Calathea leopardina are among those beautiful plants. Which people like to keep in their homes because the patterns of its leaves are quite attractive. If you have this plant in your home. So you can learn about the care and guide of Calathea leopardina through this article. And in the last, you will also get a video that will clear all your dots. I hope that after reading the entire article, your plant does not have any kind of problem.
Quick Details:
| Common names | Calathea Leopardina, Shadow Plant, |
| Origin | Tropical Latin America |
| Family Name | Marantaceae |
| Plant height 2 Feet | 2 - 2.5 Feet |
| Hardiness zone | 9-11 |
| Botanical name | Goeppertia Concinna |
| Indoor or Outdoor plant | Both |
| Temperature | 65°F-85°F |
| Flower Color | White |
| Sunlight | Indirect or filtered sunlight |
| Water | When the top inch of soil is dry |
| Humidity | High humidity |
| Toxicity | Not toxic for humans or animals |
| Soil | Well-draining soil |
Calathea leopardina: Details
Calathea leopardina is an indoor plant that is native to South America. It's very easy to see. Its leaves work to make it special. Its leaves are spear-shaped. The length of which ranges from 5 to 6. And the width can be from 2 to 3 inches. The color of the leaves is green and there is a dark green or purple mark on it. Which makes its leaves bold.
Likes high humidity very much. You can keep it as a decorative bastu in your home or office. They are a part of the Marantaceae family. If it is taken care of properly, this plant can grow up to 2 - 2.5 feet. And by watering at the right time, its leaves will never turn yellow and this plant will live for years and look beautiful.
Also Read: Calathea Concinna Pro Tips For care
When it is night, its leaves turn automatically. And when it is morning, its leaves automatically become straight again and this process happens every day. And for this reason this plant is known as "prayer plant". This plant also has flowers that are yellow in color. But this flower has only been seen in jaglo. These flowers barely bloom inside the house.
How to take care of a Calathea leopardina?
Sunlight
Calathea leopardina likes very bright, but indirect sunlight. If filtered light falls on the plant regularly, then there is no harm to the plant. Another feature is that you can keep it in direct sunlight. But in any way, excessive or low amount of light can cause problems to the plant.
If the window of your room is west or east, then it can be dangerous to keep the plant there. Make sure the plant is placed a few feet away from the north south window.
Water
The plant needs balanced watering. Always check the humidity before watering. Because there can be a lot of problems due to excessive humidity. The first of which is the decay in the roots. So first put your finger 1 to 2 inches in the soil and see if you feel dry soil. So you can add water.
After giving water, check that the water is not accumulating in the pot. Always choose a pot that has some small drainage holes so that water can come out.
Fertilizers
If you use fertilizers for Calathea leopardina, it can significantly increase its growth. But it can sometimes become a threat to the plant and its side effects can also be seen, in which irritation and browning can be seen in the leaves of the plant.
Make sure that whenever you are using compost, it is slightly away from the root of the plant. The best time to fertilize Calathea leopardina is in the spring and summer seasons.
Humidity
This plant likes moisture up to 70 - 75%. Keep in mind that moisture does not reach less than 30%, if this happens, the plant will suffer a big setback and its leaves will start burning. In such a situation, you can use a humidifier.
To maintain moisture in the plant, you can choose such a place in the house where there is always moisture such as bathroom etc. Apart from this, you can keep a tray filled with water and small leaves near the plant, this is also an effective way to maintain moisture.Â
Temperature
The most important part of caring for Calathea leopardina is to keep its temperature constant. The best temperature is 70 and 85 °F. If the temperature drops below 60°F by mistake, its leaves start losing their color. And the color of the leaves becomes brown. Growth stops completely. And when the temperature goes above 90 °F, the leaves will start wilting and the plant may suffer a major setback.
Soil
When selecting the soil, make sure that it has the ability to absorb water. The plant prefers drainage and low-density soil. By using too dense soil, the water will not be able to reach the roots.
When making the mixture, the pH value of the soil is 6.5, which will see good growth in the plant. The mixture contains 50% of potting soil and the remaining 20% orchid bark, 20% active charcoal, 10% perlite mixture is considered the most ideal. If the mixture of all these is correct, then there will be no problem of drainage in the soil and moisture will always remain in the roots of the plant.
Toxicity
There is no toxicity in Calathea leopardina. This will not harm any member of your household. And not that the animal is in danger.
Pruning
When some leaves of the plant are yellow, brown or bent down, then you can cut those leaves. Be careful not to use your hands when you cut the leaves. Always use a cutter or scissor.
Re-Potting
For normal growth, you should do re-potting every one or two years. When you feel that the root of the plant is coming out of the pot. So at this time you should choose a large pot (which has good cheek clearance facility) and plant the plant. Spring is best for re-potting the plant.
 Also Read: Save the Dying Calethea Plant with These 7 TipsÂ
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