The Best Soil Mixture For Calatheas
We all want our calatheas to thrive, even despite their notorious reputation! Having a good soil mixture is a great way to set your calathea up for success, whether you have a brand new calathea or you are repotting one that you’ve had for a while. There are so many different types of potting media for houseplants, so which type of soil (or types of soil) is right for a calathea? Here is a great general guide for the best soil mixture for calatheas.
Calatheas and Soil
If you’ve read my blog, Calathea 101, you will know that calatheas prefer to have moist soil. Many people mistake this for having soaking wet soil and find that their calatheas suffer from root rot. Root rot occurs when the roots are sitting in dense, wet soil for long periods of time. This can occur by watering too often, or having insufficient drainage. That said, calatheas do tolerate a more dense soil mixture than your hoyas or succulents, as their thinner, softer foliage does not retain water very well, therefore they are thirstier.
Before We Begin…
You can always, of course, adjust this soil mixture depending on light, your chosen pot, and your watering habits. If you tend to be a heavy-handed waterer, you can add more well-draining elements such as orchid bark or perlite. If you tend to be more on the neglectful side, you can adjust accordingly as well. This is meant to serve as a general guide that has worked well for my calatheas and there are generally no hard and fast rules when it comes to houseplants.
60%- Quality Potting Soil
The majority of your soil mixture for calatheas should be a solid potting soil. You can source some excellent quality potting soil for houseplants from your local garden centre. If you speak with your local garden centre, they will be happy to recommend certain brands that work best for your area. You may find that some houseplant potting soil can come as a mix with other elements. Depending on the mix that you purchase, you may still want to add the following media as store-bought soil , even those labelled as “cactus soil” tends to be almost entirely soil anyway. Choosing a high quality soil is also important, as some brands can contain pests, so it’s best to research before you buy.
20% Orchid Bark
Orchid bark is an excellent way to add proper drainage to a soil mixture for calatheas. While not as much orchid bark is needed for your calathea soil mixture compared to aroids, hoyas or succulents, it still provides a very necessary drainage to the soil and will help prevent root rot. A few people also like to add some additional orchid bark to the top of the soil for decoration and to keep pests at bay! (See Kaylee Ellen’s video for aroid soil for more on this great idea!)
10% Perlite
Many premade potting soil mixtures will contain perlite, which are those tiny white spongey bits in the soil. This is likely due to the fact that perlite is an excellent all around substrate for houseplants. Perlite absorbs some of the water, but also helps provide drainage for your plant. Perlite is also great for aerating your soil mixture for calatheas, and ensuring that enough oxygen gets to the roots. Like the orchid bark, a lot of perlite isn’t necessary for calatheas, who do tolerate a more dense soil mixture and enjoy moist soil, but it is still important to include in your soil mixture for calatheas.
5% Horticultural Charcoal
Horticultural charcoal, or activated charcoal is another substrate that will enhance your soil mixture for calatheas. Horticultural charcoal helps prevent mould, fungus and bacteria from forming in the soil. It also helps to balance the soil’s ph balance and is also great for water absorption to help prevent overwatering and root rot. Horticultural charcoal is becoming easier to find at most garden centres or even online.
5% Worm Castings
Caltheas tend to be very sensitive to strong chemicals, which can include fertilizers as well. Too much fertilizer is known to cause burnt leaves on your calathea. Even harsh water can cause crispy or brown tips on your calathea if you aren’t careful. Worm castings are a very gentle, natural fertilizer for your houseplants that calatheas particularly enjoy. You can add it as part of your soil mixture for calatheas to help you grow healthy and beautiful plants.
Adjust as Needed
This meant to serve as a guide for the best soil mixture for calatheas. Once again, you can adjust the soil contents, depending on certain factors that may impact your calatheas water intake. If you notice the calathea is drying tour to quickly, you can remove some of the orchid bark or add more potting soil. Other factors where you may want to adjust your soil mixture for calatheas include:
- light and photosynthesis
- water frequency
- plant and pot size ratio
- the individual houseplant itself!
If you have been looking for the best soil mixture for calatheas because you are preparing to purchase your very first calathea houseplant, here are the top 5 easiest calathea to grow that are excellent for calathea beginners. I also have compiled a list of additional resources below that have been helpful in my calathea care journey that you may find useful as well!
Don’t forget to follow my plant journey on instagram, @plantyquirkyblogger!
Additional Resources:
