Calathea – A Perfect Christmas Gift for the Plant People On Your List

For those plant lovers on your Christmas list there is no more striking tropical plant than a Calathea with their beautiful upper leaf patterns and gorgeous purple or raspberry undersides. These vibrant plants coupled with a deep rich purple bow and gold pot cover certainly rival the most beautiful of traditional holiday gift plants.

The challenge will be which one to choose, as there are 60 Calathea species and over 300 cultivars! The white, purple, yellow or orange flowers resemble layered pointed petals emerging from a basket; each on a single stem held above the leaves. They rarely flower indoors so if you have one that flowers in your home you are extremely fortunate!

Calatheas are now part of the Goeppertia genus (previously labelled the Calathus genus). They are often mistaken for Prayer Plants (both belong to the same family). And like prayer plants, most varieties will raise their leaves vertically at night, forming ‘praying hands’. During the day, the leaves will drop and position themselves to best catch the light as the sun tracks across the sky.

In their native South American environments, Calathea grow on the forest floor beneath the tree canopies of tropical rainforests. When you think about the conditions they grow in the wild, it is best to mimic their tropical rainforest habitat.

Most Calathea cultivars will grow to a mature size of 30-90 cm with a 30 – 45 cm spread. A few varieties are taller.

Calatheas can be quite temperamental if four key cultural requirements are not met. These are humidity, warmth, soil moisture, and depending on variety, bright light (no direct sun) or part shade.

Humidity

Providing adequate humidity (especially in winter) is the most important step in successful calathea care. A kitchen or bathroom with a window is the perfect spot. Otherwise, provide a humidifier maintained at 50-60 percent and small fan in the Calathea room(s). Aim the fan away from the plants to help circulate the humidity. This greatly helps to avoid leaf browning and shrivelling. Some plant people place their calathea in a grow tent during the winter to help maintain a well humidified area and proper artificial lighting. I find that trays of pebbles filled with water really don’t cut it as humidity sources.

Warmth

A climate of warmth is also found in tropical rain forests. In winter our households should be at 21 – 28 C to make your calathea comfortable. Night temperatures can be lowered to not less than 18 C. As with most tropical plants keep your calathea away from cold drafts, heat vents and remember that these plants are NOT cold or frost tolerant.

Soil and Watering

When mixing up soil for your Calathea it is most important to create a very well aerated and fast draining soil mix. An optimum soil mix is 30% tropical soil mix, 15% orchid bark, 20% coconut coir, 20% perlite, 10 % worm castings and 5% activated charcoal.

It is also vitally important to water your Calathea with rainwater, distilled water or tap water that has sat out for two days to get rid of the fluoride and chemicals. Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. Your index finger inserted down two inches into the soil at the side of the pot is your best gauge of soil moisture. Never let your Calathea dry out totally.

Light

Position your Calathea in a bright light location in your home but no direct sun. Make sure you look up the variety you have purchased as some Calathea prefer a semi-shaded location.

Fertilizer and Propagation

Provide a well-balanced, water soluble tropical fertilizer once a month in spring and summer when the plant is actively growing. Do not fertilize in winter.

Calatheas can be propagated by root division in late spring.  They are rhizomatous plants and form distinct root clumps that can be separated and repotted. Make sure to check the roots for rot and trim off any rotted roots with sterilized tools before repotting. Replant divisions in new soil at the same soil level they were in the original pot. Make sure each division has roots and one or two leaves. Water after repotting with room temperature water being careful not to waterlog the soil.  Excess water should be dumped out of the catch basin after every watering. New growth will be slow to appear – this may take a few weeks. Be patient!

Repot a single plant every two to three years or when the plant is root bound. The new pot should be one size up from the original.

Calathea Troubleshooting

Leaves have faded with obvious burn marks. This usually means too much exposure to sun. If the leaf is badly burnt, carefully trim it off the plant close to the stem base.

Brown leaves and brown leaf edges and tips – Low humidity and fluoride/chemicals in the tap water. The brown areas will not come back but can be trimmed back to the healthy part of the leaf. Increase humidity or reposition the plant in a bright kitchen or bathroom.

Curling leaves – can indicate under watering or too low humidity. Brown and shrivelled leaves should be pruned off at the stem base.

Fading Leaf Color – Not enough light – relocate to a bright room with no direct sun.

Leaves turn yellow and wilt – over watering (root rot).

Spidermites – Another indication your plant is either too dry, and/or experiencing low humidity. These insects are also attracted to dusty plants which can result in poor plant health.  Leaf stomata (breathing openings) are clogged by dust buildup. This interferes with a plant's respiration. The leaf cannot ‘breathe’ and leaf death gradually arrives. Very gently wipe off the top and bottom of the leaves with a damp cloth. You can also tie a plastic bag around the plant pot, secure at the base and dip the upper leaves in water, rinsing gently. I would repeat this every three weeks or so if you can. Never use leaf shine or milk. 

For beginners, the best Calathea to start with is the Rattlesnake Calathea (Calathea lancifolia).

When giving a Calathea as a gift (or any tropical plant during the Christmas season) it is advisable to double wrap it in brown paper or double up plant sleeves; insert a care card with the cultivar name, and close the top. In winter never leave tropical plants in a car while shopping.

Calatheas are a safe gift to give pet owners as they are non-toxic to cats, dogs and humans. Wear gloves when pruning as the sap can be irritating to the skin.