Let the damaged parts stay where they are or cut them away if you prefer. Water: Keep soil moist, but not soggy. For best results, plant African violets in African violet pots, which are small (4- to 5-inch) ceramic or plastic self-watering containers. Calathea My personal favorites, calatheas are low-maintenance houseplants that come in many different varieties. When I was first starting to care for tropical plants I uneducatedly thought that tropicals need a lot of light and a lot of heat. The ones in the picture are calathea medallion (left) and calathea rattlesnake (right). Remove the plant from its current pot gently by lightly squeezing the pot if it is possible, or use a clean knife to separate the soil from the inside of the pot (if you have watered the day before, this should be fairly easy). The plant is not too picky when it comes to soil, but it needs to be planted in a lightweight soil that retains some moisture but is it porous enough to drain any excess quickly. Core Calathea facts. Oct 11, 2020 - Explore Janet Hawkins's board "African violets" on Pinterest. The next thing would be to gently remove the soil from the roots. Calathea likes humidity, however, it is better to mist from bottom-up as the new leaves do not appreciate the direct exposure. If you have a hygrometer (a humidity monitor) you just need to watch the levels and maintain the right ones. Move the variegated plants in more of a low light environment and watch the patterns become stronger and more distinctive. Watering is at the root of all African violet drooping leaves' problem. Do not go overboard and drown it now for fear of underwatering and in hope that you can compensate for days of not watering it properly. If you want to use the tapped water it is still fine but you should leave it to rest overnight for two reasons: First, the water you are using should be room temperature since the cold water will shock the plant, especially during the summer months. If you notice the edges of your calathea's leaves are browning or withering, that's a sure sign that you need to up your watering cadence. This kind of sun exposure will make the variegations pale and become indistinctive, and longer exposure can cause the leaves to turn yellow or even become scorched. You will recognize it by either yellow spots or blotches, or by wrinkled areas of the leaves. A good quality African violet mix will also meet these requirements. Many African violet mixes are also a good choice. Lack of sunlight is also no good as they originate from the tropical areas. African violets should be fertilized from March to September. A good option for Calatheas is a 15-15-15 fertilizer or any other that has a higher nitrogen value. If you propagate a diseased plant, the chances of it making it after propagation are slim since the propagation itself is also a shock to the plant. You would only need to change the pot size as it grows and watch it and admire it as it does. While it may seem counterintuitive for a plant that is considered tropical, calathea plants actually prefer filtered, indirect light or shade. Calathea musaica Care Tips: The Calathea likes evenly moist soil so try not to let it dry out too much, but you don’t want it sitting in soggy dirt either. African violet soil blend works. Put the pot back where it was before and wait a few weeks for the plant to start growing again after it recovers from the shock of moving. A Calathea plant exploding with growth can be propagated easily. If you want to keep things simple make this mix:  50% potting soil, 20% orchid bark, 20% charcoal, plus 10% perlite. This enhances aeration, while keeping the soil moist, but not soggy. If you want to keep on propagating your plants, they should be ready for another set of propagation the next spring. African violet needs to be well-drained soil to keep it healthy and pleasant. When we say that some plants come from the humid tropicals, we imagine a lot of heat rain and soggy soil for the plants to grow in. Calathea plants flower in their natural environment however, they rarely flower indoors. Water your plant so that it always has moisture but is never soaking wet. In addition to being popular house plants, calathea can also be found planted ornamentally outdoors in tropical environments like Hawaii or southern Florida. Partially fill the pot with Yates Potting Mix with Dynamic Lifter. Choose a spot in your home that's consistently toasty—calathea thrive when kept at temperatures ranging from 70 degrees Fahrenheit to 85 degrees Fahrenheit, but can tolerate a drop down to 60 degrees Fahrenheit (but no lower). For another set of propagation the most popular strategy is division plants the they! Violet ( Saintpaulia ) plants are some of the drainage holes firm and stabilize the plant from container... 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