Pin-Stripe Calathea: How to Grow and Care Tips

Learn about Pin-stripe A’s uses, unique characteristics, and more as you explore how to grow it in your home.

The Pin-stripe Calathea is a plant indigenous to South America and common in tropical regions like Thailand. Other members of the same family are recognised for having enormous leaves with striking colours and patterns that are very easy to see. The Pin-Stripe Calathea’s leaf develops at the end of lengthy stems, which need the proper attention and placement to be as healthy-looking as possible. The plant’s maximum size indoors will not exceed 2 feet broad or 2 feet tall. Beds and borders can also be planted with it. This plant looks great, surrounded by other large-leafed plants because of its foliage. Learn about Pin-stripe A’s uses, unique characteristics, and more as you explore how to grow it in your home.

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What is Pin-stripe Calathea?

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The Calathea ornata, commonly known as the Calathea pinstripe, is adored for its distinctive foliage and exotic beauty. Although a little temperamental, it is not difficult to learn how to handle its expanding requirements. This pet-friendly plant has lovely glossy leaves that are dark green with pink and white patterns that almost appear to be hand-painted. 

The beautiful pinstripe houseplant, also known as Calathea ornata, is a member of the maranta or prayer plant family. Their exquisitely veined leaves create a dramatic statement in your space. Like any Calathea, caring for houseplants may be challenging, and extra work is required to look their best indoors. 

Calathea plants come in over 300 different varieties, including numerous hybrids and widely grown species all over the world. Although this can vary based on the particular type and growing environment, these plants typically have lovely leaves with colourful patterns on the side and a red or purple underside. In addition, indoor-grown A ornata plants frequently feature green leaves with violet undersides.

Calathea ornata care tips

  1. Temperature and  light

The natural habitat of the popular houseplant Calathea ornata’s natural habitat is the tropical forests of Venezuela and Colombia. Since taller trees would often block the sun’s harshest rays, the species is not accustomed to being exposed to intense sunlight.  

Because pinstripe Calathea enjoys light, keep it close to a space where it receives sunlight but ensure it doesn’t receive too much light. Artificial lighting is a good alternative if you don’t have access to a windowsill. You may also grow it outside in a low sunlight receiving area.  

This is genuinely tropical; who hates the cold when it comes to temperature? Your plant won’t grow if it faces temperatures below about 60°F, although room temperature is ideal and much warmer isn’t an issue either. To avoid problems, bring your plant inside again in the autumn and make sure it is kept away from air conditioners and draughty windows.  

  1. Humidity and water 

It can be challenging to achieve adequate watering balance for Calathea ornata. These wild plants enjoy a lot of moisture but don’t perform well when kept in water that is left to stand. The ideal soil composition will play a significant role in helping you find the balance between drainage and moisture.  

Keep the soil of this plant barely moist, never soggy, when it comes to watering. When the top inch or two of the earth dries during the summer growing season, water immediately. This can entail feeding the plant water twice per week or more frequently. Allow the soil to dry out more during the quiet winter to avoid overwatering. Just make sure to keep it from getting too dry; if your Calathea starts to wilt, you wait too long.  

Another crucial factor that can be challenging to predict accurately is humidity. This particular prayer plant is well known for being picky about moisture. Your plant won’t thrive if the air in your home is too dry, and it could develop problems like crispy leaf tips and mite infestations. Calathea ornata needs an atmospheric moisture content of between 60% and 100% to thrive. It’s usually a good idea to use a humidifier if the humidity in your home frequently drops below 50%.  

  1. Planting and soil   

The proper soil mix for your prayer plant can be pretty beneficial in avoiding problems with waterlogging or excessive drying. Pay close attention to this if you’re having trouble determining the ideal watering balance. Calathea ornata, like many tropical plants, needs excellent drainage and moderate water retention. Creating your soil is typically the key to growing successful prayer plants.   

To create a good mixture that doesn’t suffocate the roots or dry out too rapidly, try adding the following ingredients:  

  • 2 components are premium houseplant potting soil (your soil base)  
  • Sphagnum moss, or coco coir, in 1 section (the water-retaining element)  
  • 1 part perlite (the drainage-enhancing element)  

The drainage hole in the planter is the most crucial feature for your striped prayer plant. Avoid using pots without drainage unless you have a lot of expertise growing houseplants since they can make your plants more susceptible to root rot. 

