In the right conditions, calatheas grow rather quickly and reach their mature size within a year.
The potting medium should be lightweight, rich in organic matter, and slightly acidic.
The Spruce / Kara Riley
Light
Calatheas prefer filtered light or shade.
The Spruce / Brie Goldman
They naturally grow beneath a canopy of trees on the jungle floor with dappled sunlight.
Indirect sun from an east-, south-, or west-facing window is usually best.
Rotate your plant so all sides get an equal amount of light.
The Spruce / Brie Goldman
This natural mechanism allows the plant to maximize sun absorbency.
Soil
Outdoors, plant calathea in loamy, humus-rich soil that has been amended with organic matter.
The soil should be slightly acidic to neutral.
The Spruce / Brie Goldman
Water
Water when the top two inches of soil feel dry to the touch.
Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged.
The plants prefer humidity levels of 50% and higher.
The Spruce / Brie Goldman
Calathea is also a great plant for a bathroom or aterrariumwhere the conditions are naturally humid.
You just need to find a terrarium large enough to host the sprawling leaves of the plant.
Hold off on fertilizer in the winter months when the plant naturally grows less.
The Spruce / Kara Riley
Water your plant the day before you plan to divide it.
Carefully remove it from its pot and tease apart the roots.
Divide the plant into two sections.
The Spruce / Kara Riley
The best time to start seeds is in the early spring.
Fill small containers or a seed tray with moist seed-starting mix.
Keep the soil lightly moist but never soggy.
The Spruce / Kara Riley
You should see germination in two to four weeks.
They generally do not impact the plant’s health and are usually eradicated by usingneem oil.
Other common pests include aphids, mealybugs, spider mites, and scale.
The Spruce / Kara Riley
Many of these issues are controlled with several applications of horticultural oil orinsecticidal soap.
The flowers have an asymmetrical tubular shape with three petals and sepals.
And they feature a mild citrus-like fragrance.
Calathea orbifoliaThe Spruce / Adrienne Legault
If you’re hoping for flowers to accompany the plant’s vibrant foliage, consider theCalathea crocataspecies.
It will sometimes, but not always, produce blooms in optimal indoor conditions.
Common Problems With Calathea
When grown in the environment they like, calatheas have few issues.
Calathea makoyanaThe Spruce / Kara Riley
But when conditions are even slightly off, some problems may arise.
Leaves Turning Yellow
Calatheas are surprisingly picky when it comes to the typeof water they receive.
The frequency of watering depends on how fast the soil dries out.
Calathea ornataThe Spruce / Phoebe Cheong
On average, it needs to be watered once a week.
Calatheas are commonly kept as houseplants, especially because they don’t require very bright natural sunlight.
However, it is important to maintain a warm and humid environment indoors.
Calathea roseopictaThe Spruce / Kara Riley
While prayer plant is a common name for certain calatheas, not allCalatheaspecies are prayer plants.
The species many people think of when they hear prayer plant isMaranta leuconeura.
Its leaves fold up at night (like praying hands) and open flat during the day.
Calathea lancifoliaThe Spruce / Kara Riley
