Houseplants

Just like many other species of Calathea, the Calathea Stromata is a fussy plant and requires specific care needs in order for it to thrive. It can be recognised by its beautiful dark green markings on lighter green leaves.  Our Calathea Stromata care guide should get you set up on how to best look after this amazing plant.

Light

Since it comes from the tropics, Calathea Stromata will need indirect light in order to thrive as it is used to growing under the canopy of other plants in its natural environment. Direct sunlight can damage the leaves of the Stromata plant so it is better to keep it back away from light sources. They can often tolerate low light but a medium light condition will probably be best for your plant. A north or east facing room should provide the right amount of light for this plant, or if you have them in a south or west facing room try pulling them back from the window or using a sheer curtain.

Watering

Calathea Stromata need to be watered regularly or they will wilt and die. Don’t wait for the soil to dry out completely, instead check the top two inches and as it is beginning to dry rewater your plant. Even though they need to be watered regularly it’s important you don’t overwater the Calathea Stromata, so make you sure you have drainage holes in the pot you are using. Regular tap water may cause leaf burning, so if this happens try switching to filtered water to remove the chlorine.

If you find it difficult to know when your plant needs watering then a moisture probe could help you. These are designed

Humidity

Calathea Stromata prefer higher humidity levels as they originate from the tropics. They will also tolerate medium levels of humidity but as the air becomes drier they will start to struggle and you may notice crisping of their leaves. If you’re from an area with low humidity then a humidifier would be beneficial for your plant. If you don’t want to introduce a humidifier into your plant care then a mister can help to provide your plants with extra humidity.

Soil

As Calathea Stromata like to be kept moist it’s important that they’re given a potting mix that can keep moisture in. A regular potting mix with added peat moss and perlite can create the jungle style soil that is necessary for maintaining moisture.

Temperature

These plants like to be kept warm as long as the air remains moist and doesn’t dry out. If you keep them in colder temperatures they won’t do very well, especially if kept near a drought, so keep them away from doors and windows.

Fertiliser

If a fertiliser is too strong it can burn the leaves of your Calathea Stromata, so make sure you use a weak diluted fertiliser for your plant. You only need to feed it during the growing season which is spring and summer and you can leave your plant during the cold months where it won’t be putting out a lot of new growth. During the growing season we would recommend feeding your plant approximately once a month.

Propagation

Propagation of Calathea Stromata can be done by root division. The best way to do this is to wait until the new shoots of plant are established and then separate them by gently pulling the roots apart being careful to break as few as possible. Once you have the new section of plant simply pot it with a Calathea appropriate potting mix, we would recommend regular potting soil, perlite and peat moss. When repotting your new plant shoot

So to summarise, in order to care for a Calathea Stromata you need:

• Medium indirect light
• Frequent watering
• Medium to high humidity
• Peat and perlite based soil

Calathea Stromata FAQ

Below we have compiled a list of some of the most commonly asked questions regarding Calathea Stromata care. Even with a care guide, these plants can be difficult to look after so make sure you check out

Is Calathea Stromata an easy plant to take care of?

No Calathea Stromata is not a particularly easy plant to take care of. Calathea plants are known for being fussy and requiring a bit more extra care to look after. Even though they’re not the easiest plant you can quickly get used to their individual care requirements.

Is Calathea Stromata a jungle plant?

Yes just like many other species of Calathea, the Stromata plant comes from the tropics so is used to jungle like growing conditions.

Can I keep my Calathea Stromata in the bathroom?

Yes a bathroom is a great place for this plant as it like to be kept warm and humid. As long as your bathroom doesn’t get cold and it receives plenty of indirect light then your Stromata plant should do just fine in a bathroom.

Is Calathea Stromata easy to come by?

Although not as common as other plants, Calathea and being sold more and more often in plant shops around Europe and North America. And if you’re unable to find one in a local plant shop then you should have some luck online.

Do Calathea Stromata plants need to be watered regularly?

Yes they do, they like to be kept moist so it’s important that they are watered often and not allowed to dry out.

Is misting good for Calathea Stromata?

A room with high humidity would be best for this plant but if you are unable to provide that then misting would certaintly be beneficial for a Calathea Stromata.

Should I fertilise my Calathea Stromata every week?

Your plant does not need to be fertilised this week and it can actually be counter productive. It would be more beneficial if you fertilised your Calathea either once a fortnight or once a month.

Calathea Orbifolia is definitely one of the show stoppers of the Calathea world. It is one of the larger species with beautiful wide green leaves that fan out in all directions. If treated well it will put out lots of new growth and can end up taking up quite a large space in your house. To help you with this we have put together this Calathea Orbifolia care guide to get you started. Calathea can be fussy plants but hopefully this should give you a good idea where to start.

