Thanks for your very good advice. I’ve bought my first Calathea Orbifolia, so hoping to keep it alive and healthy. I love your accent, sense of humour and down to earth tips about Calathea’s. Love your beautiful, healthy Calathea. A great video.
I feed my indoor plants (I have a lot of Calatheas)worm castings. I’ve never had a problem using them & would highly recommend. I spay all new plants coming into the house with a 6% solution of hydrogen peroxide just in case, they tolerate that fine, definitely keep in a low light situation & always keep moist. I never water on a schedule I always feel the pot mix & if needed water then. I live in New Zealand so we are a high humidity country, especially in the north island where I am but I generally have a diffuser or humidifier going in the house as well. Good luck everyone, they are seriously my favourite plant 👍
Thanks for the great information! Beautiful specimens. Glad you admitted that "yeah, Calatheas can have problems" ... and explained some details about how to keep them happy.
Great video! I’ve only just purchased my orbifolia and she’s beautiful, so doing as much research as I can to make sure she stays happy and healthy. My Zebrina is very happy to have a sister plant too. Calatheas are definately my favourite house plants thus far.
Wow seriously it's absolutely beautiful.. 😍 I have already killed few.. 😕 But they are so beautiful so I'm still not ready to give up on them.. Thanks for sharing your experience.. It helped a lot.. Really appreciate it..
I love your advice! Thank You! I have a BIG question, my calathea orbifolia is turning the upper leaves very light green, could you give me a tip what is it about, why is it complaining that way? And do I have to be afraid she will not recover? I have her in my bathroom where she gets humidity and light. And all other plants in the bathroom are happy as can be.
Hi! Tnx for the informative vid. I have the same plant and its been with me for 7 months now, i have repotted to a bigger pot since new leaf grows every now and then...but the leaves are not growing as big as yours. How did you make the leaves grow so big?
Question for anyone out here who could offer some insight! Just got a baby calathea today (such a lil beauty!). It's in a tiny pot and quite root-bound. Do you reckon i should re-pot it today, or give it some days (or longer?) to first adjust to the new conditions?
Wait!! Your baby needs to adjust to everything in your home's environment for a bit and then it needs some time to settle in and get back to growing and just being beautiful. Repotting is a huge stressor! Let your lovely plant be itself for now! No need to take drastic measures...learn about it and love it for now! Good luck! 😊
The close up shows 1” of stalk under the leaf is a yellow/green. I thought mine was rotting because it is the same? Also found white woolly specs in the leaf where it joins the stalk? Finally would “baby bio” plant food be ok if I dilute it more than it recommends? I love my orbiflora and have kept it going for 2 months! Thanks in advance🤗
Hi Andrew, thank you for your video! I just bought a very first C. orbifolia a month ago. Now, I have some problems. Some of its leaves have some transparent patches and by some time it turns into brown. Do you know what can be the cause? :) Position : in the south facing window of my home in a postion away from direct sunlight, kept over a pebble tray.
I've just moved my Orbifolia from a south facing bright kitchen to a north facing dim living room. The room gets watery sun until about midday and then has really low levels of light. I've had this Calathea for a few months now and it seems to have really thrived in the kitchen so i'm so scared it's going to hate it's new permanent home! Do you think it will enjoy being right next to the window more than being around a meter away? Or just take it as it comes for a few weeks to see how it fares?
