Is Calathea Marion poisonous to cats?

Calathea Marion plants, often known as prayer plants due to the way their leaves fold up at night, are non-toxic to cats and dogs and give a splash of color to any environment.

Additionally, they are tolerant of low-light environments. Calathea Marion is a member of the arum family and is grown as houseplants by many hobbyists across the country.

However, there are some instances where cats may become ill or die after consuming a Calathea Marion. The main case of toxicity is when the cat eats the flowers from one of the plants.

This can occur if a cat eats the mature flower head at an early stage when it is green and hard and may not even realize he has been poisoned, according to Pet Poison Helpline. If a cat ingests only tiny amounts of Calathea Marion over time, he may not be affected.

What are the symptoms of my Calathea Marion dying?

The most common symptoms of having a Calathea Marion die are brown leaves, often with dead areas, and wilting. The plant may also appear to be drooping rather low to the ground. After the leaves start to turn brown and crispy, they will shrink as well and eventually fall off.

The only way to know for sure if your plant is dying is to look at its roots. The root system of a dying Calathea Marion will appear pale, dry, and shriveled.

Calathea Marion can also have brown spots on their leaves and stems. This is the result of your plant getting too much water. If this occurs, immediately water your plant less to avoid root rot.

Why is my Calathea Marion dying?

The most common explanation for a dying Calathea Marion is that the soil surrounding the root ball is too dry as a result of insufficient watering or watering too lightly, causing the leaves to droop and turn brown and crispy, giving the plant a dying appearance.

Calathea Marion is tropical plants and prefers warm environments with plenty of light but do not like their leaves to be wet. Therefore, it is important to carefully monitor your watering frequency if you choose to grow a Calathea Marion indoors.

Calathea Marion prefers soil that drains well and is slightly on the acidic side (pH of 6.5 to 7.0). Too much moisture or over-watering will cause the roots of a Calathea Marion to rot and die.

Low light levels may also cause your Calathea Marion to appear dead but it will eventually recover if the lighting level is increased. Growing your plant in low light for an extended amount of time without increasing its access to light may damage the plant permanently.

Why does my Calathea Marion leave turning yellow?

If your Calathea is wilting or has yellow leaves, it may have been injured due to;

Overwatering: Overwatering your Calathea may cause the roots of your plant to rot and die. Too much moisture surrounding the root ball will cause leaves on the crown (center of plant) to turn yellow and then brown. If you notice too much water around the base of your plant, try moving it to a tray or a saucer with drainage holes in it and allow it to drain for at least 24 hours.

Underwatering: Calathea requires moist soil to grow properly. If you keep the soil too wet, the roots of your plant will rot and die. To ensure proper moisture levels, add a layer of pebbles or gravel around your Calathea, this way it can drain excess water from the root system.

Low temperature: Fresh or young Calathea Marion leaves have a high level of sugar, which causes the leaves to turn yellow if the temperature drops. If your Calathea has yellow leaves and is experiencing cold temperatures, seal the plant in a bag or cover with a wet newspaper.

Poor drainage: If the area around your Calathea is poorly drained or waterlogged, the roots of your plant will rot and die. To ensure proper moisture levels, add a layer of pebbles or gravel around your Calathea, this way it can drain excess water from the root system.

If you notice that your plant has been affected by insect damage (greyish-black spots), remove the affected leaf and dispose in a rubbish bin immediately.

Too much light: Calathea Marion does not like direct sunlight. Too much light will make the leaves burn and turn yellow.

Pests and Diseases: Calathea Marion can be healthy and produce flowers but if your plant is infested with pests, it will not look healthy. If you notice tiny holes in the leaves of your Calathea, inspect the leaves to find and remove any insects that may be causing damage.

How can I save my Calathea Marion plant?

There are several things you can do to save your Calathea Marion plant. First and foremost, as mentioned above, always check your soil’s moisture level by checking the soil of all plants in the same pots. Also, inspect the leaves of your houseplants daily to determine if it is time to water them or not.

If the leaves droop, indicating too little water, then water the plant thoroughly until the soil is moist but not soggy. If you have a Calathea Marion plant that is showing signs of being near death, know that it can be difficult to save them.

However, try to get them to eat (through feedings or sprouts) as much as possible and provide it with extra light and humidity. In this way, your plant should start to recover on its own.

How often should I water Calathea Marion?