Light

Calathea Orbifolia require medium indirect light. They can tolerate lower lighting conditions as long as they have access to some light but will do poorly in bright intense light and will do badly in direct sunlight. Direct light can cause burning and permanent damage to the leaves of your beautiful plant. Instead try and find a place with medium light where it is protected from the sun. A north or east facing room would work great for this Calathea (if you’re in the northern hemisphere).

Watering

You’ll want to water your Calathea Orbifolia fairly regularly as it is a plant that does not like to dry out. Don’t overwater it so that the soil is water logged but you want to moisten it often. It’s important that the pot you use does have drainage holes so excess water doesn’t sit in the pot. You might also find that tap water is too strong for your plant and can cause burning on the leaves. If this occurs then switch to filtered water to get rid of some of the chlorine.

Temperature

Calathea Orbifolia prefer to be kept in higher temperatures so keep your Calathea out of cold rooms and away from windows and doors. However the important thing to remember is that in dry temperatures the air can dry out so make sure that there is plenty of humidity for your plant as well as being in a higher temperature. This means keeping them away from heating systems and radiators.

Soil

Calathea Orbifolia like to be moist so although you’ll want the water to drain from your soil you will want some components to help maintain moisture levels. We would recommend an ordinary potting soil with added peat and perlite.

Propagation

You can’t propagate a Calathea Orbifolia by cuttings, instead you have to do so by root division. As your plant grows, new shoots of will appear out of the soil and grow in their own sections. Once you have established sections your plant is ready to divide. Take the plant out of the pot and work the soil away from the roots. Then gently separate the roots being careful to break as few as possible. Once you have separated the plant make you sure you repot them straight away.

Humidity

Calathea Orbifolia prefer to be kept in medium to high humidity as they originate from the tropics. If the air is too dry you will notice the leaves start to crisp. Misting can also help your plants but if you live in a dry region we would recommend you seriously consider buying a humidifier. Your Calathea plants will definitely thank you for it.

Fertilising

Calathea can be sensitive to fertiliser and the Calathea Orbifolia is no different. It’s important that you use a weak fertiliser as a strong one can scorch the leaves. You might also find that your plant prefers it if you water it first before adding the fertiliser so that the roots suck up the water initially. This will reduce the chances of leaf scorching. Only fertilise your plant during the growing seasons and leave it in the winter months. You can also get away with fertilising your Calathea Orbifolia once a month.

To summarise in order to care for your Calathea Orbifolia you will need:

• Medium indirect light
• Medium to high humidity
• Filtered water
• Weak fertiliser
• Warm temperature
• Peat and perlite based soil mix

Calathea Orbifolia FAQ

Now that you’ve read our Calathea Orbifolia care guide, make sure you check our some frequently asked questions too in case some of the queries you have regarding your Calathea have already been answered here.

How fast does Calathea Orbifolia grow?

Calathea Orbifolia aren’t particularly fast growers but will put out new leaves in the growing seasons if kept under the appropriate conditions.

How do you look after Calathea Orbifolia?

To look after a Calathea Orbifolia we would recommend:

• Medium to bright indirect light
• Frequent waterings
• Filtered water
• Medium to high humidity
• Repotting once a year if necessary

Do Calathea Orbifolia need humidity?

Yes the Calathea Orbifolia needs humidity as it originally comes from the tropics and is therefore used to higher levels of humidity. If the air becomes too dry for your plant you may notice the leaves starting to crisp.

When should I repot Calathea Orbifolia?

Calathea Orbifolia are not known as particularly fast growing plants so once a year should be enough for your plant and you should only need to repot one size up. You may actually find that your Orbifolia doesn’t need repotting every year and you’re able to leave it, try and read what your individual plant needs and remember that ‘repotting once a year’ is simply a guide.

Is Calathea Orbifolia a Calathea Plant?

The clue is in the name, a Calathea Orbifolia does belong to the Calathea family of plants. It may also go by Prayer Plant.

Is Calathea Orbifolia an easy plant to look after?

Calathea plants in general aren’t known as easy plants to look after, they can be fussier than other species and when things go wrong they can do so quickly. However if you follow our care guide then you shouldn’t have too many problems with this fussy plant.

Is a Calathea Orbifolia suitable for a beginner?

As we’ve mentioned they’re not the easiest plant to take care of but there’s no reason why a beginner shouldn’t give it a go, if they’re careful to follow the tips mentioned in the Calathea Orbifolia care guide then they should have no problem.

