What are the propagation methods for the velvet calathea?

The velvet calathea is not difficult to cultivate. For artificial propagation of the velvet calathea, division and tissue culture can be used. If your velvet calathea is in its peak growing period, then division can be carried out once every 1-2 years.

Velvet Calathea

I. Division propagation

Carried out in spring from April to May or in late autumn in combination with repotting. During the operation, lift the overcrowded plant out of the pot, separate the robust and uniform clumps, pot them separately, water thoroughly, and place them in a semi-shaded spot for care. However, low temperatures in early spring can easily damage the roots and affect the survival rate. Generally, division should not be done too early; it is more suitable to carry out division when the temperature is relatively stable. Each division should have 3-4 or more small shoots, and a certain amount of the original soil should be retained as much as possible to avoid affecting the plant's growth and formation. For replanting, use a loose potting mix made from leaf mold or peat soil plus 1/3 perlite and a small amount of sand.

II. Tissue culture propagation

Young stems or unexpanded leaf petioles are commonly used as explants. After routine sterilization, under sterile conditions, cut the petioles into 3 mm small segments and the young stems into 3 mm small segments with nodes, inoculate them on MS medium supplemented with 6-BA 5 mg/L and naphthaleneacetic acid 0.02 mg/L to induce the formation of callus and adventitious buds. The adventitious buds can differentiate adventitious roots on MS medium with 0.5 mg/L naphthaleneacetic acid. Rooted plantlets are transplanted into a substrate of half peat and half perlite, maintaining relatively high air humidity, and the survival rate is over 95%.

How to grow the velvet calathea: cultivation methods and precautions for the velvet calathea

The velvet calathea is a plant introduced into China from abroad. Its plant size is medium, with the leaves as the main ornamental feature, and it likes to grow in a warm environment. At present, many people like to buy it and take it home to grow. However, not everyone understands the techniques for growing it.

How to grow the velvet calathea

1. The suitable growth temperature for the velvet calathea is 18-25°C. In winter, the temperature should not be lower than 13°C, and in summer, the temperature should not exceed 35°C; otherwise, it is extremely unfavorable to the growth of the velvet calathea, causing the stems and leaves to stop growing or to freeze and die.

2. The velvet calathea has relatively high water requirements. During the growing season, it must be watered thoroughly to keep the potting soil moist. However, overly wet soil can cause root rot and even death, so special attention should be paid to this.

3. If the air humidity is low, the leaves will immediately curl, responding very sensitively. For indoor cultivation, the air humidity must be maintained at 70%-80%. In winter, keep it slightly dry; if too wet, the leaves tend to turn yellow and wither.

4. Fertile, loose, and well-drained leaf mold soil is most suitable. For potting, use a mixed soil of potting soil, peat soil, and coarse sand.

Cultivation methods for the velvet calathea

1. Temperature: The velvet calathea likes a warm, humid environment, is not cold-tolerant, and is afraid of dryness. In winter, the cultivation temperature should not be lower than 10°C, and in summer, the temperature should not exceed 35°C; otherwise, it is extremely unfavorable to the growth of the velvet calathea.

2. Watering: The velvet calathea is very sensitive to water. During the growing season, it must be watered thoroughly to keep the potting soil moist. But do not water too much; overly wet soil can cause root rot and even death. In addition, if the air humidity is low, the leaves of the velvet calathea will immediately become curled, so during cultivation, attention should be paid to maintaining suitable humidity, especially during high temperatures, mist the leaves more to increase air humidity.

3. Light: The velvet calathea likes a semi-shaded environment and avoids strong direct sunlight. Therefore, when growing the velvet calathea, the light should not be too strong, otherwise phenomena such as yellowing and curling of the leaves will occur. However, keeping the velvet calathea in a completely shaded environment for a long time is also not acceptable, as it will affect the photosynthesis of the velvet calathea and thereby affect its normal growth.

4. Fertilizing: During the vigorous growth period of the velvet calathea, apply liquid fertilizer once every 1-2 weeks, and appropriately apply 1-2 additional applications of phosphorus fertilizer to maintain the glossiness of the leaves. In winter, when the temperature is low and the plant grows slowly or enters dormancy, fertilization should be stopped and watering controlled.

