Growing Calatheas can be a super rewarding and beautiful experience, but they do need a bit of extra attention. A key part of caring for these plants is getting why proper humidity levels are so important and how it impacts them. If you want to learn more about the perfect environment needed to keep your calathea healthy and vibrant, then this post is for you!
In this article, we’re going to dive into why getting the right level of humidity for calathea plants is super important, as well as some easy tips on how to keep them at a perfect wetness. So whether you’re new to caring for Calatheas or simply want a refresher on the top tips when it comes to Calathea humidity this post has got you covered!
Importance of humidity for Calathea
Calathea plants, native to tropical South and Central America, are affected by humidity. As humidity is a key factor in the health of your Calathea plant, it is important to maintain an environment that can provide proper humidity levels for them.
Low humidity will cause the leaves of Calatheas to curl and may cause brown spots on their leaves. On the other hand, too much humidity can cause fungus problems with the plant.
Humidity is an important factor in keeping a happy Calathea plant, so it is essential to properly manage humidity levels. By maintaining humidity levels at the ideal range of 60-70%, taking steps to increase humidity when needed, and closely monitoring humidity levels over time, you can ensure your Calathea plant stays healthy for a long time.
Ideal humidity level for Calathea
Calathea is a tropical plant that thrives in moist surroundings. The perfect dampness level is key for it growing and being well.
Explanation of the ideal humidity level
The ideal humidity level can range from 50-70% for some plants, 60-80% for others, and up to 90% in some tropical climates. However, a good baseline to aim for is around 60%. The key is don’t let the humidity drop below the least needed for your particular Calathea species or cultivar.
Effects of low humidity on Calathea
Low humidity levels can cause Calatheas to experience a range of problems, such as droopy leaves, yellow leaves, or even death.
The leaf cells start to die off when the relative humidity is too low for your Calathea, which results in thin brown patches on the foliage. Because they are the thinnest areas, the edges of the leaves typically dry out the quickest. Frequently, a leaf will appear mostly healthy with the exception of a slim, brown edge around the margins.
The margins of the leaves may also curl in, simulating a scroll being rolled up. Slow or stopped growth could be a sign that your plant isn’t getting enough humidity to live its best life.
You may get a pretty good hint of the amount of moisture in the air by buying a low-cost hygrometer from a garden center or internet retailer.
Or you can use your finger to examine the top two inches of soil for dried up. . For deeper pots, the finger test isn’t as accurate as a wooden probe, but it works just fine for small to medium-sized Calatheas.
The ideal approach to time your watering routine is to check the soil at the bottom of the plant’s pot every couple days using a wooden skewer. Water should only be applied when the skewer tip is slightly wet.
Effects of high humidity on Calathea
Humidity really matters for Calathea plants because it helps their leaves stay plump and vibrant. Without high humidity, the leaves of a Calathea can get all dried up and start to curl.
Calathea plants, famous for their awesome leaves and unique patterns, can be picky about surroundings, especially humidity levels. Humidity can have good and bad impacts on Calathea plants.
On one hand, high humidity can help keep the plant’s leaves moist and prevent them from drying out, which is important for their overall health. It can also promote lush growth and help the plant to maintain its vibrant colors.
However, on the other hand, super high humidity can lead to issues like root rot, fungal growth, and bug problems. This can ultimately damage or even kill the plant.
To keep things balanced, it’s important to keep an eye on the humidity levels around your Calathea plant and change things up as needed, like making sure there’s enough airflow and not overwatering too much.
Methods to increase Calathea humidity
There are methods to boost your Calathea’s humidity, such as:
Use of a humidifier
A humidifier is a great tool to up your Calathea’s humidity. Investing in a good quality humidifier can boost the room’s moisture, making it easier to keep up the humidity that’s super important for Calathea’s health. Be sure to have the right size and type of humidifier for your space, and keep it clean and working.
The use of a humidifier is the most effective way to up Calathea humidity. It’s important to make sure that the humidifier has enough power and is regularly checked so that it can increase the humidity in your home.
If you’ve only got one or two tropical plants in the room, you can buy little humidifiers that will up the humidity in a limited space.
Please be careful not to aim the humidifier’s vents at your plants as this can cause problems like sudden temperature changes, which many plants hate.
Calatheas are sensitive to heat, cold, and dry air, so being able to adjust the temperature of the vapor it sends out is handy, like its name suggests. It’s great to be able to warm up your tropical beauties while giving them moisture, because winter is often when you need more humidity the most.
Misting
Misting is another easy, cost-effective way to up Calathea humidity. Make sure to mist the plants daily and often in dry climates or during winter months.
Using a spray bottle filled with distilled water regularly (about every 2-3 days). This will boost humidity levels right around your Calathea, though it’s not as effective as a humidifier.
Spritzing your plant every day will make it less inviting for spider mites.
Misting could also make it easier to keep an eye on the state of the plant’s soil, stems, and leaves, making it easier to spot any problems before they get too serious.
We advise using warm water and your spray bottle’s smallest droplet setting if you’re going to mist.
