Gavin's Sub-tropical presentation for October 2016.

1. Calatheas
Calatheas are very attractive plants
related to gingers. Some have striking
patterned foliage and are highly
decorative.

2. They come from the Maranta Stromanthe and
Cetenanthe families, plants which also have strikingly
marked leaves. They are tropical plants which don’t
like cold but do well in the warm humid climate of
Coffs.

3. They come in many shapes
and sizes from tiny ground
covers to five metres tall.

4. Like gingers, they grow from rhizomes and
some do spread a bit.
Some calatheas do have showy flowers but
most are insignificant.

5. They need rich, well-drained soil that is not
waterlogged.
They should never dry out and their leaves will curl
up if too wet or dry.

6. They need lots of shade as they originate from the
forest floor and will burn if they receive direct
sunlight.

7. If too much shade is a problem and you don’t
have a lot of space, calatheas are ideal and will
create texture in a dark spot.

8. Since they don’t have a big root system, they
can be planted close to trees and make a
brilliant pot plant.

9. The leaves have to be seen to be believed and
the intricate patterns almost look fake. But,
one thing is for certain, it will attract a lot of
attention and brighten up a dull area of the
garden.

12. Some pictures from our October 2016
outing.
• Rose Patch, Bellingen
• North Bank Community Garden
• Lunch at the Old Butter Factory

21. North Bank community Garden

25. The Old Butter Factory