Calathea

Calathea are known for their unique foliage patterns, with a large array of varieties this may be the perfect house plant for you. They are commonly known as Calathea, Beauty Star, Prayer Plants, Cathedral Plants, Peacock Plants, Zebra Plants, and Rattlesnake Plants. Calathea can be tricky to care for but with the right approach anyone can keep these gorgeous house plants thriving.

Calathea should be placed in a spot that receives medium to bright indirect light. They can tolerate lower light but their colors may begin to fade. Direct sunlight will damage leaves and should be avoided.

Calathea thrive best in well draining soil that is rich in nutrients and organic matter, a peat-moss based soil blend is usually best, just make sure it does not include moisture retaining crystals.

For watering your Calathea I recommend using a soil moisture meter, when the top inch of your soil is dry. Watering generally will be every 1-2 weeks (Keep in mind that brighter light will require more often watering) Do not allow your Calathea to sit in water for prolonged periods, if water collects in the plants saucer after you water it is best to drain it after about 15 minutes. As these are more sensitive plants it is I recommend to water with distilled water or filtered purified chlorine free water, using tap water which is often high in minerals, salt, or chlorine can cause damage to the foliage.

High humidity is a must for Calathea, if it is not getting the proper humidity the leaves will begin to curl and brown. using a pebble tray with a small amount of water under the plant can boost humidity or you can select an area that stays relatively humid like a bathroom or near your kitchen sink, otherwise you can use a humidifier.

Fertilize your calathea with an all purpose indoor plant fertilizer at half strength. Only fertilize during the spring and summer months.

Calatheas are moisture-loving plants, but over-watering is still a concern and can introduce a whole host of problems. Making sure the plants receive lots of bright indirect light can help regulate the dampness while helping the plant thrive.

Don't be too worried if you notice the leaves beginning to curl or the stems of your calathea drooping. These are signs of dehydration. It's important to pay attention to these indicators, but these hardy houseplants can bounce back within a day or so after receiving water.

Calathea can only be propagated through division. These plants naturally propagate themselves by expanding their root system and sending new shoots up through the soil. When a mature plant is re-potted, gently separate the roots to divide the main plant into several smaller plants. Each new plant can be potted in its own container. Given time and proper care, those new plants will fill in.

All Calathea varieties are non toxic to dogs, cats, and humans!