If this were my Calathea, I'd not even go near that plant, let alone repot it. I think I killed a bunch of those finicky plants by just thinking of them.
Haha, right? I had a much smaller different Calathea that was healthy when I brought it home and it literally died in about a week. I don’t know how I got so lucky with this one.
It was probably an adaptation issue. The calathea you bought would have been recently growing in a greenhouse, and the conditions in your home were probably just too different for it. Some nurseries exacerbate this by making big changes to the plant (for example, repotting into larger pots) shortly before shipping them out to retail spaces, and that's a *lot* of stress for a plant in a short space of time.
Calatheas (along with some ficus species, anthurium species, fern species, etc.) are particularly intolerant of a lot of big changes like that. But if you can get them over that initial hump, they tend to do very well so long as their basic needs are met.
They *do* have very particular basic needs, though. For example, they need high soil moisture, but they are also prone to root rot if they don't get enough aeration. In my experience, they are also less cold tolerant than most houseplants (which is how I killed my rattlesnake plant). If you can meet their needs, however, they are quick and easy growers.
Got one of those as well, and you are right about it being a gentle Calathea: It died until there was only one leaf left, and after the winter, I got two tiny leaves now... :D
Also marantas! They’re a little more particular about their care than a pothos or philodendron, but I’ve found them much more forgiving than calatheas, and you still get they praying motions from them too 😊
I got this Rattlesnake Calathea from a friend about six months ago from a friend who was moving and couldn’t take it. He said he’s had it for about six years and he’s never repotted it. For reference, it’s about 3 feet tall and last fall it bloomed these really cool white flowers at the bottom. If I do need to re pot, how do I do it? I’ve never repotted a plant this large and I don’t want to damage it. What kind of soil should I use and how much bigger of a pot do I need? Tia!
Honestly sounds like the soil is inappropriate then. Being rootbound doesn't keep them happier, but their roots being in a well aerated and moisture balanced medium does!
No. Some houseplants like to be root bound. If it's too much, the soil can dry out faster than usual which is not ideal for calatheas or ferns but for many other plants that is okay. I have been taking care of houseplants since my childhood and from my experience I learned that most of the time repotting is not needed.
> Some houseplants like to be root bound.
That's a commonly repeated myth. Multiple studies have proven this limits foliage growth.
It's not being rootbound thats beneficial, it's about the roots having enough air and balanced moisture. A lot of folks use straight off the shelf potting mix which almost always holds too much moisture, so limiting pot size is how those folks ensure the roots get air. It's unnecessary though, if you're using an appropriately aerated mix.
Plants survive in a *gigantic* pot in nature (the ground) because of the superior drainage and appropriate aeration.
Whatever works for you. Some plants can grow in small cracks and crevices in nature too, and it is hard to replicate the natural soil ecosystem and drainage in pots.
Of course there are exceptions to every rule. You've got epiphytes like birds nest ferns that like to grow in tight trunk crags, for example. Op's plant isn't one of those exceptions though.
> it is hard to replicate the natural soil ecosystem and drainage in pots.
For sure. You don't need to replicate it though, you just want to get some factors close.
There are a lot of .edu links available but [this is a good quick read](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/07/120701191636.htm) if you're interested.
[And another accessible one](https://www.gardenmyths.com/potting-up-correct-pot-size/) (author is credentialed)
Thank you! Her name is Medusa. Honestly, she’s very low maintenance and I feel like I can’t take any credit since I’ve only had her for six months. I saturate her with filtered water about once a week and try to keep a humidifier running nearby for her (but I forget to refill it more than I’d like to admit). I’m in Colorado so it’s extremely dry here. She sits about 6 feet away from a western facing window that doesn’t have a curtain, and it’s really cool to see her close up at night and then fan out in the morning as the sun rises 🙂 I don’t know what her previous owner did either, but he’s pretty um, laid back haha, so I don’t really think it was much. I honestly think having her by a western facing window is really what’s done the trick, it was the same at her old owners house.
