I feel bad for everyone commenting how their partners get annoyed when they add new plants. I get money sometimes can be an issue but cmoooon. Every time I come home with plants my boyfriend ALWAYS goes 'oouuu aahhhh thats so neat what are you going to name it?' lol 💕 tell your partner's to lighten up! Plants are the best 💕
Gus Griswald haha my partner names my plants for me. My favorites right now are the giant golden pathos that he named Gloria and our cactus, cactus jack.
Hahaha same. Mine has survived for a month now. Has grown like crazy too! 😯 my very first house plants that's not a cactus too, so I'm nervous to say the least 😂
Regarding the need for distilled water; I have 8 calathea now and didn't want to constantly be stocking distilled water from the store and didn't even realize a water filter would work, but I learned a trick from RUclips comments on another video to treat a gallon of tap water with water purifier for aquariums. It's made to neutralize the minerals and whatnot in tapwater, you only need a few drops per gallon, and I got a little bottle of it for under $5 at my local pet store. Been using it for a good while and have no brown tips on any of my callies.
I always go back to this video whenever I get hands on a new calathea. It doesn't matter how many I already have. When I get a new one, the anxiety is high and this video makes me calm 😂
I just have a lot of plants and propagations in water in my east facing window sill above the radiator. Works the same way, some lovely humidity being radiated throughout the house plus some warmer weather but moisture loving plants are in a great place with some dim morning sun :)
I put a large plate under each of my calatheas' pots with some pebbles and water, I fill it 1 to 2 cm deep, and I make sure there's aways water, I don't let it dry out. That really helps keeping the "humidity bubble" too! :)
I’ve had a Calathea for two years and never knew it was temperamental. It started flowering last week. And then I read an article about how temperamental they are and now it’s looking pale... ignorance is bliss?
It always makes me sigh a bit when people describe plants as "temperamental" or "difficult to care for" because the plants have evolved to grow and reproduce all on their own (imagine that!), its simply the further you take some plants from their usually environmental conditions the harder you have to work against your house climate to make it more like the plants native climate. It seems you're very lucky! and your house simply has enough humidity and heat to comfort the calathea and you have your watering down to a T!
SAME! I usually am awful with plants, but for the most part my calathea tell me what they want and I give it to them. They're doing pretty good. My other plants are usually "quiet" then die 😅
Found your videos recently, and I swear you are the realest plant youtube out there. Everyone presents Calathea as easy, but you show us the truth and non-expensive ways to tackle it. I love your channel!
I collect rain water for my calathea's. This is no small task in Spain. It requires real dedication but its been worth it. Turned my calatheas and my orchids around. Orchids really hated me before rain water. Im going to go order a Brita now for back up though. That is a great Idea!!
Yes!! I agree it’s a water filter is a great backup! I got lazy and started watering my calathea with straight tap water this winter and they started getting crispy edges. 😓 The thing is, the tap water was too hard for *me* to even want to drink-why would the calathea like it any better? lol went back to distilled and they’re bouncing back 🤗
My younger brother picked up a Calathea Ornata because he thought it looked cool and I had no idea they’re they require this much care! I just ordered a spray bottle, humidity meter, and water level meter off amazon to be sure i can try my hardest to keep it alive!
Get watering stakes to do the job while you are out - or just lazy, ha ha www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07H9HZ4FB?pf_rd_r=DVH7JKJYZ2E6MHDHHXTG&pf_rd_p=edaba0ee-c2fe-4124-9f5d-b31d6b1bfbee
This is perfect! I'm planning to move forward on my plant journey and calathea are my next target. I'm starting to do a research before I get one and this video is all timing. ♥️💚🌿
How have I only just found you! At last a UK plant channel. This video is SO helpful. especially as I didn't realise I have one of those 'humidifiers' for essential oils and I never thought to use it with my plants. My Calathea is doing so well despite the abuse (I repotted it the day I got it!) but I do keep her warm and moist.
Your tips were a huge help my ctenanthes have been far to wet since I bought them. The moisture meter I bought did not say what calathe etc. Should register when it needs water. I did check them and emptied out some of the wet soil and added some dry I figured it would wick the wet away from the center but I dont think it has and I have several new leaves coming out light brown Im assuming now due to being to wet for to long. Again thank you. You probably just saved 2 plants lives.
Kaylee,your advice is on point. My Calatheas have thrived in their nursery pots.it's been 5 months,so I may repot them now. I live in the Tropics,so humidity is not an issue,but I use filtered water. I did all my research before getting one and they are now lush,gorgeous and my favourites. Finally gave them a little diluted plant food.
Thank you so much Kaylee, I really really enjoyed listening to your tips and advice on Calathea’s. I think these plants are really really stunning and beautiful too. I only have two of them so I’m learning so much about them. I’ve subscribed and given you a thumbs up too.
