Caring for Calathea
Common Calathea varieties include Rattlesnake Plant (C. Lancifolia), Rose-Painted Calathea (C. roseopicta), Peacock Plant (C. makoyana) and others.
Calathea lancifolia aka Rattlesnake Plant
With boldly-patterned leaves, Calatheas are a colorful addition to your home. Calatheas do best in medium to low light. Avoid direct light to avoid scorching the leaves. Because these tropical plants love humidity, they are ideal plants for a kitchen or bathroom location. They are non-toxic and safe for homes with curious children or pets.
General Care:
Calatheas do well at average home temperatures (above 64℉); avoid cold drafts or sudden temperature changes.
Keep your Calathea moist but not wet or waterlogged. Excess water over time can cause yellowing of the leaves, and eventually wilting as the roots suffocate and die. If your Calathea wilts due to excess water it will be slow to recover. During active growth (from about May to August) you may need to water more frequently to keep the soil moist. In winter when growth is slow, water only when the soil becomes just dry to the touch.
If you see the leaves curl and leaf edges begin to brown it may be because your soil is running too dry or the humidity is too low. If soil is dry, water it more frequently. If you believe humidity is the problem, mist leaves with lukewarm water on a regular basis.
Calathea makoyana aka Peacock Plant.
Feeding your Calathea:
Use a general houseplant fertilizer with iron every four weeks during the spring and summer. No fertilizer is necessary during the winter.
Additional Tips for Success:
If you notice a tip or margin burn, especially on older leaves, often with a yellowish hue at the edge of the burn, it could be due to your tap water. To solve this, allow your tap water to stand overnight before watering so the chlorine and fluoride can evaporate. Remove any yellow leaves to keep your plant strong and growing.
Clean leaves with a damp cloth occasionally. Do not use leaf-shine products on Calateha.
Photo Credits
Calathea lancifolia by David J. Stang by CC-BY-SA-4.0 via Wikimedia Commons,
Calathea makoyana image public domain