Ok. So, she won’t die. But she’ll try to. Find a nice spot with indirect sun. No direct sun at all. Keep the soil moist by watering when the top inch is dry with a twice diluted general house plant fertilizer. I’d take it out of the cache pot and put in a saucer so you can monitor the water and dump when needed. Never let it go completely dry.
You may want to give it a good drenching every quarter to make sure you rinse out accumulated salts, minerals, and fertilizer.
Now the important part. Don’t move it. Don’t talk to it. Don’t walk by it. Don’t look at it. Don’t wave at it. Don’t Smell it. Don’t blow air on it. Don’t mention it. Pretend it doesn’t exist except for watering and the occasional drench.
I’m using aquarium conditioner for all my calathea. Works wonders and you don’t need to lug distilled water around to always have on hand
Room dehumidifier (Dehydrator) water works too.
Wait does this mean you use water from your dehumidifier? Is that better for the plants?? This could be a big game changer for my humid home and plant family!
LOL. I’m not using it around the plant. My dehumidifier is in my basement. I dump the water into a bucket and use the water in the bucket to water my plants.
Also in coastal Virginia - I run a small dehumidifier in my bathroom because it gets too swampy! I'd put my calathea in there but I don't wanna anger it
It is pulling water out of the air so no chorine or any other shit. It’s equal to rainwater. I use it for my Venus fly traps. It is such a game changer. I can’t take credit for the idea, I saw it mentioned somewhere online and it changed my life.
Amazing! I can't wait to try it! Also to the other commenter - I'm in the DC area and humidity is crazy. The dehumidifier is on for the humans, not for the plants, and it's not near the plants. Also, my home plants are mostly succulents :)
Ah, buns. I thought I rescued one from Lowe's. Looks like a 15 year old stray cat now. Maybe they'll perk up with distilled water instead of purified 🥲
She’s a beaut
I think I have her brother- he died but like a true vamp he has returned. His name is Armand and he currently has 3 budding stems after being a withered lump.
I’m old school…so its witchcraft.
North facing windowsill, let the soil dry out juuuuuust enough, mini portable humidifier, occasional liquid fertilizer. I did distilled water for a while but then ran out and forgot I was supposed to be doing that until this post so she is powered by nyc tap water!
Also mealy bugs… its full of damn mealy bugs (not pictured)
Be careful. I got the same plant from the same company (not from Costco tho) and it even had the same pot. I am THIS close to chucking it in the bin. It’s just so temperamental and I can’t get rid of its spider mites. I hate this mf. I want it DEAD, but it just won’t die.
I sincerely hope yours is nicer to you than mine is to me
Ok. So, she won’t die. But she’ll try to. Find a nice spot with indirect sun. No direct sun at all. Keep the soil moist by watering when the top inch is dry with a twice diluted general house plant fertilizer. I’d take it out of the cache pot and put in a saucer so you can monitor the water and dump when needed. Never let it go completely dry. You may want to give it a good drenching every quarter to make sure you rinse out accumulated salts, minerals, and fertilizer. Now the important part. Don’t move it. Don’t talk to it. Don’t walk by it. Don’t look at it. Don’t wave at it. Don’t Smell it. Don’t blow air on it. Don’t mention it. Pretend it doesn’t exist except for watering and the occasional drench.
lol. Accurate.
It’s a beauty but it will die. Lol distilled water only. You’ve been warned.
I’m using aquarium conditioner for all my calathea. Works wonders and you don’t need to lug distilled water around to always have on hand Room dehumidifier (Dehydrator) water works too.
Wait does this mean you use water from your dehumidifier? Is that better for the plants?? This could be a big game changer for my humid home and plant family!
This is very confusing to me. Calatheas *need* humidity! Who is using dehumidifiers around any plant???!
LOL. I’m not using it around the plant. My dehumidifier is in my basement. I dump the water into a bucket and use the water in the bucket to water my plants.
Oh right! That makes sense and having living in coastal virginia for some 40 years, I'd forgotten all about basements!
Also in coastal Virginia - I run a small dehumidifier in my bathroom because it gets too swampy! I'd put my calathea in there but I don't wanna anger it
It is pulling water out of the air so no chorine or any other shit. It’s equal to rainwater. I use it for my Venus fly traps. It is such a game changer. I can’t take credit for the idea, I saw it mentioned somewhere online and it changed my life.
Amazing! I can't wait to try it! Also to the other commenter - I'm in the DC area and humidity is crazy. The dehumidifier is on for the humans, not for the plants, and it's not near the plants. Also, my home plants are mostly succulents :)
Water with distilled *holy* water only. It sometimes requires exorcism to thrive.
Distilled water seconded!
Ooh. Thanks for the tip. I'll grab some distilled water in a couple days. I hope I haven't screwed mine up.
Ah, buns. I thought I rescued one from Lowe's. Looks like a 15 year old stray cat now. Maybe they'll perk up with distilled water instead of purified 🥲
😭 reading this now after two weeks. I’m scared lol
I’ve had one for a couple months and it’s thriving. I’ve only ever watered with tap water
I don't use distilled and mine don't die. I do live in a place with naturally high humidity and release predatory mites.
She’s a beaut I think I have her brother- he died but like a true vamp he has returned. His name is Armand and he currently has 3 budding stems after being a withered lump.
First calathea i have ever kept alive…[It can be done!](https://imgur.com/a/wAdHOOr)
Naaaw... that photo is either AI or witchcraft. Probably both.
I’m old school…so its witchcraft. North facing windowsill, let the soil dry out juuuuuust enough, mini portable humidifier, occasional liquid fertilizer. I did distilled water for a while but then ran out and forgot I was supposed to be doing that until this post so she is powered by nyc tap water! Also mealy bugs… its full of damn mealy bugs (not pictured)
Be careful. I got the same plant from the same company (not from Costco tho) and it even had the same pot. I am THIS close to chucking it in the bin. It’s just so temperamental and I can’t get rid of its spider mites. I hate this mf. I want it DEAD, but it just won’t die. I sincerely hope yours is nicer to you than mine is to me
Ooooh, who is she?
A calathea- I forget the scientific name but people call them Dottie.
r/gothplants
What did she cost?
8u I d ret
i mostly ignore mine and it’s thriving
Same, I bottom water it like once a week (when soil dries mostly) with just tap water and it’s doing well
Mine is outside on a porch in death heat with morning sun only and water from the hose. Shes doing amazing.
wow so beautiful! 😻😻😻
She's Gorgeous! Congratulations!
Heartbreaker
Return it 🖤
🖤
She's beautiful