Mercedes Guzmán I don’t remember where I heard it from but apparently because the calathea plants typically grow on the floors of the rainforest where there’s not much light, the purple color on bottoms of the leaves of some calatheas help capture more light to photosynthesize (rather than the light escaping and reaching through the leaf) :)
Hi Kaylee Ellen! This is one of the few times that I'm actually happy to NOT HAVE a plant! Lol! The beauty of calatheas is amazing & I love them; but, I haven't yet purchased one. My fear of failure & indecisiveness have obviously saved me from experiencing the dreaded "brown, crispy leaves" and disappointment that so many people have endured. Thank goodness! This video AND the one done by Tropical Plant Addict on calathea care have given me a new attitude toward those beautiful plants. I've decided to purchase the same humidifier that you own. Once my home & I are properly prepared, I'll shop for calatheas with the confidence I've lacked until now. Thank you very much for your channel AND this most valuable video! 🌾💜
.. I've got my very first calathea ornata a couple of months ago, not knowing what it was, but I fell in love with the little critter in the grosery store.. Back home I found it was soaking wet and I left it on my kitchen table thinking I would see tomorrow where to put it.. That night I was really worried about the dripping soaked soil, it was actually drowning.. Next morning I skipped my routine and took the little critter out of the pot dripping all over the place and gently removed the soil and cleaned the roots under lukewarm water.. It took a good wee while and patience.. I removed the dead roots and sprayed with neem oil, took a clean pot and gave it my own potting mix and waited a few days before watering.. Meanwhile I used my spray to mist it and 24 hours later it behaved like it should.. Like a Calathea prayer plant.. It has given mee 2 new leafs and has grown half size taller.. Now it sit on my grands old desk with 5 others, in the shade (I've got 3 sitting on my working place in a corner of the kitchen where its very low light) and they are all as happy as can be.. With same mist routine everyday, water when they are halfway dry fertilizer with fish emulsion and more once every 2 week.. I boil the tap water, cools it down and run it through a paper coffee filter, and it works for all my 75 plants 🤗
I didn’t know any of this before buying my calathea, but read about it after I repotted it. Since then, I’ve been struggling to keep it healthy. It’s growing and has flowers but it’s leaves are wrinkled and droopy. I don’t have a humidifier yet, but have grouped my plants together on pebbles w water and spray their leaves occasionally. I’m looking into the watering probe now. Thanks for all your tips, wish I found you sooner x
I repot all my plants soon as I get them. I use clear pots on all my plants it makes watering so much easier & has made a huge difference. I also use a brita to water with a few drops of fish tank water clarifier.
Wonderful tips! I don't have any Calathea because living in Arizona, it's so dry here. But, you've given me great info to maybe give it a try. Thank you!
Hi, Carmen! Writing from Scottsdale to tell you there is hope! :D I don't have a calathea yet, but a good humidifier has made all the difference in my jungle room 😃
Thank you, this was a really helpful video! I bought a Calathea Zebrina about a month ago and it's doing fairly well, but I'm going to implement some of your tips to really get it flourishing! My dream plant is a Calathea Musaica, so if I can get the Zebrina right I feel like I'll be ready for the far more rare and expensive Musaica...
loving your channel Kaylee.... :) wanted to mention that Brita doesn't take out fluoride but does remove chlorine and other nasty stuff... to remove fluoride which is a good idea for humans and I'm guessing plants too... the Berkey water filter system does offer filters that will get the fluoride out so I thought I should mention that - and I think they originated from your side of the pond too!
I just got my first calathea today. It is in really bad shape so they gave me a distressed discount. Most of the plant is crispy so I will need to clean it up a bit. I really enjoy finding distressed plants. They usually just need a good water and most places will give you a deal.. I inspect thoroughly as to not get any plants with disease or pests. And quarantine it for a while. I am impatient when I get a new plant. I always want to repot right away but I do understand that they need to acclimate. I have a really good humidifier too! So im excited. Anyways, wish me luck!
Thank you so much. I can now look after my plant. I could not do anything right . I now have a thermometer which reads humidity as well. I will purchase the humidifier. I so love this plant.
Kaylee, wow! This video is extraordinary!!! You did a great job of explaining in details on how to care for Calathea. Thank you so much for sharing. I have been following you for a long time. I watched your setup and opening of your shop, which was very enlightening.
Great video. Thanks for the info. Starting to think its the British atmosphere. You and Tropical Plant Addict (fellow Englishwoman) have the best calatheas on youtube. I have one question (two parts), how often do you run your humidifier and how long? Thanks again and keep it coming.
Thanks :) yeah it could be our atmosphere to be honest. Ah yeah I know her I watch her videos and follow her on Instagram shes great 😁 well I actually have one that I use to set the desired humidity level and my humidifier just maintains that by itself. But when I used my old humidifier I actually had it running 24 hours a day lol. Calathea like insanely high levels of humidity - even as high as 85%! So I just give them as much as I can.
@@KayleeEllenOfficial thanks for your video! I think I may take her into the shower with me on occasion as our place is too damp as it is upstairs, but downstairs is not
Calathea and other humidity-loving plants seem to do well in my damp Devon home. We struggle to get our humidity below about 65% without using a dehumidifier and it's often closer to 80%. One thing I've realised is not to buy Calathea and other similar plants from supermarkets on the odd tempting time they have them, I think the air conditioning damages them as none have them have lasted long without severe issues. They seem to be fine if they've come from garden centres.
I'm over waterer too, i have to get one of those thermometer. I'm use to using terracotta pot and now I've changed to plastic pot and I'm struggling, my Anthuriums, my ficus all their root rot. Gosh! Thanks for the video.
