HouseplantsDiscover the right indoor plants for your home.
Color Full ® Beauty Star pinstripe calathea . Photo by : Proven winner
Calathea is a democratic indoor plant develop for its extremely decorative foliage that comes in an assortment of eye - watch patterns , colors , and configuration . These versatile tropic plant thrive in metier to low light , making them a good choice for indoor environment .
Though it has a reputation for being somewhat fussy , calathea plant are actually easy to grow when pay the correct condition . In addition to being highly decorative , they are one of the best plants for cleansing indoor air of harmful pollutants . With so many coinage of calathea to choose from , this attractive houseplant will complement any home or office decor .
On this page : Basics|Growing Tips|Plant Care and Maintenance|Calathea Pictures|Toubleshooting|Display Ideas
CALATHEA BASICS
Botanical name:
Calatheaspp .
Common names:
Prayer plant , rattlesnake plant , zebra plant life , cathedral plant , peacock industrial plant
Origin:
Native to tropical forests of South America
Zones:
USDA Zones 11 - 12 . Plants will grow outdoors in frost - free regions of Florida and Hawaii .
Care level:
loose to moderate
Light requirements:
Calathea plants prefer brilliant collateral windowpane light . Direct sunlight can make leaves to burn or fade . Calathea is tolerant of abject light , though mark will be less distinguishable . ( See morelow - light houseplant . )
Growth rate:
temperate to fast , bet on the variety and growing conditions .
Foliage:
Leaves up to 12 inches prospicient are ellipse , point , or spear - shape in shades of green or over-embellished , some with burgundy or purple undersides . Spotted or striped patterns come about in hues of silver medal , pink , yellowish , or emollient . The leaves move in reaction to light , fold up at night and opening wider during the daytime , hence the mutual name of prayer works .
Flowers:
When raise as an indoor houseplant , blooms are short or non - existent . Small lily - comparable efflorescence grow from the base of the industrial plant during summertime in colors of purple , pinkish , bloodless , yellow or orangish .
Habit and size:
Upright substance abuse , 6 to 36 inches tall and 6 to 24 in wide
Toxicity:
Though all parts of the calathea works are dependable for dearie and tyke , use of goods and services is not urge . balmy stomach suffering can occur when any plant is ingested . See moreCommon plant Safe for Cats and Dogs .
Calathea lookalikes:
Calatheais assort in the phratry Marantaceae and related to prayer plant ( Maranta ) , which has similar foliage . Zebra plant life ( Calathea zebrina ) shares the same common name withAphelandra squarrosa , which also has a striped leaf pattern .
CALATHEA GROWING TIPS
Color Full ® Orbifolia . pic by : Proven victor
Where to grow:
web site in a draft - liberal surface area near a windowpane that receives bright collateral light .
Temperature:
Calathea thrives in conditions that simulate its native tropic home ground . Ideal temperature are between 65 - 85 degree F. Plants will stop growing or get damage if temperature dim below 55 - 60 degrees F for an elongated prison term .
Humidity:
Calathea prefers moist air between 50 - 80 percent humidity . lieu works in a john or increase elbow room humidness by using a humidifier , misting the leaves , or by setting pots on a tray of pebbles filled with water . Do n’t admit the bottom of the pot to sit in water to forbid solution rotting .
Soil type:
apply a high quality potting mix that is well - draining . Calathea prefer a slightly acidic pH of around 6.5 .
Pot requirements:
Grow in a commode with tolerable drainage holes that is no more than 1 to 2 inches wider than the theme testis , which will help oneself prevent stem buncombe .
CALATHEA CARE AND MAINTENANCE
Watering:
Water regularly , as Calathea plants like moist soil , but not wet . Allow the top in of soil to dry out between waterings ; overwatering can get root rot . Discard spare water system from the disk underneath the good deal so that plant are not posture in water .
Fertilizing:
implement a liquid houseplant fertilizer monthly at half - strength , ceasing during winter months when growth slack down .
Pruning:
trim down brownish or chickenhearted leaves back to the al-Qaida of the flora to encourage respectable Modern growth .
Cleaning:
Wipe leave behind with a damp cloth every few months to keep foliation look brisk .