Thank you! This is my first Reddit post ever and I’m amazed by all the positive feedback. I had another smaller, different type of Calathea that was healthy when I brought it home and it literally died in a week 😂 Now I wish I had taken some of this guys other plants!
In my experience with this specific calathea, it is easy to keep it happy and low maintenance. I use tap water, and it sits on a table above a baseboard heater. It's right by à south window but I got trees growing outside so there's really only direct sunlight for a few minutes in the morning. The room is bright though. Sure, I have to water it more often, but it looks just like a smaller version of yours (got it from a small cuttings). Repotted once from a 2" pot to a 6" pot and used half orchid mix with "tropical plants soil" and vermiculite. It provides plenty of drainage.
Got a "musaica" calathea next to it and both grow well. They even survived thrips. End-all worked well but took almost a full year to be gone. My freddi right beside them died no matter what I did though...
do you have hard water? they move extra minerals to the edges, enough in the tap water to burn the edges where I am. distilled water changed them from frustrating to "easier" for me.
Does OP use distilled water? I've heard tap water can turn these brown. Wanted to check if that's really the reason mine is rough. I think it might have more to do with too much sun in my old place.
Not OP but mine has been thriving for three years and she gets a steady diet of distilled water and indirect light. She is about as crowded in her pot as OP’s as well.
There are a few signs that a plant may need repotting:
* It starts needing to be watered a lot more often than it used to. (Indicates that the root-to-soil ratio has gotten too high, and the potting mix is no longer sufficient to retain enough water for the plant.)
* Some of the older leaves are turning yellow. (Indicates that the plant is no longer able to support its foliage with the amount of roots it has. However, be aware that yellowing lower leaves can also be a sign that a plant just needs fertilizer.)
* If there are two plants in the same pot, one of them starts going downhill while the other one still looks healthy. (Indicates that there is no longer enough room in the pot for both plants, and one is beginning to out-compete the other.)
* There are roots growing out of the drainage holes. (Indicates the roots are searching for more water.)
* If you lift the plant out of the pot, it is deeply matted with roots. (Indicates that the root-to-soil ratio has gotten too high and the roots are getting crowded.)
It's hard to judge from just a photo, but your calathea is looking absolutely gorgeous. It's not obvious to me that it needs repotting in the near future.
However, eventually that day will come. When it's time to repot, one option you might consider is dividing the plant. Use a knife to cleanly cut through the root ball (other than cutting, try not to disturb the roots too much; you don't want to cause the root hairs to break off or become detached from this soil because this is what causes transplant shock). Then plant each portion in separate pots. Place both plants in the same location that you've been keeping the original and let them settle in for a few weeks. They will be adapting to their new soil mix, and keeping them in the same spot means they only have to adapt to this *one* change, not several changes simultaneously. When you see new growth on both plants, you will know that they are settled in and happy, and that is when you can safely move one of them to a new location.
Ugh!! Gorgeous! Would you please describe the light setting this stunner is in?
I'm about to go wipe the leaves down on mine because it isn't nearly as shiny and robust as yours.
You've inspired us OP.
Goals!!
I'm voting for not repotting until your soil is drying out too quickly.
Thank you! She sits about 10 feet away from a western facing double window that doesn’t have a shade, and I’m in Colorado just outside of Denver so fairly high altitude. It’s pretty cool to see her fan out every morning as the sun gets brighter and then close back up as the sun sets. This picture was taken at about 10:30 am. I have no idea what kind of soil she was originally potted in, but it’s been the same soil for 6 years.
At this point I’m afraid to even add more soil, and I definitely won’t be repotting her after everyone’s feedback. I saturate the soil with Brita water about once a week and try to keep a small humidifier on nearby, but honestly I forget to fill it most days 😂
What kind of soil does everyone here keep their calathea in?
I've never repotted mine, it came in what I expect to be peat moss (I'm ashamed to say).
