Question

Calthea?   QUESTION: Hi Will,

I wonder if you could help me with this? Firstly, I'm not sure what kind of plant this is (see pic). I'm pretty sure it's some kind of calthea but after that I'm stumped.

Secondly, how can I save it? I've had it about 3 years and it started off quite healthy - the leaves used to be about the size of my arm now they're closer to my hand's size. For the first two years it seemed quite happy, thriving and producing more beautiful leaves that would be quite responsive (drooping a little when needing water, stretching up when it got some). Then it suddenly seemed to just give up. It started with the leaves browning, shrinking to yellow and falling off (or needing to be removed). This continued until all the original leaves were gone, but even as they were dying smaller leaves kept appearing. Most of the leaves I have left now are browning. As you'll see from the pic, the pot is too big for it (I think) but when I attempted to reduce the size of the pot, I realised the roots/root-ball take up much of the pot underneath - at least two thirds, so I left it. I'm really not sure how to tackle that element.
I seem to remember repotting to a larger pot at some stage before it got sick (having read many of your posts since, I know not to make that mistake again), but not so close timewise to convince me this was the problem - maybe a year in between repotting and first signs of sickness. It gets indirect light and I used to mist it quite regularly, but to be honest it has become a losing battle.
I really hope that this plant isn't doomed as I love it but I guess even if it is, the identification would help me find a new one. If that's the case, how best should these be looked after and what is your recommendation for keeping the humidity high? I rarely feed it, maybe once a year if it's lucky.

Many thanks for taking the time to read this and for all your other answers that I (and my plants) benefited from!
Many Thanks,
Niamh

ANSWER: Hi Niamh,

The plant appears to be a Calathea, but because of the poor photo quality I cannot be sure.

Your plant is on its last legs and saving it will be difficult. Its primary problem is that it has not received enough light. It needs to be close to a window where it gets a few hours of direct sun each morning and very bright indirect sun the rest of the day.

Because it was not getting much light, it was growing very slowly and in that circumstance it is very easy to inadvertently keep the soil too moist. The repotting also contributed to the soil not drying out properly in between waterings. The damage done by unnecessary repotting often takes a long time to show symptoms.

Although I do not recommend that you do this because you plant sin too fragile, if you were to un-pot it and look at the roots, you would find very few if any healthy roots.

The best you can do for it now is to move it to a sunnier location and not add any water until the soil is dry one-third of the way down into the soil. When you do water add only a small quantity so that the top third dries out again within a week.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions. You can try emailing better quality photos to my email address below.

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Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

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---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------


Calathea   QUESTION: Hi Will,

Thank you so much for your speedy reply and for your advice. I have placed my Calathea beside a window with the light you suggested - my fingers and toes are firmly crossed. Do you agree that Calatheas need a lot of humidity and if so, what is your preferred method?

I've emailed you two more pictures to perhaps help with the identification and I've attached an image to this post for the benefit of other readers.

Many Thanks,
N

Answer
Hi Niamh,

Thanks for emailing the better quality photos. I can confirm that your plant is a Calathea.

Calatheas do benefit from increased humidity, although proper pot size, light and watering are more important. If you get those three right, then you can have a very handsome and healthy Calathea, even in low humidity.

A humidifier is the most effective way to increase humidity. Using a pebble tray (a saucer or tray filled with stones and water) under your plant is next most effective, as long as you keep water in the tray at all times. Misting is the least effective way to increase humidity. Misting raises humidity only as long as the droplets remain on the leaves and that is usually only about 10-15 minutes.

~Will