Bring a colorful vibe to your garden with Calathea warscewiczii. Learn how to grow this plant with this informative guide.
The Calathea warscewiczii is a pretty foliage plant with beautiful and unique color patterns. The lush foliage adds a fantastic overall outlook when planted indoors. Let us learn more about this beauty!
- Botanical Name: Goeppertia warszewiczii
- Calathea warscewiczii Common Name—Calathea Jungle Velvet, Velvet Calathea
- Reaches a height of 3-4 feet indoors
- Thrives in a temperature range of 65-85F or 18-29C
- Shows the best growth under bright indirect sunlight
- Non-toxic to humans and pets
What is Calathea Warscewiczii?
Member of the Marantaceae family, Calathea warscewiczii is a medium-sized perennial houseplant reaching a height of 3 to 4 feet indoors. The leaves are large and ovate-shaped with a velvety texture, distinct veins, and slightly wavy edges that grow on upright burgundy stems. With a pretty combination of dark and light green shades, the upper side of the foliage creates a striking contrast to the purple or burgundy in the undersides.
Like some other Calathea plants, this plant is also able to change the orientation of its leaves during the day. During the daytime, they spread out to maximize light absorption, and at night, they fold up, resembling a pair of praying hands. This behavior is known as nyctinasty, an intriguing aspect of the plant’s natural rhythm.
Besides its aesthetic appeal, Calathea Jungle Velvet offers some practical benefits to indoor spaces. The large foliage creates a lush and tropical ambiance and also acts as a natural air purifier by filtering out toxins, thus promoting a healthier living environment.
Calathea Warscewiczii Flowers
Popular and adored for its attractive foliage, the Calathea Jungle Velvet produces beautiful cone-like flowers. Even though the flowers do not gain much attention, they add beauty to the plant. The flowers are small and tubular, arranged spirally around a central spike, with each bloom having a creamy white or pale pink color. However, these flowers are not a common sight indoors, and you must be really lucky to find your Calathea warscewiczii blooming!
Ideal Pot Size
The best thing to do is get a container that is slightly bigger than the plant’s root ball. Go with a 5-6 inches pot for a young Calathea warscewiczii, and take a bigger size when the plant outgrows the pot later. Observe the plant size and choose accordingly. However, ensure to drill 2-3 holes at the bottom to aid proper drainage.
Calathea Warscewiczii Propagation
Propagating Calathea warscewiczii through division is an effective method to expand your plant collection. Spring and summer are the best time to carry on the process to ensure minimum plant stress. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
- Select a mature, healthy parent plant with multiple stems or shoots.
- Carefully remove the plant from its pot, gently loosening the soil around the roots.
- Using a sharp, sterile knife, carefully cut through the rhizome to separate smaller divisions, each with a strong root system and at least one set of leaves.
- Plant each division in a separate pot filled with a well-draining potting mix, ensuring that the rhizome or roots are covered with soil.
- Moisten the newly divided plants moderately and place them in a spot with indirect sunlight.
You’ll notice new growth in a couple of weeks, after which you can move it to a much brighter location and treat it the way you treat an established plant.
Calathea Warscewiczii Care
Light
Calathea warscewiczii is a sensitive plant that requires bright, indirect light to thrive. However, direct sunlight is not good for the plant because it will scorch or droop its velvety foliage. On the other hand, absolute shade will fade away its color. So, to strike the right balance, kindly be sure to provide the plant with 6-8 hours of filtered or indirect sunlight per day.
Additionally, north—or east-facing windows are usually suitable, or you can use sheer curtains or blinds to filter the light further. In case your home doesn’t receive sufficient sunlight, you may supplement the plant with medium-intensity LED strips or artificial grow lights.
Soil
A well-draining medium or soil mixture that retains moisture without becoming waterlogged is suitable for the plant. A mixture of equal parts of peat moss, perlite, and high-quality potting soil would be ideal. Peat moss retains moisture and offers a light, airy environment for the roots, and perlite further ensures good drainage, preventing waterlogging, a common concern for these tropical plants.
Maintain a slightly acidic to neutral pH, ideally between 6.0 and 7.0.
Water
Calathea warscewiczii prefers consistently moist but not soggy soil. Water the plant thoroughly when the top inch of the soil feels dry, allowing excess water to drain out through the holes. The watering frequency depends on your place’s temperature and humidity. Remember to reduce the frequency when the plant growth slows down in winter.
Additionally, using filtered or distilled water is beneficial as Calathea plants are sensitive to chemicals and minerals present in tap water.
Temperature and Humidity
Calathea warscewiczii thrives in warm and humid conditions, similar to those in its native place. To ensure optimal growth, maintain a temperature range between 59-85 F and 15-29 C with 50-60% humidity. Avoid exposing the plant to temperatures below 10F (50C) or above 90F (32C), as that could be fatal. Also, keep the plant away from sudden temperature fluctuations in drafty locations.
Consider using a humidifier or placing a pebble tray nearby to increase humidity. Misting the leaves with tepid water or grouping them with other humidity-loving plants also helps.
Fertilizer
To best nourish your Calathea warscewiczii, feed it with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer, ideally a 20-20-20 mix every 4-6 weeks during its active growth season, usually from spring to summer. Do not forget to dilute the fertilizer to half its strength to avoid an overly concentrated solution.
Using a fertilizer specifically designed for foliage plants will help to enhance leaf health and maintain vibrant color. As the plant enters its dormant period in the fall and winter, you may reduce the fertilizing frequency to every 8-10 weeks, as its nutrient intake needs to lessen during this rest period.
Periodically flushing the soil with distilled or rainwater can help clear out any built-up salts from the fertilizer, contributing to the overall health and longevity of your plant.
Pruning
Remove any yellow or damaged leaves by gently pulling them from the base of the stem. You can trim the plant to control its size or promote bushier growth. Use clean, sharp pruning shears to avoid introducing infections or damaging the plant.
Where to Buy Calathea warscewiczii?
Local garden centers and nurseries often carry a range of houseplants, including Calathea species. It’s always a good idea to call ahead and check if they have your favorite plant in stock.
If you prefer shopping online, numerous websites sell this plant. Websites like Etsy, Amazon, and eBay have listings from a variety of sellers. Be sure to review seller ratings and customer reviews to ensure you’re buying a healthy plant.
Some specialized online plant shops also sell Calatheas. They typically include detailed care instructions with the plant, which can be very helpful for beginners. Another online option is to check plant enthusiast groups or plant swap communities on platforms like Facebook or Reddit. Members might acquire Calathea warscewiczii for Sale.
When ordering plants online, remember to consider your location and the current season, as extreme temperatures during shipment can affect the plant’s health.
