Calathea Warscewiczii Care Guide | Top Tips!

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Calathea Warscewiczii belongs to the Calathea family which often get classed as prayer plants. This is due to the movement the leaves of the plants do throughout the day which resembles a figure praying. Calathea are known for being quite a fussy plant and the Warscewiczii is no different. Be prepared for crispy leaves and a droopy plant, but don’t worry if this happens to you. Caring for a Calathea is all about finding out what works for your plant and if it isn’t doing so well you can change things in its environment. Hopefully this Calathea Warscewiczii care guide should give you a good start.

Watering

Your Calathea Warscewiczii will like to be kept moist which means it needs regular waterings. It’s important that you keep your Calathea in a pot with drainage holes so the excess water can leave the soil because although it likes to be kept moist this doesn’t mean sitting in water. During the winter months as your plant is receiving less sunlight you may find that you need to water it less, but this can also be affected by the temperature in your house.

Light

These plants usually grow under the canopy and protection of other plants so you want to find a bright spot but that’s protected from the direct rays of the sun. Dappled or shaded light is best for a Calathea Warscewiczii. If you expose it to direct light you may find that the leaves become scorched and damaged and this is something you don’t want as once the leaves are damaged you can’t reverse it.

Soil

As this is a plant that needs watering regularly you want to make sure that you have a well balanced, well draining potting mix so that your plant doesn’t become soggy. Our favourite potting mix is Espoma, we would also recommend using perlite to aerate the soil.

Humidity

Calathea Warscewiczii is originally from the rainforest and therefore likes things to be a bit more humid. If the air is too dry you will notice the leaves on your plant starting to crisp and become brittle. Misting your plant with a plant mister can help to combat this or using a humidifier can be a great solution.

Be aware that the air in your home may also become drier in the winter months as we use heating systems to keep us warm and this can dry out the air. So watch your plants for signs of dryness during the winter and if that’s the case you may need to up the humidity for them.

Our favourite humidifier is the Levoit which has a high capacity tank, cool and warm mist options and automatically detects the moisture in the air and will adjust how much water vapour its putting out according to the humidity percentage you’ve set it at.

Fertilising

You can fertilise your Calathea Warscewiczii but make sure dilute the fertiliser as a feed that is too strong can burn then leaves of this plant. Once a fortnight or once a month can be plenty for your Calathea. Also you only need to fertilise during the growing season, don’t fertilise during the winter months.

Propagation

The best way to propagate a Calathea Warscewiczii is through root division. Cuttings are much less successful so instead wait until you see new shoots of your plant appearing through the soil. Then take your plant out of its pot and gently knead away the soil. As the soil falls away you should be able to start separating the plant at the roots. Be careful to keep as many roots in tact and not to tear any of the thicker roots. Once you have separated the plant take the original plant and repot it, then take your new section, pot it as you would a Calathea and find a good bright spot for it with protection from direct sunlight.

So to summarise, in order for a Calathea Warscewiczii to thrive it needs:

• Dappled light
• Regular waterings
• Humidity
• Well draining soil
• Diluted fertiliser

Signs that your Calathea isn’t doing too well include crispy tips and yellowing leaves.

Calathea Warscewiczii FAQ

Now you’ve read our Calathea Warscewiczii care guide, take a look at some of the most commonly asked questions and see if any of the questions being asked are ones you wanted answering yourself.

How do I prune Calathea Warscewiczii?

Simply cut away dead leaves or crispy edges with a sharp pair of scissors. Removing the crispy or dying leaves will allow the plant to refocus it’s energies to the leaves that need it.

How often should you water a Calathea?

Calathea need to be watered rather frequently. Allow the top two inches of soil to dry out between waterings and then water thoroughly. This plant doesn’t like to dry out and if it is forgotten often then you will notice crisping leaves and the plant may eventually die.

Can Calathea grow in low light?

Yes a Calathea can grow in low light as long as it is getting access to some light. This plant will do best in dappled or shaded light but it will not grow in no light conditions.

Is Calathea Warscewiczii a prayer plant?

Yes Calathea Warscewiczii is considered to be a prayer plant just like many other species of Calathea.

Is Calathea Warscewizcii appropriate for beginners?

Calathea plants in general can be quite fussy and difficult to take care of which doesn’t make it the easiest plant for a beginner. However if you do your homework and read about their care needs there’s no reason a beginner shouldn’t get a Calathea Warscewiczii, they just might find it a bit difficult to look after.

We hope you’ve found our FAQ useful, if you have any other questions regarding these beautiful but often fussy plant then please let us know in the comments below.