Please help my sad purple Calathea...

I bought this plant last November, when it was happy and probably three times the size it is now. I had displayed it in a very low light indoor location for a couple weeks, and it declined. Since about January, this plant has been outside (zone 9B) in a fairly shaded location that gets some nice morning sun and it has continued to "survive". Meaning, it puts out new leaves, but the plant doesn't seem to get any taller or fuller. The leaves just come up, but stay near the "core" of the plant near the base of the plant, and then slowly decline.

I sprinkled some granulated fertilizer on it a few weeks ago, and that stuff has perked up every other plant I've ever put it on, but this poor thing continues to look pitiful.

All of my other plants are looking absolutely fabulous, and I'd really like to get this one going again. I'm doing a bunch of puttering around the garden today, so I'm really looking forward to your suggestions.

Thanks!

You can see how happy it was when I first got it...

Does that pot have drainage holes?

Yes...

It looks like the soil is very wet, did you get the fertilizer on the plant?? I hope others will be of more help to you.
Christine

Hi,such a shame your plant has deteriorated,it was gorgeous in the second photo,I have found a link that may be of help,I think this one looks like yours

http://www.ehow.com/way_5895885_care-calathea-medallion-plant.html

Thanks for the link, Evie. I guess I'll try repotting it in a lighter potting mix. I can't remember exactly what I potted it in, but I usually use regular Jungle Growth or Miracle Grow potting mix, and add some extra fine peat moss, vermiculite, and perlite to it. I don't measure exactly either, it's usually three scoops of Mix, then one scoop of each of the other three ingredients. I might not have done that for this plant though...

I was thinking it might be possible that this planter is too deep for this plant... I'll try using an ordinary pot and see how she fares... Too bad, because I really like the way this plant looked in it!

Here is some info for you :
Growing Calatheas

* Keep Calathea in bright indirect light.
* Calatheas actively grow from march to october when the soil is moist.
* During winter allow the top soil to dry between waterings.
* The ideal temperatures are 60-70 degrees farehheit.
* Feed Calatheas once every two weeks.
* Repot during late spring when the plant becomes crowdy in its containers.

Calatheas Plant Care

* Calathea do tolerate a wide temperature range and do well indoors so far as a high degree of humidity is given.
* Calathea show brown edges on the leaves if the air is too dry.
* Humidifiers or pebble trays can be used to maintain humidity around Calathea.
* Calthea thrive in water controlled containers.
* Caterpillars, mealybugs, mites, and scales are the major arthropod pests of Calathea.

I have had just MORE trouble with that Miracle Gro potting soil. Way too much mulch and I end up with fungus gnats. I nearly lost some great plants because I didn't know what was going on.

I'm back on track now and here's some tips from my end. (Yes, I had some plants that looked like that too).

Either repot with some soil that has little/no mulch in it, or cook the new dirt in your oven (I think 400 for 20 mins) or you can do the Neem thing like I did. Get Neem oil (got mine at Ace), put tablespoon per gallon of water. Do a drench watering every 10 days. I usually do 3 times. That will get rid of the fungus gnats BABIES that are eating the roots of your plant. Even if you don't see gnats, you can have the little buggers.

Get one of the glass bulb watering thingys that you push down into the soil and use that to water with. When it's empty, fill it up. No more water than that. You might be surprised at how much water it's going through, or you may not. At least you're sure you're not over/under watering.

Mist plant indirectly couple of times a week. Do not allow leaves to get wet. Damp is ok.

Let us know how it's going!