How To Prune Calathea
If a houseplant owner has heard of it, they may mistake it as a practice only needed for trees, shrubs, and outdoor plant life.Creating space for new growth to emerge, giving the plant a cleaner and healthier look without dead and dry material hanging off of it.to emerge, giving the plant a cleaner and healthier look without dead and dry material hanging off of it Increasing airflow and ventilation throughout the plant by removing dead or damaged material that traps moisture against healthy leaves, increasing further chances of damage.throughout the plant by removing dead or damaged material that traps moisture against healthy leaves, increasing further chances of damage Decreasing the risks of disease developing in the plant, especially fungal and bacterial diseases that need high levels of moisture and stagnant air to thrive.developing in the plant, especially fungal and bacterial diseases that need high levels of moisture and stagnant air to thrive Reducing the interest from insects and other pests that often hide in dead or dying leaf material before moving on to damage healthy foliage.that often hide in dead or dying leaf material before moving on to damage healthy foliage Improving the plant’s overall appearance and controlling its shape and size for a specific pattern of growth as desired.This can also be beneficial if your calathea plant haspast prime foliage or signs of drooping or decaying leaves.Methods of plant cultivation like bonsai require routine pruning to shape the growing material into a specific pattern.When kept away from direct sunlight that stunts their growth, Calathea plants can grow rapidly in nutrient-rich, slightly acidic soil bases.If some leaves or stems grow faster than others, pruning can restore a rounded or more open shape to prevent crowding.If your Calathea blooms, which is pretty uncommon among those cultivated indoors, cut the flowers off when the stem dries out fully.As a smaller houseplant that only has thin, easily cut stems, Calathea is best pruned with small scissors and snips.Since this type of houseplant needs high humidity and misting, don’t be afraid to remove overcrowded internal leaves to create more space inside the crown area.Removing a few layers of growth from the underside won’t change the look much but will help maximize nutrient flow to the more productive leaves.Make sure to stick to the usual watering schedule since drying out after pruning will be extra stressful on the plant.If you removed a lot of foliage for losing color or yellowing, consider adjusting the light levels either higher or lower