Water Culture Calathea/Ctenanthe- Don’t Make My Mistakes…

Here’s an update on the water culture journey for some of the Calathea and Ctenanthe.
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[@gryzeldawrr3119]

Wow! I was told so many times that clatheas don't like hydoponics. It looks like you have saved my clatheas' life!

[@paultheplantparent2702]

It’s Interesting because semi hydro doesn’t seem to work well for me and Calathea. Some are even iffy in water, but the majority are doing really well. Ctenanthe LOVE it the most.

[@CoffeeCakeCrumble]

Those are gorgeous and so shiny! I'm going to try to transition my poor Cala this afternoon.

[@paultheplantparent2702]

It was the only way I could grow them. Just beware of pests. Thrips killed almost all of mine. 😞 🪳

[@purplesnails22]

Thats it!!! Because of your amazing results all my Calatheas are going to water culture. I'm jealous. Love your videos btw

[@paultheplantparent2702]

Thank you so much!!!! I’ve been neglecting mine a little too much these days. Now that summer is coming in NY, I’ve been focusing on outdoor plants lately. Most of the Calathea are selling off though so I can always start fresh once again. 👍🏼

[@PRAYER-PLANT]

Hi Paul - Im pretty sure the first one is an Goeppertia concinna, Synonym: Calathea leopardina. I would 'mandhandle' the black and dark roots on your Goeppertia Roseopicta ‘Rosy’’, and make sure most of the rootrot is removed. The "honeydew " is 50% pests or 50% natural, haha sry I would treat and isolate immediately. /Simon 💚

[@paultheplantparent2702]

Thanks Simon. I started treating after the video. Going to sift through the roots again and remove any other dead roots. Tnx so much for watching and the tips. 😃👍🏼🌱

[@joanneyeomans6294]

This is exactly what I've been looking for, thank you. I have a couple of stromanthe plants that are knocking on heaven's door in soil. What are the steps I need to take please?

[@paultheplantparent2702]

It’s challenging when they’re already compromised, but cleaning the roots really well and keeping the water clean can really make a difference in their transition. The more humidity the better too. It can only help.

[@joanneyeomans6294]

@@paultheplantparent2702 Thankyou. I have cleaned them off really well and put them in water but not up to the stems. I'm having trouble finding a feed in the UK as I don't know what I'm really looking for. The ones you use are not available here.

[@paultheplantparent2702]

@@joanneyeomans6294 any hydro fertilizer with good nitrogen should be good. Not sure what’s available where you are.

[@joanneyeomans6294]

@@paultheplantparent2702 thank you Paul. I'll look for a good nitrogen one. It's lovely of you to reply, thanks.

[@paultheplantparent2702]

@@joanneyeomans6294 I’ll always reply, as long as I’m notified there’s a message. Thank you so much for watching. Plants are so much fun!!! 😃🌱

[@sandragiles1028]

Interesting! I love these plants and have a hard time keeping them alive in soil...I am going to try the water culture as I have a lot of other plants this way..... I have a question though...I have a Makoyana that is just sprouting new shoots after dying right back and I would like to try growing it in water....but on unpotting it I found a stash of Rhizomes.....help!!!...what do I do with those.....can I just cut them off and replant in soil and then when they grow transplant them to water......also what happens with Rhizome growth when the plants are grown in water???

[@paultheplantparent2702]

I kept the rhizomes on my Makoyana. That was one of my Star Calathea until the thrips hit it bad. As long as they’re firm, beige and alive, they usually do fine in water. Just keep the water clean. 😃👍🏼🌿

[@marisifernandez7722]

Hi Paul! I love your videos, thank you for the update!! My two Calatheas are suffering from pests, one only has trips but the other also spider mites. I´ve been desperately treating them with potasic soap, pesticides... they keep coming back and this has been going on for a year. So I think it's time to move them to water! I only moved one monster to water several months ago, also desperate about pests and its doing way better now. However, I don´t have any knowledge on water culture. Can you please let me know what nutrients do you use for your calatheas? Do you have any video or recommendation to learn about nutrients for starters? Thank you!

