Sad calathea

[CarterBeatsTheDevil]

I bought a calathea. It is horribly potbound with about half an inch of thin fluffy roots coming out of the bottom and has been randomly watered possibly leading to root rot (though one leaf is stubbornly hanging on). I think it needs repotting but have read that this should have been done in the spring. Should I repot it now anyway or should I just leave it as it is and let it dry out a bit?

PS I have realised that this reads as if I bought it in that state. I didn't. It was ok when I bought it but it has been living in the bathroom and I have discovered that everyone has been chucking water into it. It is now in my study draining onto a plate so that only I will be watering it from now on.

My sister had this happen to a calathea and she just stopped watering it until it regrew, then potted it on. Still alive, though not fully recovered to its former glory.

Hmm. So just dry it out for the moment? That appeals as the path of least effort!

always my approach to gardening....

Standing a waterlogged pot on a folded tea towel or several sheets of kitchen paper for a couple of hours will help to drain some of the water out.

Do you have any outside space? Calatheas are massive divas as indoor plants, but they do well outdoors in the summer. Ideally in a shady spot. I’m tired of their antics so decided to use all of mine as summer bedding 😂 but you could also move it back indoors in the autumn. As potted plants they are sensitive to tap water, so use filtered water if possible. But they don’t seem to mind hose water when planted outdoors 🤷🏼‍♀️

That's helpful - I will stick a tea towel under it. I don't have much shade in my garden but it's in a warm south-facing room where it can see light but isn't in the light. I did have it in a north facing bathroom which I think may have been inadvisable.

They are absolute divas, aren't they? I knew it when I bought it but I thought they'd be different with me!

realised I didn’t know what one was so googled.

found this which looks really helpful!

I have had some which were (now deceased) and i have others who have been thriving on neglect.

I just came back from a trip where they are growing all over everyone's gardens and even the roadsides and roundabouts. The secret is the kind of humidity that would have mould growing all over our walls inside, I suspect.

Well, I have now also put a tea towel under her to dry her out and she is looking a bit happier.