Repotting:
Calathea do n’t care their root disturbed , so repot only if root leap . Repot in early spring before plants restart growing and increase pot size of it by no more than 1 to 2 inches wide than the root ball to prevent etymon rot . Use new potting commixture and do n’t disturb stem . pee lightly after transplant and avoid fertilize for 4 to 6 weeks .
Pests:
Small flying louse may indicate the presence offungus gnats . Though they are harmless to industrial plant , they can be a nuisance . Decrease soil humidity , which pull in gnat , by bottom watering to leave grime surface dry . Diatomaceous earth coalesce into the top layer of dirt will also discourage gnats .
Other pests can includespider mites , mealybugs , thrips , orscale . Wipe affected foliage with a cloth dipped in 70 % rubbing inebriant , or spray with an insecticidal soap . ( See more onhow to get free of plague on houseplant )
CALATHEA VARIETIES
Color Full ® Sanderiana pinstripe calathea . Photo by : Proven Winners
Color Full ® Sanderiana — Buy now from Proven WinnersCalathea ornataPinstripe calathea
sizing : Upright riding habit , 1 to 3 foot tall and wide
Color Full ® Sanderiana feature drab unripe leaves adorn with delicate pink stripes and burgundy - purple undersides . Like other prayer plants , its leave pen up gracefully at Nox .
More Info & Find a Local leafjoy ® retail merchant
Color Full ® Leopardina calathea . Photo by : Proven achiever
Color Full ® Leopardina — Buy now from Proven WinnersCalathea leopardinaShadow Plant
Color Full ® Leopardina features Citrus aurantifolia - green leave with bold , leopard - comparable spots . thrive in dappled light , it mimics its rainforest origin and fold its leaves at night , append unequaled prayer plant magic spell . Also live as “ Shadow Plant ” or “ Zebra Plant . ”
Color Full ® Like a Prayer ™ calathea . Photo by : Proven winner
Color Full ® Like a Prayer ™ —Buy now from Proven WinnersCalathea roseopictaPrayer Plant
Color Full ® Like a Prayer ™ showcases rounded leaves with concentric greenish patterns , pink midribs , and burgundy - purple bottom . Its leaves fold gracefully at night , add a active orison plant life touch modality to your space .
Color Full ® Thoreau ™ calathea . exposure by : Proven winner
Color Full ® Thoreau ™ —Buy now from Proven WinnersCalathea louisaePrayer Plant
Color Full ® Thoreau ™ feature dark unripened , wavy - edged leave with easy green brushstrokes along the midrib and folds its leaves at night . boom in medium to low collateral Inner Light and eminent humidity , it requires distilled water , systematically damp grunge , and a well - draining potting mix .
Color Full ® Makoyana peacock plant . Photo by : Proven winner
Color Full ® MakoyanaCalathea makoyanaPeacock Plant
sizing : Upright habit , up to 2 foot tall and wide
Also be intimate as cathedral works , 10- to 12 - inch leaf show the practice in reverse on the bottom with burgundy coloring .
Color Full ® Insignis rattler works . Photo by : Proven Winners
Color Full ® InsignisCalathea lancifoliaRattlesnake Plant
sizing : Upright vase - shaped habit , 30 column inch marvelous and wide
Elongated leaves resemble the back of a rattler and have burgundy undersides .
Color Full ® Orbifolia prayer plant . picture by : Proven winner
Color Full ® OrbifoliaCalathea orbifoliaRoundleaf Calathea
sizing : upright piano spread out drug abuse , 2 1/2 foot tall and broad
sheer leaf is 8 to 12 inches encompassing and makes a dramatic statement in any home decor .
exposure by : witita leelasutanon / Shutterstock
' connection’Calathea musaica
Size : Compact bushy habit , 2 feet tall and 2 to 3 foot wide
Arrow - form leaves have a stippling shape that ’s most striking when backlit . slow spring up and more tolerant of varying abstemious condition than other varieties .
See moreColor Full ® calatheasfrom the leafjoy ® line from Proven Winners .
TROUBLESHOOTING
Most problems with calathea are due to watering issues , wrong temperature or low humidness . Look for these potential symptoms :
DISPLAY IDEAS
Peacock plant . Photo by : Voravuth sompaiboon / Shutterstock
