Hi there growhappy;

Well, It really is NOT your fault!!!! I too have had those and other plants call to me and DARE me to pass them by. I know, for a FACT, that they call out to all of us, tempt and dare us. And you know what happens then!!! I too, just this last weekend was very nice and gave away a number of plants, I was going to lay low for awhile since I have aprox. 120+ and I live in a cabin, for crying out loud. Need the room for people too, right? Next day I went to the store and heard them a'calling. I answered..."Just ONE" But, I Know that YOU know what happened!!!! Yep!!!! I also got Suckered into buying more than I had given away!! Had to sneak them home. AND...I'm almost sure I heard at least one say the same thing that plant said to you. It must have been in the same family!

Yet, Know what, after I got them home? ALL my guilt disappeared!! How about that???

Joy, it is truly amazing just how quickly that guilt disappears even in the face of being clobbered by our green friends. LOL

GH

Well, if it is the beautiful "Prayer Plant" you are talking about, I too have killed my share. One stained glass one I had was so so so pretty and full and it did well for so long, I was devastated when it suddenly started to die. Root rot - not even an advanced case, either. However, I have mangaged to keep one going for over a year now, and here are my thoughts on this plant:

No direct sun. In fact, these plants will do well in shade. I currently have mine outside where it gets dappled morning sun for about 45 minutes in the am, and thats it - the rest of the day it is under a 3ft shaded eave up against the house. It almost doubled in size this summer.

Be very very careful with the water, I know that is how I killed all of mine, by overwatering. The problem is that you don't want the plant to spend too long dry either. I check mine at least every other day and when it gets to the point where I feel very little moisture 2 or 3 inches down into the soil, I STILL wait another day before watering. I mist daily as well, sometimes plain water, sometimes water with a drop of superthrive. I have heard it doesn't make much of a difference to plants, but it sure makes me feel good.

As far as fertilizing goes, it gets a weak solution of a balanced fertilizer about every 3rd watering, though sometimes I forget entirely and it gets nothing.

My plant bloomed for me this summer, sweet little purple violet-like flowers. Before the first frost it will come indoors, I have a small atrium that is a little too bright, so I will find a spot under some hanging plants where it will not get too much light. That is where it spent last winter when it was just a youngster. Hopefully it will do well this year too.

Just my 2 cents, I may even try out the all green version, you know the one - lighter green leaves with the darker green spots....

Oh, those darned Calatheas are so devious! How could a mere mortal expect to stand up to them? Don't feel guilty. It's not your fault. You're the victim here! (Heeheehee!)
So, what Sans are you considering, besides patens? I don't remember whether they have hallii...they didn't have pinguicula when I ordered. (CallaLady/Alicia was nice enough to hook me up with one from a C&S sale in her area just over a year ago.) Got your eye on some others? Tell, tell!

Oh, yes, I have my eye on a few others alright.:)

1.)Halli(they do have this)
2.)Bantel's Sensation
3.)Masoniana
4.)Hahnii Silver Frost(only at Smoleys, previously at Tropiflora)
5.)Francisii
6.)Frosty Spears

I bought well over $100 worth of plants from Mr. Smoley in June and most of them were Sans! It's just TOO easy to spend the money when you've got him showing you around his greenhouse! He was very, very nice. His daughter took my daughter to their bathroom(little emergency!). As we were leaving, he asked his daughter to go inside and get something for us. She came back with a big slab of peanut brittle. I nibbled on it all the way back to Orlando! It was the BEST PB I've ever had. He said it was made right there in Dunnellon. But, I digress!

I do want Pinguicula, but so far only Smoley has this. I've looked at Parva, but am not so sure on this one. Jen, I'm very afraid here. I feel another obsession coming on-STRONG!

GH

GH, are you in MD???? I have not found such tempting treats in any nurseries yet. Maybe I should be thankful lest I go broke but I'd sure hate to miss some plant that was calling my name.
I did go to Benkes and Homestead last week but the house plant selections were limited. Please let me in on the best places to shop. I'm dying to know and some plant might just be dying to be rescued and given a good home.

Hello Beth!

I am indeed a Marylander....Baltimore to be exact. Most of my Sans were purchased from Bob Smoley, in Florida. However, much of everything else I have came from one of two local greenhouses:
Valley View Farms on York Rd. in Cockeysville
Watsons Garden Center on York Rd. in Lutherville

And, of course, I'm no stranger to mail order business. There are several very good online vendors as well.

