Category: Plants

Jungle velvet calathea is a flowering tropical plant that is characterized by its striking velvety two-toned leaves. The plant is botanically referred to as Calathea Warscewiczii and it belongs to the Calathea species.

Jungle velvet calathea can be placed indoors to add that striking look to your decoration and it can add tropical greenery to your home. They have this charming foliage that features green patterns on the upper parts with a purple underside.

The plant jungle velvet calathea is a perennial plant that can do well indoors with little care so they are ideal as houseplants. Just provide the plant with warmth and a humid environment. Then water the plant correctly once the topsoil feels dry and also fertilize the plant once a month during its growing season.

So, let’s further dive into the proper plant care tips to give jungle velvet calathea.

Jungle Velvet Calathea Plant Care Tips

Here are some detailed plant care tips for jungle velvet calathea:

1.    Lighting System

Jungle velvet calathea  is a low-light requiring type of plant. The plant of jungle velvet calathea will thrive well under bright indirect sunlight, so protect the plant from the direct sun.

When direct sunlight hits the leaves of calathea, it can scorch them. So, the spot you should be choosing for your potted jungle velvet calathea should be close to an east or north-facing window.

During hot summers, the ideal thing is to provide partial shade to your plant during this period. Then when it’s the winter period, position your plant in a bright spot then your plant can obtain good indirect sunshine.

So, because this plant can do well in low light conditions, the potted plant of jungle velvet calathea can thrive in environments that have a bit of natural light such as offices, rooms, and the like.

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2.    The Ideal Soil Type

The best soil to use for jungle velvet calathea is loamy soil that is rich in peat potting mix and the soil should have excellent drainage. Ideally, you should combine two parts of peat moss and one part perlite just to improve drainage and create the appropriate growing medium for the plant.

Regular houseplant soil can as well be amended by adding regular charcoal bits, orchid barks, pumice, or coco coir. Using this type of natural soil amendment can improve drainage thereby encouraging a more porous growing medium.

3.    Temperature Requirement

Jungle velvet calathea do well in warm temperatures of around 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

Just ensure the temperature doesn’t drop below 60 degrees Fahrenheit and avoid any sudden drop in or fluctuations in temperature.

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Furthermore, just to make sure your plant continues to thrive, you should protect the plant from draft or warm airflow. Then during winter, make sure the plant pot isn’t close to a heating duct or a hot radiator.

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4.    Humidity Requirement

Jungle velvet calathea flourishes in high humidity, especially when indoors and they grow best in 50% humidity.

If you want to duplicate their tropical environment, using a room humidifier can help. Just sit the plant pot on a tray with pebbles or you can simply group the tropical houseplant together.

How To Properly Water Jungle Velvet Calathea Plant

You need to know how to properly water jungle velvet calathea plants as this is also part of their care guide. Even though this plant requires damp soil to flourish, it still does not like to sit in a waterlogged area and the plant doesn’t like dry soil. this reason can make watering to be a bit fussy.

The ideal period to water this plant is when the potting is slightly dried. You can do a simple finger test by inserting a finger about 1 inch deep into the soil to feel its moisture. Once the top 1-inch part of the soil is dry, it’s time to water your plant. But if the topsoil still feels damp, just hold on for some days before you water.

So, water the potting mix properly until you see water draining out of the drainage holes. Then make sure you let all excess water drain out before you return the plant to its spot.

Note that hot temperatures make jungle velvet calathea soil dry out quicker. Therefore, your plant will need to be watered more often during hot periods. However, during winter periods, this plant tends to slowdown in growth. Hence, it is ideal to water less during winter.

Additionally, the type of pots you use can determine how moisture moves. For instance when you use terracotta pots to grow your jungle velvet calathea, moisture evaporates faster compared to using pots that are plastic made.

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Jungle Velvet Calathea Fertilization

The plant of jungle velvet calathea is not a heavy feeder. You can provide the plant with nutrients by applying a balanced houseplant fertilizer once monthly during their growing season.

Using a weak fertilizer solution occasionally can help minimize the risk of burns caused by nutrient burns.

