How Do You Care For A Calathea Network?

As with many plants, Calathea needs to be kept moist and warm. The following are some tips on how you can care for a Calathea plant.

Light

Calathea Musaica will perform best if it is maintained in bright, indirect light, but it is a bit more tolerant of fluctuating illumination than other Calatheas. A little direct sunshine in the morning or late evening is unlikely to harm the leaves, but severe direct sunlight will scorch them.

Watering

Calathea Musaica thrives in mildly wet circumstances, so keep a careful check on watering to get the most out of this plant. Check on your plant once a week and only water when the top inch of soil seems dry to the touch.

Soak the soil well until water drains freely from the drainage holes when your plant needs watering. Allow the surplus water to drain from the pot for at least a few minutes to ensure that the roots at the bottom of the pot are not submerged.

Soil

Calathea Musaica requires soil that is both well-draining and moisture-retentive. Most houseplant potting mixes are suitable for Calathea Musaica, however I usually recommend adding some type of drainage amendment, such as coarse sand, perlite, or gravel, to increase drainage and decrease the danger of overwatering.

Humidity

High humidity is an important aspect of Calathea Musaica care and is required to keep your plant in excellent health. Low humidity causes the leaves to lose extra water, resulting in dark leaf tips and edges, as well as curling.

It is preferable to keep humidity levels over 50%, although greater levels are even better. The sole caution is that excessive humidity might raise the risk of fungal and bacterial infections if ventilation is inadequate. If the humidity level is above 80%, try placing a fan in the same room as your plants to increase air circulation.

Temperature

Drafts are the most important temperature problem to be aware of. Both heat and cold gusts can harm your Calathea Musaica, causing withering and browning of the leaves.

Fertilizer

Water-soluble plant fertilizer should be applied to your Calathea Musaica on a regular basis. This is my favorite method, and I use a balanced, water-soluble plant fertilizer at 1/4 to 1/2 the strength advised for outdoor plants.

I use this every 4-6 weeks during spring and summer and avoid fertilizing in fall and winter. When potting your plant, add fertilizers to the soil. A 10% compost or worm castings addition to the potting mix can offer enough nutrients for at least 1-2 years with practically little risk of nutrient burn.

Pruning

Calathea Musaica requires very little pruning, and you’ll only need to remove dead or damaged leaves on an irregular basis. The easiest method to accomplish this is to use sterile, sharp pruning snips to chop them off just above the soil level.

Repotting

Because Calathea Musaica originates from a rhizome that increases slowly over time, the plant might get rootbound after 2-3 years in the same container. Don’t rush to repot though, since they can be a bit sensitive to the transfer, and survive being rootbound fairly well.

Propagation

The best approach to reproduce Calathea Musaica is via the division of a mature plant. Carefully separate the rhizome into two or more portions at the time of repotting. You should be able to detach most of the rhizome gently with your fingers.

What is the Calathea network?

Network Calathea is a new (and popular) houseplant with beautifully variegated leaves. Its mid-green lance-shaped leaves with dark green veins. They form a pattern that resembles a computer network. When the leaves are backlit, the effect is very spectacular.

This plant is not suitable for direct sun light or high temperature. It requires partial shade or indirect light. Keep the plant in a moist, warm environment and water when the soil feels dry. Fertilize your plant regularly, in spring and summer.

Calathea plants are relatively easy to grow as long as you keep them wet and warm, and not too dry or too cold.

One of the problems with growing Calathea is it is susceptible to mealybugs and scale insects. You can prevent mealybug by providing infested plants with an insecticidal soap spray or natural insecticide which will kill them.

The temperate regions of the world are best for growing Calathea, but as long as the night temperatures don’t get to freezing you should be able to grow this plant indoors. It does prefer a semi-shady location with little exposure to strong direct sunlight. Be careful about overwatering though because your plant could otherwise rot.

How do you water a Calathea network?

Calathea Musaica thrives in mildly damp circumstances, so keep a careful check on watering to get the most out of this plant. Check on your plant once a week and only water when the top inch of soil seems dry to the touch.

Soak the soil well until water drains freely from the pot for at least a few minutes to ensure that the roots at the bottom of the pot are not submerged.

Calathea need humid conditions, but you should avoid exposing them to direct sunlight. The best location for this plant is in indirect light by a window or under an artificial grow light. If you don’t have access to artificial lighting you can place a humidity tray underneath your plant, or keep a tray of damp pebbles nearby.

You can also try a ready-to-use, pebble-style humidity tray (often available in garden centers). Simply fill it with damp pebbles. These are easy to use and you don’t need to soak them first, but as they are not 100% efficient there is some risk of rot.