A tip for you. Putting plants that like moisture and humid air in terracotta is actually a great idea just because it leeches water from the soil. Why is that then might one ask :). Well, where does it leech the water to then? Into the air of course. And the more moist loving plants you have in terracotta, the more humid your room will be. Yes, you will need to water more often, but you will have to refill your humidifier less often as it will not have to work as much.
My sister has the Calathea and she water it with tap water. I've never seen bigger Calathea then hers, it even blooms now in the summer time, it has flowers. I have the same one as she does, but for only 1 months and it's doing great. :)
Sooo. I'm just starting my plant journey. I'm a few months in, and I decided to take the plunge. I got a calathea warscewiczii or velvet touch yesterday 🥰 I did my research on it and my hydrometer is on its way. I am so excited and its thanks to you! She is a queen! Thank you for all you do 🌱💚
I'm shocked !! I'm on track and have all the equipment you spoke of !! Well, not the big Humidifier, but a great smaller one . Great tips and info on Calathea's. New sub here !! Going to do a marathon to watch your video's !! Plant on !!
I use my water meter everyday, very great to have! Sometimes I would have a watered but the meter has save my plants. I google all the plants I plan to purchase in the nursery just to see if we can work together.
Great Video Kaylee! I appreciate the suggestions on caring and preserving our Calathea plants! I will look into purchasing the water and humidity meters! I enjoyed you video, thank you!💕❤
Potted plants and I, love self watering containers. I have plants which spend the cold months indoors and the rest of the years out and the water gauges are a lifesaver. Expensive solution, but it does guaranty high level of success when you have a collection of plants with widely varying watering needs, dependant on breed, season and setting.
I've got a calathea gandersii and a zebrina and the gandersii has always been very healthy even though I give it tap water, my friend recently gave me the zebrina and she's very crispy so I'm going to get a humidity sensor and use rain water and hopefully she'll get better 🌿😊
I have about a 50-65 humidity range in my bedroom where I kept mine but every single leaf was getting brown and crispy ends or edges, especially the new leaves that were still growing. I've now put it in my bathroom for even more humidity and it seems the browning at least hasn't gotten worse, but that might also just be because of different light conditions or even swapping over from tap water to bottled water (I've heard these are also sensitive to chalk and salts that are present in tap water). It's also growing a new shoot since a few days ago so it seems that I finally met the conditions it likes. I still find it strange that it was browning so much while in the right humidity, with no direct sunlight and regular watering and misting. Welp, I just now got to the part in the video where you mention the water. It must have been that then, shocking how much of a negative effect it had.
So glad I have found your channel. I love your insights and hands on approach. Really accessible for beginner to intermediate plant hobbyists like myself. Cheers!
The thing i always ask myself when it comes to humidity is " Do none of you get house mold ? " I have no problems getting up to 60-70% humidty in my room since i have aquariums, but in winter i get serious mold if i don't use a dehumidifier.
I *heard* ivy helps with that because it cleans spores from the air, however I have no source to back it up. But I thought it might be Wort mentioning to you so you can check it out
I literally bought 2 calatheas last week, one calathea sanderiana pinstripe and also a calathea lemon lime(because you mentioned it 🤦♀️😂) I bought a humidity checker because I was curious about the level of my home luckily it's at 50-60% at the moment. I do also have my plants on trays of pebbles with a little water and I have a good few plants close together to help with the humidity in the area. So there's a couple tips for anyone who can't afford a humidifier right now (me😂). I am in Wales in the valleys so it gets colder here than most other places so time will tell now it's getting colder.
Recently fell in love with calath but haven't gotten 1 yet. This will help loads because I hear so much about how difficult they can be to keep looking beautiful. Yet few elaborate.
I finally bought a calathea to add to my jungle. I think a mosaic variety? I drench mine in my pond water (aka crack water) so hopefully she’ll be loooing like a rock star in no time-somewhat crispy from on the store shelf
BAHAHA! I haven't bought ANY plants since October. We're relocating in January so my husband told me to wait until then & I ordered 2 more plants off eBay😂😂😂 HOPEFULLY he's at work when they get here! I JUST HAD TO HAVE THEM!! 😂😂
Florence Perez I also didn‘t get any more plants since October! Because.. is it. October. I got two plants yesterday. I have 40+ plants in my bedroom in the house I share with others, because I‘m a student. someone help me haah
Stumbles across this video after being the proud parent of two calatheas! I must be super lucky with my orbifolia as she is behaving for me (slight crispy-ness on oldest leaf!).... I have cursed myself now! Thanks for the tips humidity reader on shopping list 👌🏼
The more I research the more I hear that everyone has different problematic calatheas. For example my velvet touch is acting like all hell broke loose but my roseopicta which is standing right next to the velvet touch is enjoying life and existing happily. It even bloomed a while back!! I'll definetely try some things you mentioned
I love calatheas and have a few. I love that you said that one of them is a diva LOL. Some of them are easy care and others are fussy/difficult. So I'm learning what they like and don't like and where in the house to place them to make them the happiest. it doesn't help that we've literally had no sun so far this year and just rain so I can't rely on any regular indirect light from a window. I saw the humidifier you recommend (6L) and I had it on my wish list. I purchase it today and note that Amazon has a $15 off coupon to click on. So bonus!!
