Calathea Rufibarba is a demanding flowering plant. Because of the difficulties of care recommended only professional growers.
It requires constant spraying twice a day, systematic watering, fertilizing and lighting 14-17 hours a day.
Plant description
Calathea Rufibarba belongs to the genus Calathea of the family Marantaceae. Sometimes this subspecies is called red-bearded. In the wild, the plant is common in the tropics of Brazil.
It is a perennial flower with a poorly developed root system. In length and width does not exceed 45-55 cm. It has a shortened stem with spreading sockets.
The leaves of the flower are large, elongated, are on large stalks. Sheet plates have a ribbed surface. They are lanceolate in shape. Grow near the central vein.
The main leaf surface shiny, solid, emerald.
Leaves and inner surface of violet or burgundy leaves. It is covered with small fibers of a light shade.
Blossoms miniature nondescript flowers. They are collected in inflorescences in the form of spikelets. Tint flowers amber-white.
The plant is great for growing in florarium. When growing in soil requires certain skills. Therefore, Calathea Rufibarba is recommended only to professional growers.
Beautiful blooming representatives of Maranths: Calathea Saffron and Calathea Varshevich.
A photo
More information about the plant Calathea Rufibarb can be found in the photo below:
Home care
Let us consider in more detail the rules of home care for Calathea Rufibarb.
Watering
The plant prefers systematic watering. It is necessary to wait for drying of the top layer of soil. Water should be soft, distilled or boiled, without any chemical impurities.
By overdrying earthen coma and excessive watering the flower is negative.
Cold water for irrigation will cause a long illness and death of Calathea Rufibarb.
Air humidity
The plant needs high air humidity. The optimal range is 88-92%. To ensure such conditions, the flower is placed in the florarium.
Allowed to put the container on an additional pallet with moistened forest moss or expanded clay. Twice a day, the plant is sprayed with water from the sprayer. At the same time use boiled or distilled water at room temperature.
Landing
The soil for this representative flora should be slightly acidic. At the same time it is necessary to select loose, breathable soil with a large amount of vitamins and trace elements.
You can buy ready-made black earth for Saintpaulia or maranth subspecies. Allowed to prepare the substrate independently.
For this use peat, humus and leaf turf. Fine-grained sea sand is added to the mixture.
To increase air permeability, crushed charcoal is put in the soil.
At the bottom of the pot stack drainage system.
Pebbles or expanded clay protect the roots from rotting and excessive waterlogging.
Transfer
Young plants must be replanted every year. The procedure is carried out in the spring. Capacity for transplants use the larger size that they had before.
Pots should be wide and not too deep. This is due to the fact that the root system of the flower is poorly developed and refers to the surface type of growth.
Adult specimens should be replanted as needed. Usually focused on filling the pot root system. Transplanting is done when the plant becomes too crowded.
Top dressing
Calathea Rufibarba prefers systematic fertilization. Negative attitude to the excess or lack of fertilizing. Therefore, fertilization should be careful and very careful.
The procedure is carried out 1 time in 14 days by the method of irrigation. At the same time use half of the concentration specified in the instructions. Perfect fit complex feeding for deciduous home flowers.
Breeding
This representative of the flora reproduces by dividing the root system.. The breeding procedure is carried out during transplantation. At the same time cut off small pieces.
Each bush should have an outlet with well-developed leaves. Planting material seated in different bowls for permanent growth. The plant is abundantly watered and fed.
Growing from seed
Another way is seed propagation.. They are soaked in a growth acceleration solution. Then carefully dried in a dark place.
After this, the shelf life of seeds is increased by 3-4 times.
They are sown in equal parts in a moist substrate. From above establish the self-made greenhouse.
You can use glass jars, cut plastic bottles or cellophane.
It is important for the construction to let the sun through.. The substrate is constantly kept in a moist state. Periodically, the tanks are ventilated, preventing the planting material from suffocating and rotting.
After some time, the first shoots should appear. After strengthening the plant and the appearance of 3-4 leaves, the flower is transplanted into flat dishes for permanent growth.
Temperature
The plant requires stable temperatures without differences.
You can not install the flower next to the cold glass windows and near heating devices. The temperature in summer and winter should be between 18-25 ° C.
The recommended range for active growth is 18-20 ° C. It is forbidden to make a flower on the balcony, loggia, garden. It is not recommended to open the windows in the room where Calathea Rufibarba is located.
Lighting
The flower requires constant diffused lighting. When exposed to direct sunlight, it needs light shading. Optimal illumination can vary from 2600 to 2800 lux.
If this representative of the flora does not have enough light, then its stalks begin to stretch strongly, and the leaves lose color and begin to shrink.
In winter, Calathea Rufibarba needs additional artificial lighting. Fitolamps will perfectly fit, which will extend the light day for 14-17 hours.
Pests
The main pests of this flora representative are: spider mite, mealybug, scale insect, thrips.
For prevention, the leaves of the flower are kept clean. They are periodically sprayed and wiped with a damp cloth.
Once a week the plant is watered with a stream of warm shower. It is first necessary to close the ground with cellophane.
At the first symptoms of a lesion, the plant is sprayed with fungicides.. Perfect "Aktellik" or other similar in composition means.
Also professional growers recommend using folk remedies - solution of garlic, ginger, potassium permanganate, alcohol, tar or laundry soap.
Diseases
All plant diseases are associated with improper care.
- If the leaves began to turn yellow, fall off or rot - there was a waterlogging of the soil. Watering should be stopped, and the plant itself should be transplanted into a new container.
- If the leaves began to dry and curl - Air near the plant is too dry. Calathea Rufibarba requires constant spraying twice a day. Water should not be too cold. It is best to keep the flower in the florarium. Under these conditions, the risk of disease is significantly reduced.
Calathea Rufibarba recommended for growing in the florarium. It responds well to subcortex, fertilizer. Due to a poorly developed system, it grows in shallow wide bowls.
Propagated by seed and root division when transplanting. Requires additional artificial lighting and high humidity.
