Calathea musaica, a popular decorative houseplant with lustrous green leaves with intricate designs, is a popular tropical plant. Why this easy-to-care-for evergreen plant is known as the network plant is due to its unusual mosaic patterns. This Calathea species’ richly hued green and yellow plant leaves are appealing in rooms, workplaces, and any indoor environment.
For cultivating Calathea musaica at home, this article contains everything you need. You’ll learn how to overcome many growing problems concerning Calathea musaica network plant care, in addition to beneficial growing tips.
How to Care for Calathea Musaica (Calathea Network)— Overview
Grow Calathea musaica in a well-draining fertile potting mix in bright indirect sunlight. When the top layer of soil is dry, water the network plant, mist the leaves on a regular basis to boost humidity, and maintain a temperature range of 65 to 80°F (18 to 27°C).
Facts About Calathea Musaica (Network Plant)
Calathea musaica is a tropic plant that bears decorative mosaic-like leaf patterns. It belongs to the genus Calathea and the family Marantaceae. The Calathea network is one of the simplest to care for, with over 300 cultivars available. The plant thrives in average room temperatures and humidity, and it flourishes in indoor settings.
Calathea musaica, a decorative plant with light green leaves, is popular. The stunning circular leaves feature a complex network of designs that, when seen up close, resembles binary code. These mosaic-like patterns on the light green leaves give it its botanical name.
The Calathea musaica is a clump-forming plant, like many Calathea species. This handsome houseplant grows to a height of about 2 feet (0.6 meters). Calatheas are slow-growing indoor plants that need specific growing conditions in order to thrive. A tropical blooming plant called Calathea musaica.
Network plants produce little white blooms on the ends of their stems in their natural environment. Network plants, like other Calathea, don’t bloom indoors often. However, the flowers are small in comparison to the gorgeous bright foliage.
Calathea orbifolia, pinstripe Calathea (Calathea ornata), and the peacock plant (Calathea makoyana) are among the other types of Calathea available. Calathea musaica may experience leaf curling, brown leaf tips, or drooping leaves when growing conditions are not optimal. You’ll find out how to care for these Calathea care concerns at the end of the article.
Calathea Plants vs. Prayer Plants
Prayer plants (Marantas) belong to the same family as Calathea musaica, and they have similar traits. Calathea musaica, like prayer plants, folds its leaves in a prayer-like posture in the evening. Nyctinasty is the term for this unusual plant leaf movement. As the plant goes to sleep, the leaves fold in because of the darkness.
Calathea Musaica — Network Plant Care Guide
Houseplants in network plants (Calathea musaica) are generally easy to care for. All you have to do is water the plant when the soil is partly dry, and regularly mist the leaves. That’s all it takes to ensure it develops in adequate light. To care for this tropical indoors potted plant, there are a few more things to do. Calathea musaica care is covered in depth in this article.
Light Requirements for Growing Calathea Musaica Indoors
Place Calathea musaica in bright indirect light to take care of it and keep its intricate leaf pattern intact. Calathea plants grow in the dappled light of the forest floor in tropical jungles. The plant’s brilliant foliage and intricate mosaic designs need adequate light to thrive. Leaves may become darker green if there is insufficient light.
A north- or east-facing windowsill is the preferred environment for cultivating Calathea musaica indoors. The plant will be protected from the harsh midday or evening sunlight that might scorch its leaves and turn them yellow. Keep the plants in partial shade and away from the window in a south- or west-facing room. Calathea musaica is an excellent plant to put in the bathroom because it enjoys humidity.
The Best Soil Type for Healthy Calathea Musaica Growth
Potting soil with excellent drainage and moisture retention is ideal for Calathea musaica. Mix one part ordinary houseplant soil, two parts peat moss, and two parts perlite to make an optimum potting mix. alternatively, as long as it is fast-draining and has a high amount of organic matter, you may use any commercial potting mix.
Houseplants that can tolerate dryness are not network plants. To secure adequate moisture and provide vital nutrients, adding organic matter like peat moss to the soil mixture is helpful. Perlite is used to improve drainage by amendmenting the soil, allowing excess water to pass quickly through. You should make sure that the plant pot has drainage holes in addition to using a fast-draining potting mix.
