On Thu, 05 Mar 2015 23:29:35 -0000, David Hill wrote:


I've never head of anyone warming water up for plants before! Must be
just a few that are that fussy.

I do it all the time for my orchids. A mixer tap makes it easier, but
any hot and cold tap plus a little finger dipped in to make sure it's
not too warm:~). It's worth the extra trouble. Hope you can nurse your
Calathea back to health.

It's Winter in Scotland, and shit weather, so I doubt it's getting too
much bright light.


No, not in a normal situation, I'm sure, but your plant has just
suffered a minor trauma and would probably appreciate a shady rest until
it picks up. Good luck.


I think I would go back a couple of stages.

You said you used "Council" compost to re pot your plant.
That compost is designed to be dug into the garden or used as a mulch
around shrubs etc.
What you need is "Potting compost" this is designed for young plants or
house-plants, depends which you buy.
I would buy a good potting compost, preferably containing some peat.
Then knock your plant out of it's new pot and start again.
Looking at the picture you posted your plant has dried out a few times,
hence the brown tips to some of the leaves.
Pop it back into the old pot then get a bowl of tepid water and stand
the pot in it (up to the pot rim) for a few minutes so that the whole
root ball is wet, take it out of the water and let it drain for about 15
minutes, this will let the draining water pull air into the root ball as
it drains
Then re pot the plant into a larger pot so that you have no more than a
fingers width of new compost all round the plant, firming the compost
well around the root ball.
For your next few waterings repeat plunging into tepid water for a few
minutes and then letting it drain. This will avoid the water just
running over the old root ball and soaking away round the edge of the
pot where the compost may be more porous than the old stuff which could
result in a dry root ball,
If you are going to keep it close to the radiator then find a large
shallow container and put in about half to one inch of gravel in it,
partially fill with water and stand the plant on top of the gravel so
that the pt doesn't come into contact with the water, this will give the
plant a more moist atmosphere around it as the water below the pot
evaporates.
Alternatively you can give the plant a light spray of water once or
twice a day, with a hand held sprayer, the sort you might use to damp
the laundry before ironing.
David @ a rain free side of Swansea Bay

Thanks, I'll do that.

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