Calathea Dottie Plant : Complete Guide And Care Tips

The Calathea Dottie Plant: A Complete Guide and Care Tips

If you’re a plant lover, then you’ve probably heard of the calathea dottie plant.

This beautiful indoor plant has gained popularity in recent years due to its stunning foliage and easy care requirements.

In this article, we’ll provide a complete guide on how to care for your calathea dottie, including tips on watering, lighting, fertilizing and more!

What is a Calathea Dottie Plant?

The calathea dottie is a tropical houseplant native to Brazil that belongs to the Maranta family.

It’s known for its striking dark green leaves with pink stripes that resemble brush strokes.

The underside of the leaves is also reddish-purple in color.

This plant can grow up to 18 inches tall and wide when matured properly with good care.

The best part? It’s pet-friendly! So if you have furry friends at home who love nibbling on plants, this one won’t harm them.

Caring for Your Calathea Dottie Plant

Lighting:

• The calathea dottie requires bright but indirect light.
• Avoid placing it under direct sunlight as it can scorch the leaves.
• If your room receives low light conditions, consider using artificial lights or LED grow lights specifically designed for plants.

Watering:

• The biggest mistake most people make while watering their calatheas is overwatering them – remember less is more!
• A good rule of thumb is to let the top inch of soil dry out before giving it another round of water.
• You can test the soil moisture by sticking your finger an inch into the soil.

  If it’s still damp, hold off watering until it dries out.

• Calathea Dottie is sensitive to tap water due to its high salt content.

  It’s recommended you use distilled or filtered water for watering instead of tap water.

Humidity:

• The calathea dottie thrives in humid conditions, so be sure to keep them away from air conditioners or heating vents that can dry out the air.
• If you live in a dry climate or have low humidity indoors, use a humidifier near your plant or place a tray filled with pebbles and water beneath the pot.

Fertilizing:

• Avoid fertilizing newly transplanted calathea as their roots need time to adjust and establish first.
• During growing months (spring-summer), feed your calathea every two weeks with half-strength fertilizer diluted with distilled/filtered water.
• Stop fertilizing during winter months as growth slows down during this period.

Potting Your Calathea Dottie Plant

Potting your plant correctly is crucial for its growth and health.

Here are some tips on how to do it right:

• Choose a pot that has drainage holes at the bottom and is slightly larger than its current one – avoid repotting into too big of a pot as this can cause root rot issues.
• Fill one-third of the new pot with well-draining soil mix that contains peat moss, perlite, vermiculite and some organic matter to provide nutrients for the plant.
• Gently loosen the roots and remove any dead or rotting portions before placing the calathea in its new pot.
• Fill up around the root ball with soil, leaving about an inch of space between the top of the soil and rim of your pot for watering purposes.

Common Problems with Calathea Dottie Plant

Even though calatheas are easy to care for, they can still experience problems from time to time.

Here are some common issues you might encounter:

• Brown spots: Brown spots on leaves can be caused by either too much direct sunlight or overwatering – move your plant away from direct sunlight or reduce watering frequency.
• Curling leaves: Curling leaves usually indicate low humidity levels – try increasing humidity by misting regularly or using a humidifier.
• Faded colors: This problem is often caused by too little light – move your plant closer to indirect sunlight sources such as windows, artificial lights, etc.
• Yellowed lower leaves: If your lower leaves turn yellow but upper ones remain green; it could be due to natural aging.

  But if both upper and lower foliage turns yellow altogether, then it’s a sign of overwatering.

In Conclusion

The calathea dottie is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a beautiful indoor plant that’s easy to maintain.

With proper care in terms of lighting, watering, fertilizing and potting; it will thrive in any environment! Remember always that less is more when caring for this stunning houseplant!