Is the black leaf calathea easy to care for? How to grow a potted black leaf calathea?
Is the black leaf calathea easy to care for?Here are some tips on caring for the black leaf calathea and the cultivation methods for potted black leaf calathea based on green plant maintenance experience. Let's introduce you to it by our website editor.The black leaf calathea, also known as Guanyin莲 or black leaf Guanyin莲, belongs to the Araceae family, Alocasia genus, and is a perennial herbaceous plant. The leaves of black leaf calathea are unique in shape, with clear veins and beautiful patterns, and are more shade-tolerant. They are very suitable for indoor arrangement. For home cultivation, you can use ceramic pots made of plastic or pottery with a diameter of 16 to 24 cm. To match indoor decoration, you can choose ancient or colored pots. The pots can be placed on a window sill, flower stand, tea table, dining table, or desk with scattered light for long-term appreciation.Black leaf calathea prefers soil rich in humus, loose, breathable, and well-drained. For home cultivation, you can mix the soil with 3 parts garden soil, 4 parts decomposed leaf soil, and 2 parts sand, or 4 parts peat soil, 3 parts decomposed leaf soil, 2 parts sand, and 1 part perlite.Black leaf calathea enjoys fertilizer, with nitrogen fertilizer as the main and an appropriate amount of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer as the supplement. In late spring and summer, which are the peak growing seasons, apply a mixture of 10-liquid fertilizer and an equal amount of 1000 times potassium dihydrogen carbonate solution every 15 days. When the temperature is below 20°C, the plant grows slowly and does not need to be fertilized. When applying liquid fertilizer, use a fine-mouthed spray壶 to slowly water along the pot opening, making sure not to splash fertilizer on the leaves, as it may burn them. If fertilizer accidentally splashes on the leaves, rinse them off with clean water immediately.Black leaf calathea prefers moist soil and a high temperature and humidity growing environment. Except for winter, other seasons are its growing periods. The soil in the pot should be kept moist, and it is also necessary to frequently spray water on the leaves and around the pot to meet the plant's humidity requirements. If the indoor temperature in winter is below 10 degrees Celsius, the plant enters a dormant state, and the soil in the pot should be kept dry but not too dry, as overly moist soil may cause the tubers to rot. If the indoor temperature in winter remains above 18 degrees Celsius, the above-ground part of the plant will not wither and still has ornamental value. In this case, the soil in the pot should be kept moist, and the leaves should be sprayed frequently to increase air humidity. The editor will introduce the management methods for black leaf calathea in different seasons below:1. Spring Management;2. Summer Management;3. Autumn Management;4. Winter Management;In addition, potted black leaf calathea is prone to several diseases, with major pests and diseases including gray mold, leaf spot, anthracnose, tuber rot, and aphids. Preventive measures should be taken to control the occurrence of pests and diseases, such as spraying a 800 times solution of methyl thiophanate every 20 to 30 days.The above is the specific content of whether black leaf calathea is easy to care for and the cultivation methods for potted black leaf calathea. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited without the permission of www.lvzhimi.com!