How to Care for Calathea makoyana? Master These Care Tips
1. Cultivation environment:
Calathea makoyana prefers a hot and humid environment and is highly shade-tolerant, with an ideal light intensity of 30%-40%. It grows well under indoor diffused light and should be cultivated in loose, fertile, well-drained soil. In spring and autumn, it can be placed in a bright indoor spot for care, while in summer it should be kept in semi-shade; overly strong light will cause the leaves to turn yellow and scorch, reducing its ornamental value. In winter, when light intensity decreases, the pot can be moved near a south-facing window for cultivation, and the growing environment should not be too shady at this time. If left in a dim spot for a long time, the leaves of Calathea makoyana will lose their distinctive sheen.
2. Growing temperature and humidity
① Temperature: The optimal growing temperature for Calathea makoyana is around 22°C. When the summer temperature exceeds 35°C, the plant not only stops growing but also turns yellow and loses its ornamental value. When the winter temperature drops below 15°C, the plant's growth slows; below 10°C, the leaves tend to curl; below 5°C, it is prone to cold damage, and in severe cases the entire plant may die. Therefore, in winter, be sure to protect it from the cold and keep it warm, and the room temperature should be maintained above 13°C.
② Humidity: The suitable air humidity for Calathea makoyana is 70%-75%, and when new leaves are emerging, the humidity requirement is even higher. Therefore, during the growing season, water it thoroughly to keep the soil moist, but not waterlogged. In summer, mist the leaf surface 2-3 times a day and sprinkle water on the surrounding ground to increase humidity and lower temperature, which benefits its growth. In winter, watering should be controlled, and the potting soil only needs to be slightly moist. In northern winters, when indoor air is dry, besides spraying and washing the leaves with clean water at a temperature similar to the room during the midday hours, it is best to cover the plant with a plastic film cover at night to keep it warm and humid. To keep the leaves fresh, neat and glossy, gently wipe the leaves with clean water every half month.
3. Pot selection and fertilisation
① Pot selection: Calathea makoyana is a shallow-rooted plant, so the cultivation container should be a wide-mouthed shallow pot to allow the roots to extend and spread out. The potting soil needs to be loose, fertile and well-drained. You can mix 6 parts peat soil (or leaf mould) with 2 parts garden soil and 2 parts sand. A soilless substrate can also be used, such as an even mix of perlite and vermiculite. Generally, repotting is done at the turn of spring and summer in combination with division propagation, once every 2 years.
② Fertilisation: During the peak growing season, apply a dilute liquid fertiliser once every half month. When fertilising, be careful not to apply too much nitrogen fertiliser, so as to avoid undesirable growth such as fading of leaf markings, thickening of leaves and softening of leaf stalks. Generally, the application ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium should be 1:1:1. For soilless cultivation, simply apply a complete-element inorganic nutrient solution 1-2 times a month during the growing period.
4. Propagation:
Calathea makoyana is mostly propagated by division, carried out in April-May in spring in combination with repotting and soil replacement. Dividing too early, when the temperature is too low, slows wound healing, easily causes rot and lowers the survival rate. When dividing, tip the mother plant out of the pot, remove the old soil, and use a sharp knife to cut every 3-4 buds into 1 plant. Coat the cut surfaces with charcoal powder to prevent rot, pot them up immediately after cutting, water thoroughly, and place in semi-shade to recover; after 5-7 days they can be returned to normal care. When dividing, it is best to plant 3-5 plants per pot. If only one plant is planted per pot, it needs to retain more than 5 leaves and carry more roots, otherwise it will affect the plant's survival and its growth and development after survival.
5. Pest and disease control:
Calathea makoyana generally has few pests and diseases, but attention should be paid to ventilation and air circulation to prevent scale insect damage.