Calathea also loves indirect light and a moist atmosphere, so a spot for it that get indirect sunlight, in a slightly moist atmosphere is ideal.

How do you propagate network Calathea?

Calatheas Musaica is propagated via division of the plant. You may also propagate the plant by dividing it when repotting it. To divide a plant, you will need a healthy plant over two or more individual pots. Take a cutting from the ground.

Trim off all but the lowest 1in (3cm) of the stem to be divided, and then remove all but a few of the original plant’s leaves. Preparing to divide your plant, you will also need:

·         Potting soil made of equal parts fine and medium-grain components.

·         A sharp, sterilized knife.

·         A small pot or plastic container of equal size

·         You will also need to provide a humid place for your plant to be divided in.

·         To divide your plant, dig a small trench around the stem at a point where it will divide cleanly. The trench should be deep enough to keep the new stems from being damaged as they emerge.

·         Place your pot within the trench, making sure that it is level with the surface of the soil.

·         Then make two or three vertical cuts into the stem until you can see healthy green tissue beneath.

·         The depth of this cut will vary depending upon whether or not you want to propagate the plant via root or stem cuttings.

·         Pull gently on each newly exposed section of stem, and once they have separated from the parent plant, place them in their own pot, covering them with soil as you do so.

·         Next, make three or four more cuts as close to the base as possible.

·         As with the first set of cuts, pull gently on each section of stem until it has separated from the parent plant.

·         Once again place them in their own pot, covering them with soil as you do so.

·         Finally, push the soil back into place and water well. Be careful not to overwater at this point.

How do you repot Calathea network?

When repotting Calathea network. Slide the plant gently out of its current pot.

·         Examine the roots to see whether they are healthy. Any diseased leaves should be trimmed off using sterile pruners at this point. Examining the roots can give you a fair notion of how satisfied the plant is with your care regimen.

·         If everything appears to be in order, avoid moving the rootball too much; since this might trigger transplant shock follow repotting.

·         Select a new pot that is no more than 1-2 inches larger than the previous one. Choosing a too big pot significantly increases the danger of overwatering. Make sure there are enough of drainage holes in the pot.

·         Put a little quantity of potting mix in the bottom of the new pot and place your plant in the center. The goal of this section is to get the plant’s level correct in the pot.

·         Fill the container with earth and support the plant by adding more soil around the sides. Avoid over-compressing the soil, since this can limit aeration and drainage.

·         Lightly water the plant. I usually don’t water too much at this stage because it might take a long for the roots to start working properly after repotting, and soaking the soil too much can raise the chance of root rot.

Is Network Calathea rare?

This beautiful houseplant, also known as the Network Calathea, is a vital addition to any rare plant collection. The term Calathea generally refers to the entire family of plants, while Network Calathea refers to a specific, delightful variety which has bright green leaves split up into glistening arcs and swirls.

This striking accent plant is often imitated by other varieties, but never duplicated. The leaf of a network Calathea looks like it has been gently carved out in the design of a network or honeycomb. In fact, the plant’s name comes from the resemblance of its foliage to a network.

The heart of a leaf is usually solid green and the leaf radiates out in a web. These leaves are generally on the large side, growing anywhere from 3.5 to 5 inches (8-12 cm) long and as wide, depending on variety. They have serrated edges and are really durable for handling.

Plants of this kind can be grown outdoors in warm climates and need little care because they are not particularly delicate. They can tolerate some neglect and can survive in poor soil.

However, they are often grown as houseplants, and this is where their conditions of care change. They enjoy bright light, but also need a well-draining potting mix.

Some of the varieties are suited for outdoors as well so you will have to choose which one fits your needs. The most common garden variety grows upright and is considered a small border plant or patio plant.

Is Calathea Network an indoor plant?

Calathea network is a house plant because its needs are similar to any other houseplant. It requires regular watering, a good drainage and light from direct sun (no direct sun).

It is an easy to grow houseplants and is generally disease free. Some varieties of Calathea, can also be grown outside in the garden with little care.  Calathea network is mainly planted in the garden of the house, but they are great in pots. If you have a large terrace or patio, or a balcony, you can add a few different plants to keep them organized.

The soil needs to be fertile and well drained as it is often grown in containers as houseplants. The soil for your Calathea Network should be rich and it does not require much water adding fertilizer only when necessary. They grow in the soil is rich and well drained. Add some organic matter to your Calathea network plant.

Calathea network also grows nicely in combination with other plants or flowers for a natural finish. They are appealing to most people, but perhaps not for those who do not like the color green.

Calathea Network can be used as indoor plants houseplants and is often placed in living rooms or bedrooms because of its beautiful leaves, which look like someone has carefully carved them out of green marble.

