Calathea Roseopicta Care Tips for Beginner

Calathea Roseopicta grows naturally beneath the Brazilian rainforest canopy. This flower one of member of the Prayer Plant family. Its broad foliage has a feathery pattern of bright pink and fuschia which looks hand-painted on the deep green leaves. By the way, how to care for Calathea Roseopicta? Keep reading this entire article below.

Calathea Roseopicta Care Tips

Here are some Calathea Roseopicta care tips for beginner:

• Keep in mind that your Calathea Roseopicta’s leaves will dry up immediately if placed too close to a heat source. Also, your Calathea Roseopicta’s leaves will dry up immediately if they are exposed to a heated draft.
• You have to check your plant every several days to see whether it needs to be watered. Do not try to execute a weekly watering regime, because it is likely to end in disaster. Please always check soil before watering.
• You have to clean the leaves periodically by washing or dusting them. This is a good chance to check the plant’s health and look for pests.
• If humidity is acceptable, grouping tropical plants will be able to increase levels beneficially.
• If you see leaf spots or burned tips, you have to consider your water source. Calathea Roseopicta care can be impacted by water which is highly mineralized, or contains other chemicals. Also, it may do better with purified water.

Calathea Roseopicta Light Requirements

When you plan your Calathea’s lighting environment, you have to remember that they are basically ground cover living underneath a shady rainforest canopy. Their leaves are well adapted to absorb scarce light. They move constantly to optimize reception. Calathea Roseopicta likes bright indirect light. Actually, outdoor shade is brighter than most indoor spaces.

Possible light locations which suit Calathea Roseopicta:

• Five to ten feet from a window facing west, north, or east, only beyond the reach of direct sunlight.
• Inside a bright room, but protected from intense light.
• A space with sufficient artificial lighting.

When sunlight drops significantly in winter, you are able to move your Calathea to a sunny windowsill to compensate. Lighting is the most important aspect of Calathea Roseopicta care.

Calathea Roseopicta Soil Requirements

Proper watering is part of the moisture equation. The soil must be fast-draining and have aerating structure to keep the roots supplied with oxygen at all times, even after a thorough soaking. The soil must remain rainforest-damp, never sodden. Several growers select a soiless mix, but you are able to use regular potting soil and improve its aeration by adding perlite. You will need to add from 1/5 to 1/3 perlite to have a mix with fluffiness. When you water your plant, the water will sink into the soil within seconds. If water pools on the surface, probably the soil is too dense and not sufficiently well-draining.

Calathea Roseopicta Humidity and Temperature Requirements

Calathea Roseopicta like high humidity. If you do not live in a tropical zone, humidity is where the difficulty starts. Low humidity will be able to cause brown leaf edges and a frayed look. A good watering regimen will help the plant cope, however Calathea Roseopicta tolerates no less than 40 percent humidity and prefers well over 60 percent. You are able to raise humidity several points by using pebble-filled water trays and grouping the plants together. Or you are able to use a room humidifier for an industrial solution.

Calathea Roseopicta likes indoor temperatures. They like the cooler side of the range, from 18ºC to 24°C. As long as the plants are well hydrated, they adapt better to warmer conditions than to cold. Remember to avoid temperatures below 15ºC. You have to be careful of sudden temperature changes and drafts. We have found that central heating in winter is a big challenge with Calathea roseopicta care. You have to be extra attentive to ensure that humidity does not fall too dramatically.

Fertilizing Calathea Roseopicta

The plants in a soilless mix need feeding to bolster fertility. But those grown in nutrient-rich soil will not need to be fertilized at all.

Apparently, there are two categories of fertilizer:

• Synthetic fertilizers

Synthetic fertilizers are able to be effective and cost-effective, but you have to dilute them to 1/4 to 1/2 of the recommended dosage. Usually, Calathea Roseopicta’s roots are delicate and burn easily from residue fertilizer.

• Organic fertilizers

Organic fertilizers will be able to increase fertility naturally using natural products like blood meal, worm castings, or fish emulsion. Those are safe for the plant and encourage healthy soil.

You only need to fertilize in the growing season when your plant can absorb it. Keep in mind that fertilizing Calathea Roseopicta in the fall or winter will be able to make a toxic buildup of unused formula in the soil. You are able to use a balanced, synthetic fertilizer, water-soluble, made up to 1/4 to 1/2 of the recommended strength, and then applied monthly in spring and summer.

Basic Pruning Calathea Roseopicta

It is very important to trim away dead leaves and spent blooms regularly. This will eliminate a harbor for pathogens or pests and also gives you a chance to check the plant for pests or other issues.

Here are some of tips in pruning Calathea Roseopicta:

• You have to make the cuts with sharp shears or scissors.
• You have to sterilize your cutting tools before and after each use. One easy way is to wipe the blades in isopropyl alcohol.
• Please trim the stalks at soil level
• Also, you need to cut away dead or dying material. But you should not be in a hurry to cut off a leaf which still has a few greens.
• Naturally, old outer leaves are shed by the plant, please pay attention to several yellow leaves, particularly if they are close to the plant’s interior.

Flowering Calathea Roseopicta

The Calathea Roseopicta’s main attraction is beautiful tropical foliage, however they produce a sprinkling of small white and purple flowers in the summer. Several growers snip the blossoms to conserve the plant’s energy for growth, flowering consumes a lot of resources. Trimming buds or blooms will not harm the plant.