Calathea crimson is a unique, decorative houseplant with varied, bright leaves. Its scientific name is Calathea Picturata Crimson, and it is known as a shade plant since it grows naturally in South America’s rainforests.
Calathea crimson has some of the most elegant leaves found in nature, ranging from dark green velvety to leaves with decorative shapes and reddish edges.
It’s easy to care for and can grow in low-light environments so that you can use it almost anywhere you want to add a bright, colorful vibe. It also creates a calmer and healthier environment by refreshing the air.
Calathea Crimson Overview
Here are some additional details about Calathea to get the full picture.
Origins
Calathea originally comes from the Amazon jungles of South America, where it thrives in the shade beneath dense vegetation. That’s why it prefers spots away from direct sunlight.
Names
Calathea is known by several names, including “Zebra Plant” because of the markings on its leaves, but the most common is “Prayer Plant,” which refers to the movements that Calathea’s leaves make. What distinguishes them is that they move by the 24-hour cycle.
Their leaves go up at night and low during the day. There’s also a common belief that these movements follow the sun’s movements to get the best amount of light they can.
How to Care For Calathea Crimson
The first step for a successful plant growing journey is to put a proper care plan for it. We’re going to point out some guidelines to do so.
Watering
Use your hand to check the soil. If the first 2 inches are dry, it’s time to water it. Choose the potting soil with good drainage to avoid over-watering, which is usually caused by a lack of aggregate in the soil.
To simplify, follow the “often but little” method. Watering it once every 14 days will keep it in the healthiest way possible.
Light
Calatheas don’t like direct light because it harms the leaves and makes the colors fade away, but they also don’t mind low indirect light.
The safest rule to go by is the more indirect light, the finer the leaves. In this way, you can keep the leaves healthy and protect them from losing their markings.
Humidity
Calatheas prefer a higher humidity environment. You can achieve that by using a mister or a humidifier to increase the humidity level.
Although it’s an effective way to keep the right humidity level by using a mister, you need to be careful with how you do that, stay away from the top of the leaves, and focus more on the bottom.
Temperature
The ideal temperatures for Calatheas are between 65-80°F since they naturally grow in tropical areas.
Lower or higher than that or sudden change in temperature damages the plant, especially the curling of the leaves.
Fertilizer
Growing seasons are the perfect time to fertilize your plant. The best way to do so is by feeding it every 14 days using houseplant fertilizer.
Avoid fertilizing it during the winter to protect it from losing its shape. It’s also better if you keep it away from shiny products which may have fertilizer in them.
Soil
Calathea prefers moist but not wet soil. A mixture of potting soil, perlite, charcoal, and orchid bark would do the job.
It’s not preferred to let it dry out. Poke the soil every few days to see if it feels dry. If it does, water freely, making sure that the water reaches the bottom of it.
Common Problems and How to Avoid Them
It can be challenging when it comes to Calathea care, especially for beginners, but once you discover what works best for your plant, it becomes easier.
Calatheas are commonly referred to as “fussy houseplants” since they require a highly specialized environment to thrive.
Besides the instructions that we pointed out earlier, we’re going to mention some common problems that might face you on your first journey with Calathea crimson.
Yellow Leaves
This can happen for different reasons; the most common ones are over-watering and overexposure to direct sunlight.
You can avoid that by balancing the amount of water you feed your plant and sticking to the method we mentioned about watering. As for the sun, avoid moving the plant to a sunny place. Instead, expose it to the shadow of the sun.
Brown Edges
The reasons for this issue are often low humidity and over-fertilizing.
Although they can be tricky, they’re easy to avoid. Firstly, make sure that you use the mister in the right way, and if you do check the soil of the plant and make sure that it holds the water you mister your plant with, you can also use some organic material to help the water stick to the plant more.
Secondly, if it’s the over-fertilizing thing, try to increase the watering and reduce the fertilizing to achieve balance.
Curling Tips
This is a sign that your plant isn’t getting enough water. There are two reasons for that, either you are under-watering it, or the water doesn’t reach the roots.
Water the soil and wait for the leaves to uncurl to avoid this. If it didn’t, the issue is with the roots; scratch them with anything to assist the water get there.
Fading Patterns
It’s upsetting when the pattern starts to vanish since they’re mostly admired for their unique leaves.
This problem is mostly associated with lighting and fertilizing. The pattern will fade if it receives too much or too little light. To avoid that, balance the amount of light your plant gets. And make sure to put it in a room with medium lighting.
The other reason is under-fertilization. If you leave your plant in the same soil for an extended period without fertilizing it, it may develop fading patterns. Avoid that by using houseplant fertilizer once in a while during the growing seasons.
Dropping Leaves
Three main reasons would cause this problem, but the most common one is under-watering. To avoid that, check the soil. You’ll need to adjust your watering plan if the ground is dry. If the soil is wet, moisten it to ensure that the water reaches the roots.
Over-watering can also be an issue. Don’t water it if the top of the soil is still wet. Wait till it dries out.
The other problem is temperature. Calathea is sensitive to temperature changes, especially those below 55°F. Place it in a warmer location, away from registers and other sources of unexpected temperature swings, and out of any draughts from doors or windows.
Infestation
If the leaves of your Calathea have a speckled color, it’s a sign that your plant has been infested by some outsider creatures.
To avoid that, you need to know which circumstances they show up under and what they are. The most common ones are mealybugs, spider mites, fungus gnats, and scale.
Mealybugs are the hardest to get rid of. They look like tiny bugs, and they usually hide in the leaves and the soil, suffocating your plant’s life. However, using neem oil might help remove them.
Spider mites like Calatheas and are frequent visitors who can quickly become an issue. Because they prefer dry air, infestations are more common in the winter. Get a humidity meter to increase its level and give your plant leaf showers regularly. In most cases, this will suffice.
Fungus gnats appear when the soil is constantly wet, allowing them to damage the plant’s roots. Watering the bottom of the plant and leaving the top of it dry is the easiest way to get rid of them.
Scales look like brown pimples with a sticky substance on the leaves of the plant. They’re easier than others to remove, and you can do so in two ways: with an insecticide or manually using cotton soaked in alcohol.
Slow Growth
Calatheas typically grow two feet in a single year. They don’t grow unless they’re in the right conditions, so if your plant is growing slowly, that’s the reason. You should begin a new care plan for it, considering all the points we’ve mentioned, and you’ll be amazed at how healthy it looks and grows.
What Makes Calathea Crimson the Best Houseplant?
You probably look for something specific when it comes to houseplants, so here are some convincing reasons why Calathea Crimson is a perfect choice.
Looks and Colors
Calathea crimson catches the attention with its stunning colors, pink in the center with green and black in the edges. It’s perfect as a decorative plant for homes and offices as long as you’re following the right care plan.
Easy to Take Care Of
After all these rules and instructions to keep your Calathea healthy, you might think that it’s hard to care, but it’s the complete opposite. Calathea is considered one of the easiest plants to grow since all the problems you might face are limited and solvable.
Pet-friendly
When you’re a pet owner, you have to choose your plants carefully. Many of them can be toxic to dogs and cats, unlike Calatheas, which are completely safe.
Affordable
Among the other houseplants, Calathea is considered an affordable one. It depends on the shape and the size, but it ranges from $20 to $40.
Wrap-up
Calathea crimson is the best option for you if you want something that looks good, has a positive effect on you and your space, and is, most importantly, affordable. All it takes is sticking to the proper care plan. Nobody can deny that growing healthy Calathea takes time and effort, but it’s all worth it in the end.