How to Water a Calathea Musaica Properly
Calathea musaica needs watering as often as the top 1″ (2.5 cm) of soil dries out when the top of the soil is drying out. Calathea plants may need to be watered every week during the growing season. Water the tropical plant less frequently in the winter. Always hydrate your plant with filtered or distilled water.
This prevents the leaf tips from becoming brown due to a buildup of tap water chemicals. Soil dryness is the finest strategy to tell when to water a network plant. As a result, before watering, always check that the soil is partly dry. The objective of watering Calathea plants is to maintain the soil moist but not soggy.
Water Calathea network plants using the drench and dry method. Run enough lukewarm, filtered water evenly through the potting soil when the top layer of soil is dry. Before replacing the pot on the saucer, allow all of the excess water to drain out through the drainage holes. The soil is constantly wet without being excessively damp thanks to this watering technique.
Top care tip for watering Calathea musaica: Before watering your plant, leave water out in ajar for 24 hours. The water is allowed to reach room temperature by allowing chemicals in tap water to evaporate.
Temperature Requirements for Growing Calathea Musaica
Average household temperatures are ideal for Calathea musaica. To avoid the tropical houseplants becoming too hot, keep them in indirect sunlight. Calathea musaica prefers temperatures of 65°F to 80°F (18°C to 27°C) throughout the year. Pots of
Calathea should be placed at least 3 feet away from drafts, radiators, and warm air vents. In USDA zones 9 and 10, Calathea musaica grows outdoors. These warm-loving plants need a minimum temperature of 50°F (10°C). When the temperatures drop below 60°F (15°C), bring potted Calathea plants inside after taking them outdoors in the summer.
How to Get Humidity Right for Properly Calathea Musaica Care
Calathea musaica network plants need frequent spraying to thrive and require moderate spraying. By regularly misting Calathea leaves, you can prevent crisp foliage from forming. You can alternatively use a water-filled pebble tray, a humidifier, or cluster houseplants together to raise room humidity levels.
Leaf watering using a misting network increases humidity, but only briefly. You’ll have to mist every other day depending on the humidity in your home, which is likely to be below ideal. Spider mites and fungus gnats, which thrive in dry environments, are repelled by misting Calathea plant leaves.
Calathea Musaica Network Plant Growth Rate
When grown in ideal circumstances, network plants have a medium growth rate. Calatheas need bright indirect light, rich, moist soil, and high humidity for fast growth. If the plants are in constant shade, arid conditions, or have been attacked by plant pests, they may not grow as fast.
Fertilizing Calathea Network Plants
The heavy feeder Calathea musaica is not very hungry. Nonetheless, applying low-grade houseplant fertilizer twice or three times a year to the network plant may be beneficial. After watering your plant, dilute the liquid fertilizer to half strength. In order to provide necessary plant nutrients for healthy growth, you may also use a suitable organic fertilizer. For fertilizing Calathea musaica plants, here are a few practical care guidelines:
- Don’t pour liquid fertilizer onto dried soil, or the roots may be scorched.
- Only apply fertilizer in early spring, then again at the beginning and end of the growing season.
- To eliminate a build-up of mineral salts, flush the soil with lukewarm distilled water every now and then.
Repotting Calathea Musaica
To ensure healthy plant growth, repot Calathea musaica every two years in the spring. Select a pot that is one or two sizes bigger than what you have now. You may refresh the potting soil, check the roots for signs of disease, and repotting network plants in a bigger container provides more room for them to grow.
Remove Calathea musaica (network plant) from its container and shake off the loose dirt from its roots before replanting it. Try to untangle the roots, and if necessary, trim them gently. Plant the new pot in the new pot with half-filled with an appropriate potting mix. Make certain the network plant is growing at the same pace as it was. Fill in the remaining area with soil and water.
Top care tip for Calathea musaica: Roots protruding from the drainage hole of your pot and sluggish-draining potting mix are two indications that your network plant requires repotting.
Pruning Network Plant Leaves
Pruning Calathea musaica is not required at all. Typically, dead or rotting foliage or leaves that have become brown are all you need to trim off. Snip the stems close to the soil line to prune off the dead foliage.
How to Propagate Calathea Musaica
Root division is used to propagate Calathea musaica. Remove the leafy foliage plant from its pot and cut the new growth branches from the main root to propagate it. Next, you can begin growing a new plant by placing the new plant portions in a loose, well-draining potting medium. To avoid plant damage, always propagate network plants in the spring and avoid damaging any of the main roots.
