Calathea bachemiana (Goeppertia bachemiana) Indoor Care, Propagation and Common problems
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Calathea bachemiana also called Goeppertia bachemiana blossoms in medium indirect light, warm and humid conditions and moderately moist, rich, well-drained, all purpose potting mix coupled with monthly feeding in the growing period.
Goeppertia bachemiana is one of the popular Calathea varieties and bears long, blue-green leaves with dark-green stripes and have a leathery feel.
The leaves in Calathea bachemiana are are slightly thicker which makes it one of the hardier Calatheas enabling it to tolerate lower light and temperatures than its relatives.
Botanical name: Calathea bachemiana
Synonym: Goeppertia bachemiana
Family: Marantaceae
Common name: Calathea bachemiana
Origin
Calathea bachemiana is native to the tropical forests in Brazil where it grows as an understory plant and is among the best tropical foliage plants.
Size
Goeppertia bachemiana grows in clumps to a height of about 1-2 feet making it one of the best low-light plants for the limited spaces.
Size
Calathea bachemiana is grown for the pretty foliage as it is unlikely to flower under room conditions.
Related Plants
Goeppertia bachemiana is related to the Marantas, Ctenanthe and Stromanthe which are collectively called Prayer Plants in reference to their curious characteristic of closing their leaves at night.
Toxicity
Calathea bachemiana like other Calathea Plants is non-toxic to both humans and pets as indicated by ASPCA. It is safe to grow indoors.
Where to buy
If you would like to add these spectacular plants to your collection, you can get them online from Etsy (Link to Etsy).
Goeppertia bachemiana Indoor Care
Calathea bachemiana (Goeppertia bachemiana) prospers in medium indirect light (dappled light), average warmth of 16-260C, humidity of 50-60% and moderately moist, rich, well-drained, all purpose potting mix coupled with monthly feeding during the growing period.
Goeppertia bachemiana requires regular pruning to keep it neat and minimize pest and disease infestations. Repotting is only needed when the plant becomes pot-bound. Keep reading fore more on the growing conditions and how to provide them.
Watering
Water Goeppertia bachemiana liberally during the growing season and keep the soil moderately moist at all times. Reduce watering in the cold season as growth is minimal at this time but do not allow the soil to dry out completely.
Use water that is at room temperature to avoid plant shock. The water should also be free of chlorine and flourides as Calatheas are sensitive to chemicals dissolved in water which cause brown leaf tips and edges.
Ensure the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead to root-rot and eventual death of the plant. To reduce fungal infestations like leaf spot diseases, avoid wetting the foliage during watering or water from the bottom instead.
Light Requirements
Calathea bachemiana grows best in medium indirect light. Avoid too bright light as it will cause the leaf colour to fade. Keep it away from direct sunlight as it can cause sunburn on the beautiful leaves.
If the lighting in your home is not adequate, you can use these grow bulbs to supplement it. They are easy to use as you simply need to screw them into your regular lighting fixtures.
For uniform growth of the plant, turn the pot regularly to ensure that the plant receives light on all sides.
Temperature and Humidity
Goeppertia bachemiana prefers average warmth of 16-260C. At temperatures below this range, the plant stops growing while temperatures above this range may cause the plant to die.
Keep it away from drafts as they cause sudden changes in temperature which the plant cannot tolerate and may cause it to die.
Calathea bachemiana requires a humidity of 50% to 60% to thrive. Low humidity causes the plant to develop brown leaf tips and edges. Use a hygrometer to monitor the humidity for the optimum growth of the plant.
To up humidity, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier. Calathea bachemiana can also be grown in a bathroom or other moist areas in the home if there is adequate lighting. Check out these techniques on how to raise humidity for houseplants.
You may also grow the plant in a closed terrarium as a high humidity can be maintained inside a terrarium. On account of its compact size and requirement for high humidity, Calathea bachemiana is one of the best plants for a closed terrarium.
Keep the leaves clean by damp-wiping with a soft cloth to get rid of dust and aslo discourage pest infestations. Make sure that there is good air circulation to minimize fungal diseases.
Fertilizer
Feed Calathea bachemiana with a balanced, liquid fertilizer every 4 weeks through out the growing season. Stop feeding during the cold season as growth is minimal and feeding at this time can lead to fertilizer burn.
Regularly, flush out accumulated chemicals (salts) from the soil by running a stream of water through the soil. Allow the stream of water to run for some time and repeat the process several times.
Potting Mix
The best potting mix for Goeppertia bachemiana should be rich in organic matter and free-draining to prevent it from getting soggy while providing the required nutrients. Aroids potting mixes and allpurpose potting mixes are good for this plant.
Repotting
Repot Goeppertia bachemiana every 1 or 2 years at the beginning of the growing season when it becomes root-bound. Take care not to injure its delicate roots.
Use a pot one size larger than the current one and ensure that the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead to root-rot. Check out these ceramic pots on Amazon.
Before repotting, water the plant thoroughly at least 1 day before to hasten establishment as a well hydrated plant suffers less repotting shock.
If the plant is large and has outgrown its current pot, divide it into several sections and use the splits to propagate new plants. Repotting may cause the leaves to droop but the plant will eventually recover once it takes root; in about 3-4 weeks.
