Struggling (?) Calathea in my cubicle

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BlackThumbOhNo Artesia, CA Nov 19, 2015

Good morning,


Last friday I made a small terrarium with a large vase I had on hand. My mom gave me a really pretty Calathea, which we split down the middle and transplanted into the vase with african violet soil and gravel on the bottom. I now know that Calatheas are difficult plants and an office environment with no natural light and dry air makes it even harder to keep alive.

My Calathea looks fairly good as the stems are not drooping but the leaves curled up the morning after I repotted it and now a small leaf on the bottom is completely yellow. I gave it quite a bit of water the first day but haven't watered it since then as the soil is still wet. I think I may have put too much gravel in the bottom, because I can see water in the gravel. I have been spraying the leaves about 4-5 times a day while i'm at work.

I would like to know what I should do to get the leaves to uncurl and if I should snip off the yellow leaf on the bottom. I'm also wondering if they just curled because I repotted and the plant is traumatized. It has been a week and they are still not uncurling. I have attached 2 photos of the plant for reference. Please let me know if you need more info. :)

Thumbnail by BlackThumbOhNo Thumbnail by BlackThumbOhNo
Post #10170724
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Diana_K Contra Costa County, CA(Zone 9b) Nov 19, 2015

I would not use that container for a plant.
The roots need oxygen as well as water, and a container with no drainage will hold too much water and will exclude oxygen.

Plant may have some root damage from when you separated them, so the leaves are staying curled.

For a similar looking plant but more tolerant of office conditions, try Aglaonema, the Chinese Evergreen. But use a pot that drains.

Post #10170808
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BlackThumbOhNo Artesia, CA Nov 19, 2015

Quote from Diana_K :
I would not use that container for a plant.
The roots need oxygen as well as water, and a container with no drainage will hold too much water and will exclude oxygen.

Plant may have some root damage from when you separated them, so the leaves are staying curled.

For a similar looking plant but more tolerant of office conditions, try Aglaonema, the Chinese Evergreen. But use a pot that drains.


Thank you for the advice! Could this container still be used if I made a hole at the bottom? It's glass but i might have a neighbor that could do it...?

Post #10170811
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Pistil Lake Stevens, WA(Zone 8a) Nov 19, 2015

Lucky Bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana, not a bamboo at all) would survive there, it likes it's roots in some water.
Another option, put some Air Plants in there, without water, they have no roots, just take them out and run them under the faucet a couple times a week.
Also, as you suggest, if you know a glass blower, a drainage hole would do it.

Post #10170879
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