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Calathea rescue?

Ann85Ann85 Posts: 64
in Plants
I bought this a month ago in my local garden centre it had been hidden by other plants and just looked wilted but since then every leaf has shrivelled and the little shoots have not come up. 

The soil looks fungusy but I haven’t kept it water logged, just damp. 

There were some tiny white bugs which I wiped off with a cotton bud (spider mites)? 

Should I try new compost, cutting off all the leaves etc or is it too late? Something wrong with roots? 

It is quarantined from my other calatheas. 

Thanks for any help!

Posts

  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    I have one that looks similar to that (mine is Calathea roseopicta Medallion). It didn't take kindly to the hot weather we had in the summer, died back completely and is only just starting to show signs of recovering. Give it time, make sure the air around it is humid (frequent misting) and continue to keep the compost just moist and wipe off any bugs that you see. You could carefully tip it out of the pot and check whether the roots are OK. Trim off any rotten ones and if the compost is claggy and soggy, maybe give it some fresh.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • Ann85Ann85 Posts: 64
     JennyJ said:
    I have one that looks similar to that (mine is Calathea roseopicta Medallion). It didn't take kindly to the hot weather we had in the summer, died back completely and is only just starting to show signs of recovering. Give it time, make sure the air around it is humid (frequent misting) and continue to keep the compost just moist and wipe off any bugs that you see. You could carefully tip it out of the pot and check whether the roots are OK. Trim off any rotten ones and if the compost is claggy and soggy, maybe give it some fresh.
    Thanks for this! I have two other calatheas which were in the same room and are in their element but maybe this one needs more humidity. Good idea to check the roots, I might lift it and see. And then move it to the bathroom. Yes although the leaves look tragic I think it is that one you say. It’s beautiful if it comes back! This gives me hope 🙂
  • Ann85Ann85 Posts: 64
    Can I ask about this Tasmania calathea? He had really dark almost black leaves when I bought it but they seem to be leaching into a green. Also I read online it is very fussy and it does not look happy, although it is growing new leaves. 

    I wipe the leaves over with a blusher brush so often and mist it with room temp rain water. I didn’t at the start so I think the damage to leaves is from then, when it was too dry. No sign of it flowering again but maybe that’s ok. I keep the soil moist. I know it hates drafts, cold, tap water etc! 

    My question is should it live in an east facing bathroom or does it need more light? 

    Thanks  for any help. I want the plant to be happy but it might be too particular for me to make it happy! 


  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    I'm not familiar with that type, but calatheas are notoriously fussy. I only have the one that I mentioned above, and it lives on the north-facing landing windowsill with the mist sprayer which is used just about every time I walk past it. Normally happy, but now and again it just decides to wither and die back. No idea why other than the most recent time when I think it didn't like the 40 degree temperature (can't blame it, I didn't like it either).
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
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