Of course it’s the leaves. It’s a Calathea musaica ‘Network’, and it’s always about the leaves. The first time I saw it online I knew I wanted to see one in person, and when I finally saw one in person it came home with me.
It’s too bad that I had so few problems with Network. It made me think that I could grow other Calathea. That was folly on my part; too many of them got promoted to compost. I’m willing to work with a plant, to help it over rough patches, but I have my limits; and those other Calathea tested them.
But Network is one of the “good” Calathea, at least it has been for me. When the others were getting crispy or hosting spider mite conventions, Network didn’t join in. He just pushed out new leaves and looked handsome.
He’s very low key in that respect. From across the room he just looks like a nice green plant. But as you get closer, you start to notice something going on with the leaves. When you take a good look at those leaves, you see what all the fuss is about.
I’ll keep you posted.