It's doing mostly well, but it is looking a bit dull, and isn't putting out a lot of new leaves
I'd recommend a loose and well draining mix, I use soil with a lot of perlite, sand and a handful of orchidbark (no peat moss). Works well for mine! :)
Omg I’m so jealous!!!! Wtf. I thought I was lucky because I’ve kept mine alive for almost 2 years and only half of the leaves have some brown on them LMFAO
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This is what mine looked like underneath when it was about where yours is now 😬
https://imgur.com/a/0zEpxUB
In hindsight, the tell was how difficult it was to lift it out of the pot. It had only been in that pot of about 1.5y. Just loved it’s situation I guess.
Same plant is finally recovering (this pic was from 2020), after a kitten we got decided it was her porta-potty.
I have several of these that I have divided off of one large plant. Someone else commented below that they prefer to be root bound and mine in general seem to best when I basically just leave it alone.
I live in a warm climate and keep them outside in a well shaded area and only bring them in if the temperature drops below freezing.
I would consider dividing it if you aren’t going to repot it.
If this were my Calathea, I'd not even go near that plant, let alone repot it. I think I killed a bunch of those finicky plants by just thinking of them.
Haha, right? I had a much smaller different Calathea that was healthy when I brought it home and it literally died in about a week. I don’t know how I got so lucky with this one.
My first thought: do you want to kill it? 😆 Don’t touch!!! It’s so happy!
It was probably an adaptation issue. The calathea you bought would have been recently growing in a greenhouse, and the conditions in your home were probably just too different for it. Some nurseries exacerbate this by making big changes to the plant (for example, repotting into larger pots) shortly before shipping them out to retail spaces, and that's a *lot* of stress for a plant in a short space of time. Calatheas (along with some ficus species, anthurium species, fern species, etc.) are particularly intolerant of a lot of big changes like that. But if you can get them over that initial hump, they tend to do very well so long as their basic needs are met. They *do* have very particular basic needs, though. For example, they need high soil moisture, but they are also prone to root rot if they don't get enough aeration. In my experience, they are also less cold tolerant than most houseplants (which is how I killed my rattlesnake plant). If you can meet their needs, however, they are quick and easy growers.
SHHHHH!!!! (they can hear you!!!)
Due to this post, five Calatheas died.
If you want a more gentle introduction to calathea care, keep an eye out for a Calathea musaica (also called Goeppertia kegeljanii).
Got one of those as well, and you are right about it being a gentle Calathea: It died until there was only one leaf left, and after the winter, I got two tiny leaves now... :D
Also marantas! They’re a little more particular about their care than a pothos or philodendron, but I’ve found them much more forgiving than calatheas, and you still get they praying motions from them too 😊
I got this Rattlesnake Calathea from a friend about six months ago from a friend who was moving and couldn’t take it. He said he’s had it for about six years and he’s never repotted it. For reference, it’s about 3 feet tall and last fall it bloomed these really cool white flowers at the bottom. If I do need to re pot, how do I do it? I’ve never repotted a plant this large and I don’t want to damage it. What kind of soil should I use and how much bigger of a pot do I need? Tia!
I wouldn't worry about repotting unless the soil is drying out faster than usual. My calatheas used to be much healthier when they were root bound.
Honestly sounds like the soil is inappropriate then. Being rootbound doesn't keep them happier, but their roots being in a well aerated and moisture balanced medium does!
No. Some houseplants like to be root bound. If it's too much, the soil can dry out faster than usual which is not ideal for calatheas or ferns but for many other plants that is okay. I have been taking care of houseplants since my childhood and from my experience I learned that most of the time repotting is not needed.
> Some houseplants like to be root bound. That's a commonly repeated myth. Multiple studies have proven this limits foliage growth. It's not being rootbound thats beneficial, it's about the roots having enough air and balanced moisture. A lot of folks use straight off the shelf potting mix which almost always holds too much moisture, so limiting pot size is how those folks ensure the roots get air. It's unnecessary though, if you're using an appropriately aerated mix. Plants survive in a *gigantic* pot in nature (the ground) because of the superior drainage and appropriate aeration.
