Calathea Insignis Care

Light: The vibrant colours on the leaves will be more pronounced if you give the plant bright light, but not direct sunlight. Can tolerate low light.

Water: Be careful about over watering it. You do not want the plant sitting in water so adequate drainage is a must. Wait until the soil is dry about 2cm down to water. If you get spot developing on the leaves then it may be caused by mineral build up from tap water. You should switch to distilled water if possible and flush the soil.

Fertilizer: Calathea don’t require much fertilizer. They will appreciate any balanced fertilizer during periods of growth or flowering, during spring and summer.

Temperature: Enjoys higher temperatures like 18c to 30c. Don’t let it get below 15c too much.

Humidity: Your Calathea really enjoys high humidity environments. You can increase the humidity by spraying the plant with water (only if it's warm enough for the water to evaporate by the end of the day, don’t let the leaves stay wet too long) or placing a pebble tray below the plant filled with water. 

Pests: Spider mites, scale, Mealy Bugs and Aphids are common house plant pests that can be a problem. These can be removed by spraying with neem oil and regularly wiping the leaves.

Diseases:Prone to foliar fungal problems. Keep the leaves dry as much as possible. If you see yellowing, black, mushiness or falling apart stems then you may have root rot from overwatering.

Soil: A good soil that retains water but drains well is advised. Bark can help retain water or African Violet soil works well.

Pot Size: Rarely need repotting.

Pruning: Remove browning or crispy leaves immediately.

Propagation: Calathea can be propagated via plant division.

Poisonous Plant Info: Non Toxic houseplant, probably don't eat too much of it still.