Calathea makoyana Care Tips
Calathea makoyana Care Tips Calathea makoyana Pictures
Calathea makoyana is native to tropical America and the islands of the Indian Ocean. It is a perennial herb, reaching up to 60 cm in height, with rhizomes; long, narrow, spear-shaped leaves grow directly from the roots, and the plant forms clumps. The leaves have green markings in varying shades, and the undersides are mostly brownish-red. The leaves of this species are silvery green, with dark green spots radiating from the midrib, and brownish-red markings of the same shape on the underside. The formaldehyde-removal capacity of Calathea makoyana is half that of spider plant, but still much higher than that of ordinary plants. In addition, it is also highly effective at removing ammonia pollution from the air (within 10 sq m it can remove 0.86 mg of formaldehyde and 2.19 mg of ammonia). The care of Calathea makoyana is as follows
1. Use clay pots, plastic pots, porcelain pots or ceramic pots for cultivation, with a pot diameter of 14-18 cm.
2. Soil mix: garden soil : leaf mould : sand = 4:4:2; soilless cultivation formula: peat ash : leaf mould : sand : perlite = 4:3:2:1.
3. Watering: During the growing season, keep the potting soil moist; when winter temperatures are low, keep the potting soil on the dry side. For Calathea makoyana placed indoors, air humidity should be increased, otherwise the leaves tend to curl or lose their sheen.
4. Fertilisation: Do not fertilise at the early stage of growth. During the peak growing season, apply 10-fold diluted decomposed liquid fertiliser once every 15 days, and during the new leaf growing season add 2 applications of 1000-fold potassium dihydrogen phosphate. Alternatively, apply 1000-fold Peters General Purpose fertiliser once every 7 days. Do not fertilise when the summer temperature is too high (30°C) or the winter temperature is too low (10°C). When applying decomposed liquid fertiliser, promptly rinse off any fertiliser solution on the leaves with clean water, otherwise the leaves are easily scorched.
5. Propagation: When repotting, divide Calathea makoyana into clumps of 5-8 leaves and plant them.
6. Pruning: When the leaves are crowded and affect the ornamental appearance, some old leaves can be cut off. During the growing season, promptly remove dead yellow leaves and diseased leaves. 7.Pest and disease controlMainly leaf blight, leaf spot and whitefly. Household cultivation of Calathea makoyana is prone to leaf spot; the key to this disease is prevention, and diseased leaves should be cut off and destroyed to remove the source of infection.
Four-season management
[Spring] (Repotting) Repot when the minimum spring temperature stabilises above 15°C. Light should not be strong; place it indoors in a spot with morning and evening light for cultivation, keep the potting soil moist and the air humidity relatively high, and begin fertilising after new leaves start to grow; when the leaves are crowded, some old leaves can be cut off. After the temperature rises in late spring, place it in a bright indoor spot for cultivation and enjoyment. [Summer] (Watering) When the summer temperature is above 35°C, the potting soil should not be too wet, but the frequency of sprinkling should be increased, while strengthening indoor ventilation; when air conditioning is used indoors, pay attention to replenishing air humidity.
[Autumn] (Light/Temperature) In autumn, ensure a sufficient supply of water and fertiliser, and pay attention to increasing morning and evening light. After the temperature drops in late autumn, keep the indoor temperature up and gradually move the pot to a windowsill with light for cultivation; stop fertilising, keep the potting soil moist, and when the midday temperature is relatively high, spray water around it several times.
[Winter] (Light/Temperature) Calathea makoyana is not cold-tolerant; it can overwinter safely when the winter temperature is above 8°C, and the indoor temperature is best kept above 10°C. In winter, place it in a spot with better light for cultivation and keep the potting soil on the dry side. When the midday temperature is relatively high, spray water around it several times to increase air humidity.
Calathea makoyana Cultivation Tips
Calathea makoyana (scientific name: Calathea makoyana E. Morr.): Marantaceae, Goeppertia, a perennial evergreen herb. The plant is upright and can reach 60 cm in height. The leaf stalks are purplish-red, the leaves are thinly leathery, ovate-elliptical, and the leaf surface has feather-like markings of dark green alternating with white or pale yellow, just like the pattern on peacock tail feathers, hence the name. The leaves also have a special trait: they spread out during the day and fold up at night. Calathea makoyana Cultivation Tips1. Morphological characteristics
Calathea makoyana, also known as blue-flowered banana, belongs to the Marantaceae family, Goeppertia genus, and is native to Brazil. It is a perennial evergreen herb, 30-60 cm tall, resembling peacock tail feathers in form and possessing a metallic sheen. The leaves stand upright at night, clasping the stem; after sunlight the next day, they unfold again and become roughly horizontal. It mostly blooms in summer, with a spike inflorescence and small purplish-red and pinkish-white flowers.