And, you know, I will travel for good nurseries. LOL I did just that last Fall. I drove to Gettysburg, PA to go to a nursery that a friend had been raving about. Let me tell you, it really WAS all the rave!

Just email me privately if you want more info on those two Baltimore area nurseries.

GH

GH, you're not alone. I'm a real sucker for these plants! In fact, I love most plants from the Maranta group and can hardly ever pass one up.

Last night I went out to dinner with my husband to a restaurant that we go to now and then. Well, this restaurant is filled with plants (obviously someone is hired to care for them). When we got there yesterday, I noticed that all their plants were different and super healthy. I told my husband that they must have been recently changed since there wasn't one blemish on any one of them (hmmm...now that I think about it, who the heck aside from a houseplant lover would even notice that? LOL). I went so far as getting up to go over and touch them, check if they're real...LOL... Thankfully we went for an early supper and the place was practically empty aside from the staff!

Anyhow, amongst the collection there were these types of plants scattered throughout the store: Croton, Ficus, Pothos, Dracaena, Dieffenbachia, Aglaonemas and a GORGEOUS Calathea that I'd never seen before. I got the crazy urge to ask the owner for one...LOL...

I was so mesmerized by that Calathea that I looked over at my husband and said "I love that Calathea (I could see the question floating in his had 'what the heck is a Calathea?'). I've never seen one like that before anywhere. Darn, it's too bad I didn't bring my gardening tools. While you distracted the workers, I could dig one up and take it home. There are so many in here. What's one less?"

My husband stared and stared and stared at me with a spooked look and didn't blink until I finally said "Hey, I'm just kidding!" LOL...

Was I really joking? LOL...
So, yes, I love those darn Calatheas too!

GH, Makoyana is one of my favorite Calatheas..I searched for the Mako for many yrs and finally found one at www.blackjungle.com 2 or 3 summers ago. How tall is yours? They are one of the pretties of Cals, IMO.
I'm still looking for the Crocata, but can't find it..Could the green one you saw be the crocata? Was it flowering? The crocata has orange flowers and is sold more for the flowers than the leaves, unlike other Cals.
Girl, you are so funny..all that driving..especially w/the price of gas right now..LOL..
Went grocery shopping yesterday and the store had little 3" pots for 1.49..There were 2 syngoniums I considered buying, but passed them up..that's real resistance for me..lol..Toni

Toni,

The green cal that tempted me so was very unusual. The newer leaves were bright green with white lines forming a checker board pattern. Sounds strange, right? You can see why I was SO tempted to carry it home. I'd never seen one like it, not even on the world wide web.

There was one other one that looked similar to a rattlesnake. The leaves were more slender and ended in a point.

GH

GH, the Mako is also known as insignis. I don't know which name it's going under nowadays..but when I got mine, both names were listed.
Oh, if the green has a checkerboard look it isn't the crocata..crocata leaves are all green. But it sure sounds lovly. I KNOW both would be in my cart..LOL.
Why did you not buy it? See, that's my problem, if I see a plant at the store that I know is impossible locating, I've got to have it..There were too many times I passed up a plant only to go home and mope..LOL..from a European fan to the Fireflash..I ended up getting the ff, after 3 trips to the store, but the fan was gone 20 mins after leaving and returning to the store..Which happened to be Walmart. It's a big plant anyway, and I don't have the room, but when you see it in the store you want it, despite its size.
I'm debating buying another Crown of Thorns, which is one of my favorite cactus next to the Madagascar Palm cactus..I've got one w/red flowers now, and one that might die from all the rain we've had this summer..Poor thing. I really fell for that plant, too, but we'll see..So, are you going back to get the cal? LOL..Toni

Why are you encouraging me to do this? LOL You know, the last time I did this was last year. I reported on an Zygopetalum that was 50% off. Cena raved about it and I ended up going to back to the store and buying it the SAME day! I'm astonished, really, that I haven't gone back to buy this beautiful Calathea.

