Calathea Sanderiana Care

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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.