Thank you for the great tips! I have troubles watering the plant - I watered my previous one every 3 days (when the leaves lowered) for a little bit and it seemed to function for a few months, then one day it suddenly rotted. You recomended soaking it, how often would be optimal? Is a leave drop a reliable sign? What would be a good solution if you are away for a week or two? Mine needed every time about a week to fully recover. Thank you in advance :)
Watering Calatheas can be a bit tricky, but its best to check the soil for the best signs. I normally wait until the top few inches of soil has dried out, but before the plant wilts. Water thoroughly, but make sure to let all excess water drain out after. I normally have to water my Orbifolia about every 7-10 days, but it varies. If in doubt, err on the side of letting them dry out a little bit more before watering. Hope that helps. Best wishes Andrew
Hi, I just divided my Obifolia and the mother plant has just completely drooped to the floor, prior to this it was fine-I’m so gutted and feel I’ve stressed it out so much it’ll die. Any advice would be appreciated ☺️
.. Shooo it's huuge :-0 .. I just got a baby Orbifolia yesterday, and it looks a wee shocked really, dropping the leaves and looks pale.. the soil is kinda wet and feels a bit sticky, heavy, clayish.. the same goes for the other new Calatheas that I bough from same place.. not sure if I should give them all a gently repot or leave them for a while??..
If you gently slide your plant out of the pot, you can see if the roots are wrapped around the outside. They only struggle when you disturb the roots or break them up when repotting. I would strongly recommend repotting without disturbing the existing root ball.
Hi! I've recently bought a Calathea Orbifolia, and i'm so scared since I've seen that they're actually hard to take care of. What do you recommend me to keep it healthy and avoid brown leaves?
Mine just droops... can't seem to find any useful info on this. I have changed it to a more humid room, away from the sun, and make sure to not overwater, but it's still drooping. Don't know anymore🤷🏻♀️🤷🏻♀️🤷🏻♀️
Thank you for sharing! What do you use to clean and treat your orbifolia? I find that they're a bit sensitive to neem oil and can cause a bit of burning :(
I just use a damp cloth to clean it. I'd also be a bit wary of using neem oil on such delicate foliage. Manual removal or showering off pests with water would be my first option.
Mine is turning brown on the stems (it looks like a bruise almost) and the new leaf died! I checked the roots and it seems okay? I'm so confused 😕 have you ever encountered something similar?
This sounds like it could be due to a disease. I've encountered a similar situation. The safest solution is to prune off any affected leaves at the base of the stem and watch carefully for any other leaves being affected. Being really careful with watering and providing plenty of light and ventilation can help prevent further disease. Best of luck with your plant. Andrew
Hi Nicole Sometimes if the leaves are all looking a little washed out and the new ones are getting brown edges, it can be a sign of overwatering. It could also be due to conditions that are too bright. Don't be worried about moving your plant to a less bright location, as they will tolerate low lighting for quite a while. Make sure to check the soil well before watering, and if in doubt, leave it another day or two before watering, as underwatering will cause fewer issues than overwatering. Great job using a humidity tray, as this will help greatly in keeping humidity at a level your Calathea will enjoy. Hope your plant is back to perfect health in no time. :) Best wishes Andrew
Thank you so much for a very good educational video. I have been doing well with a few houseplants and have become an orchid master. However, my Calathea is in trouble. She has been by the west facing window and has been burned I think and also plenty of white spots ???fungus. Would you recommend excising the brown leaves? Problems are just "learning opportunities" - you sound so positive! Thank you
Hi Urzsula It depends what is causing the brown leaves. If it is brown edges or patches from light/humidity problems, then you can leave them on the plant ok. They won't look the best, but the remaining healthy parts of the leaves will help the plant to grow. If you think the brown patches are areas of disease, it is best to remove the leaves to prevent spread. Best wishes Andrew
@@smartgardenguide2550 Thank you. I performed a leaf-ectomy surgery and an intense treatment. I left few with slight browning on and will see what happens over the next month.
Hi Maryposa If there are leaves on your Calathea that you are fairly sure are diseased, I would definitely prune them off. While this can impact the look of your plant in the short term, it is best to be careful that any disease doesn't spread to the rest of the leaves. Best wishes Andrew
I just use a general purpose, balanced, 20-20-20, water soluble fertilizer, made up at 1/4 to 1/2 strength. You need to be careful not to overdo the fertilizer. An organic fertilizer is a great option, such as seaweed extract or worm castings are great options, as there is much less chance of giving too much.
