skip to main content

I got some free plants! Plant #1: Calathea Zebrina

newhostalady Z6 ON, Canada

3 years ago

Someone needed to find a home for their plants as they were moving. I volunteered! Two of them are of the Calathea family. I've never had them before.

I believe the previous owner said she watered it every 3 days. I think I see severe calcium deposits in each drainage hole on the side of the pot.

What should I do with this plant? Cut off old leaves? Repot---but wait to do this until spring? I gather humidity is something that this plant likes. I don't think I can bring the humidity up in the house. I think it is 40% humidity in our house now.

I would welcome suggestions as to how to improve this plant.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

newhostalady Z6 ON, Canada
Original Author
3 years ago
More photos:

I took the picture after wiping away some some guck from the drainage holes.

It is an interesting plant though!
newhostalady Z6 ON, Canada
Original Author
3 years ago
I guess no one has experience with this plant? Looking up on youtube.com it seems like it is not going to be easy to keep this plant looking good. One person put it in the more "difficult" category of calatheas. I think the most difficult part of keeping these plants is that they love humidity. So now we are in entering our driest time of the year when it's very cold outside and the furnace goes on a lot and dries the air.

This is what I am thinking I should do: Wait until March and do a repot. Check into what media this plant should be repotted into. Also decide whether to divide the plant. Remove at least some of the leaves that are hanging very low. Mist daily. Water about twice a week. See about using a humidifier in the room where the plant is located. Figure out the best place to put it (bright, but no direct sunlight). At least one site recommends watering with distilled water. I may do this (or 50/50 distilled and regular tap water). In the growing season I will water with rain water as I do with my other houseplants.
Related Discussions
Got some new plants!!!
Q
Comments (7)
Think of it as if it were spelled "patch - ear - ah" with a slight accent on the "ear". It's a little beauty, like to see a close-up of the trunk, looks like they have already done a twist of trunks from a multi-planting? A great shape to treat almost as a bonsai. But it will need good light and regular water if you are going to keep it in a small pot. The croton also likes bright light to keep that colour, but should not be over-watered. The african violet should have a very free-draining mixture, best watered with tepid water and allow to run thru the mixture and then drain. Try to only water the soil not the leaves as they tend to a bit of fungus/rot. Also bright light in order to induce flowering, frequent light applications of fertilizer with an emphasis on pottasium which will promote flowers. The sanseveria is as tough as old boots, don't overwater that one. Water when the soil is dryish but don't allow to sit in water. Again, the best light you provide will keep the variegation nice and bright. Good purchase, hope they do well for you.
...See More
Anyone Plant Zebrinas Outside in Cooler Zones?
Q
Comments (15)
Todd~ I have some zebrinas which did not overwinter this past winter, so I used my back up pups this year. Two methods that I have seen people use successfullyfor marginal bananas are. 1)-Insulated ducts. You know the round silver more rigid kind you find at HD or Lowes. Once you have chopped the leaves off and a hard freeze is expected, slide the duct which has been cut to the appropriate length over the trunk and make sure the top opening is covered. Once temps have warmed you can remove and use again as needed. The other method 2)-is to remove leaves and chop the trunk to 2-3 feet, then cover with a lawn bag full of leaves. The lawn bag is placed open end down on the ground and cinched as to not let moisture in. The benefit of leaves in a bag over mulch is dryness. Without rain, snow, etc getting in the mulch there is less chance of rot to the above ground psuedostem. I personally use the storage of trunks in the garage. I am not sure but I don't think zebrinas will get so large as to become problematic. Downside to trunk storage is that some plants take off in the spring while others sulk. I have one plant that has only put one leaf out while the ones growing from the ground have almost caught up. I am not a banana expert but I do live in the DFW area (Wylie) so I am fairly familiar with the climate here. Hope this helps. David
...See More
Watering after repotting Prayer Plant and Calathea
Q
Comments (12)
dishtrish: Yes, that is normal, apparently that's why they are called prayer plants. Calatheas and marantas move alot. They lift their leaves at night and spread them in the morning. You can google e.g. "calathea timelapse". I noticed that they move even more soon after generous watering. I love to observe them, they are such fun plants:) I use 1:1:1 mix that petrushka mentioned (peaty mix:perlite:small bark or coir chips). sd2102: Pretty flowers. I used to have the same kind of maranta and it used to flower even a few times a season.
...See More
Sad Calathea Plant
Q
Comments (0)
Hello, All! I am fairly new to caring for plants and the guy at Home Depot said that Calatheas are super easy to care for...as I’ve done some research I now know that isn’t the case, they are very finicky! My poor plant’s leaves are turning yellow and brown on the edges, and some have even turned fully yellow. They also droop down quite often. The soil is moist and I went from watering it every other or every 2-3 days to only giving it 1/2-1 cup of water once a week. I don’t know if that’s too much or too little for it or what. It is in indirect sunlight and I keep the apartment between 65-72 degrees at all times, and I mist it often. I’ve even got a humidifier in the same room. It has been put into a new pot (same size as the one it came in) with “indoor plant” soil. Any advice?
...See More
tropicbreezent
3 years ago
Leave repotting until it gets warmer. Make sure you don't over water it. Never water on a schedule, only when the plant needs it. In a dry indoor environment the surface of the soil will quickly look dry when the soil deeper down is still moist. That makes it very easy to over water.