Water every 1-2 weeks, letting the soil to dry halfway between irrigations. Water more frequently in brighter light and less frequently in reduced light. Calatheas benefit from weekly watering, which enables the top two feet of soil to partially dry out.

We recommend watering less regularly in the winter to avoid overwatering and root rot. This plant is not drought-resistant, and prolonged periods of dryness will result in browning of the leaf margins.

Calathea Marion can tolerate a wider range of soil moisture, but too much water will result in root rot. If you notice yellow patches on the leaves and stems, or if the plant is wilting, it may be time to water more frequently. It’s important to avoid overwatering your plants by watering less regularly in the winter.

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How do you care for a Calathea Marion?

Calathea Marion plants are exquisite and may look stunning in any setting. However, the only way to ensure that it thrives is to provide it with all of the necessary care. Bear in mind that this is not a low-maintenance houseplant.

Calathea Marion plants may not be suitable for those who seek low-maintenance plants. Additionally, some plants may be too intimidating for inexperienced gardeners. This plant can suffer greatly if it is mistreated or if it is not given sufficient care. Calathea Marion’s basic care requirements are as follows:

Light

While Calathea Marion plants require light, they should never be exposed to direct sunlight. Direct sunlight will fade the leaves’ marks. However, you should avoid placing your Calathea in a gloomy area.

A north-facing window or similar location with sufficient light but less direct sunshine may be suitable for your Calathea Marion. It is critical to protect your Calathea Marion from direct sunlight.

Water

Another critical point to remember is irrigation. Watering is critical for Calathea Marion plant growth. These plants demand constant moisture in their soil. However, the plant should never be submerged in water or allowed to sit in it.

This implies that you must exercise extreme caution when it comes to your watering regimen and the amount of water you offer. It is advisable to provide a little but consistent amount of water to your Calathea Marion during the growing season.

Water immediately when noticing the surface beginning to dry out. You may want to water a little less during the colder and darker winter months.

Temperature

Calathea Marion plants flourish in warm climates. Calathea Marion plants like temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit (15 to 21 degrees Celsius). Never keep your Calathea Marion in a room with a temperature below 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius).

Additionally, it is critical to offer adequate ventilation for your plant while avoiding harsh draughts and temperature swings.

Humidity

Humidity is another critical component in the growth of Calathea Marion plants. You must supply sufficient humidity for your Calathea Marion to grow. This strategy demands a high amount of humidity, and if you do not offer it, your plant will become ill. Indeed, insufficient humidity is the most common reason for this plant’s demise.

Calathea Marion is a wonderful contender for growing in a bottle garden. This is especially true for the little Calathea Marion kinds. If a bottle garden is not a possibility, another method of increasing humidity surrounding your plant must be found.

Certain approaches include spraying the leaves on a regular basis; however this seldom results in long-term outcomes. If you reside in an extremely dry environment, a gadget designed to increase the humidity surrounding the plant may be the best option.

Fertilizer

Regular feeding is necessary for your Calathea Marion plant. Fertilize it every two weeks with a 1/2 strength proprietary houseplant fertilizer. Ensure, however, that you only feed your plant during the growth season.

In the winter, fully discontinue fertilizer use. Additionally, it is advisable to avoid any shine products, particularly those that contain fertilizer.

Pruning

Calathea Marion can respond well to pruning, especially when they are grown as houseplants. Pruning helps manage excess foliage and encourages uniform growth throughout the plant. However, always be careful when pruning. Calathea Marion should not be pruned in the middle of their growing period.

Propagation

Calathea Marion can be propagated by division and budding. Some smaller kinds of Calathea Marion are easy to root and grow quickly.

However, be careful when propagating by division and budding because these plant divisions are much more fragile. Furthermore, the new plants will only be able to grow for a few months before dying back once again.

Repotting

Calathea Marion must be repotting at least every 2-3 years. When repotting your Calathea Marion, ensure that the soil is completely dry when you re-plant it.

How do you prune a Calathea Marion?

Simply cut the leaf near the steam with a sharp knife or pair of scissors and discard the damaged leaf. Then, rather of attempting to rescue dead leaves, your plant should focus its efforts on stimulating new leaf growth.

Calathea Marion is normally quite forgiving when it comes to pruning. However, many people prefer to avoid the risk of damaging the plant if they are unsure how to identify a dead leaf.

