🎶Isn't She Lovely,Isn't t She beautiful 🎶
This picture was taken 5 month ago, during her Prime time. Read all the basic care, and i thought that was enough and ok. Little did i know, with the sudden change of weather here in Malaysia and lack of knowledge on My Surrounding Temperature (Microclimate). She burned her beautiful foliage one buy one until...i decide to cut her burnt foliage totally. Not only her, her other 2 cousins also had the same problem. Burned and brown edges. dry to the core. I had A Calathea War with My Pinstripe, Peacock and Triostar, The three flagged on me but i didn't realise until its to late. What did i do wrong? Did i just killed them?
Plants have a way in telling us whats wrong with them, it is us who needs to read the signs. Brown edges, dry foliage, Withered or even Yellow tips. By know many knows that Calathea Family is quite A fussy Plant. But because of the Beautiful foliage print plant parent will keep on challenging them selfs or adopt these gorgeous family over and over again(me) From what i learn about Calathea from a bible on the internet, But i simplified down here the points.
Here is Calathea 101.
1} Grow Within "1000 - 2000 ft C light. Temperature 60 Fº
2] Lower light levels can cause pale leaves with indistinct markings
3] Higher light result in tip necrosis and sometimes bleach on foliage
{this is what happen to my calathea}
4] Best Fertalizer for calathea is
3-1-2 ( N - P205 - K20)
5] Good quality Calathea reading is
- 3% Nitrogen
- 0.5% Phosporus
- 0.1 % CA
- 3% K
- 0.5%MG
6] Growing Medium should consist of light, porous mix that retains water but drains well.
But after several testing i found out that my calathea best in soil mix of Moss peat + Coco Peat + Soil 3:1 + Larva Rock + Orchid Bark.
7] Calathea damage by Fluoride can be fix and maintain back by getting The PH to 6.5. (get a PH level for soil tools to get the exact reading.)
to maintain PH level add Dolomite Lime to maintain proper PH.
8] Calathea known with is problem. - Physiological Problems and Bacterial Problem. after reading few sites and experience myself Calathea have both combine of 28 Listed Problems. (BUT THAT I WILL SHARE YOU ON THE NEXT CALATHEA POST)
Whats Wrong With My Calathea?
I've slowly study and pint point the actual problem and what i found out about my
Calathea Peacock - Bacterial Disease - Pseudomonas blight. ( must destroy and throw as it will infected other plants)
Calathea Pinstripe - Necrosis, Bleach.
Calathea TrioStar - Necrosis, Bleach. and Fungus Problem, bacterial Problem and pest. Mealy Bug.
all the problems occur just because i placed my 3 Calathea by the window and little knowledge on microclimate changes.
Sad that i care them from a little bush till big enough to stand beside the Fiddle Fig but to end them damaged. I cut the damaged foliage and pot the remaining roots in moss peat and cross my fingers hoping Mother earth give them a second chances. Hope this brief yet quite long entry helps you in knowing what your Calathea needs, Feel free to drop a question about this her - e or in my Instagram. Have a great Days Ahead Beautiful People.
Next Post - Microclimate.
