What are the cultivation methods for the velvet calathea?

Growing Techniques Jan 1, 1970 0 views

Watering The velvet calathea is commonly grown in pots with a diameter of 15-20 cm. During the growing season, keep the soil adequately moist and the air humidity high, frequently misting the leaves and the area around the plant to raise air humidity and keep the potting soil moist. When temperatures are low in winter, the potting soil can be kept slightly dry. As for light, direct sunlight is the thing it dislikes most.

Watering

The velvet calathea is commonly grown in pots with a diameter of 15-20 cm. During the growing season, keep the soil adequately moist and the air humidity high, frequently misting the leaves and the area around the plant to raise air humidity and keep the potting soil moist. When temperatures are low in winter, the potting soil can be kept slightly dry.

Light

Direct sunlight is what it dislikes most; even a short period of exposure to direct sun can cause severe sunscald, and slightly strong light will make the leaves curl and turn yellow, affecting growth.

Fertilizing and repotting

During the growing season, apply liquid fertilizer once every 15 days. After fertilizing, immediately rinse the leaves with a small amount of water to avoid fertilizer burn. In late autumn, be sure to spray 0.2%-0.3% monopotassium phosphate to promote plant growth and improve cold resistance in winter. When repotting each spring, you can appropriately trim away some or most of the old leaves so the plant regrows new leaves and improves its ornamental value.

Pest and disease control

Common diseases include leaf spot and leaf blight. They can be controlled by spraying an appropriate amount of Bordeaux mixture. Among pests, whiteflies can be killed by spraying with phosmet emulsifiable concentrate. Mealybugs sometimes occur and can be killed by spraying with omethoate emulsifiable concentrate.

Temperature

The optimal growing temperature is 18°C-30°C. It fears cold and frost, and the overwintering temperature needs to be kept above 10°C. When the winter temperature drops below 4°C, it enters a dormant state, and if the ambient temperature approaches 0°C, it will die from frost damage.

In summer:

1. Increase air circulation so that the heat inside the plant can be released;

2. Place it in partial shade, or give it half shade;

3. Mist it appropriately, 2-3 times a day.

In winter:

1. Move it indoors to a bright spot for care;

2. Outdoors, you can wrap it in plastic film to overwinter, but every two days at the warmer midday hours you should uncover the film to let it breathe.

Fertilizer and water

It has relatively high requirements for fertilizer and water, but it is most afraid of careless fertilizing, concentrated fertilizer, and one-sided application of nitrogen, phosphorus, or potassium. Follow the fertilizing (and watering) principle of "light fertilizer applied frequently, small amounts but more often, complete nutrition."

Spring, summer, and autumn:

For plants cared for outdoors, water once every 1-4 days; for those kept indoors, water once every 2-6 days. On sunny days or during high temperatures, the watering interval is shorter; on rainy days or during low temperatures, the interval is longer or skip watering. Try to schedule watering in the morning when temperatures are lower. In summer, water in the early morning or evening when temperatures are low, and also mist the plant frequently.

Winter:

During the winter dormant period, the main task is to control fertilizer and water. The interval is about 7-10 days; on sunny days or during high temperatures the interval is shorter, and on rainy days or during low temperatures the interval is longer or skip watering. Try to schedule watering at midday on sunny days when temperatures are higher.

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 do not know how to grow it. Below we will tell you the cultivation methods for the velvet calathea.

1. Temperature: The velvet calathea likes a warm, humid environment; it is not cold-hardy and fears dryness. In winter, the growing temperature should not be below 10°C, and in summer it 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 moisture. During the growing season, it must be watered thoroughly to keep the potting soil moist. But do not overwater; if the soil is too wet, it will cause root rot and even death. In addition, if air humidity is low, the leaves of the velvet calathea will immediately curl, so during cultivation be careful to maintain 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 dislikes strong sunlight. Therefore, when growing the velvet calathea, the light should not be too strong, otherwise phenomena such as yellowing and curling leaves will occur. But keeping the velvet calathea in a completely shaded environment for a long time is also not good, as it will affect its photosynthesis and thus 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 add 1-2 applications of phosphorus fertilizer to maintain the luster of the leaves. In winter, when temperatures are low and the plant grows slowly or enters dormancy, stop fertilizing and control watering.

5. Pests and diseases: The velvet calathea is prone to leaf blight and leaf spot, and is harmed by whiteflies, red spider mites, and mealybugs. During cultivation, observe carefully and treat promptly according to the symptoms once discovered.

6. Repotting: When growing the velvet calathea in pots, repot it every year in May. Mainly trim away some old roots, add new soil, and replant. If the plant is large, you can move it to a pot one size larger or divide it and replant. After planting, water thoroughly and place it in partial shade for care. For potting soil, choose well-drained leaf mold mixed evenly with 1/3 river sand, and add a small amount of bone meal at the bottom of the pot as a 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 in early spring (February or March) after the soil thaws. The divisions should not be too small, so as not to affect the growth of the new plants. After potting the new plants, control water and keep them in partial shade for care; only water thoroughly after new roots have emerged.

More information

Cultivation methods for the velvet calathea: what to do when the velvet calathea's leaves turn yellow

The velvet calathea, also called the mosaic plant, has fuzzy leaves with zebra-like dark green stripes and a glossy sheen. So how do you grow the velvet calathea? And what should you do when its leaves turn yellow? Let's find out together.

I. Cultivation methods for the velvet calathea

II. What to do when the velvet calathea's leaves turn yellow

1. Temperature: The velvet calathea likes a warm, humid environment. The optimal growing temperature is 20-28°C. If the temperature is too high or the air is too dry, the leaves of the velvet calathea will curl, shrivel, and develop scorched edges. So let it grow at a suitable temperature.

2. Sunlight: The velvet calathea is a shade-loving plant, so during cultivation be careful to provide shade and avoid harsh sunlight. If exposed to direct sunlight, the leaves of the velvet calathea will be scorched, with localized scorched edges, new leaves stopping growth, and the leaf color turning yellow.

3. Diseases: If the velvet calathea is kept for a long time in a hot, humid environment with poor ventilation, the plant will become weak and prone to leaf blight. It usually infects from the leaf margins and leaf tips, with lesions growing from small to large and irregular in shape, ranging from reddish-brown to grayish-brown, and lower leaves being more severely affected. The main pests and diseases are leaf spot and leaf blight, which can be controlled by spraying lime Bordeaux mixture of equal proportions. Among pests, whiteflies can be killed by spraying a 1000-fold dilution of 25% phosmet emulsifiable concentrate.

The above iscultivation methods for the velvet calatheaandwhat to do when the velvet calathea's leaves turn yellowan introduction. Potted velvet calatheas are suitable for decorating homes, hotels, and public places, and are also often used as filler in flower arrangements.