The plants of jungle velvet calathea are quite sensitive to over-fertilization which is why you must avoid using too strong fertilizer. A good thing you can do is to flush the soil every two or three months just to get rid of excess minerals.

Conclusion

As charming as the velvety two-toned plant of the jungle is, the plant needs to be cared for the right way so you can continue to admire its lovely features.

This post has listed the ideal growing requirements for the jungle velvet calathea plant to thrive. So, look through our plant care guide and continue to provide the appropriate growing conditions for your jungle velvet calathea plant.

FAQ Section: Jungle Velvet Calathea Care Guide

What is a Jungle Velvet Calathea, and how do I care for it?
The Jungle Velvet Calathea, or Calathea warscewiczii, is a tropical plant known for its velvety, dark green leaves with deep purple undersides. To care for it, ensure it receives indirect sunlight, high humidity (around 60-70%), and consistently moist but not waterlogged soil. Use well-draining potting mix and avoid placing the plant in drafty areas.

How often should I water my Jungle Velvet Calathea?
Water your Jungle Velvet Calathea once the top inch of soil feels dry. Typically, this means watering about once a week, but frequency may vary depending on the humidity and temperature of your environment. Always use room temperature, distilled, or filtered water to avoid mineral buildup that can harm the plant.

What type of lighting is best for Jungle Velvet Calathea?
This plant thrives in bright, indirect light. Avoid direct sunlight, which can scorch the leaves and cause the beautiful patterns to fade. Low to medium light conditions are also acceptable, making it ideal for indoor spaces with less natural light.

Why are my Jungle Velvet Calathea’s leaves curling or turning brown?
Curling or browning leaves are often signs of inadequate humidity, improper watering, or exposure to direct sunlight. Ensure your Calathea is kept in a humid environment, avoid overwatering, and check that it’s not in direct sunlight. Consider misting the leaves or using a humidifier to maintain the right humidity levels.

Is the Jungle Velvet Calathea pet-friendly?
Yes, Jungle Velvet Calathea is considered non-toxic to both cats and dogs, making it a great option for pet owners. However, it’s still a good idea to keep the plant out of reach of curious pets to avoid any accidental damage to the plant.

Maharani Alocasia is an exotic plant that is very rare to find, but when you see one, you will get captivated by its unique features. This plant, which is also known as Alocasia “Grey Dragon” or “Elephant ear” is a unique houseplant like no other that should be on a plant collector’s list.

Its foliage is bold and compact, which makes it ideal for the home. The office space is not left out too. It’s that perfect million-dollar buck’s office décor addition to the collection on your desk.

Caring for this Alocasia variety is much easier than the other Alocasia. Watering this plant when the soil dries out is important. And when this plant has started growing, fertilizer can be applied occasionally while enough indirect light should be made available.

When repotting the Alocasia Maharani, make sure the soil you use is a well-draining soil. This article will be narrating how to care for your exotic Alocasia variety.

About Alocasia Maharani

This particular variety of Alocasia is a hybrid plant whose leaves are plastic stiff. The origination of this plant is from Asia in the Southeast. It usually grows up to a foot in size only. The leaves usually grow up to 15cm in length.

You can keep this plant in a greenhouse, vivarium, or terrarium. It can be grown both indoors and outdoors in containers. This makes it possible to enjoy the view of this plant in whichever way you want.

The ideal temperatures to grow your Maharani in are between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The soil mix must be the type that drains well. You should only water the plant whenever the top 2 inches of the soil have dried out.

Apply fertilizer once every month during spring and summer only. As time goes on, the leaves begin to look dark green and have a thick texture with a bright green and reddish underside and have thin stems.

All these features make this plant look like an artificial plant. The texture of the leaves is rough and they are usually veiny.

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Maharani Alocasia Care Guide

When it comes to caring for and propagating Maharani, the system is the same as the other plants in the same family Maharani belongs to. This Alocasia variety is unlike no other with its leaves that are thick and leathery in texture.

The type of flowers this monocot plant produces is called a spadix. These flowers are produced on a stem. This plant is mostly grown for its unique foliage while the one that produces flowers, which are white in color, does so in early spring. However, the flowering type can’t be relied on.

