In case you’ve ever introduced dwelling a Calathea Medallion plant pondering, “Wow, that is the prettiest plant I’ve ever seen,” after which watched it slowly begin to droop, curl, or crisp up… you are not alone.
I’ll be sincere with you:
I was horrible at maintaining crops alive, not to mention the Calatheas. Like, crispy-leaf, “why-do-you-hate-me?” ranges of dangerous. After some time, I lastly discovered how one can preserve most crops, together with my Calathea Medallion, not simply alive, however thriving.
This lovely plant with its daring, spherical leaves and gorgeous purple undersides is definitely worth the effort. It might sound a bit dramatic at instances (Calatheas do love to indicate off their moods), however when you perceive what it wants, it’s truthfully not that arduous to maintain blissful.
Listed below are my prime 7 simple tricks to care on your Calathea Medallion, straight from somebody who’s been within the trenches.
The best way to Take care of Your Calathea medallion (7 Straightforward Ideas)
1. Watering Your Plant
I discovered this the onerous approach:
Calathea Medallion doesn’t like faucet water. The fluoride, chlorine, and minerals can mess with its roots and trigger these dreaded brown, crispy leaf edges. In case your plant seems prefer it’s been via a drought though you’ve watered it, the perpetrator could be your water.
What works finest?
Filtered, distilled, or rainwater. I really depart a jug of faucet water out in a single day to let a few of the chemical compounds evaporate, and my plant’s been approach happier since.
Additionally, preserve the soil evenly moist however by no means soggy. Let the highest inch dry out earlier than watering once more. Overwatering can result in root rot, which is just about a demise sentence.
Right here’s an in depth information on watering potted crops.
2. Present Excessive Relative Humidity
Calatheas are native to tropical rainforests, so dry air makes them tremendous cranky. If your house has dry air (particularly in winter), you’ll wish to bump up the humidity.
I exploit a small humidifier close to mine, however you may as well mist the leaves sometimes or place the pot on a tray of pebbles with water. Simply ensure that the pot isn’t sitting instantly in water; no person likes soggy ft.
In case you’re , right here’s an inventory of the most effective plant humidifiers. Be sure you test it out.
Professional tip: Grouping your crops collectively helps create a microclimate with extra moisture. Plus, it simply seems so cozy and jungle-like.
3. Temperature
Calathea Medallion loves a constant, cozy temperature, ideally between 65°F and 80°F. Keep away from chilly drafts, open home windows in winter, or place it subsequent to a heater.
I do know somebody who left theirs too near a window, and in a single day, the temperatures dropped.
The subsequent morning?
Limp leaves and a really dramatic plant sulking in its pot. Lesson discovered.
4. Brilliant Oblique Gentle
This plant is a little bit of a diva in relation to lighting. It doesn’t need full solar (it’ll scorch these beautiful leaves), however it does want shiny, oblique gentle to thrive.
Maintain it close to a north-facing window, and it’ll be blissful there. In case your solely choice is a brighter spot, simply diffuse the sunshine with a sheer curtain. And don’t panic for those who see the leaves transferring, they perform a little each day dance! Calatheas naturally increase and decrease their leaves in response to gentle.
It’s sort of magical.
5. Don’t stress over fertilizer
You don’t need to overthink feeding your Calathea. In reality, much less is extra. Use a diluted liquid houseplant fertilizer as soon as a month throughout spring and summer time.
In fall and winter? Depart it alone.
An excessive amount of fertilizer could cause leaf burn, and truthfully, these crops aren’t quick growers anyway. They simply wish to chill of their pot and look fairly.
6. Repot each couple of years
Calatheas prefer to really feel slightly comfortable of their pots, so there’s no rush to repot yearly. However for those who discover roots popping out of the drainage holes or the plant dries out tremendous quick, it could be time.
Select a pot that’s only one dimension up and has good drainage.
I normally use a mixture of potting soil with a little bit of orchid bark or perlite to maintain issues ethereal. And at all times repot within the spring for those who can. Vegetation are extra resilient once they’re actively rising.
7. Look ahead to pests
Spider mites love Calatheas, particularly in dry circumstances. I examine the undersides of the leaves as soon as every week simply to be secure. If I spot something, I gently wipe the leaves with a humid material and spray with neem oil.
One trick I’ve discovered useful: give your Calathea a “bathe” from time to time. A delicate rinse beneath lukewarm water retains the leaves clear and helps wash off any tiny intruders.
Conclusion
In case your Calathea Medallion seems unhappy generally, don’t beat your self up. These crops will throw a match if circumstances aren’t excellent, however when you tune into what they like, it turns into second nature.
The excellent news is, when you dial within the fundamentals (gentle, humidity, water high quality), it will get an entire lot simpler. And if you see these beautiful leaves unfurl, it’s so price it.
I’d love to listen to from you.