These are such great tips. Something that has worked out very well for me has been to have a wet pebble tray underneath my calethea pot. The pot itself still sits in a saucer so the water from the pebble tray can't reach the soil, but water evaporates from the tray and raises the humidity right around the plant. This is particularly useful for people who don't want to use a humidifier that will affect the whole room. It's worth noting that you need to use distilled water in the tray, though, or you might get mineral deposits on the pebbles and tray rim. It might not be enough for all plants/ rooms, but it made me worry a lot less about my calethea!
wow! what a great information for Calathea! very helpful video and I think I am ready to give it a try. at least I will buy 1 Calathea for now, and will follow your helpful tips. Thanks again :)
Very helpful, thanks! I'm still struggling with calatheas but I've found that, in general, the ones with very thin leaves are harder to keep than those with thicker somewhat waxy leaves... Rubifarba may be the exception there, mine does bounce back if I go a day too long on the watering. They can be divas, that's for sure !!!
Feeling much better now...my calathea got crunchy and died this winter. I’m understanding why and how this happened, and I think I’ll repurchase one and try again! Thank you!👍🏽😄
Definitely going to buy the moist-thermometer! My roseopicta corona plants keep dying and they're the quickest to die. Right next to it are the makoyana and rufibarba that are doing well, even making new leaves in the winter. It would be great to see if I can manage my calathea's to no longer die. I'm going to try some subspecies of calathea again this spring :)
I've always tried to go without humidifier because i think they are kind of cumbersome (and a wee bit ugly) but your Levoit Humidifier looks fantastic. I think i might cave and have to get one.
I've just bought a Calathea "Network" and I love it - but I am so worried I'm going to end up with a sad crinkly mess. Hope not. I'll mist until I can save for a humidifier...
I wish I had watched this before getting my rattlesnake calathea. It has really gone downhill since I repotted it into my bird container. It looked SOOOO GOOD at first. The leaves looked kind of like feathers. Now, it’s circling the drain. I guess I will put it back in a nursery pot and put a moisture meter in it. I have the one as you, Kalee, just haven’t used it.... hopefully I can save it..
My very first plant was a prayer plant. Stupid thing would die and come back to life multiple times. Wish I had known then what know now...Love your videos.
I love terracotta pots, mainly because I'm a compulsive kill-it-with-kindness over-waterer and it gives me some level of comfort to know my pot is doing its best to save my plants from me. Looks like I'll have to be a bit more careful with my Calathea. I've got a moisture meter too, and a big bottle of distilled water, so I really have no excuse now if my Calathea dies.
I'm based in the UK as well and I had a calathea ornata which recently got a major spider mite infestation. I find your tips super useful and would love to hear what you know about the pests and diseases that this plant could get/carry? Thanks so much and love your channel!!!
I feel bad for everyone commenting how their partners get annoyed when they add new plants. I get money sometimes can be an issue but cmoooon. Every time I come home with plants my boyfriend ALWAYS goes 'oouuu aahhhh thats so neat what are you going to name it?' lol 💕 tell your partner's to lighten up! Plants are the best 💕
Gus Griswald haha my partner names my plants for me. My favorites right now are the giant golden pathos that he named Gloria and our cactus, cactus jack.
Gus Griswald you stole that comment from reddit, you fucking plant hater.
Well my boyfriend said enough is enough when dirt was found in the bed 🙈
Olivia Ekvall not in the bed😩😩😩I try to clean up before mines come friend u can’t be leaving evidence around😂😂😂
@@oliviaekvall4767 I dropped gritty mix into the back of the couch last week, knocked succulent from table.. still have a bunch clean out.. ;)
watching after impulse buying my first Calathea yesterday lol oops
Rhiannon H hahahah same
Me too I’m in trouble
Haha same. I just bought mine today. A bit nervous now 😳
Me too! I did pretty much everything she said not to do!
Hahaha same. Mine has survived for a month now. Has grown like crazy too! 😯 my very first house plants that's not a cactus too, so I'm nervous to say the least 😂
Regarding the need for distilled water; I have 8 calathea now and didn't want to constantly be stocking distilled water from the store and didn't even realize a water filter would work, but I learned a trick from RUclips comments on another video to treat a gallon of tap water with water purifier for aquariums. It's made to neutralize the minerals and whatnot in tapwater, you only need a few drops per gallon, and I got a little bottle of it for under $5 at my local pet store. Been using it for a good while and have no brown tips on any of my callies.
Thank you.
I always go back to this video whenever I get hands on a new calathea. It doesn't matter how many I already have. When I get a new one, the anxiety is high and this video makes me calm 😂
Same!
You can also put pots water on radiators as the water will evaporate into the air working like a (very cheap) humidifier :)
I just have a lot of plants and propagations in water in my east facing window sill above the radiator. Works the same way, some lovely humidity being radiated throughout the house plus some warmer weather but moisture loving plants are in a great place with some dim morning sun :)
I put a large plate under each of my calatheas' pots with some pebbles and water, I fill it 1 to 2 cm deep, and I make sure there's aways water, I don't let it dry out. That really helps keeping the "humidity bubble" too! :)
Plant pickup lines: girl, are you a calathea? 'cause you look stunning but painfully high maintenance! 😂
Calathea’s are also non-toxic, for all you pet owners concerned about that 😸
Mvp 🙌🏼
Even birds !!!
