New Plant; New Challenge
Just brought home a calathea rattlesnake plant. It was on clearance at my local nursery and is need of some serious TLC. It sat outside with the other shaded plants but I believe it had been overwatered. I’ve repotted it with a sandy soil, spagnam moss & perlite mix. I’m using my happy happy houseplant fertilizer too. It is facing a northern window/sliding door & will have a grow light. My lanai on the other side of the sliding doors is covered so it will not have any direct sunlight nor will the window get super bright light. I added some stones in the plant saucer to help with humidity. My question is this: how often should I mist it to help with added humidity? How long should I keep the grow light on it? I know this plant can be super challenging but I am determined to give it a healthy environment so that it will flourish. Any and all advice welcome! #CalatheaCrew #RattlesnakePlant
6” pot with drainage
Last watered 4 days ago
4
To keep your Calathea happy, you can mist it occasionally, but a more consistent way to maintain the right humidity level is using a humidifier nearby. Calatheas love high humidity, and a humidifier will provide steady moisture in the air, preventing the leaves from drying out. This is more effective than misting alone, as misting can sometimes cause water to sit on the leaves, potentially leading to fungal issues. Additionally, misting only raises humidity temporarily, while a humidifier ensures it stays at an optimal level for a longer time. Make sure to check the soil moisture regularly and avoid overwatering. With consistent care, the plant should thrive! :)
That pot looks way too big for your little guy, i would put it in a 5 cm pot until it matures a bit more and starts shooting out a good amount of new growth ☺️🪴
I would not fertilise for the first 3-6 months after repotting, because most soil comes with fertiliser in it, and calatheas are very light feeders, so only use fertiliser at 1/4 strength, otherwise the leaves will burn. 🌱
They want to stay consistently moist but also not wet, so it's a fine line to walk 😅
They also want distilled or rain water, but you can also use water conditioner to treat the water, because normal tap water will burn the delicate foliage over time.
I wouldn't put a growlight over it if you have it directly in a north facing window, if it is getting too much light, you will be able to see it, because the backing of the new leaves will not be that dark maroon color.
I don't bother with humidifiers for any of my calatheas, and they are doing just fine 🥳🪴✨️
It is more about keeping their environment consistent, rather than having high humidity, but.. it also does depend on your climate, as we have humidity that never really dips below 40% where I live.
But we do have dark winters, so that is where I will supplement with a growlight to keep my calatheas alive. 🪴🍃
Good luck and happy growing. Just ask if you have any questions, I have 20+ different plants in the marantaceae family that are all doing great ☺️🌿
I would not fertilise for the first 3-6 months after repotting, because most soil comes with fertiliser in it, and calatheas are very light feeders, so only use fertiliser at 1/4 strength, otherwise the leaves will burn. 🌱
They want to stay consistently moist but also not wet, so it's a fine line to walk 😅
They also want distilled or rain water, but you can also use water conditioner to treat the water, because normal tap water will burn the delicate foliage over time.
I wouldn't put a growlight over it if you have it directly in a north facing window, if it is getting too much light, you will be able to see it, because the backing of the new leaves will not be that dark maroon color.
I don't bother with humidifiers for any of my calatheas, and they are doing just fine 🥳🪴✨️
It is more about keeping their environment consistent, rather than having high humidity, but.. it also does depend on your climate, as we have humidity that never really dips below 40% where I live.
But we do have dark winters, so that is where I will supplement with a growlight to keep my calatheas alive. 🪴🍃
Good luck and happy growing. Just ask if you have any questions, I have 20+ different plants in the marantaceae family that are all doing great ☺️🌿