Calling all Calathea experts!

[Californiascout]

Hi everyone!
I became the owner of a beautiful Calathea (Rattlesnake variety) a week and a half ago, and I think in that week and a half I've read every Calathea-related post on the internet!

My confusion mostly stems from:
a) reading conflicting information, and;
b) having just moved to San Francisco from Australia!

I don't yet know whether my city is considered humid, or what months are considered "planting season" which is really throwing me!

I was hoping any experienced Calathea owners could clear up a couple of questions for me. I haven't yet had to water my plant at all - (the top inches of the soil are still moist). It came to me with a couple of curling, closer-to-yellow-than-green leaves and a couple of small yellow leaves around the bottom. I've placed in it a north-facing, frosted window with blinds, and in this time the larger leaves have quickly turned vibrant and green like the rest of them and are starting to uncurl, I've noticed a new leaf curled up like a straw, starting to open, and the small leaves are still mostly yellow and are now beginning to dry out.

Now I've read that yellow leaves could be from getting too much water, not enough water, or just be baby leaves. I'm wondering if the nursery had overwatered due to the soil still being moist after over a week when we are approaching Summer. Is this the most likely conclusion? Is there any way those leaves will recover, or should I snip them straight off? If so, should I snip these from the MAIN stem, or just the individual stem the leaf has sprouted from?

To correct whatever damage has been done before the plant reached me, I want to ensure I get this right from the start. I understand I shouldn't water until the top couple of inches of the soil seem dry - does this vary from plant to plant or should I be watering on a schedule of any kind? And I've also read today that these plants love to be misted - how often should I be doing this?

Thank you so much for any help you can give!





UPDATE:
I have removed the yellow leaves and am snipping back any brown edges - however there seems to be new browning tips each day.

I gave it a good watering yesterday as the top finally seemed a bit more dry and immediately panicked and regretted it because I'm so nervous of killing this plant!

Now when I watered it, I worried I may have overdone it, however only a small few drops of water exited the post onto the counter and I've since read a few people say to keep adding water to it until a cup or more of water pours out the bottom. Does anyone have experience with this? I keep reading the plant should be "moist" always but never "wet" - so I'm confused as to whether it's a good idea to water it this much. I'd rather err on the side of caution than overwater and kill it in one shot! I'd love to hear your experiences.

I'll be getting a misting bottle and some liquid fertilizer tomorrow and in the meantime I'm placing a bowl of water next to it to add some humidity. I've read I shouldn't fertilize at all until it stop browning, is this correct? Thank you again!

[imafan26]

Sunset has a good description of the microclimates in California so it might be a good place to start.
https://www.sunset.com/garden/climate-zo ... e-bay-area
My test for humidity. If you get nosebleeds from the dry air you have low humidity. If you sweat just walking outside you have high humidity. If neither you are somewhere in between.

PS. if you are using heaters or radiators for temperature control or have air conditioning the air is probably on the dry side.
Tropical plants usually are happier in a bathroom with good light. The bath will probably be the most humid room in the house.

[Californiascout]

Thank you so much for the link! This is just what I was looking for. I seem to be somewhere in the middle.

In regards to temp control I have actually coincidentally not used the thermostat since receiving the plant. I do not use it very often. There was a small floor fan on for a couple of hours the other day which I now realise is not good for this plant, so I'll move it into another room in future if I put the fan on.

I did think about the bathroom for humidity however I've read a few accounts that Calathea's cannot tolerate this as it goes into shock from the regular change in temperatures and the bathroom fan.

I've added some updates to the original post. Thanks so much again for your help!

[Californiascout]

EDIT: Apologies, double posted.

[imafan26]

Most people keep the tropical plants in the bathroom all of the time so it usually works out. The bathroom fan usually only stays on while the light is on and turns off so it is not on all of the time. But most people bathe and wash up every day so that is why it is a humid room. The room is usually small so it does not lose a lot of humidity especially with the door closed.

If you keep the plant in another room, use a humidity tray. In the tropics and Australia we never have to use them because we have humidity to spare. Misting would be another way to increase humidity. Calatheas are used to getting rained on a lot so you really don't see fungal disease, but they get good air circulation.

In the house you need to watch out for bugs and put the plant in the tub or sink once a week and wash the dust off the folliage.

Outdoors calathea are understory plants in shady locations so they need good light but do not like direct light. They like even moisture but need to be well drained. I think you may be watering a little too much so back off a bit and make sure there is no water sitting under the plant.

I underwater my blue ice calathea all of the time, for years. It is smaller than it should be but it survives.

[Californiascout]

For anyone following, my plant is now doing absolutely wonderfully!