---
title: "I've only been doing the houseplant thing for a few months now, and…"
description: "I've only been doing the houseplant thing for a few months now, and ever since I started I wanted a calathea. Well, today I was standing in line at Walgreens…"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/OlSeW7UYSUWAjHlcxGdIQw/fX0bgWll8tnlnj4SFm3CNs?language=da"
community: "Show your plants"
author: "Petals n pothos"
published: "2025-02-25T21:04:31.536127Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/i6aXzoxoBnTuyC6Sydns1gUT3KfJi0psaQeQnu_qUYk/3kKVYnMdQEedaM1UXlkRBw.webp?size=large"
---

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# I've only been doing the houseplant thing for a few months now, and…

_Opslået af Petals n pothos den 2025-02-25_

I've only been doing the houseplant thing for a few months now, and ever since I started I wanted a calathea. Well, today I was standing in line at Walgreens and saw this guy nestled in amongst some orchids they were selling near the register (weird at Walgreens, right??) so I bought him. I have been reading unending horror stories about how notoriously difficult they are to keep alive, but I am hopeful. If anyone has any suggestions for keeping these notoriously picky beauties happy, I'm all ears.

![Vedhæftet fil 1 af 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/i6aXzoxoBnTuyC6Sydns1gUT3KfJi0psaQeQnu_qUYk/3kKVYnMdQEedaM1UXlkRBw.webp?size=large)

## 7 kommentarer

### Phil kommenterede den 2025-02-25

They require high humidity, and do best with RO/distilled water. Filtered water may be ok also. I let mine get rather dry before I water, but not everyone will agree with that. The pinstripe calathea sometimes will excrete a sticky and white residue to the back of the leaves. It only happens when conditions are very good. Many people panic and think it’s a pest of some sort. It’s not.

![Vedhæftet fil 1 af 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/OWAkyZxcZtwxk-v_HG7sG7i-GaZeWOFpvbl_VkIbhkY/cJdCXS0hSNiaFUdhhuQBfQ.webp?size=large)

#### Petals n pothos svarede den 2025-02-25

Thank you! I'm in South Florida, so it's very humid here by default (this is the driest time of year and it's still 59% in the house today) but I added a pebble tray under him just to try and add some extra moisture. Yours are beautiful! I hope I'm as successful with this one.

### Phil kommenterede den 2025-02-25

And your plant looks to be in very good condition. Good luck and have fun with the experience.

### Whit\_Y kommenterede den 2025-02-26

That’s a beautiful Pinstripe! My Pinstripe is rebounding from my rookie errors, but my Velvet Calathea and Peacock Calathea are enjoying life, I let them dry out a bit before i water again

![Vedhæftet fil 1 af 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/8Auc04WdGvLg5eIaRwCZy6FB_Gis004BThJhN0B6uAk/korBX-qcTNKxaZLy_1nj1w.webp?size=large)

#### Petals n pothos svarede den 2025-02-26

What were the rookie mistakes that you made?

#### Whit\_Y svarede den 2025-02-26

Overwatering! The concept of keep soil moist but not wet is just too ambiguous for me and I was watering way too much. I repotted into a much chunkier mix and let her fully dry out before I watered again.

#### JWahlberg svarede den 2025-02-27

I did the same. Mine looked like hers and ended up looking like yours. I used tap at first, I was down to leaves that were on deaths door, almost to my f#@k it bucket. I switched to boiled water. It's kind of coming back, I'm in Minnesota dry winters, humid summers. We have two humidifiers going at all times. Thinking of buying a water distiller since I have 106 plants, but I swear she hates me.

![Vedhæftet fil 1 af 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/vjWbLg2QGkCR9ndXZJJ_JW5mcJdKzDXddMLjPf-KQAU/O2igBG5iRqqka7g--odyEg.webp?size=large)

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