Calathea Fasciata is one of those houseplants that you’ll likely see inside any plant enthusiast’s home. Famous for its big, shiny green leaves and attractive stripes, this plant can easily polish up the aesthetic appeal of your home.
Now, if you’re not sure how to care for this beautiful plant, there’s nothing to worry about. In this guide, we’ll give you some information on how it likes its sunlight, water, soil, temperature levels, and more. So, are you ready to dive in?
Let’s get you more familiar with this lovely plant first, shall we?
Calathea Fasciata is part of the Calathea family, which includes a huge variety of types that come in different colors, shapes, and sizes. The plant is native to the tropical regions of America, Asia, and Africa.
Some of the most popular Calathea houseplants are:
Yet, what makes Calathea plants irresistible for plant lovers is that they’re low-maintenance. So, growing one should be a breeze!
It’s time for you to learn what it takes to end up with a strong, beautiful, and healthy plant!
Before you take the plant home, you must pick the perfect spot for it inside your house. Remember that Calathea plants have tropical origins, so they prefer to sit somewhere with bright, indirect light.
Putting it in the face of direct sunlight might cause the leaves to turn brown or even burn. So, it’s best if you position it next to a window with a curtain. Or, you can place it in a room that gets plenty of light, just make sure it’s not in the path of the sun rays.
Next up would be the plant’s temperature needs. Again, the temperature inside your home must mimic that of tropical regions, which leans toward medium warm.
If we’re speaking in numbers, 65 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit should be a suitable indoor temperature range. However, maintaining a steady temperature within your household may not always be that easy, especially if the plant sits in a drafty room.
Well, thankfully, you can tell if your plant is facing trouble by taking note of the leaf color. If it changes to brown, you may need to move your Calathea Fasciata somewhere else with no sudden drops in temperature.
Much like temperature, the humidity levels inside the room must match the plant’s original habitat. Calathea Fasciata prefers high humidity, and it’s pretty simple to make sure it gets just what it needs inside your house.
A neat trick is to put the plant somewhere that tends to be naturally humid. Yes, we mean on a windowsill inside the bathroom or even in the kitchen. Yet, those locations may not give the plant access to sufficient sunlight, but there are more solutions to this problem.
See, you could always slide a tray of wet pebbles underneath the pot to do the job. Here are more things you can do to increase the humidity around your Calathea Fasciata:
- Surround it with other plants to create more water vapor
- Mist the leaves lightly every now and then
- Place a humidifier right next to your plant
One of the coolest things about Calathea Fasciata is that its water schedule isn’t hard to keep up with. The plant likes its water in moderation, but what does that really mean?
To ensure your Calathea gets an adequate water intake, pay attention to the state of its soil. It must be always moist, but not too saturated with water that you can see puddles in it.
The soil can also let you know it’s time for watering if you notice two to four inches of it has dried out. In that case, you’ll want to add water to the soil until you get to the desired level of moisture.
Remember that plants that get over-watered can be prone to fungal and mold growths. And your plant is definitely better off without those!
You’ve probably noted how simple it is to care for your Calathea Fasciata so far, right? Well, its soil requirements are no different since it doesn’t need a special blend. It’s only two words: porous soil.
All you’ll have to do is purchase a type of soil that contains moisture and drains well. Luckily, you can find a whole lot of Calathea mixes online or in stores. Plus, you can create a nice mixture of perlite, potting soil, bark, and moss to keep the plant in.
One more thing you should keep in mind is the design of the pot you’ll put the Calathea Fasciata in. Here, it’s essential that you buy a pot with drainage holes so that any excess water can find a way out of the soil.
Does Calathea Fasciata need to be fertilized?
It won’t hurt to fertilize this plant to encourage its growth and make sure its leaves remain vibrant. What you should focus on here is the time of the year, because that has a say when it comes to fertilization.
Feeding your Calathea Fasciata is best done around the time when it actually grows, which is in the spring and summer. During these seasons, you should feed your plant up to two times per month.
In the winter, you’ll need to take it down a notch. You must add fertilizer to your plant in small portions, and do this once every couple of months. The reason behind this is that Calathea plants don’t grow notably in cold weather, so frequently fertilizing yours will be of no use.
Remember that the key to proper fertilization is moderation. If you go for more than the required amount, the plant might become too tall and end up with unhealthy leaves. So, it’s best to wait until it’s actively growing to add fertilizer.
When it comes to the type of food to give your Calathea Fasciata, aim for any brand that targets indoor plants. The fertilizer must be slow-releasing to work with your plant’s growth rate.
Pruning your plant should be part of your maintenance schedule so that your Calathea Fasciata remains in perfect health. It’s also to ensure that the plant doesn’t become too big or develop too large roots, which may not suit its status as an indoor plant.
The best way to go about pruning Calathea Fasciata is to cut any brown leaves with pruning shears. Or you could pluck the dead leaves with your fingers if you don’t have shears lying around.
You must also trim the foliage on a regular basis to maintain a clean and fresh look.
You’ll only need to repot Calathea Fasciata once it becomes too big to fit in its pot. Usually, you’ll have to do this two or three years after your initial purchase. Then, you’ll probably need to repeat the process every couple of years.
Remember that the best time to repot your Calathea Fasciata is during spring to boost its growth. For the best results, give your plant a quick shower the day before you move it to its new home.
Propagating Calathea plants is pretty straightforward, too, which is another thing people love about them.
Here, all you’ll have to do is take some clumps of leaves and stalks from the mother Calathea Fasciata. Make sure that the leaves are attached to some roots to help the new baby plant grow faster.
The step after this would be to move those clumps to another pot, then cover the whole thing with a protective bag. It’s important that this segment sits in a warm and humid place to encourage growth.
Again, the right time to propagate Calathea Fasciata is during the spring and summer.
Much like any houseplant, Calathea Fasciata may attract some annoying parasites, including:
These unwanted visitors can be easy to repel, though. Just spray the leaves and stems with neem oil to ward them off. This natural deterrent won’t harm your baby, so there’s nothing to worry about.
Plus, the plant is also prone to root rot, which is usually caused by excessive watering. By maintaining a balanced watering schedule, you’ll stop the rot from finding its way to your Calathea Fasciata.
Calathea Fasciata is one of the most eye-catching Calathea varieties with its large, glossy leaves. It can easily bring you a sense of calm just by sitting next to it on your windowsill with a good book in your hands.
Not only can Calathea Fasciata transform the appearance of your home, but it’s also a piece of cake to grow. As long as you follow our care tips, your plant should continue to bring joy to your household!