Calathea Care

How to care for different calathea varieties!

Today we’re talking all about calathea care! Calatheas are stunning plants that you may already be familiar with. But did you know there are many different types of calathea plants? And that calling it a “prayer plant” might not be entirely correct?

How about the fact that it doesn’t need to take up a coveted spot by your sunniest window? I’m sharing more about these topics and the other things you need to know to help your calathea plant thrive.

Calathea vs. “prayer plant”

So what exactly is a calathea? Well, Calathea is actually a genus of plants—many of which are now popular as houseplants. The Calathea genus is a cousin to the Maranta genus, which contains the Maranta leuconeura—otherwise known as the “prayer plant.” That’s why you’ll often hear some varieties of calathea referred to as prayer plants and vice versa. 

But since “prayer plant” usually refers to a Maranta leuconeura, a prayer plant isn’t technically a calathea. I don’t want to be overly pedantic here—I just like learning the names and sharing them with you!

In reality, though, many of these plants have similar behaviors and looks, despite each being a different genus. Some calathea varieties fold up their leaves at night using a prayer-like motion like maranta prayer plants do. Each leaf has a “joint” between the stem and the leaf. It’s this joint that signals the leaves to curl up at night and unfurl in the morning. 

Calathea origins

But we’re focusing on calathea in this article. Plants in the calathea genus hail from tropical climates in South America. In Brazil, their leaves aren’t just beautiful—they are practical! In the past, they have been used to wrap and transport fish. And in Colombia and Thailand, they have been used to make containers.

As is the case with many tropical plants, calathea faces extinction in the wild due to destruction of its natural habitat. However, in the past few decades, it has grown in popularity as a houseplant due to its striking and diverse foliage. 

Popular varieties

Calathea is like the genus peperomia in that they are often just labeled as “assorted” in nurseries. So, you’ll see them labeled as “assorted calathea,” which can be really frustrating for plant nuts like us! It’s pretty easy to tell the difference between different varieties, though. They all look like cousins—similar in appearance but with notable differences. Below are some of the more popular calathea varieties you might find.

1. Lancifolia, aka “rattlesnake calathea”

The lancifolia, otherwise known as the “rattlesnake” was one of the first calathea varieties I got many years ago. I can speak from experience when I say that this is one hardy plant. It’s named after its cool markingsthat resemble…you guessed it, a rattlesnake!

This variety can grow about a foot and a half tall, though mine has stayed relatively small over the years. The leaves have a longer and leaner look than some of the other calathea varieties, with wavy sides and the familiar calathea mix of yellow, green, and purple tones.

2. Roseopicta, aka “medallion” or “rose painted”

Roseopicta truly is one of the most striking varieties of calathea. It has large, glossy, oval-shaped leaves that have a vivid green pattern on top and a bold purple on the undersides of the leaves. It typically grows about a foot and a half tall. Read more about Calathea Medallion Care to learn all about it.

3. Orbifolia

Orbfiloia might not have the beautiful purple tones that some of its cousins have, but it is just as striking without them! Its gorgeous large billowing green leaves have vivid stripes that can take on a silver hue. Orbifolia can grow over 2 feet tall and wide. Read more about Calathea Orbifolia Care & Propagation!

4. Makoyana aka “peacock plant”

The makoyana, otherwise known as the peacock plant, is just as beautiful and showy as a peacock. The leaves have beautiful light greenish/yellowish markings on vivid green leaves with purple undersides. This is a shorter variety, growing around a foot tall.

5. Ornata, aka “pin stripe”

The gorgeous stripes on the ornata are what give it the “pin-stripe” name. The leaves are dark green with light-colored stripes and deep purple undersides. The leaves can grow to be over a foot, but the plant itself grows to be only about 2 feet wide. That means it’s a bushier variety that can grow just as wide as it can tall. Read more about this plant in my Calathea Ornata Care Guide!

