Calathea White Miracle: Discover the magic and care of this variety

Among the various calatheas you can find on the market, one stands out primarily for its beautiful variegated green and white hues. This is the Calathea White Miracle, native to the tropical rainforests of South America.

This calathea is not easy to have, because it is not found in many places And they're a bit pricey (you can usually find a mini pot in an online store for around 10 euros). But if you're good at it and give it the care it needs, you're sure to end up with a beautiful plant. Can we help you with that?

Characteristics of Calathea White Miracle

Before telling you about all the care that Calathea White Miracle needs, it is important that you know what it is like. To begin with, the plant is elongated leaves with green and white veins. Not all leaves are the same, and you may have one part that's greener and another that's lighter. Variegation is also unpredictable. You may find one leaf entirely white or many. What does it depend on? Mainly, the plant and the light.

Its size is compact, so you can keep it on a desk or a shelf.

What is most striking about this plant is its movement, a phenomenon called "nyctinasty." This plant, like many other calatheas, moves in the morning and at night. In fact, if you set up a camera 24 hours a day, you'll see it move. This one, in particular, opens its leaves in the morning to capture the most light. And, in the afternoon and at night, it folds them.

What care does Calathea White Miracle need?

Now that you have a better idea of ​​this plant, how about we move on to the real thing? To prevent it from dying or drying out in a matter of months, you need to keep in mind that this plant comes from a tropical rainforest. This means it requires more specific care, especially regarding humidity and watering. Here we explain all of them:

Location and temperature

The Calathea White Miracle is a plant that seeks light, but not directly. Therefore, when placing it, it's best to place it in an indoor area where it receives light, but not directly on it. This way, you'll prevent sunlight from damaging the leaves and causing spots or discoloration.

Some experts say that placing it in an east- or north-facing window is best, but it all depends on where you live.

Furthermore, the Ideal temperature for calatheas is 18 to 25ºC. It doesn't like (nor tolerate) the cold, nor drafts or sudden temperature changes. If these occur where you have it, you'll see that the plant weakens considerably, so some people place it in a closed display case or an indoor greenhouse.

Substratum

The soil that a Calathea White Miracle needs must be one that retains moisture, but at the same time has good drainage. Many recommend using a mixture of peat, coconut fiber and perlite, because that's what works best for these plants. Don't pack it too tightly either; it's preferable to leave it looser (so the plant doesn't fall over).

You'll need to repot it approximately every two or three years to provide fresh nutrients. But it all depends on how your plant grows. If the roots sprout abundantly from the pot, it will need repotting sooner.

Irrigation and humidity

Let's now move on to watering and humidity. Calathea White Miracle is a plant that It requires high environmental humidity to be healthy and for its leaves to not dry out. or appear to be burning (due to the dryness of the environment).

Therefore, a humidifier is recommended along with this calathea, especially if you live in a very dry environment. The Calathea White Miracle It needs a humidity close to 70-80%, and when it is more adapted to your climate, it can tolerate 60-70%.

Regarding watering, it should be regular so that the substrate is always moist. However, use filtered or distilled water because tap water contains salts and chlorine, which will harm the plant.

In the summer, you'll need to water it more often to prevent it from drying out. And in the winter, depending on where you live, you might even skip it if the humidity is high.

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Calathea White Miracle does require fertilization, especially in spring and summer. Once a month is enough., although if it's small, it's better every month and a half. Use a liquid fertilizer for indoor plants, but not in the quantity prescribed by the manufacturer; a smaller dose is better. This way, you'll avoid overfertilization.

If the plant is still very small, use only a third. If you stress it too much, it could have the opposite effect and stunt its growth.

Pruning

Regarding pruning, the Calathea White Miracle does not need to be cut often, but it does need to be cut often. Clean it of dry or damaged leaves to prevent it from becoming ugly. but also to prevent diseases or pests from spreading (or appearing).

Plagues and diseases

Spider mites, mealybugs, and aphids are the things you should watch out for most with a Calathea White Miracle. If you do notice them, it's best to use a natural solution, such as potassium soap or neem oil, or an insecticide. However, it's not enough to just spray it and forget about it. You need to check back a few days later to see if the infestation has disappeared, and you should also use these natural remedies as a preventative measure.

On the other hand, the most common diseases are related to overwatering, which can cause fungus to appear or root rot. If this happens, you'll lose your plant.

Multiplication

Finally, we must tell you about the reproduction of Calathea White Miracle. This is done through rhizome divisionWhen you're ready to repot, you can carefully separate the plant into several sections, making sure they all have roots. This way, you can plant them in different pots.

Are you now encouraged to have a Calathea White Miracle at home?