Are Calathea Musaica Plants Toxic?
Cats, dogs, and other house pets are safe to eat Calathea musaica. Calathea species are listed as non-toxic houseplants by the ASPCA.
Pests Affecting Calathea Musaica Growth
The most frequent plant pest on Calathea musaica is spider mites. Spider mites first cause tiny strands of fine silk threads to appear on the leaves. Abnormal webbing may become more apparent over time. Spider mites, on the other hand, can cause green leaves to turn yellow or cause leaf discoloration.
To get rid of spider mites, use a neem oil solution. Fill a spray bottle with two teaspoons of warm water and shake vigorously. One teaspoon of neem oil and a dash of it Mix well using liquid Castile soap. Spray the neem oil thoroughly over the network plant’s leaves and allow them to dry. For the best results, apply the natural insecticide weekly.
To learn about how to eradicate various types of houseplant pests, please read this article on how to get rid of plant bugs. Eradicating thrips, dealing with mealybugs, and killing aphids are all discussed there in great detail. To prevent spider mite infestations, mist and wipe the leaves of top-care Calathea musaica often.
Diseases Affecting Calathea Musaica Growth
If you don’t water Calathea musaica properly, the plant is susceptible to root rot. Roots in wet, rotting soil might start to degrade, rot, and spread fungus infections. Calathea’s growth is affected by rotting roots, which causes yellowing leaves, brown leaf tips, and death. Take care to water your houseplants properly to prevent root rot. Always make sure to give them a thorough watering after the soil is mostly dry.
It is critical to repot your plant if you notice indications of root rot or fungus plant diseases. You’ll need to cut away and throw away any diseased roots while repotting. Fill the hole with a fresh potting mixture that is just slightly damp. Lastly, only water your plant when one-third of the soil has dried. You may have to cut your losses and throw away the whole plant if root decay is severe and you have mushy stems.
FAQ About Calathea Musaica Plant Care
Calathea musaica may be afflicted by a few problems, despite being a tropical houseplant that requires little attention.
Why are leaves on my Calathea musaica turning brown?
Because of a lack of humidity or overwatering, network plants may develop brown leaf tips or margins. Calathea plants are known to have brown leaf tips. Maintain the leaves by spraying them regularly and make sure the plant isn’t near a heat vent or radiator to avoid more leaves from becoming brown. Calathea musaica, like other houseplants, doesn’t like wet soil, which is another reason for its leaves to turn brown. To keep the potting soil moist but not saturated, make sure you’re following the best houseplant watering tips.
Using tap water to water your plants is another reason for Calathea brown leaf tips. Chemicals that build up in the soil are found in tap water. The glossy green and yellow network plant leaves acquire brown, crispy margins with age. At room temperature, use filtered or distilled water to avoid this.
Calathea musaica plant leaves are curling
Calathea network leaves dry out and curl because of a lack of water. You’ll have to heavily water the soil if it’s completely dry all the way through; this will help bring the plant back to life. Because of the lack of humidity, Calathea musaica leaves curl. To create a humid growing environment, you can place the Calathea plant pot on a tray of pebbles and water.
Every other day, mist the plant leaves to keep them hydrated and stop them from curling. Overwatering your plant may have caused the leaves to curl if the top layer of soil feels soggy. Wait until the top third of the potting mixture is dry before watering.
How can I revive a dying Calathea musaica network plant?
Learn what is stressing the plant in order to save a Calathea plant that is dying. If your watering regimen is causing crispy leaves or soggy roots, change it to accommodate for the problem. You should also check for signs of common houseplant pests underneath the leaves. To help your plant recover, use a natural insecticide on it.
Why do Calathea musaica leaves turn yellow?
Calathea musaica leaves may yellow due to a variety of reasons. Overwatering the plant is the most common problem. Nevertheless, excessive sunlight, high temperatures, drafts, and nutritional soil deficiencies may all cause yellow Calathea leaves. To attempt to save your plant, you’ll have to trim off the yellow foliage and address the underlying problem.
Why is my Calathea musaica droopy?
When they don’t get enough water, Calathea musaica network plants start to wilt. When the plant’s reserves are depleted, the leaves begin to droop. Leaves are also curling, which you might see. To help bring the soil back to life and restore its vigor, soak it with lukewarm water if this is the case.