Melinda Myers

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