need:

• Medium indirect light
• Regular watering
• Medium to high humidity
• Diluted fertiliser during the growing seasons
• Warm temperature
• Keep it away from droughts
• Keep it away from radiators
• Keep it out of direct light
• Use filtered water if possible
• Propagation through root division

Calathea Sanderiana FAQ

As Calathea Sanderiana can be difficult plants to look after make sure you take a look at some of the most frequently asked questions to discover other people’s experiences with looking after this fussy little plant.

How often should I water my Calathea Ornata?

As mentioned above you want to water your Calathea Ornata regularly. Don’t wait for the soil to dry out completely or your plant will suffer and may start to die. Instead make sure you are watering when the top two inches of soil begin to feel dry to the touch. If your plants starts drooping this is also a sign it probably needs to be watered.

Why are my Calathea Ornata leaves curling?

The leaves of your Calathea Ornata could be curling for two main reasons. The first one is if you have underwatered your plant. A lack of water can cause the leaves to curl in on themselves as they are trying to conserve water levels. The other reason is that the light could be too strong. Again under bright light they can curl to try and protect themselves. If you notice the leaves of your Calathea Ornata curling then the first things you should check should be the moisture of the soil and the lighting conditions.

Are Calathea Ornata and Calathea Sanderiana the same plant?

Yes Calathea Ornata and Calathea Sanderiana are the same plant. This plant also goes by the name Pinstripe Calathea.

Is Calathea Sanderiana pet safe?

Calathea Sanderiana is generally considered pet safe however you should try to ensure that your pet does not consume this plant.

If you have any other questions please let us know in the comments below and we will do our best to answer your Calathea Ornata questions.

Calathea Veitchiana is one of the grandest members of the Calathea family, with it’s beautiful rounded leaves and intricate patterns it also goes by the name Calathea Medallion. It can be a show stopping plant as it puts out amazing large round leaves but like most Calathea it can be difficult to care for and the leaves can damage easily. That’s why we’ve put together this Calathea Veitchiana care guide for you to help you look after your plant.

Light

The best kind of light for this plant is low to medium indirect light. It does not need bright light and it certainly does not need direct light. Calathea Veitchiana will suffer under direct sunlight, their leaves will become brown and scorched and this can eventually kill the plant. An early warning sign that a Calathea Veitchiana is receiving too much light is that its leaves will start to curl in on themselves as a means of protection.

Watering

Like most types of Calathea the Calathea Veitchiana needs to be watered often. If it is left to completely dry out then this can severely damage the plant and eventually kill it. Instead you should be allowing the soil to dry out slightly between waterings and then water it thoroughly. Although it’s a plant that likes to be kept watered this doesn’t mean that it wants to sit in water so make sure your pot has drainage holes and that the soil isn’t left soggy.

Humidity

This plant like moderate to high levels of humidity. If it is left somewhere where the air is too dry then this can cause the leaves to crisp. Once the leaves have crisped this damage cannot be undone so it’s better to keep the air nice and moist for them to prevent the damage in the first place. Misting your plants can also help the leaves get the extra moisture they need.

Fertiliser

As Calathea can be sensitive plants its better to dilute fertiliser before you use it as too much can cause the leaves to scorch. If you find that your plant reacts negatively to fertiliser then you could try watering it first so that your plant takes up less of the fertiliser. You also want to limit feeding your plants to the growing season.

Soil

A well draining soil is necessary as you’ll be watering your plant regularly. Just like for many of our plants we would recommend a well balanced soil with added perlite for aeration. Our favourite perlite to use is Espoma.

Curling Leaves

Curling leaves is a common theme that we get asked about regarding Calathea Veitchiana and we are here to help. There are normally two main cause of leaves curling in on themselves and that is light and water. If they are placed in an area that is too bright or if they are underwatered a Calathea Veitchiana will often curl its leaves to conserve water. So if you notice your plant doing this the first thing you should do is check the soil. If the soil feels dry then it is likely to be the cause and you need to water your plant immediately.

The second thing you need to check is light, as we’ve mentioned Calathea Veitchiana don’t do well under bright direct light conditions. If you’ve got your Calathea too close to a light source then your plant will start to do this. Just move it a bit away from the light source so it’s still receiving light but not as intense and you should see some improvement.

Calathea Veitchiana FAQ

Calathea Veitchiana care can be difficult but if you follow our care guide then you should be in with good chance of success. Jus tin case your have any issues why not take a look at our Calathea Vetichiana/Medallion frequently asked questions.

Are Calathea Veitchiana and Calathea Medallion the same plant?

Yes Calathea Veitchiana and Calathea Medallion are the same plant. Veitchiana is its official botanical name and Medallion is the common name given to it due to the appearance of its round almost medallion like leaves.

How big does Calathea Veitchiana grow?

Your Calathea Veitchiana will not grow very tall but it can put out lots of leaves and become incredibly bushy which makes it a fantastic statement piece.

Why are the leaves of my Calathea Veitchiana curling?

The leaves of your Calathea Veitchiana could be curling due to light or watering. If this plant is placed too near a light source or if you underwater it then this can cause the leaves to curl in on themselves.

Why are my Calathea Medallion leaves crisping?

Direct sunlight can cause the leaves of your Calathea Medallion to crisp as the sun scorches them. Another common cause is unfiltered water. Depending on where you live some water can cause crisping on leaves and purchasing some kind of water filter can really help with this.

When should I repot Calathea Medallion?

Calathea Medallion don’t grow particularly quickly and neither does their root system. You could probably repot this plant once a year at the start of the growing in a pot one size up. If you notice that your plant is growing more slowly when it comes to repotting time and the roots haven’t filled the pot then just leave and check back on your plant at a later date. If for some reason your root is bursting out of its pot and growing really quickly then feel free to repot your plant sooner. Once a year can be a good rule of thumb but always be ready to make a judgement call regarding your plant’s care.

If you have any other questions about the Calathea Medallion be sure to let us know in the comments below. Taking care of a Calathea Veitchiana can b a difficult task but the fact that you’re here looking for tips and tricks is a sign that you’re probably going to be alright.