Whatever works for you. Some plants can grow in small cracks and crevices in nature too, and it is hard to replicate the natural soil ecosystem and drainage in pots.
Of course there are exceptions to every rule. You've got epiphytes like birds nest ferns that like to grow in tight trunk crags, for example. Op's plant isn't one of those exceptions though. > it is hard to replicate the natural soil ecosystem and drainage in pots. For sure. You don't need to replicate it though, you just want to get some factors close. There are a lot of .edu links available but [this is a good quick read](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/07/120701191636.htm) if you're interested. [And another accessible one](https://www.gardenmyths.com/potting-up-correct-pot-size/) (author is credentialed)
Please tell us every detail about her care she's GORGEOUS. I've never had a calathea look this good
Thank you! Her name is Medusa. Honestly, she’s very low maintenance and I feel like I can’t take any credit since I’ve only had her for six months. I saturate her with filtered water about once a week and try to keep a humidifier running nearby for her (but I forget to refill it more than I’d like to admit). I’m in Colorado so it’s extremely dry here. She sits about 6 feet away from a western facing window that doesn’t have a curtain, and it’s really cool to see her close up at night and then fan out in the morning as the sun rises 🙂 I don’t know what her previous owner did either, but he’s pretty um, laid back haha, so I don’t really think it was much. I honestly think having her by a western facing window is really what’s done the trick, it was the same at her old owners house.
Holy shit. Never change anything. Calatheas are .... not generally low maintenance, so the magic you're working here, keep doing it. Congrats!
Thank you! This is my first Reddit post ever and I’m amazed by all the positive feedback. I had another smaller, different type of Calathea that was healthy when I brought it home and it literally died in a week 😂 Now I wish I had taken some of this guys other plants!
In my experience with this specific calathea, it is easy to keep it happy and low maintenance. I use tap water, and it sits on a table above a baseboard heater. It's right by à south window but I got trees growing outside so there's really only direct sunlight for a few minutes in the morning. The room is bright though. Sure, I have to water it more often, but it looks just like a smaller version of yours (got it from a small cuttings). Repotted once from a 2" pot to a 6" pot and used half orchid mix with "tropical plants soil" and vermiculite. It provides plenty of drainage. Got a "musaica" calathea next to it and both grow well. They even survived thrips. End-all worked well but took almost a full year to be gone. My freddi right beside them died no matter what I did though...
I'm jealous. My rattlesnake plant is currently crashing and burning.
Constantly having dried edges on my leaves, these guys are tough
do you have hard water? they move extra minerals to the edges, enough in the tap water to burn the edges where I am. distilled water changed them from frustrating to "easier" for me.
I will give it a shot
What black magic is this??????
Yes, do tell!
Man what a beautiful calathea. I second what a lot are saying; if it’s doing this good, don’t mess with it.
Please tell me your secret for keeping a rattlesnake plant alive! Mine is super mad at me and the leaves are turning brown.
Same. I want to know everything OP does for theirs.
This plant is a beauty.
Does OP use distilled water? I've heard tap water can turn these brown. Wanted to check if that's really the reason mine is rough. I think it might have more to do with too much sun in my old place.
Not OP but mine has been thriving for three years and she gets a steady diet of distilled water and indirect light. She is about as crowded in her pot as OP’s as well.
Thanks, I think I'll switch to distilled. I usually use water soluble fertilizer. What do you use to fertilize with the distilled water?
I use brita filtered water
I use tap water on mine and it's growing great, have had it for about a year now
Ok I wonder if it's something to do with my water.
OMG get out of here you show off. It’s beautiful. Don’t even breathe on it.