I have a leaf that is almost hanging on the ground? What does that say about the health of my plant. It looks great but just one leaf is hanging really low
I wouldn't worry too much about a low hanging leaf if the rest of the plant looks well. I've noticed that a plant that has been underwatered a few times will develop leaves that hang low, and never quite return to normal when good care is restarted. Best wishes Andrew
I'm not sure if I'd risk using coffee grounds on my Calatheas, due to their sensitive nature, but mixing some into the potting mix works well for many indoor plants.
‘Problems are just learning opportunities’. Came here for plant advice left with life advice! Thank you!
I appreciate you telling the true experience of this particular plant. Thank you!
Thanks for your very good advice. I’ve bought my first Calathea Orbifolia, so hoping to keep it alive and healthy. I love your accent, sense of humour and down to earth tips about Calathea’s. Love your beautiful, healthy Calathea. A great video.
I feed my indoor plants (I have a lot of Calatheas)worm castings. I’ve never had a problem using them & would highly recommend. I spay all new plants coming into the house with a 6% solution of hydrogen peroxide just in case, they tolerate that fine, definitely keep in a low light situation & always keep moist. I never water on a schedule I always feel the pot mix & if needed water then. I live in New Zealand so we are a high humidity country, especially in the north island where I am but I generally have a diffuser or humidifier going in the house as well. Good luck everyone, they are seriously my favourite plant 👍
Thanks for the great information! Beautiful specimens. Glad you admitted that "yeah, Calatheas can have problems" ... and explained some details about how to keep them happy.
Great video! I’ve only just purchased my orbifolia and she’s beautiful, so doing as much research as I can to make sure she stays happy and healthy. My Zebrina is very happy to have a sister plant too. Calatheas are definately my favourite house plants thus far.
Distilled Water! I cannot express this enough with all Calathea's :)
What about purified water?
Wow seriously it's absolutely beautiful.. 😍
I have already killed few.. 😕 But they are so beautiful so I'm still not ready to give up on them.. Thanks for sharing your experience.. It helped a lot.. Really appreciate it..
I just picked up a baby Calathea today. I can’t wait to take care of him and watch him grow big like yours. Hello from the sates - Chicago
Andrew, please upload more videos!!
What a lovely beautiful huge leaves of Calethea you had which can't wait my Baby Calethea to grow like yours .
Thank you so much for the tips to care orbifolia i will try on my orbi
Wow that is spectacular. I just bought one today, fingers crossed...
Thanks for the info. I've a very sad orbifolia in Dublin.
Oh I hope I can get mine to be as beautiful as yours!!! Its amazing!!!
thank you for your kindly share!
Really informative! Is it normal for new leaves to be lighter in colour?
Lovely information, Thanks!
Thanks for the information! I have a few calatheas and one is still not thriving...
Hope you manage to get your Calathea thriving. :)
I love your advice! Thank You! I have a BIG question, my calathea orbifolia is turning the upper leaves very light green, could you give me a tip what is it about, why is it complaining that way? And do I have to be afraid she will not recover? I have her in my bathroom where she gets humidity and light. And all other plants in the bathroom are happy as can be.
Hi! Tnx for the informative vid. I have the same plant and its been with me for 7 months now, i have repotted to a bigger pot since new leaf grows every now and then...but the leaves are not growing as big as yours. How did you make the leaves grow so big?
Question for anyone out here who could offer some insight!
Just got a baby calathea today (such a lil beauty!). It's in a tiny pot and quite root-bound.
Do you reckon i should re-pot it today, or give it some days (or longer?) to first adjust to the new conditions?
Wait!! Your baby needs to adjust to everything in your home's environment for a bit and then it needs some time to settle in and get back to growing and just being beautiful. Repotting is a huge stressor! Let your lovely plant be itself for now! No need to take drastic measures...learn about it and love it for now! Good luck! 😊
The close up shows 1” of stalk under the leaf is a yellow/green. I thought mine was rotting because it is the same? Also found white woolly specs in the leaf where it joins the stalk? Finally would “baby bio” plant food be ok if I dilute it more than it recommends? I love my orbiflora and have kept it going for 2 months! Thanks in advance🤗
Hi Andrew, thank you for your video!
