Calathea Crocata is an ornamental plant with beautiful patterns on the leaves. The variety of drawings attracts the attention of many gardeners, so the flower is grown as a houseplant. Calathea Crocata is demanding to care, so it is important to follow the rules and recommendations in order to grow a healthy plant on your windowsill.
What does Calathea Croata look like?
Saffron calathea (or Crocata) is a plant that belongs to the Marantov family. The height of the indoor perennial does not exceed 30-40 cm, although in nature there are specimens up to 1.5 m in height.
The attractive appearance of the perennial makes it one of the most popular indoor flowers
The flower has a shortened stem, on which large leaf plates up to 30 cm in length are located. The shape of the leaves looks like an oval. They are painted on the outside in dark shades of green, and on the inside - in purple tones.
Calathea flowers have a bright yellow, deep orange color. They are small in size, but their unusual appearance adds decorativeness to the plant.
Common varieties
Experts count about 286 types of calatas. The most popular plant varieties:
- Wonderful;
- Makoya;
- Orbifolia;
- Roseopict.
Briefly about the history of the appearance
The birthplace of the perennial is considered Central and South America, or rather - the moist forests of the tropics. For this reason, the flower is sometimes called the Calathea of Crocat Tasmania. In Europe, he was nicknamed the "Inca crown" due to the fact that the appearance of the flower resembles the headdress of reigning persons.
The name of the flower "calathea crocata" comes from the word "Kalathos", which is translated from the ancient Greek language as a basket. This is not accidental, since the leaves of calatheum are used to weave baskets.
Saffron Calathea - home care
It’s easy to grow a kalate of Krokat at home. It is required to familiarize yourself with the rules of care and carefully observe them. It is important to choose the right container and place for the pot. It is optimal to place the flowerpot on moss or pebbles, pour water into the pan so that the container with soil does not touch it. It is better not to touch the leaves with your hands so as not to spoil the spectacular appearance of the leaf plates.
Perennial can be locked upright with thread and stick
Additional Information. A tropical plant should be irrigated regularly with soft warm water 2 times a week.
Temperature
For calathea, it is necessary to maintain a moderate temperature. Indicators in the winter should not fall below +16 degrees. Temperature differences are extremely undesirable for a flower. The best temperature is + 22 ... +23 degrees.
Note! Calatheas do not like drafts, so it is important to protect the plant from them.
Lighting
Calathea Krokata does not tolerate bright light. Direct sunlight can burn leaf plates, leaving them burns in the form of dark spots. The plant also does not like shadow, since leaves in the dark lose all their beauty.
Watering
In the summer, the plant is watered abundantly and often, and in winter the number of waterings is reduced.
Important! Do not allow stagnation of moisture in the pot, because this can lead to rotting of the root system.
Humidity
To create the required level of humidity, the calatea together with the pallet is placed in expanded clay or pebbles. The humidity indicator should not fall below 65%.
You should not place pots with saffron calathea near heating appliances, because of which the leaves of the plant dry out
Priming
The soil for the plant must allow moisture and air to pass through. The soil mixture can be prepared independently by mixing peat, sand, ash, bark and coniferous land.
Top dressing
During the growing season, it is necessary to add mineral additives to the soil. Liquid top dressing is best.
Additional Information. Fertilizers designed specifically for varieties of the Marantov family are sold in flower shops.
When and how it blooms
It is not difficult to achieve flowering at home, for this you just need to properly care for the flower.
Types and forms of flowers
The flowers of the plant are usually painted in yellow and orange tones. The shape of the buds is difficult to characterize in one word, but a comparison of inflorescences with a broom is best suited.
Flowering period
The flowering time of Calathea Croata falls in the middle of winter. To see the beautiful yellow buds, it is recommended to start covering the pot with a dark bag in the fall. You need to do this every day from 6 in the evening until the morning. The plant blooms for about 3 months.
Important! To achieve flowering in winter, it is necessary to illuminate the plant with additional light sources.
How does the calathea of Crocat propagate?
Calathea propagation is produced in three ways. Each of them has its positive and negative sides.
Seed germination
This method takes a relatively long time. Seeds for this are irrigated, placed in a greenhouse and covered with polyethylene. Seed containers should be in a well-lit area. As soon as the first sprouts appear, young plants are planted in pots.
Rooting cuttings
For this, lateral leaves with a growth point or cuttings with a length of at least 15 cm are cut with a sharp knife. They are placed in a moist substrate so that the roots appear. To accelerate growth, you can use special additives.
Rhizome division
The simplest and most popular method is dividing the bush. The old plant must be removed from the tank, divide the rhizome into several parts and plant them separately.
Rhizome before planting should be inspected for signs of decay.
Transfer
Young plants must be replanted annually in a new container. To do this, a pot is selected with a diameter that is 3-4 cm larger than the previous one. The optimal period for the procedure is early spring.
Note! After 4 years of age, the number of transplants can be reduced to 1 time in 2-3 years.
Possible problems with growing and disease
Failure to comply with the rules of planting and care may cause problems that affect the appearance of the plant. When the first signs of diseases appear, it is necessary to find out their causes.
Flower drops buds and leaves
Drafts and sudden changes in temperature negatively affect the plant. The buds and leaves of calathea begin to dry, and their flower drops.
Leaves turn pale
The paleness of the leaf plates may be due to insufficient light. It is important that the flower receives the necessary portion of sunlight.
The tips dry on the leaves
A lack of moisture affects the leaves of the plant. If the tips of the leaf blades begin to dry, this means that the air and soil need to be moistened.
Lower leaves fall off
Falling leaves is usually the result of excess or, conversely, lack of moisture. It is worth paying more attention to the level of humidity.
Pests
Most of all problems are caused by a spider mite. The parasite is located at the bottom of the leaves and weaves its web there. To get rid of the pest, you can use a soap solution or treat the flower with special preparations.
Other problems
If the pot stands near an open window, the leaves of the flower may begin to rot. The reason for this is a draft.
Burns on leaf blades leave direct sunlight
Signs and superstitions
Some people believe that calathea has magical properties. According to legend, she is able to bring harmony and love to the house. Therefore, people often purchase a flower pot to create a calm and cozy atmosphere.
A healthy Calathea Croata grows at home with proper care. Large spectacular perennial leaves in combination with small yellow flowers create a wonderful combination that can create an atmosphere of comfort in the apartment.
