Everything you need to know about propagating Calathea plants at home

If you are a fan of houseplants, there is a good chance you have noticed a Calathea before. Also called bean plants or rattlesnake plants, these tropical beauties have dark foliage with light splashes of red, yellow or silver in various patterns. Not only are Calathea plants relatively easy to grow compared to some tropical plants, but they are also fun to propagate. In this guide, we will take you step-by-step how to propagate a calathea plant at home.

How to propagate Calathea plants – the essentials

Calathea plants are not propagated in the traditional way, but rather by division. This is as simple as cutting a mature plant in half and making sure both sides have plenty of roots and leaves. Potted cuttings in a rich, well-draining soil mixture and leave in one warm, humid environment for 3 to 4 weeks to allow the cuttings to take root.

Can all Calathea plants be propagated?

All plants in the genus Calathea, and also the larger family Marantaceae, can be propagated professionally. However, this does not mean that they will all succeed when they are spread out at home. Some varieties need special handling or hormones to trigger rooting and will be more challenging than others to turn into healthy new plants at home. Technically, Calathea plants are not propagated in the same way as other potted plants.

Important considerations when propagating a Calathea plant

Can you propagate Calathea plants from seeds, cuttings, leaves and more?

Unlike succulents and many other popular houseplants, Calathea plants are not propagated by taking a cutting. Cutting a leaf from one of these plants and sticking it in the ground, even with a lot of stem intact, will only lead to a dried leaf. There is no chance that a piece of stem or root will grow into a whole plant either. And unlike some houseplants, Calathea does not bloom easily enough to collect seeds.

Instead, you use a technology called division. It is one of the easiest ways to propagate plants and can feel a bit extreme or aggressive. However, it is reliable and easy for homeowners to do.

You should not try to split a Calathea if you are not comfortable with the risk of losing it as it will stress the whole plant.

Can Calathea plants grow in water and / or soil?

Calathea plants do not thrive in clean water, even when propagated. Keep them in the soil no matter what to ensure that the roots do not dry out or become waterlogged and begin to rot.

There is no need to place the Calathea you divide in water to protect it from shocks when performing the division.

How to propagate a Calathea plant:

Division may be the only propagation method available for this genus of houseplants, but it is a relatively simple technique to learn. There is no need to make special cuts or build moisture chambers to check the conditions around the new facility.

With a little care and a sharp spoon, you should have two Calathea plants where you only had one.

1. Only select mature, healthy plants near full size for division. Plants that are still growing eagerly may be shocked by splitting rather than encouraged by it. The size of a mature Calathea depends on the specific variety, but most peaks around two or three feet in height.
2. Find a work area such as a table or part of the garage floor that is flat and has good lighting. Cover the surface with newspaper or a small tarpaulin so that you can easily get up all the spilled soil when you are done.
3. Carefully turn the plant over on its side, arranging the foliage so that none of it is crushed. Slide the container or pot away from the roots of the plant, turning if necessary to loosen it first. Soil will drain out, but most of it should remain packed with the roots. If Calathea does not have a strong and healthy root mass with cream-colored to white-colored roots, consider avoiding division until it recovers.
4. Place the plant on the root ball so that it balances. Look over the whole plant and try to draw a mental line between the two new plants. Each new plant will need close to half of the root ball and at least three to four strong healthy stems with foliage. Making divisions smaller than half of a mature facility is likely to end in failure.
5. Start dividing the roots a little by hand from the bottom of the root ball. Depending on the thickness of the roots and how bound they are, this may or may not be possible.
6. Use a sharp trowel and start cutting from the top of the soil and down to divide the two plants you have decided on in step 4. Stop and check regularly to make sure you are in line with any splits in the root ball that you have already made of hand. Work slowly and carefully. It is quite physical work, so you may need a sharp kitchen knife or garden knife to cut off the thickest parts in the middle of the root mass. Try to avoid damaging the foliage as you roll around the plant to access its roots.
7. Once the two halves of the plant are separated, place each one in a container that is only ½ inches larger than its new root mass. Fill it with a loose, fast-draining soil mixture that is not heavily fertilized. Newly divided plants are sensitive to nutrients and need a neutral base to start growing in. Tread the soil gently and water well until all the soil mixture is saturated. Keep the divided plants well watered for the first few weeks as they will not have the extensive root system to stay hydrated.

Care after reproduction

Let the newly divided Calathea plants stay in a warm, humid environment for the first few weeks as they recover from the shock.

Keep light levels low but consistent. The plants may initially show signs of shock, such as wilting or falling, and tanning of the leaves. Avoid overwatering at that time in response. This would be similar to replanting a calathea plant.

Let the plants slowly recover and keep the conditions correct, and you will eventually see them perk up. Color loss may be permanent on stressed leaves, but new leaves will soon replace them.

Also keep an eye out for common pests, insects and diseases from Calathea plants.

Growth expectations

Even with proper handling, a Calathea division is likely to remain stunted and shocked for a few months after this process. That does not mean it will not grow. After three to four months, the plant may suddenly surprise you with a growth spurt.

The plant will start to grow in earnest again with new foliage when the roots are sufficiently established. Split plants generally resume normal Calathea growth rates within six months and can reach the size of the original plant within two to three years thereafter.

Dividing up a larger facility from the beginning will shorten the time it takes for the divisions to reach full size.

Frequently asked questions about reproduction of Calathea plant:

Can you propagate calathea plants in water?

Calathea can not handle water reproduction for several reasons. First, it is not really spread but rather just shared. This means that it needs the same soil as always for the new plants. Second, placing Calathea’s roots in clean water suffocates them and increases the likelihood of root rot.

How long does it take for a calathea plant to take root?

Calathea can be slow to root after division. If they are kept moist but not too wet, they usually start growing new roots within a week to a month after division. You may not notice growth on the top of the plant in three months because it focuses on root growth below the surface.

Are calathea plants difficult to propagate?

Thanks to the division process, they are technically one of the easiest plants to propagate. Just breaking the root ball and giving it a new container is all you need to get a second Calathea plant from your first.

Can you grow a calathea plant from a broken leaf?

No matter how you take care of it or try to encourage it with root hormones, a Calathea leaf or stem can simply not take root. It lacks the kind of tissue needed to help it grow into a full and healthy plant just from a leaf, much like a succulent jar. Only part of a root ball with stems and leaves will grow into a new plant.

Can a calathea plant grow from a leaf?

A cutting or division made with a single stem and a leaf attached to the roots is at great risk of dying. The leaf is the only food source for the plant because it works on growing roots, and it will need more energy than a single leaf can provide. Try to make sure that each branch still has at least three to four healthy stems and leaves after division.

Why does not my Calathea plant take root?

Do not pull up a division to control its root formation as this will kill the new roots. If you have parts that die and never take root, change the soil mixture and do not let the new plants dry out.

Ends

Calathea plants are fun to propagate because you either get new plants for free or gifts to give to friends. Try to give your mature Calatheas a division to see how they react with new growth.

Source: https://pyomn.com