Calathea.

En un coup d'œil

Care level

Difficult

Plant type

Tropical perennial

Light

Bright indirect light

Indoor light

medium

Water

Every 5 to 10 days

Mature size

60 to 90 cm

Growth rate

medium

Hardiness

USDA 11 to 12

Bloom time

Rarely indoors

Entretien

Keep the soil consistently moist but never soggy to prevent root rot. Use distilled or filtered water to avoid brown leaf tips caused by minerals. Watch for curling leaves, which often signal the plant needs more humidity.

Watering

Water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.

Feeding

Feed with a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength during the growing season.

Pruning

Trim off any yellow or damaged leaves at the base of the stem to keep the plant tidy.

Repotting

Repot only when the plant becomes root bound, typically every two years.

Soil

Well-draining peat-based mix

Soil pH

6.0 to 7.0

Temperature

15 to 27°C

Humidity

50 to 80%

Drought tolerance

low

Lifespan

Perennial, typically 3 to 5 years with proper care.

Deer and rabbits

moderate

Sécurité

People

This plant is non toxic to humans and pets.

Pets

These plants are generally considered non-toxic to cats and dogs.

Children

The leaves can be a choking hazard if small children pull off and ingest pieces.

Edibility

While not considered toxic, these plants are not intended for human consumption.

Comment l'identifier

• Large, oval-shaped leaves
• Intricate, colorful leaf patterns
• Deep purple undersides
• Leaves fold up at night

Height

0.3 to 0.9m

Spread

0.3 to 0.6m

Leaves

green, purple, white, pink, evergreen

Flowers

white, yellow, purple, 2 to 5cm

Problèmes courants

• Spider mites — These tiny pests thrive in dry air and leave fine webbing on the undersides of leaves.
• Brown leaf tips — This is usually caused by low humidity or the use of tap water containing fluoride or chlorine.

La cultiver

Propagation

division

When to plant

spring, summer

Overwintering

Keep the plant away from cold drafts and heating vents. Maintain consistent indoor temperatures and monitor humidity levels closely during the winter months.

In containers

They grow very well in containers, provided the pot has drainage holes and is sized to fit the root ball snugly.

Group plants with similar humidity needs together to create a microclimate that keeps them all happy.

Bonnes associations

• Ferns — They share similar requirements for high humidity and indirect light.
• Peace Lily — These plants enjoy the same tropical environment and moisture levels.

À éloigner de

• Succulents — Succulents require bright light and dry soil, which would kill a Calathea.

Espèces similaires

• Maranta — They are closely related and share the same prayer plant habit.
• Stromanthe — It is a cousin in the same family with similar care needs and striking foliage.

Science

Family

Marantaceae

Genus

Calathea

Order

Zingiberales

Class

Liliopsida

Native range

Tropical regions of Central and South America.

Conservation

Many species are threatened in the wild due to habitat loss from deforestation.

They grow on the shady forest floor where they rely on high humidity and dappled light to thrive.

Uses

indoor ornamental, air purification

Taxonomie vérifiée avec le GBIF.

Ce qu'on demande souvent

Why are my leaves curling?

Curling leaves are a classic sign that your plant is thirsty or the humidity is too low.

Should I mist my Calathea?

Misting provides only temporary humidity, so a humidifier or pebble tray is much more effective.

D'où vient le nom

The name Calathea comes from the Greek word kalathos, meaning basket, referring to the basket like shape of the flowers.

Bon à savoir

• They are often called prayer plants because their leaves move throughout the day.
• They belong to the Marantaceae family.
• These plants prefer indirect light to avoid leaf scorching.
• They originate from the tropical rainforests of the Americas.