 

Why is Pin-stripe Calathea a wonderful home plant?

If you want to enhance the aesthetic appeal of your home and its general appearance, ornata make lovely houseplants. A beautiful tropical plant like this one can improve your health and happiness. For instance, plants use the process of photosynthesis to take in carbon dioxide and expel oxygen. You can improve your home’s air quality and oxygen content by including plants in your living area. 

Also, houseplants can eliminate hazardous volatile organic compounds like benzene and formaldehyde from the air. While most climate-controlled houses retain vocs inside, houseplants assist in the removal of these poisons, preserving the health and freshness of your home. Finally, keeping a calathea ornata plant at home can help you focus. Studies have shown that pupils and other employees are nearly twice as attentive when working in rooms with plants. 

They can assist in reducing fatigue, your heart rate, and your blood pressure, as well as your susceptibility to colds, dry skin, sore throats, and coughs. You can even reduce your stress and anxiety by using this plant. In a recent study conducted in the Netherlands, researchers discovered that hospital patients who had houseplants in their rooms, such as A ornata, displayed lower stress levels than those who did not. With all of these advantages, growing the Calathea ornata plant indoors is a great idea. 

 

Best places to plant Pin-stripe Calathea in your house 

Pay close attention to the plant’s final location when you first bring your A ornata plant home. Bright, filtered light is what this tropical plant prefers. In this sense, it is somewhat fussy because insufficient light may hinder growth, while excessive exposure to bright sunshine will burn the plant’s delicate leaves. Calathea ornata grows in the jungle, where it is naturally found. It is hence accustomed to other plants shading it. Your plant will eventually die due to its leaves being burned by solid and direct sunlight. 

Keep an eye on your plant’s leaves to see whether it is receiving too much light. It is getting too much sunshine if it starts to lose its distinguishing stripes. Make sure your Calathea plant has access to enough indirect, mild light when deciding where to place it. A sunny yet shaded area would be ideal, incredibly close to an east-facing window with a curtain or shade. 

Light and humidity are two factors to consider when choosing a location for your Calathea

Light 

Calathea ornata thrives in moderate amounts of indirect light; they perform best close to windows that face east, west, or south and where plants or drapes filter the light. However, by including plants in your living area, they are better at handling low light than other Calathea. Your striped plant can’t tolerate that one light. Straight, bright light. The gorgeous pink stripes will turn white, and the leaves may burn if the light is too strong. For this one, stick to low to medium light levels. 

Humidity 

Calathea ornata can be reasonably adaptable in terms of the quantity of light they receive but not in terms of humidity. Since South American rainforest plants are accustomed to highly humid conditions, the air in our homes sometimes struggles to keep up. Your Calathea ornata needs additional humidity if you see curled leaves or dry, crispy leaf edges. You can raise the humidity surrounding your plant with a few easy methods. Try positioning your planter next to a humidifier, near other plants, or on a tray of pebbles. 

How to grow a Calathea Ornata in a backyard?

Like many other plants, Calathea Ornata cannot be propagated using cuttings. As needs to be divided at the root level to be multiplied. This implies that you must separate the plant once your Calathea Ornata has begun producing new roots.

When new stems emerge from the soil away from existing branches, your Calathea Ornata has successfully developed a new plant in the same pot. New leaves on the same plant do not grow from existing stems. Hence this is different from fresh leaves. Additionally, your plant can produce new branches, which always emerge from the ground next to any existing stems. Stems from the same plant will frequently adhere to one another.

Moreover, As are fortunately not among the many houseplants that can be dangerous to animals or small children. If your pet chews on your Calathea, including the Calathea Ornata, they won’t get hurt. Unlike many other plants, this can be safely placed anywhere you choose without risking a trip to the doctor. 

