Calathea veitchiana (Calathea Medallion) Indoor Care, Propagation, Problems and Solutions


Calathea Medallion, Calathea veitchiana

Botanical name: Calathea veitchiana
Synonym: Goeppertia veitchiana
Family: Marantaceae
Common name: Calathea Medallion

Description

Calathea veitchiana or Calathea Medallion Plant is one of the easy-care Calathea plants which bears large, beautifully patterned leaves with purple undersides.

The top of the leaves can be green or purple with very magnificent patterns which make this plant ideal for adding a splash of color in any houseplant collection.

Size and Flower

Calathea Medallion Plant grows to a height of about 2-3 ft and about 1-2 ft wide. The plant is not grown for the flower and is unlikely to flower under room conditions.

Origin

Calathea veitchiana is native to the tropical forests in Ecuador where it grows as an understory plant.

Toxicity

Calathea Medallion Plant (Calathea veitchiana) like other Calathea Plants is non-toxic to both humans and pets as indicated by ASPCA. It is safe to grow indoors.

Related Plants

Calathea Medallion Plant 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.

Where to buy

If you would like to add Calathea Medallion to your collection. Buy Calathea veitchiana online from Etsy.

Calathea Medallion, Calathea veitchiana

Calathea veitchiana Care Indoors

Calathea Medallion Plant (Calathea veitchiana) prefers medium to bright, indirect light, warm and humid conditions and moderately moist, fertile, well-drained soil coupled with monthly feeding during the growing season.

Calathea veitchiana requires repotting only when the plant becomes pot-bound. Pruning is necessary to keep it neat and also discourage pest and disease infestations. Keep reading for more on the growing conditions and how to achieve them.

Temperature and Humidity

Calathea Medallion Plant prefers average warmth with a minimum of 150C and a maximum of 280C. At temperatures below this range, the plant stops growing while temperatures above this range may cause the plant to die.

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

Calathea Medallion Plant requires high humidity (50% to 80%) inorder to thrive. Low humidity causes the plant to develop brown leaf tips and edges.

To elevate humidity, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier.

Calathea veitchiana can also be grown in the bathroom and other moist areas in the home where humidity is high if there is adequate lighting.

It can also be grown 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 as well as discourage pest and disease infestations.

Light Requirements

Calathea Medallion Plant grows best in medium to bright, indirect light away from direct sunlight.

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.

Calathea veitchiana can also be grown under a grow light where the natural lighting is not adequate.

Watering

Water Calathea Medallion Plant liberally and allow the top 2-3 in. of soil to dry out between waterings to keep the soil moderately moist during the growing season.

Decrease 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 shocking this tropical plant.

Only water with water that is free of chlorine and flourides as Calathea veitchiana is 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 minimize fungal infestations like leaf spot diseases, avoid wetting the foliage during watering or water from the bottom instead.

Fertilizer

Feed Calathea Medallion Plant with a balanced, liquid fertilizer every 4 weeks during the growing season to encourage a lush growth.

Do not feed during the cold season as growth is minimal and feeding at this time can lead to fertilizer burn.

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 Medium

The best potting medium for Calathea Medallion Plant 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 online from Etsy.

Repotting

Repot Calathea Medallion Plant every 2-3 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.

Before repotting, water the plant thoroughly at least one day before to hasten establishment; a well hydrated plant suffers less repotting shock and takes a shorter time to take root.

Divide a large plant into several sections and use the splits to propagate new plants.

Repotting may cause the leaves to droop but the plant will eventually recover in about 3-4 weeks once it takes root.

Pruning

Pruning Calathea Medallion Plant is easy. Remove dead and yellow foliage to maintain the plant neat and reduce pest and disease infestations. Cut the leaves with a sharp knife or scissors at the base, where the leaf meets the stalk.

Propagation

Calathea Medallion Plant (Calathea veitchiana) is propagated by plant division at the beginning of the growing season during repotting.

How to propagate Calathea Medallion Plant by plant division

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

Slip 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.

Thoroughly water the soil until water comes out through the drainage holes to make sure that the soil is totally wetted.

Cover the pots with clear polythene to create a greenhouse effect and maintain warm humid conditions which hasten establishment of the plants.

Place the pots in a warm, well-lit place away from direct sunlight 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 Calathea veitchiana are well established after which you can begin routine care.

Calathea Medallion, Calathea veitchiana

Calathea veitchiana Problems and Solutions

Calathea Medallion Plant (Calathea veitchiana) growing problems include brown leaf tips, curled and yellow leaves, drooping leaves, loss of leaf color, plant death, pests and diseases among others. Keep reading for more on these problems and how to fix them.

Brown, dry leaf tips and edges

Brown, dry leaf tips and edges in Calathea Medallion Plant are due to four possible causes. One possible cause is dry air (too little humidity).

Calathea veitchiana requires a humid environment inorder to thrive. To raise humidity, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or grow the plant in the bathroom and other moist areas in the home where humidity is high. Check out these techniques on how to raise humidity for houseplants.

The second cause of brown, dry leaf tips and edges in Calathea Medallion Plant 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 to discourage the pest infestations.

The third cause of brown, dry leaf tips and edges in Calathea veitchiana is watering it with hard water. Water it with chlorine-free water only like rain water.

Like other Calathea, it is 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 Medallion Plant is accumulation of salts or chemicals in the soil which may arise from the water or 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.

Drooping leaves

Calathea Medallion Plant drooping leaves are due to three possible causes. One possible cause is too dry air (low humidity). The plant is very sensitive to low air humidity.

To raise humidity, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier.

The second possible cause of drooping leaves in Calathea Medallion Plant is incorrect watering; either overwatering (soggy soil) or underwatering.

Water the plant liberally and maintain the soil moderately moist 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 veitchiana is that the plant is root-bound which means that the roots have filled the pot and there is very little soil to hold water when you water your 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 and 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 Medallion may die due to two possible reasons. One possible reason is root-rot which is brought about by soggy soil.

Take the plant out of 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 deal with root-rot here.

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 your plant during the cold season as growth is minimal at this time.

The second possible reason why your Calathea veitchiana is dying is pest infestations like 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.

Leaves appear washed out

Calathea Medallion Plant washed out leaves are due to exposure of the plant to hot direct sunlight as it grows best in bright, indirect light away from direct sunshine.

Position the Calathea veitchiana in a more shaded spot or instal a light curtain to protect it from direct sunlight to prevent its eventual death.

Curled, yellowing leaves

Calathea Medallion Plant 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 the Calathea veitchiana thoroughly and keep the soil moderately moist during the growing season. Reduce watering in the cold season but do not allow the soil to dry out completely.

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

Diseases

Calathea Medallion Plant is also prone to leaf spot disease due to the humid conditions in which it grows. The disease is marked 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 disease. Read more on how to treat leaf spot disease in houseplants.

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