Common Pests and Diseases of the Red-Backed Calathea and Their Control Methods
The red-backed calathea is highly resistant and seldom troubled by pests and diseases, but problems can still occur when management is poor during cultivation. Common pests mainly include scale insects and red spider mites; common diseases mainly include southern blight and leaf spot. So what pests and diseases affect the red-backed calathea? How do you control them?
Diseases of the red-backed calathea:
Southern blight
Southern blight occurs frequently on the red-backed calathea. When southern blight strikes, the stems or leaves of the red-backed calathea turn brown and rot, and white silky mycelium grows, causing the above-ground parts to wilt and die. The disease is more severe in July and August, and the pathogen is Sclerotium rolfsii. It is prone to occur when the soil is too wet and poor in nutrients.
Control method: When southern blight occurs on the red-backed calathea, add 70% quintozene to the soil to disinfect it, remove the diseased soil, and pay attention to ventilation during cultivation to prevent planting too densely.
Leaf spot
Leaf spot mainly harms the leaves, and can also harm the leaf sheaths. In the early stage of the disease, small spots appear on the leaves and then enlarge. The disease can occur year-round, and at the peak of disease development it can cause large numbers of leaves to dry up, causing serious damage.
Control method: Apply more base fertilizer to strengthen disease resistance, and promptly remove diseased leaves. Before the disease occurs, spray 75% chlorothalonil wettable powder at a 500-600 times dilution for control.
Pests of the red-backed calathea:
Scale insects
The scale insects are mainly mealybugs; they suck plant sap with their piercing-sucking mouthparts. In mild cases the leaves turn yellow and age, affecting plant growth; in severe cases leaf drop occurs, until the whole plant dies. However, because adult scale insects have a waxy outer shell, ordinary pesticides find it hard to penetrate, and once they appear, control is relatively difficult.
Control method: Spraying pesticide at the peak nymph stage of scale insects makes them easier to kill. Spray once every 7-10 days, for 2-3 consecutive sprays. You can use 40% omethoate at a 1000 times dilution, or 50% dichlorvos at a 1000 times dilution, or 2.5% deltamethrin at a 3000 times dilution for control.
Red spider mites
The harm red spider mites cause to plants is relatively common; red spider mites use their sharp mouthparts to suck nutrients from the leaves, affecting the plant's normal growth and development. In environments with higher temperatures and dryness, red spider mites and the like reproduce rapidly and cause serious damage.
Control method: Keep the environment ventilated, maintain humidity, and frequently spraying water on the undersides of the leaves can control the reproduction of red spider mites. Because pesticides find it hard to kill the eggs, control is generally carried out at the adult and nymph stages after the eggs hatch. You can use 20% dicofol emulsifiable concentrate at a 1000 times dilution or 40% omethoate emulsifiable concentrate at a 1000 times dilution for spraying.
Pests and Diseases of the Red-Backed Calathea and Their Control
Diseases of the red-backed calathea
Southern blight
Southern blight occurs frequently on the red-backed calathea. When southern blight strikes, the stems or leaves of the red-backed calathea turn brown and rot, and white silky mycelium grows, causing the above-ground parts to wilt and die. The disease is more severe in July and August, and the pathogen is Sclerotium rolfsii. It is prone to occur when the soil is too wet and poor in nutrients.
Control method: When southern blight occurs on the red-backed calathea, add 70% quintozene to the soil to disinfect it, remove the diseased soil, and pay attention to ventilation during cultivation to prevent planting too densely.
Leaf spot
Leaf spot mainly harms the leaves, and can also harm the leaf sheaths. In the early stage of the disease, small spots appear on the leaves and then enlarge. The disease can occur year-round, and at the peak of disease development it can cause large numbers of leaves to dry up, causing serious damage.
Control method: Apply more base fertilizer to strengthen disease resistance, and promptly remove diseased leaves. Before the disease occurs, spray 75% chlorothalonil wettable powder at a 500-600 times dilution for control.
Pests of the red-backed calathea
Scale insects
The scale insects are mainly mealybugs; they suck plant sap with their piercing-sucking mouthparts. In mild cases the leaves turn yellow and age, affecting plant growth; in severe cases leaf drop occurs, until the whole plant dies. However, because adult scale insects have a waxy outer shell, ordinary pesticides find it hard to penetrate, and once they appear, control is relatively difficult.
Control method: Spraying pesticide at the peak nymph stage of scale insects makes them easier to kill. Spray once every 7-10 days, for 2-3 consecutive sprays. You can use 40% omethoate at a 1000 times dilution, or 50% dichlorvos at a 1000 times dilution, or 2.5% deltamethrin at a 3000 times dilution for control.
