Have you ever heard of Calathea Freddie? As we put in the title, it’s called the zebra plant because of the colors of its leaves, but what else do you know about it?
If you want us to tell you more about this calathea, both physical and the care you need, you have come to the right place because here we leave you a guide so you can know it in depth. Shall we start?
How is the Calathea Freddie
Calathea Freddie is also known as Calathea Concinna. It is native to Brazil where its natural habitat is usually that of the rainforest. However, it has a peculiarity and that is that, although it is part of the Marantaceae family, and this makes it acquire the characteristics of moving its leaves, it is known that it does not do it as much as the others Calatheas.
In other words, it moves, but very little and although there are variations, these are very small and sometimes imperceptible.
Physically, Calathea Freddie is a plant with oval leaves. (but elongated) and dark green. These are edged with a few stripes of a lighter green, with almost the same pattern on all the leaves.
It reaches, as a houseplant, a height that ranges from 60 to 90 centimeters, while the width is between 10 and 18 centimeters.
As for flowering, although it is not very common to see them indoors, if you are lucky you will see that it has a long stem that grows from the center of the plant and from which white flowers will emerge. Sure, these last very, very little, but they look great when they come out, so watch out for these because you’re going to love them.
Calathea Freddie Care
Now that you know a little more about Calathea Freddie, it’s time to give you a care guide so you can keep it in your home for a long, long time. From now on we tell you that it is not difficult to take care of, but It has certain peculiarities that you must keep in mind so that nothing happens to it.
location and temperature
The Calathea Freddie is a plant that likes the sun, but not direct. He lives better if he receives the sun indirectly. Experts talk about placing it best near windows that face east, west, or north. But, in general, if you let the light reach it for six hours, it will be more than enough.
If you notice the leaves becoming duller, or seeming to lose their color, this will indicate that it is receiving too much light, and therefore it is best to place it in partial shade.
As for the temperature, the ideal would be between 18 and 23ºC. Like other Calatheas, it does not tolerate cold at all, let alone frost. For that, When the temperature drops below 10°C, it is normal for it to freeze and the plant will eventually die.
Considered an oxygen-giving plant, you can have it perfectly in a bedroom and sleep with it, as it will make you fall asleep better and provide you with much healthier air.
Substrate
As for the land to be exploited, it is best to mix a moisture-resistant medium, such as worm humus, with drainage such as perlite or orchid soil (or a mixture of both).
This way you will ensure that it does not retain as much water but remains moist, enough for the plant to be healthy.
Irrigation
Like many other Calatheas, this one also needs the soil to be always moist. This can be a problem if you don’t watch it, as the soil can easily rot. Therefore, it’s handy to have a moisture meter or just touch the soil with your finger to see if it needs watering.
In general, summer can be watered two or three times a week, while in winter it can be once a week or every ten days (depending on humidity).
If you go too far, you can end up with fungus and root rot, which would completely kill the plant.
Humidity
Another important care for Calathea Freddie is humidity. He adores her! In fact, for it to be good, provide a humidity of at least 70% so that the foliage remains healthy.
This can be done with a humidifier (would be best), grouping the plants or a tray with pebbles and water.
You might think you can vape it too, but the truth is, that’s not a good idea. It is not recommended to water the leaves as they may end up getting sick.
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During the spring and summer months, it is advisable to fertilize this plant, at least once a month, with a fertilizer that can be diluted in the irrigation water.
Of course, take less than the manufacturer’s suggested amount to avoid overeating. In fact, if you transplanted it in the spring, we don’t recommend fertilizing until October. or else, because you will already have what it takes to get through these first months.
Size
The size of the Calathea Freddie is based only on the cut of the ugly leaves, they look old or look bad. In addition, the rest of the leaves should be cleaned often so that dust does not prevent them from photosynthesising well.
Plagues and diseases
As for pests and diseases, although they are resistant to them, some can wreak havoc. Like scale insects, red mites or thrips.
Regarding diseases, all can be caused by too much or too little light or water. This is why it is necessary to control this care very well so that none of this happens to him.
Multiplication
When it comes to propagating Calathea Freddie, the best way is to divide the plants. This calathea finds it difficult to take root by cutting into the water, indeed, it is not the best because it will not succeed.
As you see, Calathea Freddie can be a good companion for your home. And here you have everything you need to take care of it properly. Have you seen this plant before? Do you have any at home? We read you in the comments.