[@paultheplantparent2702]

Hello there. Thank you so much!!! 😃. My calathea got hit by pests too. Most of them didn’t survive. 😔. But the nutrients I use are in the link in the description of most videos. It’s an orchid fertilizer. 😃👍🏼. I stopped collecting Calathea because of the pest challenges. 🌱

[@deniecedonnafield4749]

I tried rooting about six to seven stocks of lemongrass out of the fridgerator section of an oriental store.... I was afraid that it would not take.... I found it to be a very slow process, maybe due to the fact that it had already suffered from too much cold.... So I got the bright idea 1-day months later to place a sun dried out chicken bone that was in my garden and I placed it in the water without any other nutrients..... Plus , I didn't change the water for quite some time.... All of a sudden after placing the chicken bone in the water.... roots began to shoot out as well as long spindly leaves.... They have now been transplanted into garden pots... I'm thinking they may need chicken bones in the soil...

[@paultheplantparent2702]

Wow. That’s so interesting!! Chicken seems to be good for a lot of things. Thanks for sharing your story!!! 😃😃😃🌱

[@bellajipsee6507]

I am so jealous! I’m having a hard time finding these plants at my local nursery. What do you use to fertilize your water plant?

[@paultheplantparent2702]

Hello there. 😃. I use an orchid fertilizer. It seems to work great!!!

[@ratchaneewantorre6730]

My calatheas are really shocked and so so sad right now 😢 so am I …. I hope they get better soon after i repotted them

[@paultheplantparent2702]

They really are tough plants indoors. I do keep many of them because of that. I hope she pulls through for you!!! 😞🪴

[@bbblezzed]

Great video! Do you use tap water or distilled? I have a few that I’d like to transfer but I’m not sure about the waster.. TIA

[@paultheplantparent2702]

Hey there. My tap water isn’t bad, so I use that for all the plants. But distilled water isn’t a problem. A lot of ppl use that in their water culture. 😃👍🏼🌱

[@qazazmirza9340]

How do you fertilize

[@paultheplantparent2702]

I use an orchid fertilizer, diluted. I should feed more often…I’ve been bad with that. But once a week or when the water is flushed should be good. 👍🏼

[@caterinagui]

Have you tried with a White fusion Calathea on water?

[@paultheplantparent2702]

Hello. 😃 I did. They are very sensitive, I couldn’t get it to thrive. 😞

[@monadougherty6219]

Have you grown any calathea in yarn? I havent tried yarn yet, but i am planning on it. Ive been moving calathea and ctenanthe into semi hydro since watering and crisping are so difficult in soil

[@paultheplantparent2702]

Hello. I’ve grown Ctenanthe in acrylic yarn. It did well for many months. I just should have used a bigger vessel because it kept drying out too quickly. The last time did it in. If you’re going to try it, I’d suggest a taller glass or vase. Mine was a small cup. 😞🌱👍🏼

[@lizklein9083]

How do you stop the Burle Marxii Ctenanthe from the leaves curling? Currently growing in water.

[@paultheplantparent2702]

I’ve noticed that once the leaves start curling, there’s something else going on and they wouldn’t bounce back. Those that didn’t curl are still doing well. 😃👍🏼. They’re very sensitive. Stressful plant to keep. 🤪

[@shreyalabhane]

Please do anthuriums in water culture video! I am really struggling with browning leaves.