The Calathea Picturata is known for the intense colour in the centre of its leaves surrounded by a band of green colouring. There are two main types of Calathea Picturata, the crimson and the silver, both equally as beautiful but with a very different feeling to each. Just like many species of Calathea, this can be difficult to look after and can require more care than other houseplants but with our Calathea Picturata care guide, you should get a good idea of how best to look after this plant.

Watering

Calathea Picturata need to be watered often and do not like being left to dry out. Of course this doesn’t mean you should be watering them daily and they won’t do well sitting in water logged soil but feel the top two inches of soil and as it starts to dry out give your plant a drink, do not wait for the for pot to have dried out.

If you are worried about overwatering your plant then a common sign is yellow leaves. If you notice the leaves starting to turn yellow then it is possible that you are actually watering your plant too much. If your leaves curl in on themselves or start to droop then this is a sign that you are underwatering your plant. If you’re struggling to work out when your plant needs watering then consider buying a moisture stick. You can use this to detect the level of moisture in the water and it can be a great indication for when your plant needs watering.

We would also recommend using filtered water for your Calathea Picturata as the chlorine found in tap water can sometimes be too harsh and can burn the leaves of your plant.

Light

Like most types of Calathea the Calathea Picturata needs to be kept out of direct sunlight to prevent leaf scorching. It will do well in medium to bright light conditions as long as it is protected from direct light. A common sign that your plant is receiving too much light is leaf curling. If the light is too intense for the Calathea then the leaves will start to curl in on themselves for protection. This is a method used to try and conserve water.

Soil

Calathea require a standard well balanced potting mix that drains easily. A good blend would be a generic potting mix with added perlite and orchid bark.

Fertiliser

Calathea Picturata can be sensitive to fertiliser and if the mix is too strong it can cause burning on the leaves. To prevent this we would recommend diluting the fertiliser and using it on your plant approximately once a month during the growing season. If you find the fertiliser is still too strong then try watering your plant before adding fertiliser so that the plant sucks up the water first and the fertiliser gets diluted further. Do not fertilise during the winter months.

Humidity

Calathea Picturata will do well in higher humidity. They can tolerate medium level humidity but will start to suffer in dry air. If the air is too dry for the plant it can cause crisping of the leaves. As this is a plant that likes things moist we would recommend using a humidifier to increase the levels in your home. Our favourite model if the Levoit humidifier as it has a large capacity, hot and cold mist and a humidity detector so you can set your device to put out a certain amount of humidity and it will automate this itself.

Propagation

Propagation of the Calathea Picturata can be done through root division. We would not recommend trying to take cuttings as this is very unlikely to work. Instead take your plant from its pot and gently work the soil away from the roots. Once you have cleared enough soil try to separate the roots while breaking as few as possible. Once you have worked the roots apart you should have a separate segment of plant with its own root system in tact. Plant this in its own pot with soil and repot the original plant.

So to summarise, in order to look after a Calathea Picturata you will need:

• Medium to bright indirect light
• Regular watering
• Medium to high humidity
• Filtered water
• Diluted fertiliser

Calathea Picturata FAQ

Now you’ve read our Calathea Picturata care guide, why not take a look at some of the most commonly asked questions regarding this plant.

Is the Crimson and the Silver Calathea Picturata the same plant?

Yes these are both Calathea Picturata but vary due to their colouring.

Should I get the Silver Calathea Picturata or the Crimson Calathea Picturata?

Which ever one you choose will probably depend on which one you prefer the look of and which one will match your colour scheme better. They both have very similar care needs and are equally as attractive as the other.

Are Calathea Picturata easy to care for?

Calathea Picturata aren’t especially easy to care for, they are known for being fussy plants but if you follow our care guide then you should be able to look after them fine.

Are Calathea Picturata suitable for beginners?

Any plant is suitable for a beginner but as Calathea are known to be quite fussy a beginner may struggle with this plant.

Do Calathea Picturata like to be misted?

Yes, as these plants prefer the air to be quite moist they will respond well to misting. A humidifier would be more beneficial but misting can certainly help your plant.

Why are the leaves of my Calathea Picturata turning brown?

You might find the leaves of your plant turn brown and crispy for several reasons; underwatering, unfiltered water and direct sunlight.

Why are the leaves of my Calathea Picturata turning yellow?

The main reason for this is overwatering. If your leaves are turning yellow it could be a sign that you are watering your plant too frequently. If this is happening to you then consider checking the soil and if it is very wet change your watering schedule.