Often times, a new stem will appear out of the stem that was pruned off in a week after cutting as it is within this week that the Calathea Marion will recover. At this point, you can throw out these new stems and not worry about replacing them in order to avoid dead wood.

How do you get Calathea Marion to flower?

Calathea Marion does not require extensive fertilization, but they will blossom and thrive in the spring, summer, and fall when given a basic houseplant fertilizer. They require fertilizing more often during periods of development and blossoming.

Calathea Marion does not require an excessive amount of sunlight, but they do require warm temperatures, so try to maintain these. Also, these plants will not flower without being given water and light at the right times.

Calathea Marion plants blossom from the bottom up; and the blooming process is often accompanied by a slight scalloped or irregular shape. The Calathea name comes from the Greek word “kala”, which means “fading”, as the markings fade during flowering. As Calathea Marion blooms, it will drop clusters of small white and purple flowers that resemble an opened lotus flower.

How do you propagate Calathea Marion?

Calathea Marion is best propagated by division during spring repotting. When you remove the plant to repot it, you can gently divide it along with its natural root separations.

Calathea Marion prefers very well-draining soil and will not tolerate soggy soil. If the excess water is not drained well, they will exhaust the plant and it will eventually die. Here are steps to be followed when propagating Calathea Marion;

• Choose a container that has plenty of room for the roots and for the new plants.
• Prepare a potting mix that consists of one third peat moss and two thirds sand. This is the same as regular soil for outdoor plants, but it is coarser due to the sand. Fill each pot with this mixture and be sure not to compact it.
• Give your plants a good watering just before you pot them to clean any debris off the roots.
• Use a sharp knife or pair of scissors to cut the plant up into small pieces. Each piece should have at least one leaf and one root.
• Pot each piece of your Calathea Marion plant, making sure that they all sit at the same level in their new pots and are not placed too high above the soil line. Be sure to leave room for growth though, as they will grow quickly in their new containers.
• Gently re-water the potting mix, wiping any excess water off with a damp cloth or blotting paper. You may not need to go through this step if your mix is well-drained.
• Once your Calathea Marion plant begins to grow, you can divide it once more in the spring and again in the fall so that it never stops growing, especially if you live in a very dry climate.

How do I repot Calathea Marion?

Repot it once a year (or every two years) to replenish the soil. Calathea Marion plants that get rootbound are susceptible to fungal diseases, which can be fatal. Each time, increase the container’s size by an inch or two.

Although early spring is the optimal time to repot a Calathea Marion, you may repot at any time of year as long as you offer adequate conditions following repotting. Calathea Marion plants that have been neglected will often lose their leaves and eventually die.

Repotting can be intimidating for anyone that has never done this before, but it is actually a very simple process. Before repotting your Calathea Marion, check for the following conditions:

• Make sure that your plant has fresh soil so that it doesn’t get an infection from the toxic salts in old soil.
• Make sure that the plant is not rootbound and if it is, consider dividing it.
• Make sure that your plant does not need to be fertilized or fed. If it needs more nutrients, you may need to fertilize in order to prevent problems like leaf yellowing and stunted growth.
• If your plant is not getting enough water, you may need to change the soil’s watering schedule if your Calathea Marion (or any other houseplant) is not getting enough light.
• Most importantly, NEVER repot a Calathea Marion in hot weather or when the soil is wet. The roots will be damaged and will die in those conditions. To repot a Calathea Marion, you will need to transplant it to a larger pot.
• If you want to use the same container as it was growing in, then you can continue to reuse the container. But if you want to repot it, then find a larger container that’s at least two times as deep and at least three times as wide (or use a multi-purpose pot) with drainage holes in the bottom that are no more than 1/2 inch deep.
• Fill the old pot with your potting soil and press it down with your thumb so that it is firm.
• Set the new, much larger pot on top of the old container without disturbing the soil in any way, and set the plant in place. It should sit at least one third of the way into the new, larger container.
• Fill in the rest of the new container with soil and press it down firmly with your thumb to firm it.
• Water thoroughly to settle the soil around plant’s roots, being sure to get water into all of the drainage holes.
• Add a layer of potting soil over top the root ball, and then fill in any gaps under the plant with potting soil until it is level with the original pot’s surface.
• Fill the final portion of the new container with potting soil and set the plant back in place.