Definitely one of the most difficult widely-available houseplants to not only keep alive, but also keep thriving. If you have the right conditions to keep Calatheas happy, then there are several amazingly beautiful varieties you can select, which we will discuss below.
Background
Calatheas are a group of plants native to the tropical areas of Latin America. They are popular as houseplants due to their colorful and intricate leaf patterns. Calatheas are also commonly known as prayer plants. This is due to their leaves folding up during the night and then unfurling again during the daylight. This phenomenon is called nyctinasty, and there are other houseplants that exhibit this, such as Marantas. Calatheas are notorious within the houseplant community for being extremely high-maintenance.
Basic Facts
- Normally slow to moderate growers, most varieties will grow to a mature height of about 2′ tall.
- Appears on the ASPCA’s Non-Toxic Plant List.
- Some commonly seen varieties are Calathea lancifolia (Rattlesnake Plant), Calathea makoyana
Growing Conditions
Light
In general, they prefer medium light, but some varieties of Calathea can tolerate and thrive in lower light. Direct sun will often fade the markings of a Calathea.
Watering
Keep the soil evenly moist, but not too wet. Always drain excess water from the bottom of your container. Never let the potting mix completely dry out. It takes some practice and observation to learn when to correctly water Calatheas, as they are fussy plants.
Potting Mix
Can be successfully grown in most commercial potting mixes, but Calatheas appreciate potting mixtures that will retain some moisture.
Humidity
Here is where things really get tricky with Calatheas, since they require an elevated level of humidity to fully thrive. You can try to increase the humidity for them in several ways:
- Adding a humidifier to the same room as your Calatheas.
- Grouping your Calatheas together nearby other plants.
- Placing a tray of pebbles underneath your plants. Be sure that the bottom of the pot is never in standing water. Fill the tray with water, and repeat once it has evaporated. Please note that this method is mainly anecdotal; there is uncertainty whether this method consistently increases humidity around a plant.
Even with the above methods, it may just be that your home environment is not well-suited for a high-humidity loving plant such as a Calathea. If they are kept in consistently dry air, their leaf edges will inevitably turn brown, and later on the plant won’t survive. If you live in a colder-weather climate, the wintertime will be especially difficult for keeping Calatheas thriving.
Fertilizer
Regularly fertilize during the warmer months, this will help their growth and keep their foliage looking the most beautiful.
Propagation
Calatheas can be propagated through root division. Many have tried to propagate through cuttings, but that is not a successful method.
To propagate a Calathea, lift the plant out of its container and shake off the excess potting media around its roots. You’ll notice that there tend to be several “clumps” stuck together. Sometimes it is fairly easy to separate one clump from the rest, other times you’ll need to cut a clump off with a sharp object. You need to be sure that there is at least one leaf attached to the clump you are removing. Plant the clump in an appropriately sized container – you don’t want an excess amount of potting media around your new plant, as this can lead to excess moisture retention around the plant’s roots, which can lead to pathogens that can kill the plant before it gets established and growing.
Varieties of Calathea
Calathea lancifolia (Goeppertia insignis) – ‘Rattlesnake Plant’
Commonly seen variety of Calathea. Grows to a height of 1.5 to 2′ with a spread of 12-18″. Has lanceolate, oblong leaves with a striking pattern.
Calathea makoyana (Goeppertia makoyana) – ‘Peacock Plant’
Grows to a height of 18″ with a spread of 12-18″. Has ovate leaves with a peacock-like pattern. Sometimes also known as ‘Cathedral windows’.
