How to Grow and Care for Calathea bachemiana (Goeppertia bachemiana) Indoors

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Botanical name: Calathea bachemiana
Synonym: Goeppertia bachemiana
Family: Marantaceae
Common name: Calathea bachemiana

Description

Calathea bachemiana (Goeppertia bachemiana) is one of the hardier Calathea plants whose leaves are slightly thicker and have a leathery feel as opposed to other Calatheas.

The leaves in Calathea bachemiana are long, blue-green with dark-green stripes.

Calathea bachemiana can grow in lower light and can tolerate lower temperatures than its relatives.

However, like other Calatheas, Calathea bachemiana has a high affinity for warm, humid conditions for it to thrive.

Size and Flower

Calathea bachemiana grows in clumps to a height of about 1-2 ft. The plant is grown for the pretty foliage as it is unlikely to flower under room conditions.

Origin

Calathea bachemiana (Goeppertia bachemiana) is native to the tropical forests in Brazil where it grows as an understory plant.

Related Plants

Calathea bachemiana (Goeppertia bachemiana) is closely 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 (Goeppertia 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.

Buy Calathea Online from Etsy Shops

Calathea bachemiana Care Indoors

Calathea bachemiana (Goeppertia bachemiana) blossoms in medium, indirect light, warm and humid conditions and moderately moist, rich, well-drained soil 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 Calathea 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 away from direct sunlight as it can scorch the leaves resulting in unsightly brown marks.

Avoid too bright light as it will cause the leaf colour to fade. Also, keep the plant away from direct sunlight as it can cause sunburn on the beautiful leaves.

For uniform growth of the plant, turn the pot regularly to ensure that the plant receives light on all sides.

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.

Temperature and Humidity

Calathea bachemiana prefers average warmth with a minimum of 15⁰C and a maximum of 26⁰C. At temperatures below this range, the plant stops growing while temperatures above this range may cause the plant to die.

Keep the plant away from draughts as they cause sudden changes in temperature which the plant cannot tolerate and may cause it to die.

Calathea bachemiana requires high humidity (50% to 80%) inorder 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 the bathroom or other moist areas in the home where humidity is high if there is adequate lighting. Check out these techniques on how to raise humidity for houseplants.

You can also grow Calathea bachemiana in a terrarium as a high humidity can be maintained inside a terrarium.

Keep the leaves clean by damp-wiping with a soft cloth to get rid of dust and aslo discourage pest infestations.

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 Calathea bachemiana should be rich in organic matter and free-draining to prevent it from getting soggy while providing the required nutrients. Buy quality Calathea potting medium from Etsy.

Repotting

Repot Calathea bachemiana every 1 or 2 years at the beginning of the growing season or 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 and eventual death of the plant. Check out these Ceramic Plant Pots with Drainage Holes and Saucer 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 propagated by plant division at the beginning of the growing season during repotting.

How to propagate Calathea bachemiana by plant division

Water the Calathea bachemiana thoroughly at least 1 day before to make it easier to divide and also hasten establishment. A well hydrated plant suffers less shock and takes a shorter time to take root.

Take the plant out of its pot and divide it into several sections. Ensure each sections has adequate roots and at least 2-3 stems.

Select a 6 or 8 in. pot and ensure that the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead to rotting.

Fill the pot with Calathea potting medium and make a hole in the center of the pot. Ensure that the hole is slightly wider than the root base of the section.

Place the section in the previously made hole and lightly firm the soil around the base while taking care not to bury it too deep; maintain the section at the same soil level it was in the previous pot.

Liberally water the soil until water comes out through the drainage holes. Cover the pots with clear polythene to create a greenhouse effect and maintain warm humid conditions which hasten establishment of the plants.

Position the pots in a warm, well-lit place until new growth has emerged on the sections.

Gradually remove the polythene over a period of two weeks to acclimatize the new plants.

Maintain the soil moist until the new Goeppertia bachemiana plants are well established after which you can begin routine care.

Calathea 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. Continue reading for more on these problems, their remedies and solutions.

Drooping leaves

Calathea bachemiana drooping leaves are due to three possible causes. One of the possible causes is too dry air (low humidity).

Calathea bachemiana is very sensitive to low air humidity. Use a hygrometer to monitor the humidity and maintain it at 50%-80% for optimum growth of the plant.

To increase humidity, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier. Check out on these techniques on how to raise humidity for houseplants.

Calathea bachemiana can also be grown in a terrarium where a high humidity can easily be maintained.

The second possible cause of drooping leaves in Calathea 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.

Also, ensure that the soil is free-draining and that the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy.

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.

Plant dying

Calathea 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. Read more on how to treat root-rot in houseplants.

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.

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 houseplants and treat it appropriately for the pests. Read on how to identify and get rid of pests in houseplants.

Curled, yellowing leaves

Calathea 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.

Also, 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 Calathea bachemiana are due to four possible causes. One possible cause is dry air (too little humidity).

Calathea bachemiana requires a humid environment inorder to thrive. To raise humidity, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier.

The plant can also be grown in the bathroom or other moist areas in the home where humidity is high if the lighting is enough.

Calathea bachemiana is also ideal for a terrarium as a high humidity can be maintained in a terrarium.

The second cause of brown, dry leaf tips and edges in Calathea bachemiana which is accompanied by stunted growth is infestation by spider mites due to the air being too dry (low humidity).

Remove the dead growth and raise humidity for the plant (as outlined above) 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 like rain water.

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 away from direct sunshine.

Move the plant to a more shaded spot or instal a light curtain to protect it from direct sunlight to prevent its eventual death.

Diseases

Apart from root-rot disease, Calathea 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 houseplants and treat it appropriately for the leaf spot disease.

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