They’re my favorite and I’m actually not that bad with them! 🙈
Even some reptiles, like crested geckos! :)
Oh thank god 😂 my cat Satan likes to go and rub up against the leaves to torment me 😆
I’ve had a Calathea for two years and never knew it was temperamental. It started flowering last week. And then I read an article about how temperamental they are and now it’s looking pale... ignorance is bliss?
It always makes me sigh a bit when people describe plants as "temperamental" or "difficult to care for" because the plants have evolved to grow and reproduce all on their own (imagine that!), its simply the further you take some plants from their usually environmental conditions the harder you have to work against your house climate to make it more like the plants native climate. It seems you're very lucky! and your house simply has enough humidity and heat to comfort the calathea and you have your watering down to a T!
SAME! I usually am awful with plants, but for the most part my calathea tell me what they want and I give it to them. They're doing pretty good. My other plants are usually "quiet" then die 😅
Hi Kaylee! I came here from Jenna and Juliens vlog and subscribed right away ☺️
and now we wont be able to watch jenna and her plants :/
Found your videos recently, and I swear you are the realest plant youtube out there. Everyone presents Calathea as easy, but you show us the truth and non-expensive ways to tackle it. I love your channel!
So glad I don't need a humidifier because I live in Costa Rica, where is 70% humid all year!
same! haha here in Curridabat is always like 99%
Here in Gambia we swing from 70-80% to 20% every six months. Such hard work for my poor plants. 😣
Me too! Humidity here ranges from 71-85%
I collect rain water for my calathea's. This is no small task in Spain. It requires real dedication but its been worth it. Turned my calatheas and my orchids around. Orchids really hated me before rain water. Im going to go order a Brita now for back up though. That is a great Idea!!
Yes!! I agree it’s a water filter is a great backup! I got lazy and started watering my calathea with straight tap water this winter and they started getting crispy edges. 😓 The thing is, the tap water was too hard for *me* to even want to drink-why would the calathea like it any better? lol went back to distilled and they’re bouncing back 🤗
My younger brother picked up a Calathea Ornata because he thought it looked cool and I had no idea they’re they require this much care! I just ordered a spray bottle, humidity meter, and water level meter off amazon to be sure i can try my hardest to keep it alive!
Rare plants are fun and this is also very helpful. Maybe also vacation tips? If you don't have anyone to water your plants?
Get watering stakes to do the job while you are out - or just lazy, ha ha www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07H9HZ4FB?pf_rd_r=DVH7JKJYZ2E6MHDHHXTG&pf_rd_p=edaba0ee-c2fe-4124-9f5d-b31d6b1bfbee
Worldclass in every aspect, great personality, intelligent and gorgeous. Great channel!
This is perfect! I'm planning to move forward on my plant journey and calathea are my next target. I'm starting to do a research before I get one and this video is all timing. ♥️💚🌿
Simply the best care guide out of all the videos i watched
How have I only just found you! At last a UK plant channel. This video is SO helpful. especially as I didn't realise I have one of those 'humidifiers' for essential oils and I never thought to use it with my plants. My Calathea is doing so well despite the abuse (I repotted it the day I got it!) but I do keep her warm and moist.
Got the soil moisture meter thanks to this video. It is a life saver, I was seriously under watering :’). I expect my plants to do much better now.
I’ve been wanting one of those weather things for indoor outdoor so now this is my excuse to get one! I am ordering now.
Your tips were a huge help my ctenanthes have been far to wet since I bought them. The moisture meter I bought did not say what calathe etc. Should register when it needs water. I did check them and emptied out some of the wet soil and added some dry I figured it would wick the wet away from the center but I dont think it has and I have several new leaves coming out light brown Im assuming now due to being to wet for to long. Again thank you. You probably just saved 2 plants lives.
Kaylee,your advice is on point. My Calatheas have thrived in their nursery pots.it's been 5 months,so I may repot them now. I live in the Tropics,so humidity is not an issue,but I use filtered water. I did all my research before getting one and they are now lush,gorgeous and my favourites. Finally gave them a little diluted plant food.
Sounds like an ideal home and I'm jealous!
Thank you so much Kaylee, I really really enjoyed listening to your tips and advice on Calathea’s. I think these plants are really really stunning and beautiful too. I only have two of them so I’m learning so much about them. I’ve subscribed and given you a thumbs up too.
ooooh, Why the underleaves are purple?Pleeeease, a video about that :) Excellent tips and tools!!!