Red spider mites
The harm red spider mites cause to plants is relatively common; red spider mites use their sharp mouthparts to suck nutrients from the leaves, affecting the plant's normal growth and development. In environments with higher temperatures and dryness, red spider mites and the like reproduce rapidly and cause serious damage.
Control method: Keep the environment ventilated, maintain humidity, and frequently spraying water on the undersides of the leaves can control the reproduction of red spider mites. Because pesticides find it hard to kill the eggs, control is generally carried out at the adult and nymph stages after the eggs hatch. You can use 20% dicofol emulsifiable concentrate at a 1000 times dilution or 40% omethoate emulsifiable concentrate at a 1000 times dilution for spraying.
Is the red-backed calathea toxic? How to grow the red-backed calathea, and its flowering period
The red-backed calathea is a perennial herbaceous plant of the genus Stromanthe in the family Marantaceae, and is an indoor shade-loving foliage plant. So what exactly is the red-backed calathea? Since it has such charm, how should it be grown? Today, the editor will explain this knowledge to you in detail.
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Introduction to the red-backed calathea
The whole red-backed calathea plant is about 1 m tall and upright. The leaves are long ovate or lanceolate. Its branches and leaves grow densely and the plant form is full, with thick leathery leaves; the leaf surface is dark green and glossy, the midrib is light-colored, and the leaf underside is blood-red, forming a striking contrast with the leaf surface and looking very beautiful. The inflorescence is a spike, with bright red bracts and calyx, and white petals. The back is purplish-red.
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The growing environment of the red-backed calathea
The red-backed calathea originates from Central America and Brazil, and is cultivated in many provinces and regions of southern China. It likes a warm, humid climate and grows in shaded environments; the optimum growth temperature is 20-30°C, it needs a lot of water and is not tolerant of drought. It is relatively heat-tolerant and slightly cold-tolerant, and can overwinter safely above 5°C.
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How to grow the red-backed calathea
The red-backed calathea is mainly propagated by division. During cultivation, several points must be ensured. Soil: The red-backed calathea likes fertile, loose, moist, well-drained acidic soil; for potted plants, leaf mold and river sand can be evenly mixed, with a small amount of base fertilizer added as the growing medium. Ensure the nutrition and air permeability of the growing medium. During the growing season, apply liquid fertilizer 1-2 times a month to ensure what it needs for growth and promote lush branches and leaves. In addition, repot once every 1-2 years.
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Key care points for the red-backed calathea
Light: The red-backed calathea is an excellent indoor shade-loving foliage plant. In the hot summer, prevent exposure to direct sunlight and shade 70%-80% of the light, otherwise damage is easily caused; the leaves will fade and lose their gloss. But it also must not be placed in a dark, poorly ventilated spot for a long time, to avoid the leaves turning yellow and dropping.
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Watering: The red-backed calathea is not drought-tolerant, so during the growing period ensure sufficient water and keep the potting soil moist, and frequently spray water on the leaves; especially in the hot summer and autumn seasons, when the air is dry, also frequently spray water on the leaves and surroundings to maintain relatively high air humidity. Be careful not to let the potting soil become waterlogged, so as not to affect the aeration of the root system and cause poor growth or root rot; after late autumn, when temperatures are lower, watering should then be controlled, keeping the potting soil only slightly moist.
Pest and disease control: The common diseases of the red-backed calathea mainly include leaf spot and leaf blight. In the early stage of the disease, spray Bordeaux mixture 2-3 times at intervals of about 15 days. You can also spray zineb wettable powder solution for control. The common pest is mainly scale insects, which easily occur when ventilation is poor.
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Introduction to the flowering period of the red-backed calathea
The red-backed calathea is mainly a foliage plant. Basically, if the temperature is kept above 25°C for about a year, it will bloom, but its flowers are somewhat inferior to its colorful leaves, which is also why many people are unclear about whether the red-backed calathea will bloom.
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Introduction to the toxicity of the red-backed calathea
The red-backed calathea is non-toxic. It is mainly made into potted plants for indoor decoration, and is an excellent indoor shade-loving foliage plant that can be enjoyed for a long time. It not only adds a touch of vitality, but also brings a good mood.
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Editor's summary
That is all the editor has to introduce about the red-backed calathea. This plant is especially good for potted cultivation; friends who like it can grow a pot themselves and place it at home or in the office, and it is great either way! To learn more about flowers, you can click the link below!