Keeping plants such as Calathea roseopicta is a mutually beneficial exchange between owner and plant. The owner provides Calathea care, nutrients, water and a properly-lit environment for the plant to thrive and the plant provides the owner with reduced stress, boosted mental state and a relaxing home environment. That’s why it’s important to know how to care for a Calathea!
Much like other houseplants, Calathea care is focused on correct hydration, temperature, airflow and nutrition. There are, however, some unique considerations to the Calathea roseopicta. Calatheas have decorative foliage with a wide and varied range of leaf patterns depending on species, subspecies and variants. Dozens of species fill the Calathea genus and Calathea roseopicta is among the most popular of these. Even within the Calathea roseopicta species, there are several varieties with distinct features.
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The Calathea roseopicta ‘Dottie’ is deep purple, while the Calathea roseopicta ‘Medallion’ have ornately patterned green tops. All Calathea roseopicta have a feathered border on the circumference of the leaf. The Calathea roseopicta Dottie variety displays pink feathering whereas the Calathea roseopicta Medallion shows pale green and has other markings that are very similar.
Calathea roseopicta benefit from regular misting for extra moisture and nutrition and regular leaf-dusting to remove the build-up of dust pulled out of the air by the leaves of the plant. Calathea roseopicta are thought to reduce stress, improve mood and boost mental clarity - the benefits of Calathea care!
Calathea roseopicta have extensive, high-surface-area leaves that are thought to be excellent air purifiers, both from the trapping dust out of circulation and in their respiratory-photosynthetic cycle that produces oxygen and scrubs air toxins. A room full of Calathea roseopictas is a refreshing room to sleep in and be sure of waking bright and refreshed!
How To Care For A Calathea Roseopicta?
Calathea roseopictas are native to the rainforest. Indirect light and a warm, humid environment are best to help Calathea roseopictas grow quickly and strong as part of a full Calathea care program. Having said this, Calathea roseopicta is a reasonably versatile plant and adaptable plant that can, with the right Calathea care, flourish in a variety of conditions.
LIGHT
In their natural habitat, on the rainforest floor under dense canopy layers blocking out the majority of the sunlight, Calathea roseopicta don’t get a lot of direct sunlight. That said, they are not true low-light plants and prefer filtered, indirect and shaded sunlight, which they need a fair amount of to keep their appealing patterns vibrant.
A shaded spot in a bright room is perfect for Calathea roseopicta - on a side table or shelf rather than a windowsill.
HUMIDITY
Calathea roseopicta is a native plant of Central and South America. Being rainforest-dwellers they naturally thrive in a hot, wet environment. In a dry home, regular misting in the mornings, when the water can evaporate throughout the day, will create the perfect conditions for Calathea roseopicta. The psychological benefits of this kind of regular plant care of indoor plants, called active plant care, are well-established. Active Calathea care is very rewarding!
WATER
Slightly moist soil, though not so moist as to rot the roots, is preferable for Calathea roseopicta. Water as soon as the top inch of soil is dry to the touch of a finger.
When watering, lift the plant from its pot and water until water flows from the drainage holes. Cease watering at this point and wait until the drainage holes are no longer producing any liquid, then return the plant to its pot.
When watering several plants at once, doing so in a bathtub makes the process easier and less wasteful. Use water that has been left out overnight or freshly collected rainwater for best results.
How Does the Calathea Roseopitca Take Care of You?
Practising active plant care by living with and tending to your house plants helps to foster a relationship with the natural world and its wonders. This relationship is thought to be hugely beneficial for the health of the mind and the body.
As a houseplant, Calathea roseopicta will reward your care and attention by improving the quality of the air you’re breathing (trapping dust and scrubbing toxins while pumping out freshly photosynthesised oxygen).
As well as this, Calathea care can induce feelings of calmness and alertness.
HOW DOES THIS WORK?
Calathea roseopicta is thought to improve air quality in three ways:
- Large, textured leaves with large surface areas covered in tiny pores intaking carbon dioxide for photosynthesis into oxygen are thought to make Calathea roseopicta extremely efficient oxygenators.
- Waxy, extensive leaf systems are great at capturing and trapping dust in the air, removing it from circulation and preventing it from reaching your lungs! Dust the leaves down regularly to keep your Calathea roseopicta healthy and its air-scrubbing leaves at their most effective.
- Lightly misted once per weak Calatheas roseopicta will humidify the air, creating their own preferred conditions and assisting their human keeper with skin and lung conditions related to dry air!
A relationship with nature is known to be beneficial to human health. While we do not always understand why a particular element of nature - certain naturally occurring fractal patterns empowering us to concentrate, for example - and we usually accept that the reasoning behind our findings with regards to the psychological impact of nature and plant life is buried deep in our evolutionary history.
Whatever the specific benefits of certain plants, patterns and sensations of nature, the global benefits of plant life in the home are thought to be reduced stress, compassion for the self and others and a heightened sense of general wellbeing. Calathea roseopicta are perfect in this role as they require tender care and attention to be kept moist, warm and happy.
Beautiful, rewarding, restorative Calathea roseopicta will reward your investment many times over. We hope this guide has given you enough to get started!