Mercedes Guzmán I don’t remember where I heard it from but apparently because the calathea plants typically grow on the floors of the rainforest where there’s not much light, the purple color on bottoms of the leaves of some calatheas help capture more light to photosynthesize (rather than the light escaping and reaching through the leaf) :)
Hi Kaylee Ellen! This is one of the few times that I'm actually happy to NOT HAVE a plant! Lol! The beauty of calatheas is amazing & I love them; but, I haven't yet purchased one. My fear of failure & indecisiveness have obviously saved me from experiencing the dreaded "brown, crispy leaves" and disappointment that so many people have endured. Thank goodness! This video AND the one done by Tropical Plant Addict on calathea care have given me a new attitude toward those beautiful plants. I've decided to purchase the same humidifier that you own. Once my home & I are properly prepared, I'll shop for calatheas with the confidence I've lacked until now. Thank you very much for your channel AND this most valuable video! 🌾💜
.. I've got my very first calathea ornata a couple of months ago, not knowing what it was, but I fell in love with the little critter in the grosery store.. Back home I found it was soaking wet and I left it on my kitchen table thinking I would see tomorrow where to put it.. That night I was really worried about the dripping soaked soil, it was actually drowning.. Next morning I skipped my routine and took the little critter out of the pot dripping all over the place and gently removed the soil and cleaned the roots under lukewarm water.. It took a good wee while and patience.. I removed the dead roots and sprayed with neem oil, took a clean pot and gave it my own potting mix and waited a few days before watering.. Meanwhile I used my spray to mist it and 24 hours later it behaved like it should.. Like a Calathea prayer plant.. It has given mee 2 new leafs and has grown half size taller.. Now it sit on my grands old desk with 5 others, in the shade (I've got 3 sitting on my working place in a corner of the kitchen where its very low light) and they are all as happy as can be.. With same mist routine everyday, water when they are halfway dry fertilizer with fish emulsion and more once every 2 week.. I boil the tap water, cools it down and run it through a paper coffee filter, and it works for all my 75 plants 🤗
Thank you for pointing out about cold water shocking plants. I think I almost killed my Avocado tree because of it. 😪
I didn’t know any of this before buying my calathea, but read about it after I repotted it. Since then, I’ve been struggling to keep it healthy. It’s growing and has flowers but it’s leaves are wrinkled and droopy. I don’t have a humidifier yet, but have grouped my plants together on pebbles w water and spray their leaves occasionally. I’m looking into the watering probe now. Thanks for all your tips, wish I found you sooner x
Make sure to invest in a hygrometer! Gives you the chance to know exactly what the humidity is in your home
I repot all my plants soon as I get them. I use clear pots on all my plants it makes watering so much easier & has made a huge difference. I also use a brita to water with a few drops of fish tank water clarifier.
Wonderful tips! I don't have any Calathea because living in Arizona, it's so dry here. But, you've given me great info to maybe give it a try. Thank you!
Hi, Carmen! Writing from Scottsdale to tell you there is hope! :D I don't have a calathea yet, but a good humidifier has made all the difference in my jungle room 😃
Thank you, this was a really helpful video! I bought a Calathea Zebrina about a month ago and it's doing fairly well, but I'm going to implement some of your tips to really get it flourishing!
My dream plant is a Calathea Musaica, so if I can get the Zebrina right I feel like I'll be ready for the far more rare and expensive Musaica...
"We don't want crispy, we want sexy" XD You're so funny. Thanks for making it a fun calathea care guide.
loving your channel Kaylee.... :) wanted to mention that Brita doesn't take out fluoride but does remove chlorine and other nasty stuff... to remove fluoride which is a good idea for humans and I'm guessing plants too... the Berkey water filter system does offer filters that will get the fluoride out so I thought I should mention that - and I think they originated from your side of the pond too!
I just got my first calathea today. It is in really bad shape so they gave me a distressed discount. Most of the plant is crispy so I will need to clean it up a bit. I really enjoy finding distressed plants. They usually just need a good water and most places will give you a deal.. I inspect thoroughly as to not get any plants with disease or pests. And quarantine it for a while. I am impatient when I get a new plant. I always want to repot right away but I do understand that they need to acclimate. I have a really good humidifier too! So im excited.
Anyways, wish me luck!
Everytime I buy a new calathea I come back to this video. Even though I've owned them for years. Just jam packed with great information.
I just bought my first plant which is a Calathea- very lovely! Thanks for these helpful tips esp the info on the probe👍🏼
How is your calethea doing?
Thank you so much. I can now look after my plant. I could not do anything right . I now have a thermometer which reads humidity as well. I will purchase the humidifier.
I so love this plant.
Kaylee, wow! This video is extraordinary!!! You did a great job of explaining in details on how to care for Calathea. Thank you so much for sharing. I have been following you for a long time. I watched your setup and opening of your shop, which was very enlightening.
Great video. Thanks for the info. Starting to think its the British atmosphere. You and Tropical Plant Addict (fellow Englishwoman) have the best calatheas on youtube. I have one question (two parts), how often do you run your humidifier and how long? Thanks again and keep it coming.
Thanks :) yeah it could be our atmosphere to be honest. Ah yeah I know her I watch her videos and follow her on Instagram shes great 😁 well I actually have one that I use to set the desired humidity level and my humidifier just maintains that by itself. But when I used my old humidifier I actually had it running 24 hours a day lol. Calathea like insanely high levels of humidity - even as high as 85%! So I just give them as much as I can.
@@KayleeEllenOfficial thanks for your video! I think I may take her into the shower with me on occasion as our place is too damp as it is upstairs, but downstairs is not
Calathea and other humidity-loving plants seem to do well in my damp Devon home. We struggle to get our humidity below about 65% without using a dehumidifier and it's often closer to 80%. One thing I've realised is not to buy Calathea and other similar plants from supermarkets on the odd tempting time they have them, I think the air conditioning damages them as none have them have lasted long without severe issues. They seem to be fine if they've come from garden centres.
I'm over waterer too, i have to get one of those thermometer. I'm use to using terracotta pot and now I've changed to plastic pot and I'm struggling, my Anthuriums, my ficus all their root rot. Gosh! Thanks for the video.
