These calathea roseopicta care tips will ensure the plant thrives with the best color and gloss that you will ever see on its foliage!
Calathea Roseopicta Care Tips
1. Keep the Sun Bright but Not Direct!
For the best colors on the foliage, it is important that the plant gets plenty of light. However, you also keep the fact in mind that its foliage is tender and gets scorched if the light is too intense.
So, pick a spot where it gets the mild morning sun for a few hours and then gets bright indirect light for the rest of the day—an east facing window or spot is the best bet!
2. Stay Away from Compacted Soil
Calatheas are not fussy, but they do dislike soils that hold moisture way too much, and this is where 100% garden soil as a growing medium fails.
Blend peat moss or coconut coir with compost and perlite in the same ratio and watch the plant thrive with best colors!
3. They Need the Right Blend of Water and Dryness
So, water the plant when the topsoil feels a little dry to the touch unto half an inch deep. Also, use RO water and avoid using tap water, as it can be laden with fluoride and other chemicals, which can lead to deposits in the soil, leading to droopy foliage.
4. Temperature Below 60°F is not Good!
Calatheas are sensitive to sudden drops in temperature, or cold drafts. So you must keep the plant away from drafty windows or AC and heating.
Focus on maintaining temperatures between 65-85°F (18-29°C).
5. Keep it Where it Gets Plenty of Humidity
These plants lose their gloss and vigour in dry atmosphere and the reason you need to ensure they get plenty of humidity.
The best place to keep them is near a bathroom or kitchen, where they also get plenty of natural light. Another good option is to group 3-4 of these plants together to create a micro climate.
If you can’t do any of the above, then get a humidifier, keep it around the plant, and watch it spread amazingly well!
6. Do Some Leaf Cleaning
It would be a good idea to do some cleaning every 2 weeks on weekends, using a damp cotton cloth with a few drops of milk
This will take away the dust off the foliage, making it appear glossy and shiny. It will also make the plant photosynthesise better, leading to better growth.
You must regularly wipe up the leaves with damp clothes to remove dust, which will help the plant breathe efficiently and make it healthier overall.
Also, do not forget to keep an eye on those pesky pests!
7. Give it Some Iron Boost!
The pink and maroon coloration on the leaves of this plant is due to the presence of anthocyanin pigments, the production of which can be amplified using iron and magnesium supplements that will ultimately make the plant appear vivid.
To do this, you can get chelated iron from the garden centre and dilute it with water according to the instructions on the label. Now, use this solution as a foliar spray every 6-8 weeks and see the result. You can also use the solution to water the plant, every 6-8 weeks.
The Number 1 Tip for a Bushy, Colorful, and Thriving Calathea Roseopicta!
Also, prune the plant to keep it in good shape and use the cuttings for propagation. The best bet? Propagate the cuttings in the same pot—when those cutting will develop into new plants, all of them will grow together, which will make them look as a single plant, creating an illusion of a bigger and broader single plant!