However, if you mist plants too much it may also draw fungal infections and germs.
Pebble trays
You can use pebble trays filled with water and put them near the plant. This will up the humidity right around your plant, and give it an extra bit of moisture that your Calathea can soak up through its leaves.
The cheap, easy, and often pretty pebble tray is a great way to give one big plant or several smaller ones more humidity.
You can make a pebble tray from almost any flat dish, like a shallow pan or tray. Put gravel, nice rocks, or anything similar in it. Then fill the tray with water, but avoid drowning the soil as this could result in water leaking into the pot’s drainage holes and over-saturating the soil.
Place your Calathea’s pot on top of the rocks after that. The stones keep the pot’s bottom above the water so the water will slowly evaporate and reach the plant’s leaves.
When the water starts to go down, top it up.
Although you may want to let the water sit outside overnight before the chlorine and fluoride gases clear, using tap water in a pebble tray is completely safe.
Grouping plants together
Calatheas do well in rainforests with loads of different plants. Each plant adds a bit to the overall moisture as it sucks up water from the soil and releases it through its leaf. It helps any other plants nearby.
You can also boost the moisture around your Calathea by grouping plants together and putting them in a bathroom or kitchen area since these areas usually have higher moisture levels.
Their leaves shouldn’t be so close to those of other plants that they touch. They can breathe better if they have some space.
When adding a plant to your indoor jungle, be sure to carefully check it for any signs of a bug problem. Spider mites, for example, can quickly spread across your collection. If you do find pests on a plant, keep it away from the others until you’re sure the infestation has been wiped out.
Placing plants in a bathroom or kitchen
By putting your Calathea in the perfect spot, you can lessen the work needed to keep it damp.
A bathroom is a common choice. They are usually among the most humid rooms in the house since they’re often showered with steam and are tiled with materials that hold moisture well.
But they don’t always have enough light to keep a Calathea happy; to do well, these plants need a lot of strong, indirect light. But, if your bathroom has a big window with frosted glass on the south side, let’s say, it would be the perfect spot for your peacock plant.
Bathrooms usually have less moisture and better lighting than kitchens. If you let your Calathea keep you company while you cook, it can be happy.
Think about your system for heating and cooling as well. Because of how dry the air from heaters and air conditioners is, putting a Calathea close to one might stop it from getting the moisture it needs.
Other ways to maintain humidity levels
Keeping the air moist in your home or office is key to making a healthy environment and helping growth of plants. There are a few ways to keep the air moist, such as regular watering, changing the temp, and keeping an eye on soil wetness.
Consistent watering
Watering regularly is key to maintaining soil moisture levels, which then changes the air’s moisture. Watering too much can lead to high moisture levels, while not watering enough can result in low moisture levels.
Plants that are watered regularly can help to keep a more stable environment and stop changes in moisture levels.
Temperature control
Second, changing the temp of a room or area can change air moisture levels. Warmer temperatures tend to increase relative humidity, while cooler temperatures lower it.
Using a thermometer to watch the temp and tweaking things as needed can help to maintain a more stable environment for the plant.
Soil moisture
Checking on soil wetness can help in keeping the right moisture levels. If the soil is too dry, it will cause the air around it to become drier too. On the other hand, if the soil is too moist, it will add to an increase in humidity.
Calathea Humidity FAQs
Q: Do Calatheas like humidity?
A: Yes, Calatheas prefer more moisture in the air. Calatheas will do well in places where the air is moist.
Q: What happens if I don’t provide enough humidity for my Calathea?
A: If you don’t provide enough moisture for your Calathea, the leaves will start to curl up, go yellow or brown, and get dry. Plus, it may cause slowed growth in the plant which can be tough to reverse. It’s best to provide your Calathea with a moist environment so that it can do well and reach its full potential.
Q: What other plants do well in high humidity environments?
A: Other plants that do well in really damp settings include ferns, prayer plants, and ivy. All three of these plants require similar looking after as Calatheas, so they make great companions.
Q: What is the best way to water my Calathea?
A: It’s important to use clean water when watering your Calathea as tap water can have chemicals that may be harmful to the plant. You should also avoid watering too much as this can cause the roots to go bad which can be tough to reverse. Instead, you should water your plant when the top inch of soil is dry and let it dry out fully before putting the pot back in its saucer. Following these simple steps will help you look after it as well as you can.
Q: What other steps can I take to help increase humidity levels?
A: Besides using a humidifier or putting your Calathea pot on a humidity tray, you can help keep high moisture by misting the leaves of your plant regularly with room-temperature water. It’s also recommended to group plants together, as this will help increase the moisture levels around them.
Conclusion
After learning more about the needs of Calatheas, it’s clear that having enough air moisture matters a lot for these lush beauties. With the right care and maintenance of their unique needs, your Calatheas will brighten any indoor space with their bright leaves while providing clean air and better health for you and your family.
Now that you know everything about Calathea moisture needs, go ahead and express yourself through plant life and make sure that your Calatheas live the dream. If you have more questions about Calathea Humidity, feel free to reach out to FamiPlants for help.