A tip for you. Putting plants that like moisture and humid air in terracotta is actually a great idea just because it leeches water from the soil. Why is that then might one ask :). Well, where does it leech the water to then? Into the air of course. And the more moist loving plants you have in terracotta, the more humid your room will be. Yes, you will need to water more often, but you will have to refill your humidifier less often as it will not have to work as much.
My sister has the Calathea and she water it with tap water. I've never seen bigger Calathea then hers, it even blooms now in the summer time, it has flowers. I have the same one as she does, but for only 1 months and it's doing great. :)
It's highly dependent on where you live but most people should use distilled
@@JS-ys2uk true, we also drink our tap water and it's better than any bottle water you can buy.
Great info! I have two arriving tomorrow! I put cute vases/jars of water next to them.
I love your calathea white star! It's the first "fussy" plant I've bought and I love it so so much!
The watering probe technique is the same i use and it works perfectly! Always wait for it to go to number 3.
Sooo. I'm just starting my plant journey. I'm a few months in, and I decided to take the plunge. I got a calathea warscewiczii or velvet touch yesterday 🥰 I did my research on it and my hydrometer is on its way. I am so excited and its thanks to you! She is a queen! Thank you for all you do 🌱💚
Can you please do a variegated plant care video? I just impulse bought a variegated Calathea and I want her to stay happy and healthy and beautiful!
I'm shocked !! I'm on track and have all the equipment you spoke of !! Well, not the big Humidifier, but a great smaller one . Great tips and info on Calathea's. New sub here !! Going to do a marathon to watch your video's !! Plant on !!
I use my water meter everyday, very great to have! Sometimes I would have a watered but the meter has save my plants. I google all the plants I plan to purchase in the nursery just to see if we can work together.
Great Video Kaylee! I appreciate the suggestions on caring and preserving our Calathea plants! I will look into purchasing the water and humidity meters! I enjoyed you video, thank you!💕❤
You got a new subscriber! I’m totally binge watching - great format and love how you share your research!
amazing, just to the point and no drama. You should do more videos.
Potted plants and I, love self watering containers. I have plants which spend the cold months indoors and the rest of the years out and the water gauges are a lifesaver. Expensive solution, but it does guaranty high level of success when you have a collection of plants with widely varying watering needs, dependant on breed, season and setting.
I've got a calathea gandersii and a zebrina and the gandersii has always been very healthy even though I give it tap water, my friend recently gave me the zebrina and she's very crispy so I'm going to get a humidity sensor and use rain water and hopefully she'll get better 🌿😊
I have about a 50-65 humidity range in my bedroom where I kept mine but every single leaf was getting brown and crispy ends or edges, especially the new leaves that were still growing. I've now put it in my bathroom for even more humidity and it seems the browning at least hasn't gotten worse, but that might also just be because of different light conditions or even swapping over from tap water to bottled water (I've heard these are also sensitive to chalk and salts that are present in tap water). It's also growing a new shoot since a few days ago so it seems that I finally met the conditions it likes. I still find it strange that it was browning so much while in the right humidity, with no direct sunlight and regular watering and misting.
Welp, I just now got to the part in the video where you mention the water. It must have been that then, shocking how much of a negative effect it had.
So glad I have found your channel. I love your insights and hands on approach. Really accessible for beginner to intermediate plant hobbyists like myself. Cheers!
Can you please do one of these on anthuriums?! 😊
It's coming on Friday 😂😁😍
The thing i always ask myself when it comes to humidity is " Do none of you get house mold ? "
I have no problems getting up to 60-70% humidty in my room since i have aquariums, but in winter i get serious mold if i don't use a dehumidifier.
I *heard* ivy helps with that because it cleans spores from the air, however I have no source to back it up. But I thought it might be Wort mentioning to you so you can check it out
If you glaze the inside of a terra-cotta it creates a barrier so that the terra cotta doesn’t absorb moisture.
That's a good one! I should try that :) good tip! 🙂
Wow, Latrice! How do you DO that? Please? Thank you!
I literally bought 2 calatheas last week, one calathea sanderiana pinstripe and also a calathea lemon lime(because you mentioned it 🤦♀️😂) I bought a humidity checker because I was curious about the level of my home luckily it's at 50-60% at the moment. I do also have my plants on trays of pebbles with a little water and I have a good few plants close together to help with the humidity in the area. So there's a couple tips for anyone who can't afford a humidifier right now (me😂). I am in Wales in the valleys so it gets colder here than most other places so time will tell now it's getting colder.
The great thing about nursery pots is they have the perfect soil mix for the plant- a good amount of perlite/vermicompost/pete/soil
Recently fell in love with calath but haven't gotten 1 yet. This will help loads because I hear so much about how difficult they can be to keep looking beautiful. Yet few elaborate.
I finally bought a calathea to add to my jungle. I think a mosaic variety? I drench mine in my pond water (aka crack water) so hopefully she’ll be loooing like a rock star in no time-somewhat crispy from on the store shelf
Hey! FYI, Britta filters do not filter fluoride! I like to buy cheap filtered jugs for my sensitive plants
BAHAHA! I haven't bought ANY plants since October. We're relocating in January so my husband told me to wait until then & I ordered 2 more plants off eBay😂😂😂 HOPEFULLY he's at work when they get here! I JUST HAD TO HAVE THEM!! 😂😂
Florence Perez I also didn‘t get any more plants since October! Because.. is it. October. I got two plants yesterday. I have 40+ plants in my bedroom in the house I share with others, because I‘m a student. someone help me haah
Stumbles across this video after being the proud parent of two calatheas! I must be super lucky with my orbifolia as she is behaving for me (slight crispy-ness on oldest leaf!).... I have cursed myself now! Thanks for the tips humidity reader on shopping list 👌🏼
The more I research the more I hear that everyone has different problematic calatheas. For example my velvet touch is acting like all hell broke loose but my roseopicta which is standing right next to the velvet touch is enjoying life and existing happily. It even bloomed a while back!! I'll definetely try some things you mentioned
Excellent tips. Calatheas are so difficult but so beautiful.