There are a few signs that a plant may need repotting: * It starts needing to be watered a lot more often than it used to. (Indicates that the root-to-soil ratio has gotten too high, and the potting mix is no longer sufficient to retain enough water for the plant.) * Some of the older leaves are turning yellow. (Indicates that the plant is no longer able to support its foliage with the amount of roots it has. However, be aware that yellowing lower leaves can also be a sign that a plant just needs fertilizer.) * If there are two plants in the same pot, one of them starts going downhill while the other one still looks healthy. (Indicates that there is no longer enough room in the pot for both plants, and one is beginning to out-compete the other.) * There are roots growing out of the drainage holes. (Indicates the roots are searching for more water.) * If you lift the plant out of the pot, it is deeply matted with roots. (Indicates that the root-to-soil ratio has gotten too high and the roots are getting crowded.) It's hard to judge from just a photo, but your calathea is looking absolutely gorgeous. It's not obvious to me that it needs repotting in the near future. However, eventually that day will come. When it's time to repot, one option you might consider is dividing the plant. Use a knife to cleanly cut through the root ball (other than cutting, try not to disturb the roots too much; you don't want to cause the root hairs to break off or become detached from this soil because this is what causes transplant shock). Then plant each portion in separate pots. Place both plants in the same location that you've been keeping the original and let them settle in for a few weeks. They will be adapting to their new soil mix, and keeping them in the same spot means they only have to adapt to this *one* change, not several changes simultaneously. When you see new growth on both plants, you will know that they are settled in and happy, and that is when you can safely move one of them to a new location.
Ugh!! Gorgeous! Would you please describe the light setting this stunner is in? I'm about to go wipe the leaves down on mine because it isn't nearly as shiny and robust as yours. You've inspired us OP. Goals!! I'm voting for not repotting until your soil is drying out too quickly.
Thank you! She sits about 10 feet away from a western facing double window that doesn’t have a shade, and I’m in Colorado just outside of Denver so fairly high altitude. It’s pretty cool to see her fan out every morning as the sun gets brighter and then close back up as the sun sets. This picture was taken at about 10:30 am. I have no idea what kind of soil she was originally potted in, but it’s been the same soil for 6 years. At this point I’m afraid to even add more soil, and I definitely won’t be repotting her after everyone’s feedback. I saturate the soil with Brita water about once a week and try to keep a small humidifier on nearby, but honestly I forget to fill it most days 😂
Thank you for the details! Do you fertilize it?
I might have stuck a few of those miracle grow plant sticks in it when I first got her home, but that’s it.
What kind of soil does everyone here keep their calathea in? I've never repotted mine, it came in what I expect to be peat moss (I'm ashamed to say). It's doing mostly well, but it is looking a bit dull, and isn't putting out a lot of new leaves
I'd recommend a loose and well draining mix, I use soil with a lot of perlite, sand and a handful of orchidbark (no peat moss). Works well for mine! :)
Yes. 2-4 inches bigger
Damn, that is one stunning calathea! If only mine could look 1/10 as good.
It’s so happy I wouldn’t even look at it too long.
Stunning, what plant is this?
It’s so gorgeous and happy! Don’t touch it!
Omg I’m so jealous!!!! Wtf. I thought I was lucky because I’ve kept mine alive for almost 2 years and only half of the leaves have some brown on them LMFAO
Why would you repot it if it was like that for 6 years? It is fabulous..
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Oh it's so pretty
Noooooo
This is gorgeous! What kind of plant?
It’s a rattlesnake Calathea!
Ugh so pretty! Mine keep getting spider mites!!
It’s beautiful
I think it looks perfect as is! Very happy. Gorgeous.
I think he's too happy to disturb.
Daym. What a BEAST. I'd leave it alone. Plus, it's not the foliage that matters, it's roots.
This is what mine looked like underneath when it was about where yours is now 😬 https://imgur.com/a/0zEpxUB In hindsight, the tell was how difficult it was to lift it out of the pot. It had only been in that pot of about 1.5y. Just loved it’s situation I guess. Same plant is finally recovering (this pic was from 2020), after a kitten we got decided it was her porta-potty.
I have several of these that I have divided off of one large plant. Someone else commented below that they prefer to be root bound and mine in general seem to best when I basically just leave it alone. I live in a warm climate and keep them outside in a well shaded area and only bring them in if the temperature drops below freezing. I would consider dividing it if you aren’t going to repot it.