Calathea medallion - сompact plant with broad leaves of rich green color covered pink lines radiating from the midrib. This picture brightens with time. The reverse side of the sheet qalat medallion dark pink color. The plant is compact and does not take up much space.

Calathea vidnositsya the family Marantaceae. In the vicinity of the genus Calathea has 130 species of herbaceous plants. Homeland of the plant is South America. In the family room culture and ideas rather large number of species: Calathea decorated (S. Ornata), Mako Calathea (S. makoyana), Calathea striped (S. Zebrina), Calathea saffron (C. crocata), Calathea Varshevich (S. warschtwiczii) and Calathea Leopard (S. leopardiana) in addition, the room was able viroschuyut Sometimes less known, Ale least ornamental species: Calathea Lubbersa (S. tubbersii), Calathea pinkish (S. roseopicta) and Calathea excellent (S. lancifolla).

Calathea is a perennial herbaceous plant with erect or vilyahayuchimi hilochkami. The leaves of the plant appears straight from the earth at high and sturdy stalks. Very large leaves have an elongated Calathea - oval shape. Plant height is 50-80 cm priblizno Listkovi plate plant and sufficiently narrow, with a pointed top edge they have oval, heart-shaped or eliptichnu. Calathea Leaves Can Buti glossy or matte, smooth or pubescent, mottled or monotonous, depending on the species.

Lighting and location. Calathea loves bright ambient light can penumbra, but it does not tolerate direct sun. Grows best in western windows. In winter you can keep at the south window. With a lack of light is lost mottled color of leaves, they are green.

Address for Calathea choose this, where there is no draft.

Temperature. Calathea - heat-loving plant. It requires a constant temperature of 20-22 °C. In winter the temperature should not be below 18 °C. It is impossible to put on a cold windowsill. Temperature extremes harmful for the plants. That is why I do not recommend Kalat summer move to the balcony. The difference is day and night temperatures adversely affect the plant.

Humidity. Humidity should be high. To increase the humidity can be sprayed over Calathea warm boiled boiled water from the sprayer, but when hit drops on leaf spots may remain. It is useful to place the pot in a pan with damp sphagnum or expanded clay.

Irrigation. Watering Kalat need to defend lukewarm water. At a constant temperature even watering is the same in both winter and summer. But at lower winter temperatures reduce watering.

Feeding. Spring and summer to feed liquid fertilizer for decorative foliage plants in half the concentration of said on the package once every two weeks. In winter, the concentration of fertilizer less. You can simply add each irrigation the water a few drops of fertilizer.

Transplantation. Kalat desirable transplant each year in early spring. Pot opt broad but not deep, so that the root system of the plant surface. Be sure to drain the pot.

Soil. The soil has to be acidic (pH 6). Suitable mixture of leaf, peat and sand (2:1:1), you can make a mixture of leaf, humus earth, peat and sand (1:1:1:0,5) or use ready-ground store for marantovyh for Saintpaulia. It is advisable to add the substrate pounded charcoal, it protects the roots from rotting. Useful add coconut fiber for loosening.

Reproduction. Razmnozhayut dividing the bush during transplantation. Rhizomes in Kalat branch and are easily divided so that each tuber was 2-3 good roots and a few leaves. For the period of adaptation after transplantation was successful, it is recommended to keep the plant in a warm place, covered loosely -associated head with a plastic bag until it will appear with the young leaves.

Pests. Dangerous for red spider mites Calathea, thrips, quadraspidiotus perniciosus. The plant should be sprayed with insecticide.

- calathea leaves turn yellow (rust), dry - maybe sunburn or too dry air, the other reason - within or cold;

- the brown tips of leaves - problems with roots, they are too wet or cold;

- calathea curled leaves - too dry and hot;

- leaves mouth yaly under normal irrigation - cold or overflow, which decayed roots;

- calathea leaves lose color - if lighter - an excess of sunlight simply by greenery - lack of light.