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ABOUT THIS CALATHEA
Rufibarba Calathea, FUZZY, Dramatic dark olive green spear shaped leaves with bold purple backs, arching foliage and crinkled edges have furry leaf surfaces and stems. Rufibarba clumps in a very tight formation to a height of around 2 – 3 feet and prefers to be kept in warm/moist conditions with filtered sun or shade. Evoking a wild tropical feel in any collection this Calathea is easy to care for and is a perfect plant for the beginning to intermediate collector.
Calathea aka Peacock Plant, Zebra Plant, Rattlesnake Plant, Prayer Plant grow very well in low light areas and are the perfect plant choice to add lush tropical look to any indoor or outdoor environment. In the ground in zone 10-11 these plants get larger and are often used as a colorful border in shadier areas. Easy to care for, they simply need a little light and moist well drained soil. FYI the name prayer plant is often used to describe the leaves occasionally folding closed in response to changes in temperature, humidity or moisture. These are very healthy tropical plants with well established root systems.
The growth rate and leaf color of Rufibarba will vary greatly depending on soil type, sunlight, temperature and other factors. Lower leaves are often trimmed prior to shipping to reduce transpiration and travel stress.
CALATHEA PLANT CARE
Rufibarba are very easy to grow tropical plants that require little care indoors or out. They add a wonderful accent to any window-sill, sunroom or patio. In cold zones a containerized Calathea can be brought inside for the winter months. Most will not survive frost or temperatures below 32 degrees f. At the northern end of their grow zone Rufibarba plants should be brought indoors or protected with mulch during the winter months.
When you receive your new Calathea, there is no need to worry about planting right away. Your new plant can be stored for a while by simply placing it in a bucket with about a half inch of water in the bottom and moving it to a shady location. You can then add some mulch to the bucket to keep your plant standing upright. The mulch will also supply nutrients while in storage. This will give you plenty of time to select the ideal location for your new Calathea.
CONTAINER SIZE
Calathea grow very well in patio and indoor containers. Allow enough room for growth generally a 8″ to a 10″ diameter, 10″ deep container will suffice to get started. Remember the looser the roots, the taller and healthier your plant will be. When the plant becomes root bound its growth will slow. At that point it is time for a larger pot.
SOIL
Rufibarba Calatheas enjoy well drained but moist, rich organic mix. Remember try to stay away from wet, mucky or dry, sandy soils.
FERTILIZER
To help establish your new Rufibarba Calathea, fertilize sparingly a few inches away from the base, tri-annually with a slow time release 15-5-10. Unfertilized they will tend to grow very slowly. Note: The heavy salts in cheaper fertilizers will damage the roots and possibly kill the plant.
GROW ZONE & LIGHT
Best outdoors if grown in zone 10-11, find your zone here. This Calathea requires 70-80% sunlight. Depending on your location filtered sun is best. In the northern end of their grow zone Rufibarba plants should be brought indoors or protected during the winter months. The patio zone is 7-11 which means the potted plant will flourish over the summer months in colder zones but must be brought inside before temperatures drop below 38 degrees f and avoid frost.
BEFORE YOU PLANT OUTDOORS
Here at Kens Nursery these Calathea plants are grown under 20-40% shade cloth. If you plant directly in full sun you will experience leaf burn (not advisable). It is best to acclimate this plant to its environment by keeping it outside and slowly moving it into a sunnier area over a week or two to avoid stress before planting.
WHAT IS THE SHIPPING SIZE
All Rufibarba Calathea Plants for sale will vary in size. In the spring, plants are often smaller than plants shipped in the fall. Plants designated with a sku ending in -4, or -3 will arrive in a standard 4 inch or 2.75 inch growers pot respectively. Kens new, reusable, recyclable deep cells are 5 to 7 inches deep and 1 to 2.5 inches in diameter. Products growing in these cells are easy to transplant and allow for deeper, faster growth and are designated with a -5, or -7. (Note: The item sku number can be found just below the buy button.) The color and style of these pots may vary. If we are out of a particular size item, we may ship a larger size at no additional charge. You can see the various pot sizes and actual plants ready to ship. (click-here)
Note: Before leaving, Rufibarba Calathea Plants are inspected, watered, pruned and topped to 36″ if necessary, to facilitate shipping. Your new plants’ pot is then bagged to ensure that the soil stays in the pot and not loose in the box. Then your plant is tissue or kraft paper wrapped and secured in place with natural biodegradable peanuts. You will be pleased.
You may want to buy Rufibarba online now while they are in stock.