I love calatheas and have a few. I love that you said that one of them is a diva LOL. Some of them are easy care and others are fussy/difficult. So I'm learning what they like and don't like and where in the house to place them to make them the happiest. it doesn't help that we've literally had no sun so far this year and just rain so I can't rely on any regular indirect light from a window.
I saw the humidifier you recommend (6L) and I had it on my wish list. I purchase it today and note that Amazon has a $15 off coupon to click on. So bonus!!
Great advice about the water meter! I don't know how i survived before I started using one.
Already did everything wrong🥲 but she is doing Great so far
These are such great tips. Something that has worked out very well for me has been to have a wet pebble tray underneath my calethea pot. The pot itself still sits in a saucer so the water from the pebble tray can't reach the soil, but water evaporates from the tray and raises the humidity right around the plant. This is particularly useful for people who don't want to use a humidifier that will affect the whole room. It's worth noting that you need to use distilled water in the tray, though, or you might get mineral deposits on the pebbles and tray rim. It might not be enough for all plants/ rooms, but it made me worry a lot less about my calethea!
I absolutely love seeing your channel growing!!
wow! what a great information for Calathea! very helpful video and I think I am ready to give it a try. at least I will buy 1 Calathea for now, and will follow your helpful tips. Thanks again :)
Thank you for the tips. I just bought a Calathea. Hopefully I can manage to keep it alive.
Very helpful, thanks!
I'm still struggling with calatheas but I've found that, in general, the ones with very thin leaves are harder to keep than those with thicker somewhat waxy leaves... Rubifarba may be the exception there, mine does bounce back if I go a day too long on the watering. They can be divas, that's for sure !!!
My calathea is thriving so much because I live in a rainforest so the humidity is absolutely perfect!
pah
Feeling much better now...my calathea got crunchy and died this winter. I’m understanding why and how this happened, and I think I’ll repurchase one and try again! Thank you!👍🏽😄
Definitely going to buy the moist-thermometer! My roseopicta corona plants keep dying and they're the quickest to die. Right next to it are the makoyana and rufibarba that are doing well, even making new leaves in the winter. It would be great to see if I can manage my calathea's to no longer die. I'm going to try some subspecies of calathea again this spring :)
I've always tried to go without humidifier because i think they are kind of cumbersome (and a wee bit ugly) but your Levoit Humidifier looks fantastic. I think i might cave and have to get one.
I've just bought a Calathea "Network" and I love it - but I am so worried I'm going to end up with a sad crinkly mess. Hope not. I'll mist until I can save for a humidifier...
I wish I had watched this before getting my rattlesnake calathea. It has really gone downhill since I repotted it into my bird container. It looked SOOOO GOOD at first. The leaves looked kind of like feathers. Now, it’s circling the drain. I guess I will put it back in a nursery pot and put a moisture meter in it. I have the one as you, Kalee, just haven’t used it.... hopefully I can save it..
My very first plant was a prayer plant. Stupid thing would die and come back to life multiple times. Wish I had known then what know now...Love your videos.
I love terracotta pots, mainly because I'm a compulsive kill-it-with-kindness over-waterer and it gives me some level of comfort to know my pot is doing its best to save my plants from me. Looks like I'll have to be a bit more careful with my Calathea.
I've got a moisture meter too, and a big bottle of distilled water, so I really have no excuse now if my Calathea dies.
Good thing I live in South East Texas so it is very humid and warm. My calathea's and all my other tropical plants seem to be thriving
Nice video. I have one that I bought a week ago and I had no idea how to look after it. This video was so informative. Thank you! ❤
New subscriber
Im so glad im not the only one that my partner gets annoyed if i add more plants. Ive been told i have a jungle.
Thank you for a very informative video. Just bought a calathea. Love your makeup too!
Thank you SO MUCH! I love calathea and I have been 70% successful in the ones I have, will for sure invest in a few fun gadgets :)
did you ever make a video about the „purpleness“ of the calatheas?
I'm based in the UK as well and I had a calathea ornata which recently got a major spider mite infestation. I find your tips super useful and would love to hear what you know about the pests and diseases that this plant could get/carry? Thanks so much and love your channel!!!
I can’t really remember or afford to keep distilled water on hand for my Callies, using and collecting rain water has worked terrifically for me, ❤
just got my first Calathea! mines been happy inside a lantern it's like a little terrarium. Thanks for all the good tips!
Much needed info. Have not gone to these yet. Lots of work.
Your presentation is excellent ... and yes, the video is good.
So i know this is totally off topic but your bedside lamps are amazing and I need some now.
I love my water checker, I've got the same one as you and it's definitely saved a good few plants lives!
Such an awesomely thorough straight forward to the point video.