| Life form | Herbaceous |
| Family | Marantaceae |
| Origin | Tropical regions of South America |
| Ease of cultivation | Kalatei is quite capricious in the care of plants. The lungs are considered to be wonderful kalateia, mecca, orbifolia. Other kalatei are quite difficult for beginners. |
| The size | From 50 cm to 1.5 m in height and from 30 to 60 cm in width |
| Growth rate | 5-6 new leaves per year |
| Lifespan | A perennial plant, however it requires periodic planting. |
| Temperature | In summer: 60,8-75,2 ° F, higher temperatures require high humidity. In winter, if not watered, can withstand a temperature of 50 ° F, but it is better to maintain a temperature of about 60,8 ° The plants are sensitive to temperature changes, so they can not be placed next to the opening window or door. |
| Humidity | Not less than 60%. In summer and winter, spray at least 3 times a week, and preferably every day with soft water, the pot must be placed in a tray with wet pebbles. Do not spray species with velvety leaves, you should moisten the air around them. |
| Lighting | The light is moderate indirect, it is better to put it in 2 m from a window facing west. With excessive light, the leaves twist, their color fades. |
| The soil | The soil must be breathable, sand or perlite with peat should be added if it is too dense. For a mixture of own preparation should take: 2 parts of leaf land, 1 part peat, 1 part sand. You can add coniferous land, sphagnum, pieces of bark, crushed charcoal and dry mullein. |
| Watering | In summer, water 2-3 times a week. However, stagnant water in the pot is unacceptable. It is undesirable that large drops of water fall on the leaves. Use warm soft water. In winter, watering is limited to 1 time in 6-8 days, the soil must dry between two waterings. |
| Fertilizer | During the growing season, every 10-15 days with liquid fertilizer, diluted twofold. The plant does not tolerate excess calcium and nitrogen in the soil. |
| Reproduction | Late spring division by transplantation, trying not to damage the roots of the plant. It is necessary that each new plant has several leaves and 2-3 formed roots. Plant young plants are difficult enough, they should be placed in a warm and very humid place (you can put the pot in a tray with wet claydite and mark on the radiator). It is rare to propagate with seeds, which germinate at a temperature of 68-75,2 ° F. |
| Bloom | Blossoms in spring and summer. In the McCoy kalatei, violet, nondescript small flowers are formed; in other species, orange-red, white and yellow inflorescences (especially vivacious in saffron calatha). |
| Transfer | In February-March, young plants should be transplanted annually, the pot must be shallow, since the root system of the plant is superficial. The soil can not be too primed, so that the roots do not choke. In the future, transplanted every 2-4 years, as soon as the roots appear from the drainage hole. |
| Features of care | Qalat leaves, like all members of the family marantaceae, are formed on the night – this is normal. In summer, the plant can be taken out to the garden or to the balcony, but it should be protected from the wind. The plant does not like drafts and gas combustion products. Completely dried leaves should be removed in a timely manner. Wipe the leaves with either a soft dry cloth or a brush, since they are easily damaged. Plants love the moist hot air of the bathroom especially at a time when someone is taking a shower. The plant is well-grown in a group with other plants to increase air humidity. |
| Difficulties | When the air is dry, the tips of the leaves turn brown, the leaves can droop and wrinkle. Quite often, immediately after the heating is switched on in winter, the plant very quickly withers and dies. (In this case, you should continue to slightly water the plant and do not discard it.) In the spring, new leaves may appear from the remaining roots).In case of excessive illumination, the leaves can temporarily twist (they take a normal shape, if the plant immediately move away from the light), lose color and dry up, white-yellow spots may appear on the leaves. The leaves become sluggish and wither at too low a temperature or as a result of a temperature drop. The leaves are covered with dark spots as a result of over-moistening. Leaflets of leaves grow strongly when there is a lack of light. It is affected by a spider mite. |
| Air cleaning | – |
| Toxicity | – |