Let’s take a look at a few tips on how to take care of your Maharani.

1.    Watering Requirement – Maharani Alocasia 

The soil of your plant must not be dry or soggy but moist. This will help the Elephant ear grow well and be healthy. Too much dryness in the soil can lead to root rot. Well, the best solution when it comes to watering this houseplant is to water it often. Don’t water at once; let it be little by little.

2.    Ideal Potting Mix

During the growing season, the Elephant ear should be given enough attention from time to time as it’s a heavy feeder. This is why the need for a well-draining soil can’t be overemphasized.

The soil must be porous and as well as contain some soil, perlite/coarse, peat, and sand. Hence, endeavor you make sure the soil mix drains well till moist and also aerated.

3.    Temperature And Humidity – Maharani Alocasia 

The best temperature for the grey dragon is between 54 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. And when the temperature outside drops below this, then it’s better you bring your plant in.

Humidity is also not an exception. Humidity should be around 80 degrees. The best location, in the house, is to keep your plant in the kitchen or where there’s so much steam in the bathroom.

Your Elephant ear can get infected with fungal diseases if moisture is left remaining in crevices or on the leaves. So it’s advisable to keep close attention to your plant.

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4.    Ideal Light Requirement

In order for your Elephant ear to survive, the same type of the plant’s habitat in the rainforest must be created. A brightly-lit window, but not direct sunlight, is perfect to place your plant in.

So it is best you keep your plant in a spot that has soft lighting, just like a terrarium for the best result.

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5.    Fertilizer Application – Maharani Alocasia 

Due to the fact that the grey dragon is a heavy feeder, it must be fertilized consistently during its growing period. You can make available all the plant’s needed nutrients together with a general house feed.

This helps to keep your plants healthy all the time and by keeping the soil nourished.

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Propagation Of Maharani Alocasia

The propagation of the grey dragon can be carried out from the pups or flower seed of the Alocasia Maharani once it stops being dormant. The best time for propagation is at the beginning of spring or midsummer.

Use healthy plants alone when repotting if you’re using the division or pup method. You can remove the soil at the top if you’re removing only the pups. This will help you get a firm hold on them. When separating them from the main plant, the size and overall health of each pup will vary.

However, it’s possible for you to still get 5 pups from the mother plant. Endeavor that the potting soil you will be placing each of the roots in is moist. If you’ve chosen the propagation method from seed, the plant must have produced flowers which means it will take a long time.

The pod needs to be mature enough and then let become dry. This way, the seeds in the pod can be removed easily. Once you’ve got the seeds, soak them in water for a while. Then proceed to plant them in your growing medium and not forget to get the soil covering moist. Seedlings sprout usually take time to appear, say up to three months.

Conclusion On Maharani Alocasia 

Maharani Alocasia being a bold and compact plant makes them great for a houseplant. Propagating and caring for this plant is pretty similar to other plants that are underMaharani family.

FAQ’s

Dusty miller plant, which is also known as Senecio cineraria, can be grown as a beautiful landscape addition in the garden. Little wonder it is grown for its foliage that is silvery gray.

Dusty miller plant tends to complement many blooms in the garden because of its attractive lacy leaves. Once the dusty miller has been planted, it won’t be needing much maintenance.

The dusty miller is a garden that is likely to never go out of style. You’ll definitely find this plant looking good all through its growing season. This plant stays beautiful for a long time. Even if it’s being used as a center of attraction piece grown in a container or as a background color for flowers that are bold and bright.

This plant usually set small flowers that are yellow if they are left to grow on their own free will. These yellow flowers sort of look like a daisy’s bloom. However, the lovely foliage of Dusty miller is what makes it known and not its flowers.

How To Care For Dusty Miller

In order to grow this plant successfully, the maintenance and attention it gets matters also. Below are the major things that need to be put into consideration when you want to plant and get the best of it.

1.    Required Temperature

The ideal temperature to grow dusty miller in is around 40 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The plants will thrive well in this range of temperatures.