6. Dottie

Dottie has deep green—sometimes nearly black—leaves accented with hot pink variegation. The undersides of the leaves are a pinkish-green, and the color deepens as the leaves mature. It was derived from Calathea rosea picta. Read more about Calathea Dottie Care.

7. Musaica, aka “network”

The Calathea musaica, also known as the Calathea Network, is a newer tropical houseplant on the U.S. market. It has remarkably patterned leaves that grow large and light green with cream-colored linear patterns. Read more about Calathea Network Care.

Lighting needs

No matter the variety of calathea you end up with, their care needs are largely the same. Since Calathea are native to tropical climates, they don’t need a ton of light. Think of it this way: any plant growing on the floor of the rainforest isn’t getting much sun because it’s living under layers of dense foliage. So they do best in medium and even indirect medium light.

This is great news—I find that many times, lower light plants don’t have such striking markings. And even if they do well in low light, striking markings might fade. That’s not so for the gorgeous calathea. In fact, too much direct sunlight can burn their leaves and even dull their colors and patterns.

A few years ago, I moved my rattlesnake calathea outside without properly acclimating it to increased light by putting it in the shade first. The outdoor sun absolutely fried the leaves! So I cut them all down to the soil line. Eventually, the plant regrew and looked better than ever.

Watering

Calathea plants like to be kept moist but not wet. This seems tricky, but it’s not so bad. Make sure you don’t let it totally dry out between waterings. If you notice the top couple inches of soil are dry, give it some water.

Make sure there is adequate drainage so that the routine watering doesn’t lead to the plant’s roots sitting in water. I like to water my plants deeply in the sink or shower, soaking the soil and letting all of the excess water drain from the plant’s drainage holes.

If you aren’t watering enough, you’ll notice the leaves start to get dry and curl a bit. When temperatures drop in the winter, make sure to scale your watering back. The plant will need less when it is cooler—even indoors.

Humidity & temperature

Watering is just one part of keeping calathea plants hydrated, though. Humidity is the second part. Much like calathea’s light needs, the plant’s origins in the hot, wet, and insanely humid rainforest tell you a lot about its humidity and temperature needs as a houseplant.

If your plant’s leaves are curling or browning around the edges, it could be a sign that the humidity levels are too low. You can use a humidifier to help increase ambient humidity levels. Or consider something like an Ikea Greenhouse Cabinet Hack.

I find that my calathea plants generally struggle along indoors over the winter. Then, when I put them out on my covered patio for the spring, summer, and early fall, they truly flourish.

Soil & fertilizer

My calathea plants are not that picky about soil. I use a run-of-the-mill well-draining potting soil—something designed for indoor plants. You can even add in some coco coir or fine moss to lighten up the soil.

As for fertilizer— fertilize your calathea plants during growing season (late spring, summer, early fall). I recommend fertilizing approximately once a month using a balanced houseplant mix. You can look for something designed for indoor plants or houseplants.

Pruning & Repotting

To keep your calathea plant looking its best, make sure to cut away any dead or yellowed growth. This will happen no matter how great your plant is doing—it’s just a fact of life, and it’s usually the older leaves. Other than those, calathea plants don’t need much pruning.

And although more calathea are slow growers, you’ll likely need to repot your plants every few years or so. I recommend repotting when the plant’s roots begin circling the inside of the pot or growing out of the pot’s drainage holes. When we repot, size up the pot about an inch or two and use some fresh soil. 

Propagating

Unfortunately this genus can’t be propagated through leaf cuttings. If you want to propagate your calathea plant, you can do it by dividing an existing plant. The best time to do this is in the spring when repotting.

However, once you remove a calathea from it’s pot and loosen the roots, you’ll see it can be divided quite easily. Repot split plants and treat as you would any calathea.

Wrapping up…

I hope this article helps clear up some care confusion around the calathea! Although they can rightfully get a bit of a bad wrap when it comes to their care needs, their beautiful foliage makes them well worth the effort. Happy planting!

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