You know, I did the same thing earlier this summer with an epi that was HUGE. The flowers were said to be orange/yellow. Well, I waited until the day the sale started and it was GONE. GONE! LOL

GH

GH, I'm sorry..LOL..I just don't want you feeling bad for not buying, like I was those two times.
I'm astonished you haven't gone back too. I wish dh would surprise me and go to a nursery near his work and buy the Crown of Thorns..LOL..but that's impossible..he won't go. And it's less than 2 miles from his work place. I'd like to go w/him, but can imagine what I'd come home with, and I surely don't need anymore plants..but I do want the COT's..
They have gorgeous cals, too, but very very expensive..STill, if I found the the Crocata I'd go for it. Now I feel like going plant hunting..LOL. Well, you decide and let us know if you go back..Toni

I wish you luck. I have killed many. It seems I can only keep them alive for a year or two then bang dead. Do you think they may need distilled water?

I did pick up a prayer plant last winter that has done wonderful this summer. Mine also flowered this year I did not know they flowered. I never had one live this long.

This was my favorite. Dead after two years.
{{gwi:104121}}

Nice Calathea, pretty coloring, sorry you lost it.

Well I got suckered last wknd @ the Supermarket, by a Hoya of all things. I've rarely had a big full 6" pot of them (I collect Hoyas & C&S for anyone new that doesn't know that).

It was a plant old H. carnosa variegate. On closer inspection, it's 2 different white edged Hoyas, one is Crimson Queen, the other I don't know the ID, but it's a more delicate, thinner leaf, yellower green which (I've mentioned elsewhere before) is somewhat reminiscent of a varieg. Ficus benjamina. Wasn't EA, but was watered same day I bought it, a wk later, the mix was still soaking wet. So Sat. I took it apart, changed the mix & split it into 2 smaller hanging pots, total of 20 separate plants, most very well rooted.

So am in Hoya heaven, w/ 2 new Hoyas hanging in my kitchen, now if they'd just bloom for me I'd know I was in heaven for sure!!

Marquest a beautiful Calathea..is that the Cynthia? It resembles, it, but could be another. I'm sorry you lost it..Cals should live longer than 2 yrs, but they're not the easiest plants to care for. They take time, work, and lots of effort.
Too much or little heat will harm them, too little humidity browns them..too little or too much water kills them too..I think they're more difficult growing than orchids..

I just want to say to all of you who debate going back to get a plant you really want--the only plants I've ever regretted were the ones I didn't buy. Well, I regret the ones I've kill too, but that's different isn't it?

Gosh, yeah. I was reading some care tips on this plant. A previous poster said they are more difficult than growing orchids and I could not agree more! Orchids are easy, as a matter of fact and personal experience. Calatheas are picky about temperature, water and humidity. Well, at least I know if I kill the Makoyana, I can get another from the conservatory. They grow a big beautiful bed of this in one of the rooms there.

Marquest, that is a beautiful Calathea. You are doing something right! They seem to do fine in the summer, but then in the Fall/Winter, I manage to kill them. I will try harder this time. If I can grow an orchid, I MUST be able to grow a Calathea!!!!!

GH

It depends on the orchid. some are a breeze; some are unfathomably difficult. I guess it depends on where you live, too. I struggle with getting the humidity/air circulation balance right for Tolumnias, while they can grow like weeds elsewhere. Somebody in Bangkok would tear their hair out trying to grow the Cypripediums that pop up in large drifts in the woods here.
Calatheas--- I can grow them, but they spend the winter looking like something the cat dragged in! I've gotta love 'em anyway. *sigh*

Hi everyone. I'm new to this group, as of today. And I had a question, as I've been reading you're all calathea lovers. I am as well. And am finally getting it down right, on how not to kill some of them. lol. I've had my eye on trying to find a CALATHEA LANCIFOLIA. Does anyone know where I could find one? I've found 1 site, but it's very pricey. I have no clue where else to look. Please let me know if you have any suggestions. Thank you so much. And good luck with those cals. I have a stromanthe, that I just received, and 2 days after repotting it, it's leaves began curling. Those things are just as difficult to please, as a calathea, in my opinion.

Michelle ;)

After many yrs of searching, I found my Cal Lancifolia at Blackjungle, but they no longer sell them..then again, I'd write to the nursery asking if they had any available.
Natural Selections sells Lancifolias, too..they ship pretty nice plants..
I'll keep an eye opened to see if I find another..Lancifolia's are difficult to locate, as are Crocata's which is a Cal I've veen looking for for. Toni

I'd like to second Greenelbow's sentiment, guilt is easier to live with than regret (after all eventually you'll find a way to justify buying another plant and the guilt will disappear but regret is with you forever).