Due to this reason, take extra precautions, during spring, if you will be planting Dusty miller. But in order to be on a safer side in regards to planting your Dusty miller outside during spring, it is advisable you start planting after Mother’s Day.

In the United States, many of the states in the southwest which are under the growing zones between 8 to 10, are where Dusty miller will grow well. The plants will be able to survive the winter because the temperatures there are quite favorable for the plant.

However, Dusty Miller is being grown as annuals even more in the northern part. Their main growing season is mid-spring through late summer.

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2.    Sunlight

Your Dusty Miller plant will grow well if exposed to full to partial sunlight. The ideal sunlight requirement for Dusty Miller is 4 hours daily. Another thing about this plant is that it can survive drought. This is because the nature of plant biology makes it possible for the plant to tolerate and thrive during a whole day of sun and a hot atmosphere.

Soil type: The soil type that is best for growing Dusty Miller is well-drained soil. Also, the pH level of the soil must be between 5.5 to 6.0. Be rest assured that these plants will do very well be it if you’re using potting soil for container planting or in flower bed soil.

3.    Height And Spacing Requirement

The Dusty Miller plant can grow as tall as 3 feet. This plant will grow branches that are lovely and silver in color, with leaves that are very attractive. Because of their unique color, they are considered a beautiful addition to flower beds or flower pots.

The plant starts to mature, even when it has not reached its full height when it is 6 to 18 tall. It is possible for Dusty Miller’s branches to spread out as far as 9” to 12”. Endeavor to give lots of space between your plants when planting.

The thing is that the look of your seedling might be so small and it doesn’t seem as it actually is. Giving plenty of space and room to breathe between plants will help in preventing diseases.

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4.    Fertilizer

Fertilizer requirement for your plants solely depends on where they are being planted like what type of soil and what region. Nutrient-rich soil could be the one rich in organic matter like compost, old manure, or molding leaves.

Whichever type of nutrient-rich soil it is, your plants will grow well if you plant them in it. Although, these plants don’t require much nutrients like other plants, but starting by planting them in good soil will be great.

On the other hand, planting them in a type of soil that doesn’t contain organic matter or even potting soil won’t require consistent application of fertilizer.

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How To Prune Dusty Miller

Depending on the variety grown, the dusty miller can attain a height of about 15 inches once they are matured. Dusty miller plants can grow bushy or leggy so it is ideal you cut them back.  Also, pruning can help achieve a bushy growth that is healthier.

You can trim this plant using two methods which are pinching or trimming with a pruner.

• Pinching

Pinching your dusty miller simply requires the use of your finger. So, with your fingertip, pinch off half or 1 inch from each tip of the plant that is growing. Doing this will encourage new stems to grow from each spot you’ve pinched.

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• Trim With Pruner

The use of pruner is usually required if you’ve not trimmed your dusty miller for a long time and this has been piled up. The plant can get so big and leggy and you can’t just pinch them off with your fingertips. Note that trimming is best done in summer.

So, trim off one-third of the whole plant and watch your dusty miller come back stronger and healthier.

Then regarding the flower of dusty miller, it’s best you remove the bloom because the flower tends to divert and suck most of the plants’ energy to itself. Dusty miller plant is mostly grown for its lovely foliage rather than its flowers.

Dusty Miller Plant: Conclusion

Caring for the stunning dusty miller plant has been discussed in this article. We have also looked into how you can prune this plant so you can always have a healthy plant.

FAQ’s

Having prayer plants around the house is an excellent idea as they are very beautiful. However, some issues such as the leaves turning yellow may arise with this plant. Prayer plant leaves turning yellow can be discouraging to anyone.

Growing this plant is very easy as they grow very quickly and can be propagated easily. During the day, you will see them moving up and down; the reason why they are called “the prayer plant.”

Most notable member plants under the Maranta genus are referred to as prayer plants. And these interesting plants are called prayer plants because of the way the leaves always stay flat during the day and then at night, then they begin to fold up. The folding up is like that of hands being folded while praying.

However, the unpleasant thing here is prayer plant leaves turn yellow. The leaf turning yellow is not usually attractive to the eyes. It can be a result of a problem the plant might be facing. So, you really need to check to find out what might be the problem.

