I hate hate *hate* plants in soil. Especially calathea s...
I hate hate *hate* plants in soil. Especially calathea soil. I got complacent and stopped using my moisture meter. When they started looking really rough after a week away from home, I tested the soil by touch. Still "wet", so I thought I had overwatered 🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️ now one is dead and the other at deaths door. I've "tested" the soil in the meantime several times. Always going away with a still damp feeling, which is why I watered very sparingly. (I had neither time nor energy to repot and look at the roots, though I assumed they were severely damaged. You know. Because of all the overwatering.🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️) Now I've checked with the meter, and apparently, it's bone dry. If you excuse me, I have a Dottie to bury and afterward I will relax and take care of my normal non-soil plants (hoya and orchids, succulents in a pinch) that will never deceive and betray me like this. Let this be your sign not to stop using your bamboo stick or moisture meter if you have similar problems. #notsohappyplants #calathea #plantgraveyard
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No way!! Why do they do this to ussss!! I had a similar issue with my Chinese money plant that died not too long ago. To the touch, the soil was just not drying out and I couldn’t figure out why (it was summer and I’ve not watered in nearly two weeks and soil still felt dry), and I didn’t have a water meter to check (though I’m going to the garden centre today so may invest!)
Hi @Chevysgirl11 I'm not sure. The mother plant (this one) still had a tiny chance, I think, if it really isn't rot but dehydration. However, no. The other one was almost dead when I returned and since I couldn't take care of it then, it's almost 100% certain that it's dead. I took a look today and the big one still had viable roots. The stem has blackish yellowing though, so I'm not 100% sure with my diagnosis. Maybe they just look like that, I don't know them well enough. I do know however that it has been criminally underwatered for weeks now. I could kick myself. From my really days with my marantha, I know that I'm simply not able to feel dampness in calathea soil correctly. I do not know what had possessed me to take shortcuts - on an already suffering plant no less.
That marantha of yours has recovered gloriously. I had heard calathea types were finicky, but my prayer plant has been happy and thriving from day one, and before my hospital stay, that dottie had been thriving as well, so maybe I had become overconfident. 🤦♀️
My prayer plant has been in the kitchen now, I still have to find a spot it doesn't like. It's still happy. I'll add a picture of it as a counterpoint to my dead smaller dottie 😀 to make this post less depressing.
That marantha of yours has recovered gloriously. I had heard calathea types were finicky, but my prayer plant has been happy and thriving from day one, and before my hospital stay, that dottie had been thriving as well, so maybe I had become overconfident. 🤦♀️
My prayer plant has been in the kitchen now, I still have to find a spot it doesn't like. It's still happy. I'll add a picture of it as a counterpoint to my dead smaller dottie 😀 to make this post less depressing.
@PiousWaterfern I don't know how people handle this type of soil with just their finger test. Simply no idea. In a pinch a bamboo stick (like a skewer) seems to work well for many people, but I found that moisture meter very affordable and (when I was still using it diligently) it was a godsend. Beware, though, I have heard that some might malfunction and can be unreliable. I've never had issues with mine, though. I'm sorry to hear about your money tree.
@Chevysgirl11 not should you be. One wrong watering and that happens 🤷♀️ I just lucked out till now, I guess. Yes, I remember. I think it was our first interaction on here. And I'm always happy to see mother and daughter are doing well. 😀
I don't beat myself up about the state of the plants. That can happen. But rather for my stupidity. I knew that soil was my blindspot when I test it like this. And I did it anyway 🤷♀️ poor dottie
I don't beat myself up about the state of the plants. That can happen. But rather for my stupidity. I knew that soil was my blindspot when I test it like this. And I did it anyway 🤷♀️ poor dottie
@MusicalRedmint hey lady, I use my soil less combo on everything but succulents and begonias. Why? Because I hear you and share your frustration! I am sorry about your Dottie. 😢
@TheOddAsity 😀 really? I see you have a Maranta. That's fascinating to me. They are doing well in that? In that case, I might switch. I thought anything less than what I was using would be a terrible mix for calatheas.
At this point, I can laugh about it, but thanks for the kind words.
At this point, I can laugh about it, but thanks for the kind words.
@MusicalRedmint yep! My marantas are doing fan-freaking-tastic. Both of them!! My red, I have had for a year. I almost lost her, twice…. Due to soil. But at the time I didn’t know it. She was about 3 leaves for a time… and last February is when I really started diving into soil mixture. I switched her over in around… April? I put her in a clear pot cauae I wanted to see her roots and they look a lot like Hoya. I have since given away 3 generous cuttings and today I’m gonna trim her to shape her.
The green one, I got in June? Didn’t waste any time. Put him in my soil combo. I have given away 2 generous cuttings of him as well. They really love the coco chips/ chunky perlite that aerates their roots. AND my green one is a his 10 feet from the window.
The green one, I got in June? Didn’t waste any time. Put him in my soil combo. I have given away 2 generous cuttings of him as well. They really love the coco chips/ chunky perlite that aerates their roots. AND my green one is a his 10 feet from the window.
@TheOddAsity hmmm. That sounds great. I might consider it. Though the Maranta rarely gave me trouble. Maybe for future calatheas. Thank you for the tip. And happy holidays.