The perennial flower of the kalatei family of the maranthine family attracts with its leaves an unusual bright coloring (of all shades of green) and a beautiful oblong-oval shape. In general, the genus of kalatea, which originated from the tropics of South America and Africa, is very diverse - there are about 150 different species of it. A kalathea flower grows within 0.5-1.5 m in height. In the flower shop, the plant immediately attracts the eye due to its unusual appearance. But beginners should know that kalatea is a pretty whimsical plant. Therefore, before buying it, you should familiarize yourself with the peculiarities of care for the colors of kalatei.
Indoor flowers kalatheia - care
Originated from tropical regions, kalatea loves penumbra, without direct burning sun rays, for example, in a corner of the room or 2 m from the window. If you incorrectly place it, the sheets will lose their attractive color and turn pale. Kalatee also fears sharp temperature changes and drafts, which is fraught with decay and death of the plant. The optimal air temperature for home colors kalatee in the summer is 16-25 degrees, in winter 16 degrees.
As for watering, the kind of kalatyas is quite demanding, but stagnation in the pot is harmful to plants. Use standing warm water and water in the summer 2 times a week, and in winter 1 time a week, waiting for the drying of the earthy coma. A tropical resident prefers frequent spraying - at least twice a week per year. However, plants with velvety leaves are not sprayed directly, the air is moistened next to them. In winter, try not to put a pot of flower near the central heating battery, so that the kalatea does not dry. Often with the beginning of the heating season, the flower begins to dry out badly. Many inexperienced growers do not know what to do if the kalatei
Feeding is needed kalatee in the warm season - from April to September. For these purposes, use liquid fertilizer for ornamental-deciduous plants, diluting the indicated dosage in 2 times.
Transplantation and reproduction of kalatei
Transplantation in new soil is necessary for the plant every two years. It is carried out in the early spring, before the active vegetation. As for how to transplant kalathea, a shallow layer of drainage is placed in a shallow pot, and then a layer of light air permeable soil. Suitable mixture for azaleas or rhododendrons. You can prepare the substrate yourself, mixing the leaf ground with peat and sand in a ratio of 2: 1: 1. Speaking of reproduction, the simplest way is to divide the bush. It is best to cut off the kalatea from the mother plant in the spring when transplanting.