Calathea (Calathea) is a perennial plant belonging to the Marant family.
The tropical forests of Central and South America, where more than 120 species grow, are considered homeland.
All species differ in the original color of the leaves.
Some of them are plain green, and some have a pattern in the form of stripes and specks of yellow, red or brown color.
The oval-shaped foliage is very strong and rather large - about 30 cm in length, and the plant itself grows up to 80 cm.
Calathea Zebrin come from the rainforests of America. This is a plant with large and bright leaves. Capricious of changes in temperature and drafts, likes high humidity.
Plant description
Calathea Zebrin (Calathea zebrina) - an ornamental plant. This species has been specially bred for breeding at home.. It grows up to 55 cm in height.
Foliage grows from the basal rosette, and reach 45 cm in length. The surface of the leaf is velvety, painted in light green color with dark stripes..
At home, the plant must provide comfortable conditions. It likes high humidity. Therefore, the flower requires regular spraying boiled water.
A photo
Clearly with Calathey Zebrin can be found in the photo below:
Home care
Let us consider in more detail the rules of home care for Calathey Zebrin
Calathea is a very beautiful flower, but rather capricious. It reacts poorly to low humidity and temperature differences.
Pruning
Calathea Zebrin does not need special pruning. It is necessary to remove dried leaves. Drying of leaves can be the result of improper care. It can be both a lack, and excess of moisture, direct sunshine, draft.
Watering
Calathea loves moisture. In the summer months, it needs careful watering. It will be enough to moisten the soil every three days.
ATTENTION! An obligatory everyday procedure in the summer is spraying the leaves.
Care should be taken to ensure that when spraying water droplets do not gather at the base of the leaves.. Otherwise, stalk rotting may occur.
In winter, the amount of watering is reduced to 1-2 times in 7 days. Before watering, you need to check how deep the earth has dried in a pot with a flower. If the layer of dry soil is 3-4 cm, then the plant needs watering.
For irrigation, use only soft water. Hard water will adversely affect the root system and the plant as a whole.
Landing
For planting Calathea in the flower shop you can buy ready-made land substrate.
It can also be cooked by yourself. For this mixed in the same proportions:
- sheet soil;
- peat;
- humus.
In order to achieve better water permeability of the soil, in the resulting mixture to mix ½ part of river sand.
When planting in the ground is also necessary to make liquid fertilizers intended for decorative deciduous flowers.
In the future, you can apply fertilizer with irrigation 1 time per month.
Transfer
After purchase, the flower must be transplanted into a new ground.as the land for transportation is not suitable for permanent growth. But if the purchase period came in the winter months, then the transplant should be moved to the beginning of March.
Needs a transplant every two years. The pot for transplanting is taken 2-4 cm more, both in diameter and in depth. The bottom of the pot is carpeted with a layer of drainage - expanded clay.
IMPORTANT! Kalathey Zebrin need to replant very carefully. She has a tender root system.
It is important not to shake the ground from the roots, but to transplant it along with the old ground with the addition of a new.
Growing from seed
Propagation by seeds of Calathea Zebrin is considered the most difficult way., as seed germination is very small. Pour a mixture of leaf earth and sand in a 2: 1 ratio in boxes. Seeds are sown in this land.
The top box is covered with glass and placed in a room with a temperature of 21-24 ° C. After the two leaves appear, the seedlings swoop into small separate pots.
Breeding
More simple and effective breeding methods are cutting and dividing the bush..
To separate the cutting from the mother plant, use a sharp knife.
The stalk is separated so that the cut part has a growth bud.
Cut cuttings for rooting are planted in a pot, covered with a glass jar or other transparent container.
Periodically, the ground with a handle must be moistened. After 1 month the bank can be removed. During this time, the cutting must take root.
When dividing the bush to be extremely neat. It is necessary to prevent unnecessary damage to the delicate root system.
On each separated part of the rhizome should remain buds with shoots. A divided plant is planted in separate pots. They are provided with a temperature of 21-24 ° C, and the place of growth should be in partial shade.
Temperature
Calathea does not like temperature extremes. In the summer months, the temperature should not exceed 26 ° C, and in winter fall below 18 ° C. A flower pot must be protected from drafts. But it is worth remembering that the room in which there is a pot with a flower, you need to air daily.
Lighting
Calathea - shade-tolerant plant. Therefore, it can be placed both inside the room and on the windowsills. Placing close to sunlight is sure to create a shadow.
But if you had to put a pot with a flower far from the windows, then there is a chance that the leaves will turn yellow. In such a case, a slowdown in flower growth may occur.
Benefit and harm
Kalathea Zebrin is considered a plant that brings happiness and joy to the house. It is also known that in the homeland of growth, due to the dense structure of the foliage, it was processed and woven from the leaves of the basket and other household utensils.
This plant is not poisonous and does not cause allergic reactions in humans. Therefore, it is not harmful.
The flower can be placed in residential areas, as well as in children's rooms.
Diseases and pests
Flower may be affected by improper care.
If the Calathea Zebrins turn yellow leaves or root system rot, then it is worth changing the conditions of detention.
Reduce or increase watering, transplant in a new pot.
Pests are also affected due to inappropriate content.
In case of insufficient air humidity possible defeat spider mite or shield.
You can try to get rid of pests by spraying the plants with soapy water with the addition of alcohol. If such a procedure does not help, then the only way is to use insecticides.
Yellow leaves
The first cause of yellowing leaves is insufficient air humidity. It is necessary to spray more frequently. For additional air humidification, you can place a container with water next to it.
Another cause of yellowing There may be pest damage. You must carefully examine the plant and take steps to destroy them.
Dry leaves
In winter, part of the leaves of Calathea Zebrin may turn yellow and dry. There is nothing wrong with that. In the spring the plant will let new leaves.
At another time excessive watering can be the cause of yellowing and drying of the leaves, or vice versa - aridity.
Another reason could be fertilizer overdose. But the most common cause of yellowing is temperature non-compliance and drafts.
Calathea Zebrin - very beautiful plant. With proper care, it will please the owners for a long time. It is also considered a flower that brings happiness to the house. A bright leaf color will decorate any interior.