Pruning
Pruning Calathea bachemiana is easy. Remove dead and yellow foliage to maintain the plant neat and attractive as well as discourage pest and disease infestations.
Cut the leaves at the base, where the leaf meets the stalk with a clean sharp knife or pair of pruning scissors to avoid unnecessary injuries abd reduce diseases transmission.
Propagation
Calathea bachemiana (Goeppertia bachemiana) is best propagated by plant division at the beginning of the growing season (in spring) during repotting. Dividing the plant at this time hastens establishment as it is in the active growth phase.
Read more on how to propagate Calathea Plants in 2 easy ways.
Goeppertia bachemiana Problems and Solutions
Calathea bachemiana (Goeppertia bachemiana) growing problems include leaf drop, yellow leaves, plant death, brown leaf tips, pests and diseases among others. Keep reading for more on these problems, their remedies and solutions.
Drooping leaves
Goeppertia bachemiana drooping leaves are due to three possible causes. One of the possible causes is too dry air (low humidity) as it is very sensitive to low air humidity.
To increase humidity, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier. You may also grow the plant in a well-lit bathroom, kitchen, laundry area and other moist areas in the home.
The second possible cause of drooping leaves in Goeppertia bachemiana is incorrect watering; either overwatering (soggy soil) or underwatering.
Water the plant liberally and maintain the soil moderately moist at all times during the growing season. Reduce watering during the cold season but do not allow the soil to dry out completely. Confirm that the soil is free-draining and that the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy. Learn more on how to water indoor plants the correct way.
The third possible cause of drooping leaves in Calathea bachemiana is that the plant is root-bound. This means that the roots have filled the pot and there is very little soil to hold water when you water the plant.
Therefore, there is no water for the plant to take up to the leaves. The leaves loss their stiffness and they droop. Check the bottom of the pot for roots growing through the drainage hole. Repot the plant into a pot one size larger than the current one or divide it into several sections to propagate new plants.
Check out these 10 Causes of Calathea Drooping Leaves and How to Revive It
Plant dying
Goeppertia bachemiana may die due to two possible reasons. One possible reason is root-rot which is brought about by soggy soil.
Take out the plant from its pot and inspect the roots. Brown-black mushy roots indicate root-rot, trim them off and treat the healthy roots with a fungicidal solution.
Disinfect the pot or use a fresh pot to repot the plant in fresh free-draining soil. Do not water the plant and keep it dry for some time before resuming watering.
To prevent root-rot in the future, ensure that the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy. Also, do not overwater the plant during the cold season as growth is minimal at this time. Read more on how to treat root-rot in houseplants.
The second possible reason why Calathea bachemiana is dying is pest infestations. Calathea bachemiana is prone to mealy bugs, aphids, scale insects and spider mites. Isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to the other plants and treat it appropriately for the pests. Learn how to identify and get rid of pests in houseplants.
Read more on these 12 Reasons Why Calathea is Dying and How to Save It
Diseases
Goeppertia bachemiana is also prone to leaf spot disease due to the humid conditions in which it grows. The disease is indicated by brown patches surrounded by a yellow halo. Isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to the other plants and treat it for the leaf spot disease.
Curled, yellowing leaves
Goeppertia bachemiana curled and yellowing leaves are caused by incorrect watering; either overwatering (soggy soil) or underwatering. Overwatering (soggy soil) causes the roots to die due to lack of oxygen in the soil. When the roots die they cannot take up water and therefore the leaves begin to curl, yellow and eventually die.
Underwatering implies that there is too little moisture in the soil and therefore, the plant has no water to take up to the leaves. Thus, the leaves begin to curl, yellow and eventually die if the situation is not corrected.
Water Calathea bachemiana thoroughly and keep the soil moderately moist during the growing season. Decrease watering in the cold season but do not allow the soil to dry out completely. Ascertain that the soil is free-draining and that the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy.
Brown, dry leaf tips and edges
Brown, dry leaf tips and edges in Goeppertia bachemiana are due to four possible causes. One possible cause is dry air (too little humidity). To raise humidity, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or grow the plant in a well-lit bathroom or other moist areas in the home.
The second cause of brown, dry leaf tips and edges in Goeppertia bachemiana which is accompanied by stunted growth is infestation by spider mites due to the air being too dry. Remove the dead growth and raise humidity for the plant to discourage the pest infestations.
The third cause of brown, dry leaf tips and edges in Calathea bachemiana is watering it with hard water. Water it with chlorine-free water only. Calatheas are sensitive to chlorine and other chemicals dissolved in water and it responds with brown leaf tips and edges.
The fourth cause of brown, dry leaf tips and edges in Calathea bachemiana is accumulation of salts or chemicals in the soil. These chemicals may have originated from the water used for watering or from the fertilizers used.
Regularly, flush out accumulated chemicals (salts) from the soil by running a stream of water through the soil. Allow the stream of water to run for some time and repeat the process several times.
Leaves appear washed out
Calathea bachemiana washed out leaves are due to exposure of the plant to hot direct sunlight as it grows best in medium indirect light. Move the plant to a more shaded spot or instal a light curtain to protect it from direct sunlight to prevent its eventual death.
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