calathea plant profile
- Botanical Name: Calathea
- Common Varieties: Beauty Star, Corona, Eclipse, Freddie, Misto, Peacock, Pinstripe, Rattlesnake, Round-leaf
- Plant Type: Upright Houseplant
Calathea’s fancy foliage truly makes it a work of art, featuring beautiful and brightly colored leaves. Many varieties of calathea showcase leaves with a burgundy underside and vibrantly patterned tops. Calathea is an excellent tabletop plant due to its slow-growing nature and manageable maximum height of about 30 inches. While it can be a bit fussy compared to beginner houseplants like pothos and philodendron, its exotic look makes it well worth the extra effort. This calathea plant care guide offers a basic introduction to its care needs.
how do you care for a calathea plant?
Calathea thrives in low to medium light conditions. Be sure to place your plant in a location where it will receive filtered light, as too much direct sunlight can burn and fade its gorgeous leaves. Water just enough to maintain moist, but not soggy, soil. Brown leaf edges are often a sign of underwatering.
High humidity is a must when it comes to calathea. If the air is too dry, the plant’s leaves may turn crispy brown. You can increase the humidity around your plant by placing it on a tray of pebbles and shallow water, using the pebbles to keep the plant elevated above the water. To encourage growth, feed your calathea monthly with a standard houseplant fertilizer at half strength from spring through fall.
quick care guide
light
Low Light
Moderate Light
water
Moderate Watering Needs
colorS
Purple, Red, Pink, Green, Variegated
features
Air Purifier
Patterned Foliage
frequently asked questions
Water just enough to moisten the soil, being careful not to overwater or let the plant sit in water, as this can lead to root rot.
Calathea can be challenging to maintain. Here are some common reasons your plant may be struggling:
- Direct sunlight: scorches leaves and leads to faded colors
- Poor water quality (hard, soft, or high in chemicals): results in leaf burn
- Sitting in water or overwatering: promotes root rot
- Allowing the soil to dry out: causes leaf dehydration and leads to stunted growth
- Inappropriate temperatures (outside the preferred range of 65-80 degrees Fahrenheit): stresses the plant, leading to poor health and leaf drop
- Low humidity levels: makes leaves crispy and brown
This plant thrives in a high-humidity environment. Although misting can certainly help increase humidity, it is not the most effective method
Calathea thrives in low to medium indirect lighting. Excessive direct light can cause its leaves to burn and its vibrant colors to fade.
Drooping leaves usually indicate that the plant is underwatered. Before watering, always check that the soil is dry to avoid overwatering, as these plants are highly sensitive to water-related issues.
Brown leaf tips on this tropical plant indicate that the humidity is too low. To increase humidity, try placing the plant on a tray of shallow water with pebbles. The pebbles will elevate the plant just above the water level, effectively raising the humidity around your calathea.
calathea fun fact
Calathea plants are often mistakenly referred to as “prayer plants.” However, Maranta is the only true “prayer plant,” receiving its name because its leaves fold up at sunset, resembling the act of praying.
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