Grow and Care for Calathea Lietzei, White Fusion

The Calathea Lietzei, often known as the white fusion, is the queen of the prayer-plants belonging to the family Marantaceae. The simple fact is that it’s a fascinating show to see as it opens during the day and then closes and leaves again at night. Variegated green, purple, and white leaves make this plant especially appealing.

The Calathea Lietzei cultivar features striking variegated foliage with green leaves marked with white spots. Underneath and down the stalks is a pink hue. They might require more attention from you than other houseplants, but the stunning display of leaves that results from your efforts will be well worth the effort.

Grow and Care for Calathea Lietzei

The “White Fusion” calathea variety requires the same special attention as any other calathea plant. They need some water, but not too much, and some sun, but not too much; they also need temperatures that are neither too hot nor too cold.

The massive leaves of the calathea ‘White Fusion’ should be wiped clean regularly to wipe out the buildup of dust. Eliminating dust from the plant’s leaves greatly enhances its respiratory capabilities. Using any leaf shine products is not advised as they may cause damage. You shouldn’t worry too much if you see some minor discolouration now and then. Since the leaves on this cultivar are so delicate, browning at the tips is typical.

Light

One of the most crucial parts of caring for a calathea ‘White Fusion’ plant is figuring out how much light it needs. Inadequate light may prevent the plant’s variegation from reaching its full aesthetic potential. Intense, filtered light is necessary for this plant’s growth. If there is too much light, the leaves may curl, and the marks may become less prominent, but if there is too much shade, the markings will not form correctly.

Soil

Calathea Lietzei prefers soil that can retain moisture but drains well so that soil characteristics are prioritized. To illustrate this, picture a moist sponge instead of a drenched one. Too much water in the soil for too long can cause decay and other problems.

Calathea lietzei thrives in a slightly acidic environment with a pH of 6.5. An ideal soil for the Calathea White Fusion is the African Violet soil mix found at most garden centers. It can hold its moisture while draining quickly and easily. The planting medium for your Calathea White Fusion can be made at home by combining equal parts of potting soil, perlite, and bark.

Watering

Similar to how the soil in a tropical rainforest is constantly wet but not flooded by the watering, the soil in which Calathea Lietzei is grown must be consistently moist without becoming soaked.

The Calathea White Fusion is recommended to be watered once every five to ten days; however, rather than sticking to a predetermined timeline, water the watering only when the top inch of soil has become entirely dry. Water Calathea lietzei only with distilled water or rainwater, as the white variety is highly sensitive to the fluoride commonly added to tap water. If you must use tap water, let it out overnight in a sealed container so the fluoride can evaporate.

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Temperature and Humidity

It’s best to stay away from harsh temperatures. This plant prefers warmer temperatures, but prolonged exposure to extreme heat could prove fatal. In the winter, if you keep your house warm throughout the day and then turn off the heat when you go to bed, the sudden drop in temperature might be stressful for your plant. Humidity reduction could also be complicated by the drying conditions caused by heating equipment.

If you want to keep the humidity around the plant nice and moist, you can set the pot on a tray with some pebbles. Water that collects on the stones and drains away won’t harm the plant because the humidity level will rise due to evaporation without soaking the roots. A humidifier made for use with tropical houseplants is another option to investigate. Make sure the Calathea lietzei is adequately ventilated and protects it from drafts from the front.

Fertilizer

We recommend using a liquid fertilizer diluted with water to a 10-10-10 ratio. You can find commercially available options if you wish to give your animals organic food.

Also, you can fill a bucket partly with nutrient-rich compost and water, then plant some seeds there. It’s best to filter the compost tea after it’s sat for a few days to get rid of the solids. Now, using water, dilute it so that it is half as strong as before. All of your houseplants can benefit from using this fertilizer. You can cease watering and fertilizing your plant once winter arrives. The Calathea plant should never be fertilized again after being repotted. A lot is riding on this.

Pruning

Don’t worry about harming your calathea ‘White Fusion’ by snipping off a few of the brown or severely curled leaves near the stem. When you spot a damaged, diseased, or dead leaf, promptly cut it off in the soil and throw it away. If your plant is well-cared-for and in an appropriate environment, new leaves will sprout to replace the ones that have fallen off, and the plant will soon appear as good as new. Expired blossoms should be cut off from a plant.

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Potting & Repotting 

Once every year to every two years, you should repot your Calathea Lietzei. It is time to repot your Calathea White Fusion when its leaves droop and roots protrude through the drainage holes. If the plant becomes rootbound, there won’t be enough soil in the pot to keep it moist; thus, repotting is essential.

A plastic container is recommended to be used while potting a Calathea Lietzei, as this will aid in the soil’s capacity to retain moisture; however, the plastic pot must have appropriate drainage holes. Use fresh potting soil and water the plant thoroughly before and after repotting.

