Just bought my first two plants, super helpful lady at the nursery said I just need to water 1x/week and give indirect light. I got a humidifier since it is pretty cold and dry where I live. Anything else I should know or do?? I really want them to thrive!!
by No_Instruction_4120
11 Comments
You can find lots of info in older posts here too.
But the most general ones:
Pests:
Always check new plants for pests (small dots), Mealybugs, Thripse or Spidermites are the most common.
Calathea leaf damage (they store excess minerals at their leaftips):
Calatheas hate hard water or chlorinated water – try to use rainwater, aquarium water conditioner or distilled water. They also need less fertilizer than other plants – if you fertilize, dilute it to maybe 1/4 the dosage or more, or just fertilize every 2nd watering with tiny dosages (like 1/8 or more. Humidity is often the smallest thing they care about – store grown (greenhouse) leaves might die off due to shock, that’s normal, and the plant will put out new ones better adapted to your home over time.
Water schedule:
Generally, for most plants: They don’t like to be constantly wet. Every time you water, you fill the air pockets in the soil with water. The roots need to breathe from time to time too, so most plants like to have a cycle of thorough watering followed by a drying period – no watering until the soil is completely or mostly dry and then you water again, thoroughly. Top soak until the water runs out the bottom or bottom soak in water for 10-30min. Never let the pots sit in excess water.
Never water on schedule either: never do “1x per week”. Water and light have to be balanced. The more light your plants receive, the more water it needs. Big plants with a lot of foliage can also actively “disperse” extra water around their roots through their leaves to create a more comfortable immediate environment (reduce excess water). Small plants have less foliage, so a smaller pot helps them dry out faster and their roots don’t sit in wet suffocating soil for weeks. If your pot takes longer than 2 weeks to dry out then they probably don’t get enough light. Indirect light usually still means right next to a window, just no direct sun rays on the leaves. Right next to a window is often 400-600FC light, while normal home lights for reading are 5-20FC (so our eyes can’t measure light well).
Calatheas stop growing when thirsty and might curl their leaves a bit, but most is recoverable if you water immediately. They are extremely sensitive to overwatering and if their roots are suffocating they will kill off all their leaves fast (even before developing root rot). You can either do the finger in soil check: If the soil feels “cold” it is still slightly damp. If you don’t feel any temperature difference it is dry. Another method is to just lift the pot (measure once when “completely dry” and once after a thorough watering). I normally do the finger check but also lift the pot and if the bottom still feels a lot heavier than the middle & upper part I might still wait a tiny bit longer. Calatheas like it moist often means you water immediately when dry or 1-2 days before the soil is truly dry – but the top few inch or so should always be completely dry, otherwise you’re watering too early.
Consistent watering!
Yes you typically want to water once a week however, if you notice in the summer, it’s taking in more water, maybe water twice a week. In the winter, it’s not taking in as much water, maybe just once every other week or every 10 days. I like to physically pick up the plastic pot to feel how heavy they are.
Otherwise, never let your plants sit in water for more than 20 min. Slowly introduce your plants to fertilizer in the spring. Cut suggested measurements in half as calatheas are super sensitive to them. Some ppl like to continue fertilizer in the winter. I don’t but I would also minimize even more in the winter. Best of luck OP! 🪴💚🤞🏽
Nursery soil tends to be very dense peat which can cause issues in the typical home environment. I repot immediately to an airier mix, i.e. potting soil with stuff in it like large perlite and pieces of orchid bark.
Alot of long lengthy posts, which is probably pretty scary for a first time plant owner with their first plant.
I will chime in on a simpler response, typically I water once a week when it’s dry. The leaves will start to fall and look limp if it’s too dry. Don’t put it in full sun. But a bright light window. When the plant fills up the pot to the edges then it’s ready to put it in a bigger pot.
Abandon hope
Water with distilled water and mist
Throw it in the trash, it will only break your heart
Oh first calathea? It’s a rule that the first Calathea dies….
Tip – give filtered water …
Don’t get attached, they’ll be gone soon xx
Don’t blame yourself.
These are difficult plants to care for.
Good luck.
As you may have noticed from the comments, you have bought a couple of plants not really suited for a beginner. Just do your best with the information you’ve been given. If they die, it may come back. If it doesn’t come back, there are more in the store. Calatheas are very finicky, very lovely pains in the butt. Good luck.