The Prayer Plant

Most of the known member plants under Maranta genus are regarded as prayer plants. Sometimes, some plants under the Marantaceae family, also known as arrowroot, are referred to as prayer plants. Under this category, we have varieties of Ctenanthe, Calathea genus (Geoppertia), and stromanthe.

There are varieties, like the fishbone prayer plant, that form windows that are attractive in their leaves. The coloration of the neon prayer plant makes it well sought after. All prayer plants usually have the same issues and the same solution.

Be it Ctenanthe Burle-Marxii, Calathea ornata, or Maranta leuconeura, they usually have similar issues. However, the bone of contention in this article is the issue of yellow leaves.

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Prayer Plants Turning Yellow: The Major Causes And Solutions

Prayer plants turning yellow are caused by various reasons so let’s take a look at the reasons that are more common;

1.    Too Much Watering

Sometimes, gardeners with no harm intended would over-water their house plants. This is despite using the best potting medium and pots with the right drainage holes. So, overwatering tends to make the soil become water-logged. Hence, this will cause the roots to start rotting thereby making the prayer plant leaves become sickly yellow.

Getting the watering schedule for prayer plants can be kind of tricky. Unlike the other houseplants, they require to be watered more but not be waterlogged in the process.

You can adopt the idea of checking your plants for moisture at least twice a week. However, if you check and the upper part of the potting medium is still so moist and these pots are still quite heavy, then you should stop watering.

2.    Poor Draining Of The Soil – Prayer Plant Leaves Turning Yellow

Marantaceae houseplants are regarded as moisture-lovers because their origination is from tropical regions that are wet. Even as much as they are moisture-lovers, good drainage is very important to them also.

Keeping your prayer plant in soil that is waterlogged is very bad for the plant. This will lead to your prayer plant leaves turning yellow and then dying. It is because the waterlogged condition of the soil will lead to a lack of oxygen around the root of the prayer plant.

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Another cause of waterlogged soil is leaving your pot sitting in a saucer while watering. Even if the planting medium is well-draining, water will drain out into the saucer and stay while the remaining water from the pot that needs to come out completely won’t be able to.

The water sitting in the saucer will instead get sucked up back into the soil. This then leads to water-logging of the soil and root rot which is very bad for your houseplant. You can prevent water-logging your houseplant soil by removing your house plant from its saucer when you want to water it.

When watering, allow the liquid to drain out totally from the pot through the holes in the bottom before returning the plant back to its saucer.

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3.    Being Exposed To Cold Temperatures – Prayer Plant Leaves Turning Yellow

If temperatures drop below freezing, prayer plants won’t survive. This is because they are not cold-hardy. Prayer plants cannot also stand cool temperatures. This is why they might not even survive the cold weather let alone when temperatures drop to freezing cold. The best temperature to keep these tropical natives is 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

Maintain a temperature around this range because any temperature lesser than this will make the leaves begin to turn yellow. Even at 60 degrees Fahrenheit, some species may begin to turn yellow.

Another thing is that, during winter, when you go out to buy your prayer plant from a garden center in person, make sure you’re going back home immediately. You shouldn’t run errands while leaving them in your cold car. To help your prayer plant maintain healthy green foliage and also thrive well, the best temperature to maintain once you get home with your new prayer plants is 65-80 degrees.

4.    The Problem Of Pests And Diseases

Well, apart from the other aforementioned causes of prayer plant leaves turning yellow, pests and diseases can also be the cause. For example, the cucumber mosaic virus is the cause of the yellow mosaic pattern on the leaves while yellow stippling on the foliage is caused by spider mites. Tan spots with yellow halos are caused by helminthosporium leaf spots.

Conclusion – Prayer Plant Leaves Turning Yellow

With the explanation of the causes of why prayer plant leaves always end up turning yellow, you will be kind of certain that these plants might be crying for help sometimes.

However, you will be able to keep your prayer plants healthy if you can always remember to always check the growing conditions of your pants. Do this by checking for the signs that have been talked about in this article.

FAQ’s