I just bought a very first C. orbifolia a month ago. Now, I have some problems. Some of its leaves have some transparent patches and by some time it turns into brown. Do you know what can be the cause? :)
Position : in the south facing window of my home in a postion away from direct sunlight, kept over a pebble tray.
I've just moved my Orbifolia from a south facing bright kitchen to a north facing dim living room. The room gets watery sun until about midday and then has really low levels of light. I've had this Calathea for a few months now and it seems to have really thrived in the kitchen so i'm so scared it's going to hate it's new permanent home! Do you think it will enjoy being right next to the window more than being around a meter away? Or just take it as it comes for a few weeks to see how it fares?
Will a grow light have the same effect as a direct sunlight? Will it also scorch the leafs?
tanx for your useful video, my calathea leaves are getting yellow from the edges as they are young and their green color is not strong whats wrong?
Thank you for the great tips! I have troubles watering the plant - I watered my previous one every 3 days (when the leaves lowered) for a little bit and it seemed to function for a few months, then one day it suddenly rotted. You recomended soaking it, how often would be optimal? Is a leave drop a reliable sign? What would be a good solution if you are away for a week or two? Mine needed every time about a week to fully recover. Thank you in advance :)
Watering Calatheas can be a bit tricky, but its best to check the soil for the best signs. I normally wait until the top few inches of soil has dried out, but before the plant wilts.
Water thoroughly, but make sure to let all excess water drain out after. I normally have to water my Orbifolia about every 7-10 days, but it varies.
If in doubt, err on the side of letting them dry out a little bit more before watering.
Hope that helps.
Best wishes
Andrew
Hi, I just divided my Obifolia and the mother plant has just completely drooped to the floor, prior to this it was fine-I’m so gutted and feel I’ve stressed it out so much it’ll die. Any advice would be appreciated ☺️
Hi Andrew, my calathea leaves are brown underneath, and I’m not sure why. Can you help?
.. Shooo it's huuge :-0 .. I just got a baby Orbifolia yesterday, and it looks a wee shocked really, dropping the leaves and looks pale.. the soil is kinda wet and feels a bit sticky, heavy, clayish.. the same goes for the other new Calatheas that I bough from same place.. not sure if I should give them all a gently repot or leave them for a while??..
Thanks for the video, given that they don't like being re-potted how can you you tell when a growing plant needs to go into a bigger pot?
If you gently slide your plant out of the pot, you can see if the roots are wrapped around the outside. They only struggle when you disturb the roots or break them up when repotting. I would strongly recommend repotting without disturbing the existing root ball.
@@smartgardenguide2550 Thanks :)
Hi! I've recently bought a Calathea Orbifolia, and i'm so scared since I've seen that they're actually hard to take care of. What do you recommend me to keep it healthy and avoid brown leaves?
I'd recommend a humidifier and watering with distilled water in addition to indirect light.
Mine just droops... can't seem to find any useful info on this. I have changed it to a more humid room, away from the sun, and make sure to not overwater, but it's still drooping. Don't know anymore🤷🏻♀️🤷🏻♀️🤷🏻♀️
How do you stop Calathea growing so large? Can you prune them?
my calthea is big but the leaves are hanging. so i give it water, but now the new leaves turn yellow and brown. its not in the sun. PLEASE HELP!
Thank you for sharing! What do you use to clean and treat your orbifolia? I find that they're a bit sensitive to neem oil and can cause a bit of burning :(
I just use a damp cloth to clean it. I'd also be a bit wary of using neem oil on such delicate foliage. Manual removal or showering off pests with water would be my first option.