2. Cultivation and management
1. Cultivation environment. Calathea makoyana prefers a hot and humid environment and is highly shade-tolerant, with an ideal light intensity of 30%-40%. It grows well under indoor diffused light and should be cultivated in loose, fertile, well-drained soil. In spring and autumn, it can be placed in a bright indoor spot for care, while in summer it should be kept in semi-shade; overly strong light will cause the leaves to turn yellow and scorch, reducing its ornamental value. In winter, when light intensity decreases, the pot can be moved near a south-facing window for cultivation, and the growing environment should not be too shady at this time. If left in a dim spot for a long time, the leaves of Calathea makoyana will lose their distinctive sheen.
2. Growing temperature and humidity.
① Temperature. The optimal growing temperature for Calathea makoyana is around 22°C. When the summer temperature exceeds 35°C, the plant not only stops growing but also turns yellow and loses its ornamental value. When the winter temperature drops below 15°C, the plant's growth slows; below 10°C, the leaves tend to curl; below 5°C, it is prone to cold damage, and in severe cases the entire plant may die. Therefore, in winter, be sure to protect it from the cold and keep it warm, and the room temperature should be maintained above 13°C.
② Humidity. The suitable air humidity for Calathea makoyana is 70%-75%, and when new leaves are emerging, the humidity requirement is even higher. Therefore, during the growing season, water it thoroughly to keep the soil moist, but not waterlogged. In summer, mist the leaf surface 2-3 times a day and sprinkle water on the surrounding ground to increase humidity and lower temperature, which benefits its growth. In winter, watering should be controlled, and the potting soil only needs to be slightly moist. In northern winters, when indoor air is dry, besides spraying and washing the leaves with clean water at a temperature similar to the room during the midday hours, it is best to cover the plant with a plastic film cover at night to keep it warm and humid. To keep the leaves fresh, neat and glossy, gently wipe the leaves with clean water every half month.
3. Pot selection and fertilisation.
① Pot selection. Calathea makoyana is a shallow-rooted plant, so the cultivation container should be a wide-mouthed shallow pot to allow the roots to extend and spread out. The potting soil needs to be loose, fertile and well-drained. You can mix 6 parts peat soil (or leaf mould) with 2 parts garden soil and 2 parts sand. A soilless substrate can also be used, such as an even mix of perlite and vermiculite. Generally, repotting is done at the turn of spring and summer in combination with division propagation, once every 2 years.
② Fertilisation. During the peak growing season, apply a dilute liquid fertiliser once every half month. When fertilising, be careful not to apply too much nitrogen fertiliser, so as to avoid undesirable growth such as fading of leaf markings, thickening of leaves and softening of leaf stalks. Generally, the application ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium should be 1:1:1. For soilless cultivation, simply apply a complete-element inorganic nutrient solution 1-2 times a month during the growing period.
4. Propagation. Calathea makoyana is mostly propagated by division, carried out in April-May in spring in combination with repotting and soil replacement. Dividing too early, when the temperature is too low, slows wound healing, easily causes rot and lowers the survival rate. When dividing, tip the mother plant out of the pot, remove the old soil, and use a sharp knife to cut every 3-4 buds into 1 plant. Coat the cut surfaces with charcoal powder to prevent rot, pot them up immediately after cutting, water thoroughly, and place in semi-shade to recover; after 5-7 days they can be returned to normal care. When dividing, it is best to plant 3-5 plants per pot. If only one plant is planted per pot, it needs to retain more than 5 leaves and carry more roots, otherwise it will affect the plant's survival and its growth and development after survival.
5. Pest and disease control. Calathea makoyana generally has few pests and diseases, but attention should be paid to ventilation and air circulation to prevent scale insect damage.