--- title: "I just got a calathea white fusion and it needs a bit of TLC. I'm not…" description: "I just got a calathea white fusion and it needs a bit of TLC. I'm not sure if this has been caused by over watering, under watering..." url: "https://getplanta.com/community/lKxUkhzRR_aIJD7o1QvtwQ/8ybatwNGSMCkoHJPv1sfNw?language=es" community: "Pests, diseases and problems" author: "Penmaiden" published: "2025-01-19T22:50:09.714351Z" language: "en" image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/NsvryjjeV4NMRWdeIymOI86KqAjVFg8N4-Y_bmjcASE/BZWfipqQT26TIxFZZSd60Q.webp?size=large" --- [Comunidad](https://getplanta.com/community.md?language=es) / [Pests, diseases and problems](https://getplanta.com/community/lKxUkhzRR_aIJD7o1QvtwQ.md?language=es) # I just got a calathea white fusion and it needs a bit of TLC. I'm not… _Publicado por Penmaiden el 2025-01-19_ I just got a calathea white fusion and it needs a bit of TLC. I'm not sure if this has been caused by over watering, under watering... ![Adjunto 1 de 3](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/NsvryjjeV4NMRWdeIymOI86KqAjVFg8N4-Y_bmjcASE/BZWfipqQT26TIxFZZSd60Q.webp?size=large) ![Adjunto 2 de 3](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/NsvryjjeV4NMRWdeIymOI86KqAjVFg8N4-Y_bmjcASE/O0KN6dARTRKCswkQ2FUeiA.webp?size=large) ![Adjunto 3 de 3](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/NsvryjjeV4NMRWdeIymOI86KqAjVFg8N4-Y_bmjcASE/hXfRmuxXSr21T2U2xFNrhA.webp?size=large) ## 7 comentarios ### Adian Rankin comentó el 2025-01-19 My Calathea’s are just not doing well this winter. I have ample lighting and humidity. I checked the roots. And they are still sad. They’re very sensitive. ### c.cat comentó el 2025-01-19 how much experience do you have with these guys? have you had any calatheas in the past or have any right now, or would you like some tips on how to care for it going forward to help it recover? #### Penmaiden respondió el 2025-01-20 This is my first calathea. It came in a parcel so it's probably no wonder it's a bit stressed. #### c.cat respondió el 2025-01-20 heres some care guidelines (copied and pasted from my notes app lol) - water: the leaves will tend to burn if the water you use has a lot of chemicals or heavy metals. watering with distilled, rain, RO (reverse osmosis) or filtered tap will keep leaves looking nice! (humidity is also important, they like around 50% to keep leaves from crisping.) i keep mine in my bathroom, or you can run a humidifier if your area is on the dryer side. these guys don't like to dry out TOO MUCH in between waterings. the ideal time to water would probably be when the soil is about about halfway dry; you can check by sticking a wooden skewer or chopstick into the pot all the way to the bottom, and leave it there for a minute or two. the crumbs of soil that stick to the wood indicate wet/damp soil, so if more than half of what was in the soil has crumbs on it, you can wait to water! other method: i give mine a drink when i notice signs of thirst, like curling, folding or drooping leaves. you can also feel for the weight of the plant - if you ever repor it in a plastic nursery pot it will feel significantly lighter than usual. light: for lighting, too much direct light can burn the leaves, so bright indirect light is their preferred intensity! growlights are also beneficial in darker areas, and i dont think you need ro worry about burning as long as its not too close. i think maybe 8-10 hrs a day would suffice (someone feel free to correct me if i'm off). a footcandle meter or the light meter in the app can help determine the right amount of light :) soil: most regular houseplant soils will work, but to help avoid root rot, make sure its a well draining tropical mix. something like a 1:1 ratio of indoor potting soil and perlite to a more chunky mix, like Sol Soils! i mix fox farms, sol soils, and sometimes some extra perlite. \*\* i encourage you to experiment and see what works best with your plants and set up! whether you tend to over or underwater can also impact your soil mix ratios. what works for you may be different for other people, and vice versa. pot size: pot size should be based off the amount of ROOTS your plant has - too big a pot can cause overwatering, and too small of a pot can cause stunted growth. aim for a pot (with ample drainage) and is about 1-2 inches bigger than the root ball to prevent root rot. calatheas are pretty picky plants, and it took me a little while to get the hang of it, so play around with your set up and find what works best for you! sorry for the plethora of words, but i hope this helpes :) good luck!! #### Buffy respondió el 2025-01-21 Good info.. wished I had read this a few months ago. Going to try again! ### KJM comentó el 2025-01-19 I have a Stella calathea which is very similar to the White fusion. It is very sensitive to minerals and other stuff in the water. I always use distilled water and when my rain barrel gets up next summer I will use rain water. I started with tap water and it looked a little bit like yours. It's doing better now. ![Adjunto 1 de 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/ZnK-DEQES8ehqUKLJetaIR6rKdy5ZmUgQub0mb3GhWc/ThM5OJ9KR9e6oyJxSi5xJg.webp?size=large) #### BigGrac respondió el 2025-01-20 Defs agree about the sensitivity. I just run my water through the Brita and it tends to work for my calatheas. --- _La comunidad de Planta (https://getplanta.com). La lectura está abierta a todo el mundo. Para publicar, comentar y dar 'me gusta', descarga la app de Planta: https://getplanta.com/download_