Precautions for the velvet calathea

When growing the velvet calathea in pots, it should be repotted every May. The main task is to cut off some old roots, add new soil, and replant. If the plant is relatively large, it can be moved to a pot one size larger or propagated by division. After planting, water thoroughly and place it in a semi-shaded spot for cultivation. For potting soil, it is advisable to use well-drained leaf mold soil mixed evenly with 1/3 river sand, and add a small amount of bone meal at the bottom of the pot as base fertilizer. Avoid using heavy clay soil for potting, and the planting depth should be such that the roots are not exposed.

Propagation methods for the velvet calathea

1. Division propagation: After taking the mother plant out of the flower pot, shake off the excess potting soil, separate the tangled root system as much as possible, and cut it open into two or more plants with a sharp knife. Each divided plant should carry relatively more roots, and its leaves should be properly pruned to reduce water transpiration and help survival.

2. Tissue culture propagation: Young stems or unexpanded leaf petioles are commonly used as explants. After routine sterilization, under sterile conditions, cut the petioles into 3 mm small segments and the young stems into 3 mm small segments with nodes, then inoculate them on the culture medium to induce the formation of callus and adventitious buds, and after culturing, new plants are formed.

The cultivation methods for the velvet calathea are actually quite simple once you are familiar with them. Generally, you can start with its growth habits, and in the later stages of cultivation, it is necessary to strengthen water management. There are many propagation methods for the velvet calathea, mainly division and tissue culture propagation, and you can choose one of them to carry out.

How to grow the velvet calathea: cultivation methods for the velvet calathea

Friends who love flowers and plants have all heard of the velvet calathea, but many friends do not understand how to grow the velvet calathea. Below, we will tell you the cultivation methods for the velvet calathea.

1. Temperature: The velvet calathea likes a warm, humid environment, is not cold-tolerant, and is afraid of dryness. In winter, the cultivation temperature should not be lower than 10°C, and in summer, the temperature should not exceed 35°C; otherwise, it is extremely unfavorable to the growth of the velvet calathea.

2. Watering: The velvet calathea is very sensitive to water. During the growing season, it must be watered thoroughly to keep the potting soil moist. But do not water too much; overly wet soil can cause root rot and even death. In addition, if the air humidity is low, the leaves of the velvet calathea will immediately become curled, so during cultivation, attention should be paid to maintaining suitable humidity, especially during high temperatures, mist the leaves more to increase air humidity.

3. Light: The velvet calathea likes a semi-shaded environment and avoids strong direct sunlight. Therefore, when growing the velvet calathea, the light should not be too strong, otherwise phenomena such as yellowing and curling of the leaves will occur. However, keeping the velvet calathea in a completely shaded environment for a long time is also not acceptable, as it will affect the photosynthesis of the velvet calathea and thereby affect its normal growth.

4. Fertilizing: During the vigorous growth period of the velvet calathea, apply liquid fertilizer once every 1-2 weeks, and appropriately apply 1-2 additional applications of phosphorus fertilizer to maintain the glossiness of the leaves. In winter, when the temperature is low and the plant grows slowly or enters dormancy, fertilization should be stopped and watering controlled.

5. Pests and diseases: The velvet calathea is prone to leaf blight and leaf spot, and is harmed by whiteflies, red spiders, and scale insects. During cultivation, attention should be paid to observation, and timely targeted treatment should be carried out once discovered.

6. Repotting: When growing the velvet calathea in pots, it should be repotted every May. The main task is to cut off some old roots, add new soil, and replant. If the plant is relatively large, it can be moved to a pot one size larger or propagated by division. After planting, water thoroughly and place it in a semi-shaded spot for cultivation. For potting soil, it is advisable to use well-drained leaf mold soil mixed evenly with 1/3 river sand, and add a small amount of bone meal at the bottom of the pot as base fertilizer. Avoid using heavy clay soil for potting, and the planting depth should be such that the roots are not exposed.

7. Propagation: The velvet calathea is mainly propagated by division. The best time for division is after the soil thaws in early spring (February or March). The divisions should not be too small, so as not to affect the growth of the new plants. After the new plants are potted, water should be controlled, and they should be placed in a semi-shaded spot for care. Full watering can only be done after new roots have emerged.