Possible issues with Calathea Ornata

The Calathea Ornata is not a beginning plant to grow because it does require a certain level of care to guarantee that it grows exceptionally well. The plant needs a particular amount of humidity, so it may suffer if there is a moisture shortage. Although they can survive a wide range of temperatures, difficulties will arise if the temperature drops too low. In addition, Spider mites are one pest that might affect the Calathea Pinstripe. However, you should be able to control this with some routine maintenance. Cleaning the leaves with water and dish soap in a spray bottle is one way to eliminate this problem. It can be applied to leaves and suffocate any bugs living on or inside them. You may then wipe the leaves away, and they should be ready for the next few weeks. To prevent it from spreading too far, you should repeat this procedure every one to two weeks. 

The Pin-stripe Calathea is a demanding species of plant. Thankfully, there are a lot of early indicators that your Calathea is unhealthy. Brown and crispy leaves, leaves that are beginning to turn yellow, and pink streaks that are fading to white are some examples of these signs. If this occurs, your Calathea is not going to pass away. It signifies the Pinstripe plant isn’t receiving the attention it needs. If the leaves begin to turn brown or yellow, the plant may experience an atmosphere that is too dry. If so, be sure to mist your Calathea leaves daily or find another method of giving the Pinstripe plant the humidity it requires. The plant is receiving too much sunshine when the pink stripes on the leaves begin to turn white. You’ll notice a difference if you move it to a slightly more darkened area. 

Key takeaways to solve these issues

Avoid or reduce direct sunlight. 

Your pinstripe Calathes’s color will be washed out by direct sunlight, and the leaves could even burn. It is excellent in medium to low light.

Water properly. 

Calathea prefers soil that is continuously damp but not soggy. When the top inch of soil is dry, water it. If you’d like, you can spray your pinstripe Calathea every day with the water you usually use to water it.

Make good use of water.

The type of water that pinstripe Calathea receive might affect them significantly. Water your Calathea ornata with distilled water, rainfall that has been collected, and filtered tap water that has been allowed to remain on the counter for 24 hours.

Increase the humidity level

To keep your Calathea plant happy, group your plants, use a pebble tray, or put it close to a humidifier. Using pebble trays, humidifiers, and clustering pots together are all excellent, easy ways to increase the humidity in Calathea.

Mist often (optional). 

While misting will assist in fighting off pests, it won’t necessarily solve the humidity problem.

Conclusion 

Calathea ornata is a picky plant, but if you adhere to these guidelines, you ought to be able to take better care of it. These instructions will, at the very least, help you recognise symptoms and offer remedies to keep your A healthy and encourage its growth.

The following are the most crucial considerations concerning this lovely plant: 

  • First, maintain soil moisture. 
  • Second, keep a humid climate for the plant. 
  • Third, provide the plant with low to medium levels of indirect sunlight. 
  • Finally, plant it in soil with good water retention and let air reach the roots. 

FAQs 

Where should your Calathea be placed?

As can tolerate some shade but thrive in direct, intense light. Therefore, keep away from draughts and direct sunlight, which will scorch the leaves. A minimum of 15°C should be provided, and rooms with frequent temperature changes should be avoided.

Does Calathea ornata poison both humans and pets?

Calathea plants are a safe alternative to other houseplants like aloe vera or poinsettias, which can be dangerous to people and animals if swallowed, as they are not poisonous to humans or pets.

How much water does a plant with stripes require?

When it comes to watering, you want to ensure that this plant's soil is never wholly saturated. Therefore, water plants during the summer growing season as soon as the top inch or two of soil becomes dry. It could entail feeding the plant water as frequently as twice weekly or perhaps more.

Do Calatheas enjoy the sun's rays?

As may withstand lower light levels but flourish in medium, indirect sunshine. However, their beautiful colours may fade in bright sunlight, and extended exposure will likely burn and sear their leaves.

Why are Calathea leaves turning yellow?

Lower leaf yellowing is a common occurrence, and as long as the new growth is robust and healthy, there should be no cause for alarm. However, if the yellowing of the leaves is extensive, some factors, including overwatering, too much sun, and pest infestation, may be to blame. Harsh, chlorinated, or fluoridated water can also irritate Calathea leaves. Other stresses on the plant, such as low humidity or high or low temperatures, can also result in leaf drops and yellowing of the leaves.

 

 

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