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If you like calathea plants, you probably have them or Have you seen Calathea roseopicta? Do you know what it is? And what care do you need?

Although they may seem like easy-care plants to keep indoors, they are a bit complicated to maintain. For this reason, we are leaving the Calathea roseopicta file here so that you have no problem and know everything you need to know to maintain it. Shall we get started?

What does Calathea roseopicta look like?

Calathea Roseopicta is also known as the Calatea rose or Calatea rose. It comes from South America, specifically from northern Brazil. It lives in tropical forests, so this may already indicate that when it comes to having it in the house, it will need high humidity and humid soil, but very little sun.

This calathea can reach 50 centimeters in height. But maybe that’s not the most critical thing, but the huge hours you can spend. They will be green with a pink stripe around the leaf and a line in the middle. From the back it will be completely pink. Now, when the leaf is youthful and growing, it will have a green tint that will darken until the leaves turn black, in adulthood.

It is true that in its natural environment it can bloom, although it is not as simple as it may seem. The problem is that indoors it is completely impossible. Nevertheless, you should know that it is a plant whose flower is not at all brilliant and takes a lot of energy, so some people prefer it not to bloom so as not to worsen their health. OR They even cut it off before the flower spike gets massive enough.

Calathea roseopicta care

Now that you know more about Calathea roseopicta, How about we tell you about the special care you will need to provide? There are not many and they will be pretty much the same as with any other plant. But knowing them and using them will make the difference between a robust plant or not.

location and temperature

Let’s start with the best place to keep it and that will undoubtedly be indoors. We don’t mean to say that you can’t keep it outside, yes you can, but you will need to provide it with conditions similar to those in its natural habitat. That means high humidity, shade, constant watering, temperature…

This is why, It is easier to maintain all these conditions at home.. Of course, at home, where? Well, you should start by placing it in a place that receives delicate, but not direct sun. In its natural habitat, it never receives sun because the immense trees shade it, so here you should do the same (don’t place it in direct sun).

In fact, if you do this, you will notice that the leaves burn easily (even though they are almost black).

As for the temperature, Calathea roseopicta cannot fall below 16ºC because then it suffers. In fact, it is normal that if this happens, the plant will start to have curled and burnt leaves, that it will stop growing and the leaves will desiccated out. If this happens, try to find the cause quickly, otherwise you will end up losing it.

Although we have already warned you that if this happens and you find a suitable spot for it, the best solution is to leave it alone and wait, as it can sometimes sprout again (as long as you don’t water it too much).

Subsoil

The best soil for Calathea roseopicta is one that provides adequate moisture. Therefore, you can make a mixture with universal substrate, peat or coconut fiber and perlite to provide it with all the nutrients and conditions it needs. Remember that if it washes out of the drainage holes very quickly when watering, it is best to water it more often (but of course not too much).

Irrigation

Watering is one of the most “specific” care for Calathea roseopicta. And it is there that you can fail the most, and with it, lose the plant. You see, this plant loves to be soggy. However, it does not like puddles or excess water.

So when it comes to watering, you first have to look at the soil to know if it’s doing well or not. It’s better to be a little thirsty than to waste it, because it’s very dainty and you’ll lose it.

Experts recommend watering only when half of the soil is desiccated. And do this until the water starts to flow out of the holes in the pot. At that point, stop and wait about five minutes for the plant to finish throwing water out and/or absorbing water from the pot. Then remove it.

Humidity

Almost more critical than watering is moisture. And that is that this plant needs constant humidity in the leaves to have that attractive look. Generally, the humidity you need will be around 60%.

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In spring and summer, it is recommended to add fertilizer to the irrigation water at least once a month. Of course, you should not administer the entire dose, but only half of it.

pruning

Although Calathea roseopicta is not a plant that requires pruningYes, you need to remember to remove wilted, diseased, or delicate leaves before they become attractive to pests or spoil the appearance of your plant.

Plagues and diseases

Calathea roseopicta, like other Calathea species, can have problems with pests, especially aphids, spider mites and mealybugs. They will attack if the ambient humidity is not adequate. Therefore, it is necessary to eliminate its boost.

When it comes to diseases, the biggest problem is excess water, which causes the plant to rot.

Multiplication

Propagation of Calathea roseopicta is almost always done by dividing the plant, i.e. separating several groups so that they grow with roots and are planted individually.

We can tell you a little more about Calathea roseopicta. If you take good care of it, you will enjoy these peculiar leaves, and it will grow gradually. Do you dare to have it?