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Calathea

Botanical Name
Calathea spp.
Hardiness
Zones 11 to 12
Height
1 to 2 feet
Width
8 to 12 inches
Light
Low to moderate light out of direct sun
Soil
Moist, well-drained potting mix
Planting & Care
  • Water regularly to keep soil moist
    • This will help avoid brown tips on leaves caused by fluoride and chlorine in tap water
  • Needs high humidity, place pot atop pebbles in a water filled saucer
    • As the water in the saucer evaporates it will help provide humidity around the plant while the pebbles keep the pot from resting in standing water
  • Moderate to indirect light
    • Scorched and brown spots in direct light
    • Pale leaves, less colorful when it doesn't receive sufficient light
  • Fertilize with a diluted solution of houseplant fertilizer during the growing season
  • Propagate by division
Problems
Spider mites, aphids, scale
Varieties
  • Rattlesnake Plant (Calathea lancifolia) - narrow, long, green leaves wth darker green spots and margins, undersides are attractive purple-red
  • Pinstripe Plant (Calathea ornata) - dark green foliage striped in hot pink
  • C. ornata 'Beauty Star' - very attractive pointed leaves are bright green with dark green along the center and margin, narrow yellow stripes fill in along the leaf
  • Calathea roseopicta 'Medallion' - striking foliage of dark green streaked with bands of silver to emerald green, undersides of leaves are dark purple
  • C. roseopicta 'Corona' - round gray-green leaves with dark green edges, reddish-purple veins and undersides
  • C. roseopicta 'Dottie' - rounded black-purple foliage with pink variegation
  • Round Leaf Calathea (Calathea orbifolia) - green leaves striped with shades of darker green
  • Misto - medium green leaves with ligher green variegation feathering out from the center
  • Freddie - narrow light green leaves with dark green bands emerging from veins
  • Zebra Plant (C. zebrina) - velvety, light green ovate leaves sporting dark green stripes resembling zebra stripes

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