Cast Iron Plant
The Cast Iron Plant is a toughie. It thrives on neglect and looks good all year round. The upright, glossy green leaves grow incredibly well indoors.
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Bring the razzle dazzle of the tropics into your home with calatheas! The colourful and intriguing patterns and shapes of calathea make it an eye-catching indoor plant, hence the common name - peacock or zebra plant. There are many varieties to choose from and they all look a little different to each other, making them a wonderful choice for a striking display.
How to grow calathea in a pot
- Choose a spot indoors that is well lit, but away from direct sunlight like a windowsill or coffee table.
- Partially fill the pot with Yates Thrive Indoor Plants Potting Mix.
- Remove the plant from the container, gently tease the roots and cut away any circled or tangled roots.
- Position in pot and backfill with potting mix, gently firming down. Water in well keeping the water away from the leaves.
- After the initial watering, keep the soil moist (not wet!), especially during the warmer months. During winter, you can allow the soil to almost dry out before watering again.
- Feed fortnightly from spring to autumn with Yates Thrive Indoor Liquid Plant Food or use a Yates Thrive Indoor Plants & Ferns Dripper which feeds for 4 weeks.
How to grow calathea in a garden
- Choose a shady spot (like under a tree) with well-drained soil. Enrich the soil with Yates Thrive Natural Blood & Bone with Seaweed.
- Dig the planting hole twice as wide and to the same depth as the root-ball. Remove the shrub from the container, gently tease the roots and cut away any circled or tangled roots.
- Position in hole and backfill with soil, gently firming down. Always water in well after planting to settle the soil around the roots.
- Mulch with an organic mulch, such as bark chips, woodchip or pea straw ensuring to keep it away from the trunk.
- Water regularly, once or twice a week, depending on weather conditions.
- Feed fortnightly from spring to autumn with Yates Thrive Indoor Liquid Plant Food or use a Yates Thrive Indoor Plants & Ferns Dripper which feeds for 4 weeks.
Growing tips
Remove dead stems from the base of the plant.
Gently wipe the leaves with damp cloth to remove dust.
Mist leaves every couple of weeks to create a humid environment – especially during dry conditions.
Divide and repot every 2 years in spring.
Air Plants
Air Plants literally live off the air & can be grown indoors, hanging from tree branches or balancing decoratively on intriguing objects.
Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera are not just there to help with those after beach sunburns, but can also assist in the home by removing toxins in the air.
Dracaena
Breathe life into your indoor areas with a happy plant. It’s happy anywhere – in a dark corner, in a well-lit spot or outdoors in a protected area.
Recommended products
Yates Thrive Natural Blood & Bone with Seaweed
A certified organic garden input boosted with NZ Seaweed to gently nourish plants, enrich the soil and encourage a strong healthy root system.
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