@@smartgardenguide2550 Thank you for the tips! I'll keep these in mind the next time I dust them off 😊
Mine is turning brown on the stems (it looks like a bruise almost) and the new leaf died! I checked the roots and it seems okay? I'm so confused 😕 have you ever encountered something similar?
This sounds like it could be due to a disease. I've encountered a similar situation. The safest solution is to prune off any affected leaves at the base of the stem and watch carefully for any other leaves being affected. Being really careful with watering and providing plenty of light and ventilation can help prevent further disease.
Best of luck with your plant.
Andrew
@@smartgardenguide2550 thank you!! I will try that and hopefully it will fix it! 😣🤞
My new plant is doing the same!
I've noticed some brown area's on new leaves, as well as the leaves looked washed out. I was misting it but just started using a humidity tray.
Hi Nicole
Sometimes if the leaves are all looking a little washed out and the new ones are getting brown edges, it can be a sign of overwatering. It could also be due to conditions that are too bright. Don't be worried about moving your plant to a less bright location, as they will tolerate low lighting for quite a while. Make sure to check the soil well before watering, and if in doubt, leave it another day or two before watering, as underwatering will cause fewer issues than overwatering. Great job using a humidity tray, as this will help greatly in keeping humidity at a level your Calathea will enjoy.
Hope your plant is back to perfect health in no time. :)
Best wishes
Andrew
I just got my Calathea recently and see new leaves coming - but leaves are not growing big - how can I help the plant to get to it’s full potential?
Will you please respond on this - no change since a year now
how long does it takes for it to grow this big? it's slow developement?
Thank you so much for a very good educational video. I have been doing well with a few houseplants and have become an orchid master. However, my Calathea is in trouble. She has been by the west facing window and has been burned I think and also plenty of white spots ???fungus. Would you recommend excising the brown leaves?
Problems are just "learning opportunities" - you sound so positive! Thank you
Hi Urzsula
It depends what is causing the brown leaves. If it is brown edges or patches from light/humidity problems, then you can leave them on the plant ok. They won't look the best, but the remaining healthy parts of the leaves will help the plant to grow. If you think the brown patches are areas of disease, it is best to remove the leaves to prevent spread.
Best wishes
Andrew
@@smartgardenguide2550 Thank you. I performed a leaf-ectomy surgery and an intense treatment. I left few with slight browning on and will see what happens over the next month.
Direct sunlight, does that mean when the sun is at it's strongest between 11-14? 🤔
Do I need to use distilled water for this plant
I notice that the plant is still in the birthpot?
Should I cut the yellow leaves that dry diseased, what should I do?
Hi Maryposa
If there are leaves on your Calathea that you are fairly sure are diseased, I would definitely prune them off. While this can impact the look of your plant in the short term, it is best to be careful that any disease doesn't spread to the rest of the leaves.
Best wishes
Andrew
What do u use to feed the plant?
it has enormous leaves
I just use a general purpose, balanced, 20-20-20, water soluble fertilizer, made up at 1/4 to 1/2 strength. You need to be careful not to overdo the fertilizer. An organic fertilizer is a great option, such as seaweed extract or worm castings are great options, as there is much less chance of giving too much.
Mine is kinda pale, any suggestion what to do?
Pale leaves are most likely due to overwatering or excess light. Look at these two issues first, as it is highly likely to be one or the other. :)
I have a leaf that is almost hanging on the ground? What does that say about the health of my plant. It looks great but just one leaf is hanging really low
I wouldn't worry too much about a low hanging leaf if the rest of the plant looks well. I've noticed that a plant that has been underwatered a few times will develop leaves that hang low, and never quite return to normal when good care is restarted.
Best wishes
Andrew
Does calathea like coffee ground ?
I'm not sure if I'd risk using coffee grounds on my Calatheas, due to their sensitive nature, but mixing some into the potting mix works well for many indoor plants.
Is tap water ok?
It hates tap water!!!
Keşke türkçesi de olsa
what kind of accent is that???
Hi Steen
I'm from Northern Ireland. It's a bit of an unusual accent. :)