Calathea orbifolia profile

Calathea Orbifolia is a perennial evergreen herbaceous plant, rooted and leafy, clumped, tall plants up to 70 cm long. The petiole is light brownish purple, leaf blade is circular or subcircular, medium ribbed silver gray, inflorescence spike.

Calathea orbifolia is native to Brazil and some other countries. It likes high temperature and wet semi-shade environments, fears cold and avoids bright light. Loose and fertile, well drained and rich in organic matter acid leaf rot soil or peat soil should be used for cultivation. Leaf color of round leaf bamboo taro is fresh and pleasant, suited to a medium potted, adornment bedroom.

Calathea Orbifolia picture

Calathea Orbifolia morphological features

Calathea Orbifolia is a perennial evergreen herbs, root leaves, tufted, leaf sheath stems. Plants are relatively tall, usually reaching 40 cm to 70 cm. The petiole is light brownish purple, leaf blade rounded or suborbicular, length to width ratio about 6:5, usually between 20 cm and 30 cm in diameter, margin undulate, apex obtuse. Leaves are pale green or silver-gray, pinnate lateral veins with 6 to 10 pairs of silver-gray stripes, middle ribs also silver-gray, abaxially greenish to pale purple spikes.

Calathea Orbifolia geographical distribution

Calathea Orbifolia is native to tropical America, Brazil and other countries, and grows in tropical rainforests.

Calathea Orbifolia's growth habits

Calathea Orbifolia likes high temperature and a wet semi-shade environment, is afraid of cold and avoids bright light. The suitable temperature for growth is 18℃ to 30℃. The relative humidity of the air is high, and the soil in the basin and the environment are dry. Loose and fertile, well drained and rich in organic matter acid leaf rot soil or peat soil should be used for cultivation.

Calathea Orbifolia prefers wettiness, avoids drought, and the lack of water easily leads to the phenomenon of leaf edge scorch and poor growth. During the growing season, in addition to watering once a day, the foliage and environmental sprays should be strengthened to keep the air relative humidity above 85 to 90 percent. When winter comes, in addition to paying attention to heat preservation, also should strictly control watering, at this time basin soil is too wet, easy to cause root rot, and maintain the basin soil slightly dry, even if the leaf withered phenomenon, spring back after warm plants will be out of new leaves. When new leaves begin to germinate they also cannot overwater, we need to increase as new leaves increase, increase water amount gradually, just can be helpful for plant robust growth.

Calathea Orbifolia propagation method

Division

Calathea Orbifolia can be divided into sections and replaced in spring. After coming out of the house during Tomb Sweeping Day, the larger clumps of mother plants used for dividing plants should be taken out of the pot, shaken and divided into the soil, and then the clumps should be cut with a sharp knife from the weak spots where the roots and stems are bound together. Each clump should have at least 4 to 5 leaves. Pour the pot into the previous half shade for curing, and restore the normal water and fertilizer management after half a month of slow seedling. Generally, potted plants are planted once a year. 

Seed

Transformation conditions, it can be used on a large scale transformation method propagation somaclone of unified specification. Explant can use just lost its tender usually remove the plant rhizome after wash, into the black plastic bag and placed in the emergence of around 25 ℃ environment. When the buds are 2 cm long, we can write its growing point of inside explanation for transformation.

Calathea Orbifolia ornamental value

Calathea Orbifolia has rounded leaves, plump leaves and green leaves, with neat stripes on them, and has extremely high ornamental value. Moreover, it prefers shade, which is suitable for indoor potted ornamental use for a long time. Due to its large leaves and vigorous plant shape, it can be planted in large wide-mouth flowerpots and used to decorate shopping malls, hotels, meeting rooms, meeting rooms and other large public places. Potted plant with small and medium-sized delicate pottery and porcelain is planted, suit to make the sitting room that occupies the home commonly, study, bedroom decoration.