Calathea Lietzei Propagation

When the Calathea Lietzei has grown large enough, you can start propagating it. Those enormous clusters off to the side can be used for this purpose. To propagate new plants, you must first separate the roots of the clusters that have grown together. We advise doing this in the spring or summer when the weather is nicer.

• A few days beforehand, give your plant plenty of water.
• First, dig out the outdated soil and divide the plant by allowing the roots to naturally separate from one another. However, those roots are delicate, so exercise caution when working with them.
• Plant them in the new pots after you’ve prepared the appropriate soil mixture and added it to the new pots.
• Could you kindly store them in a warm and wet area for the next two weeks with a low light level?
• As soon as you see new growth in your plants, you can move them back to where they were before.

Common Problems

Pests and Diseases

Due to their fondness for humid conditions, fungus gnats can occasionally be a problem for calathea Calathea Lietzei. They aren’t dangerous in the slightest, but neither are they very enjoyable. Neem oil, a natural insecticide, can be applied to plants’ leaves to keep pests away. Mealybugs, scale, and Spider mites are common pests, as well as aphids and mealybugs. Insecticidal soap or horticultural oil can be used to treat each one individually.

Since calathea plants thrive in humid environments, they are often overwatered, leading to fungal or bacterial infections. Pseudomonas leaf spot, which manifests as white splodges on the leaves, is a bacterial disease that can be transmitted to other plants and must be eradicated if your plant contracts it. Watering the soil only, rather than the leaves, or watering from below, will help reduce the likelihood of contracting this illness again.

Root rot, a fungal disease, causes the leaves of a plant to quickly become yellow, stunting the plant’s growth and eventually causing the roots to rot. Root rot can be treated by taking the plant out of its container and inspecting the roots where they meet the soil. If the roots are yellow, everything is fine; if they are brown, you must treat the rotting roots straight away.

Brown or mushy roots should be cut out using sterilized pruning shears or a sharp knife. The pot can be cleaned with simple dish soap and warm water. Get rid of the old soil and add some new, well-drained soil. After cutting the root, treat the wound with antifungal medicine and replant it in the amended soil. Keep the soil in the container loose, so the roots have room to grow.

Leaves Turning Brown

If the Calathea Lietzei (White Fusion) is allowed to dry out too much, the leaves will turn brown and get crispy. The opposite of what happens if you don’t water it enough is when you overwater it: the leaves turn yellowish-brown. Soil needs to be tested frequently to ensure its health. Using your fingertips is the easiest way to tell if the soil is still moist or dry.

Drooping or Withering Leaves

In response to a lack of moisture, calatheas may show leaf curling, wilting, or drooping near the stalk’s base. Amp up your water intake, either in terms of volume or frequency. You can buy a low-priced humidifier or spray the plant’s leaves with water to add more moisture.

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What Is Causing the Greening of My Calathea White Fusion?

Photosynthesis, which occurs in houseplants, can’t happen without chlorophyll, especially with plants with different colored parts. If your plant doesn’t get enough of it, the variant will revert to its original green color. Accordingly, it would be best to position it in an area where it can bask in moderate to brilliant indirect light.

Leaf Patterns Disappearing

Excessive exposure to sunshine causes this plant to produce more chlorophyll, intensifying the leaf’s green coloring. Finding a space bathed in filtered or dappled light may solve your problem.

Indices of a Potential Lack of Nutrients

Foliage can become curled and brittle when a plant lacks specific nutrients, and the edges and tips might become brown. It usually means that the humidity level around the plant is too low, that the roots are unhealthy from being overwatered, or that they are malnourished from not receiving enough water.

Can you get flowers from Calathea Lietzei?

Flowers of a delicate golden color emerge naturally from Calathea Lietzei when planted in their native habitat. However, in captivity, these plants rarely flower, and are instead grown for their distinctive and visually appealing marbled foliage.

How toxic is Calathea White Fusion?

According to the ASPCA, this particular plant and all other types of Calathea are safe for pets.

Is Calathea Lietzei Rare?

As opposed to the more common Calathea roseopicta or Calathea rufibarba, Calathea White Fusion is a relatively rare find.

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Is Misting Calathea White Fusion Necessary?

White Fusion Calathea does best when constantly misted because it requires rather high humidity to grow. You can mist the leaves around three times a week if you don’t have a humidifier. Do not overdo it, as any remaining water droplets may run into the soil and make it excessively moist, increasing the risk of nutrient deficiency and root rot.

Can You Put Coffee Grounds on Calathea White Fusion?

Standard potting soil can benefit from adding coffee grounds, which add acidity to the mix and function as a natural fertilizer simultaneously because the optimal soil recipe for Calathea Lietzei leans ever-so-slightly toward an acidic pH. Blend 3 cups of commercial potting soil with 1 cup of used coffee grounds. Use only unadulterated black grounds, as flavorings and other additives might raise the risk of fungal illnesses.