[@paultheplantparent2702]

Thanks so much for your note. Any specific type of anthurium? 😃😃😃

[@shreyalabhane]

@@paultheplantparent2702 Anthurium ‘Livium’ (Anthurium Andraeanum ‘Livium’) ... the plant is alive but been 3 months, there's no new root growth

[@paultheplantparent2702]

@@shreyalabhane I’m having a hard time finding options for the Livium variety but I can get some andraeanum. Stay tuned. 😃👍🏼🌱

[@shreyalabhane]

@@paultheplantparent2702 Yayyyyy

[@dionneharris922]

Hi Paul, I brought two pray plants one being a lemon and lime maranta and other one I have forgotten the name. I cleaned the roots and put them into vases they seemed ok, but over the last few days they have given me yellow leaves! No signs of infestation! Have you any advice? I have also put the water conditioner into the water! All my others water culture plants are doing well and are putting out new leaves. My polka dot begonia is doing well and has given me a new beautiful leaf plus it’s flowering. Ps I am thinking of water culturing my anthurium, I don’t want to buy anymore vases, instead I want to use my lovely plant pot that the anthurium is already in! Have you any advice on how to keep the anthurium upright in a plant pot? Many thanks

[@paultheplantparent2702]

Hello there. For the sprayer plants, they can be hit or miss. Some do amazing in water, others get angry. Keep an eye on it and make sure the water stays clean. For the anthurium, you can use glass beads or pebbles if you want to keep it upright. But I’d wait until it acclimates. Wouldn’t want any rotten roots stuck underneath the beads/stones.

[@dionneharris922]

@@paultheplantparent2702 Thanks Paul, I appreciate 🙌🏽

[@nonikhall]

I love your videos! I want to try this so badly. Did you clean the roots and just put them in water with nutrients? Or you started them from cuttings? One more thing, what nutrients do you use? Thank you so much. I appreciate it.

[@paultheplantparent2702]

Ohhhh thank you so much!!! I unpotted them and cleaned the roots off really well. Some Ctenanthe and maranta I started from cuttings tho. I don’t add nutrients until I see new root or leaf growth. Thank you so much for watching!!! 😃😃😃

[@nonikhall]

@@paultheplantparent2702 Thank you so much! And please make a video how you transfer them from soil to water.

[@paultheplantparent2702]

@@nonikhall I have one using a syngonium. Same process. 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@Valentair]

Paul, can I ask you what kinda fertilizer you use for your calatheas? I used general hydroponic's trio and my calatheas hated them...

[@paultheplantparent2702]

I use orchid fertilizer. I figure it’s easy on the plants since orchids roots are very exposed. There are also micro and macro nutrients in Better gro orchid fertilizer. All my plants seem to do well with this.

[@Valentair]

@@paultheplantparent2702 Oh nice! Do you by any chance know what's the NPK for your particular one? Thank you so much for this!! ❤️

[@paultheplantparent2702]

@@Valentair sure. It’s 20/14/13. And I dilute it down a lot.

[@hanoyamung2424]

Can i transfer my plant feom soil to water?

[@paultheplantparent2702]

What type of plant do you have?

[@hanoyamung2424]

@@paultheplantparent2702 calathea triostar

[@MrsBooklover55]

Hi, do you keep all your water culture plants under lights or window light? If, lights, how strong and kind?

[@paultheplantparent2702]

Right now my water cultures are just near windows. I used to keep some under LED daylight bulbs, but now my succulents and Hoyas/Dischidia are u see them.

[@dominicflorio5708]

Shame on you Paul. LOL I'm finding that I'm liking transferring lots of plants from soil to water. Then, if any roots are going to die, they can be easily removed and I can view new roots easily. I just put an alocasia zebrina reticulata and an alocasia dragon scale into semi hydro after being in water for a month. It seems to be an easier transition and all kidding aside, if you are mindful of water levels.

[@paultheplantparent2702]

Lol. I hear you on that. Keep up the good work. 😃👍🏼🌱

[@MsNanaoftwo]

Paul, I'm kinda new here, and I'm loving your videos. I had a beautiful Calathea Medallion that started dying. I transfer to water, and I do see new roots forming. There are lots of black roots, should I remove them, or leave them alone. There are only 2 large undamaged leaves remaining.