Higher humidity is better but not critical. As long as air temperature isn't too high the 40% humidity isn't too bad. You can sit it on the "pebble tray" so the bottom of the pot is out of water but water vapour is constantly moving up through the air around the plant.

The mineral desposit on the bottom of the pot is a good indication that the soil is old, highly mineralised and will need changing (when it's warmer). Make sure the new soil is light and fast draining. When you do repot the plant will go through transplant shock but come good in time. Some Calathea species are fairly tough, but C. zebrina is a bit more on the sensitive side in my experience.
newhostalady Z6 ON, Canada thanked tropicbreezent
nicholsworth Z6 Indianapolis
3 years ago
newhostalady..I'm glad you received some advice from tropicbreezent..I haven't had a calathea but I'd love to try one..it's pretty..

you might check the Tropical plants of Foliage plants forums..
newhostalady Z6 ON, Canada thanked nicholsworth Z6 Indianapolis
newhostalady Z6 ON, Canada
Original Author
3 years ago
Thanks tropicbreezent. That is helpful information. I agree with you that I should repot when it's warmer. I was hoping to do it earlier. I find when the growing season begins, I find myself outdoors more than anything. That means my indoor houseplants get a bit neglected! But this plant is more sensitive so I had better wait to do the repot or this plant may deteriorate if I repot it while it's still cold.

I had never seen such deposits on the bottom of a pot before---gooey and whitish. The person I got the plant from told me that she had the plant for about one year and had not repot it.

nicholsworth, I've never had a calathea either! But now I have two that were free! From what I've read, they are more difficult plants to grow well. I'm not used to watering houseplants that frequently and their preference to good drainage of the media will make it challenging. I'll also have to use distilled water for the fall and winter until I can use rain water again.

The two calatheas that I now have both have browning of the edges, especially this calathea zebrina. Maybe the distilled water will help?

I am not sure what forum you mean when you said "Tropical plants of Foliage plants forums.."

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES Got Allergies? 9 Plants to Avoid and What to Grow Instead

By Marianne Lipanovich

Having allergies doesn’t need to mean giving up your garden. Here are some options that will let you garden sneeze-free

GARDENING GUIDES Invite Mining Bees to Your Garden by Planting Their Favorite Plants

By Pollination Press LLC

Look for mining bees (Andrena) pollinating woodland wildflowers in U.S. gardens this spring

GARDENING GUIDES How to Get More Plants Free

By Marianne Lipanovich

These techniques will let you grow your garden by creating new plants from those you already have

CONTAINER GARDENS Solve Your Garden Border Dilemmas With Planted Pots

Set your containers free from the patio — placed among plantings in the ground, they fill unsightly gaps, let you experiment and more

GARDENING GUIDES 10 Top California Native Plants, Trees and Grasses

By Debbie Ballentine

Enjoy a fuss-free, water-wise garden in the Golden State by growing plants naturally in tune with the climate and wildlife

FALL GARDENING Great Design Plant: Oligoneuron Rigidum Brightens Fall Gardens

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Create a pollinator feeding ground with this cheery, fuss-free goldenrod, formerly known as Solidago rigida, native to much of the U.S.

LIFE Consider Avoiding These Plants to Help Keep Your Garden Fire-Safe

By Lauren Dunec Hoang

Plants that accumulate dead material, are high in oil or have low moisture content in leaves put some homes at risk

GARDENING GUIDES Why Your Native Plants Might Be Struggling

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Some common issues have simple remedies

GARDENING GUIDES 9 Plants With Amazing Foliage for Summer

By Marianne Lipanovich

Add some standout foliage plants to take your summer landscape to the next level

GARDENING GUIDES 10 Deer-Resistant Native Flowers to Plant This Fall

Learn about natives that embrace some kinds of wildlife but resist grazing deer

Sponsored

MCR ROMERO WORK LLC

Innovative & Creative General Contractors Servicing Franklin County

More Discussions

Orchid ID (Brassia Summer Dream?) and care in kokedama

6

Philodendron Birkin

2

When should I pot my avocado?

9

Is this a clarinervium?

1

Indoor Gardenia

1