Is Calathea Network a poisonous plant?

The Network Calathea contains calcium oxalate crystals, which can cause irritation if eaten or rubbed into the skin. The most common symptoms of calcium oxalate poisoning are: burning pains, stinging sensation and swelling when contacted by the skin.

If eaten more than a few times in large quantities, you can also develop stomach and intestinal pains, vomiting, diarrhea, thirst and changes in heart rate.

Only a very small amount of calcium oxalate crystals can be dangerous but the concentration will vary between different varieties. The majority of houseplants with this toxin are from the Araceae family (e.g. Peace lily) but there are also some from other families like the Calathea.

Over recent years, there has been an increase in research into indoor toxicity and people are paying more attention to the chemicals they bring into their homes. This has led to a reduction in many known toxins that we were only just discovering were unsafe for us.

How big does a Calathea Network get?

Calathea Musaica, commonly known as Calathea ‘Network,’ is a tropical plant in the Marantaceae family, popularly known as the ‘prayer plant’ family. It is native to Brazil and is popular in interior home design due to its eye-catching leaves.

It is a slow-growing plant that may reach a height of 2 feet (60 cm) and a width of up to 3 feet (90 cm). It requires a humid environment and moderate watering. Calathea Musaica is considered an indoor plant.

How fast does Calathea Network grow?

Because Calathea Musaica originates from a rhizome that increases slowly over time, the plant might get rootbound after 2-3 years in the same container. However, don’t rush to repot them because they might be sensitive to the transfer and handle being rootbound rather well.

At the beginning of the flowering season, you can propagate new plants to replace your old ones. This indoor plant prefers a root run of 6-8 weeks with a maximum of 8 months. Calathea Network should be kept moist and in units with plenty of indirect light.

How do I prune my Calathea Network?

Calathea Network is a slow-growing plant and can take at least 3 years to get fully mature. Young plants often grow roots in the soil but eventually the roots will develop and the plant will start to stand upright.

You can prune this kind of houseplant easily and it will return back to its previous state within a few weeks. You can also prune away the plant to keep only a small piece of it and then replace the soil. The leaves are dark green and very durable, they can be easily washed with water and look great on display.

The leaves are green, heart shaped with a slightly pointed tip. Depending on variety, they measure between 5 and 7 inches (15-20 cm) across.

They have serrated edges that look like someone has carved them out of green marble or stone however their texture is smooth. Calathea Networks are attractive, almost unrivaled in their beauty.

Their leaves have a marble appearance and are glossy in nature, thus they will get a shiny look when it is new. This houseplant can reach up to 2 feet (60 cm) tall and can be trimmed to half its height. A well-known feature of the plant is that its leaves appear almost seamless, looking like they were cut out of green marble.

What type of soil does Calathea Network need?

A fast-draining mineral potting mix with a pH level of 5.5 to 7 is preferred for Calathea Network. Soil should remain moist but avoid overwatering because they tend to grow in shallow soil. Calathea Network can also be grown in containers, but it is recommended to repot them every three years.

They need humidity and require good ventilation. Calathea Network will decay if you remove the soil too soon and the roots rot out of the soil.

Before repotting, you should clean your Calathea Network with a damp cloth so excess soil can be removed and fresh soil can be added. You should avoid repotting your Houseplants very often because they are easily rootbound. When you see that the leaves are starting to get yellow, it means your plant needs water. The soil should be slightly moist but never wet.

What kind of light does Calathea Network need?

Calathea Network prefers indirect light. This plant will thrive in bright indirect sun or shade under fluorescent lights. They prefer a humid atmosphere and thrive in high humidity including misting and light spraying with water.

Stress also occurs when this houseplant is placed next to a drafty window or fire. They will still grow well in low light conditions but with yellow leaves. Calathea Network likes to be in warm temperatures and away from cold drafts or air conditioning.

Calathea Network does not like direct sunlight and needs protection from the sun. They can be placed next to the window, for example, but should never be exposed directly to it because they would start to lose their color and fade away quickly.

Calathea Musaica is a tropical plant and cannot bear extreme temperatures. The ideal temperature for this houseplant is around 70-75 degrees F (21-24 degrees C).

They don’t do well with cold or hot drafts and should be placed in a spot where they won’t be exposed to either. Excessively cold air will cause their leaves to dry out severely. They may die if left outside during the wintertime.  They don’t tolerate freezing temperatures and will likely die.

You can place this plant in the winter if you place it in a pot with a small amount of pebbles or gravel. It should be kept indoors, away from drafts and in a very low-temperature environment. If your house is too cold, your plant will not survive winter outside of the house.

You don’t want to go below 55 degrees F (13 degrees C) because the leaves might start to freeze or even burn.