Okay, guys, so I’ve been messing around with my Calathea plants lately, specifically trying to figure out their temperature tolerance. It’s been a bit of a journey, let me tell you.
First off, these plants are from the tropical parts of South America. So, you know, they like it warm. I started by keeping them in my living room where it’s usually around 70 degrees Fahrenheit during the day. They seemed pretty happy there, all lush and green.
But then winter came, and my place gets a bit chilly at night, sometimes dropping to around 60 degrees. I noticed my Calatheas started looking a bit sad, their leaves not as perky as before. That’s when I realized I needed to do some experimenting.
Experiment Time
I moved one of my Calatheas to a warmer spot in the house, near the heater, where it stays consistently above 65 degrees. I kept another one in the living room to see the difference. I also got myself a little thermometer to keep track of the exact temperatures in each spot.
- Warm Spot: Kept it between 65 and 70 degrees.
- Living Room: It was more like 60 to 70 degrees.
After a couple of weeks, the results were pretty clear. The Calathea near the heater was thriving! Its leaves were vibrant, and it even started putting out new growth. The one in the living room, though, was still looking a bit droopy.
So, what did I learn from all this? Well, Calatheas definitely prefer warmer temperatures. If you want them to really flourish, you gotta keep them in a spot where it’s consistently above 65 degrees, ideally in the 70-degree range.
I also realized that these plants are pretty good at telling you when they’re not happy with the temperature. Just pay attention to their leaves. If they start to droop or lose their vibrancy, it might be a sign that they’re feeling a bit too cold.
I hope this little experiment of mine helps you out with your Calatheas. They’re beautiful plants, but they do need a bit of extra care when it comes to temperature.
