Calathea care guide
Goeppertia
Calatheas (now officially Goeppertia) have some of the most beautiful leaves of any houseplant: painted, pinstriped, feathered and velvet patterns that fold upward at night. They're also known as prayer plants, after the way their leaves move.
They have a reputation for being fussy, but calatheas are predictable once you get three things right: soft water, steady moisture and humidity. This guide covers all of it, plus care for more than 20 popular varieties.
Low light · Medium light
About once a week
Fussy
Pet-safe
Where to water it
Pour water slowly onto the soil around the base, not over the leaves, until it runs out of the drainage holes. Empty the saucer after 15 minutes.
When: When the top inch is dry. Keep the soil lightly moist, never soggy.
Where to put it
Medium, indirect light in a humid spot. Bathrooms and grouped plant displays suit it.
Common mistakes
- Tap water high in minerals, which browns edges
- Dry air from heating
- Direct sun, which fades the pattern
Calathea care at a glance
The essentials for every calathea.
| Need | What to do |
|---|---|
| Light | Medium, indirect light. No direct sun. |
| Water | When the top inch is dry, usually weekly. Keep evenly moist, never soggy. |
| Water type | Filtered, distilled or rain water. Tap water browns the edges. |
| Humidity | 50% or higher. |
| Temperature | 65°F to 80°F. Keep above 60°F and away from drafts. |
| Soil | Light, airy mix: potting soil, peat or coir, and perlite. |
| Fertilizer | Half strength monthly in spring and summer. |
| Pets | Non-toxic to cats and dogs. |
How much light does a calathea need?
Calatheas grow on the shady floor of tropical forests, so they want medium, indirect light: near a north or east window, or a few feet from a brighter one. They tolerate fairly low light.
Direct sun fades and scorches the patterned leaves, leaving washed-out or crispy brown patches. If the pattern looks dull, it's getting too much light; if new leaves are small and stems stretch, too little.
How to water a calathea
Water when the top inch of soil is dry, usually about once a week in spring and summer and every 10 to 14 days in winter. Calatheas like evenly moist soil: never soggy, never bone dry.
Water quality matters more for calatheas than almost any other plant. Fluoride, chlorine and minerals in tap water build up and cause brown, crispy leaf edges. Use filtered, distilled or rain water, or at least let tap water sit out overnight.
Humidity
Calatheas want 50% humidity or higher. In heated or air-conditioned rooms, the air is often closer to 30%, which causes curling leaves and crispy edges. A small humidifier nearby is the most effective fix. Grouping plants together helps a little; misting helps very little and can encourage leaf spots.
Bathrooms with a window are often perfect calathea spots.
Soil, repotting and feeding
Use a light, moisture-holding but airy mix, such as potting soil with peat or coir and a good handful of perlite. Repot every 1 to 2 years in spring when roots fill the pot, one size up. Large plants can be divided at the same time.
Feed monthly in spring and summer with a balanced liquid fertilizer at half strength. Over-fertilizing burns the leaf edges.
Calathea winter care
Water slightly less often in winter, stop feeding, and keep plants above 60°F and away from cold windows and heater vents. Winter is when humidity drops most, so this is the season to run a humidifier.
Brown edges, curling leaves and other problems
Calatheas show stress in their leaves quickly. Here's what each sign means.
- Brown, crispy edges or tips: tap water chemicals, low humidity or underwatering.
- Curling leaves during the day: thirst or dry air. (Folding up at night is normal.)
- Yellow leaves: overwatering, or old lower leaves dying naturally.
- Faded pattern or brown patches: too much direct sun.
- Drooping stems: thirst, cold, or root rot if the soil is wet.
- Fine webbing and speckled leaves: spider mites, which love dry air. Wipe and treat both sides of the leaves with insecticidal soap.
Calatheas are gorgeous in hotels, clinics and homes but need consistent care. Leafstruck technicians water with the right water, track humidity and replace any plant that declines.
Luxury home plant careCalathea varieties and how to care for each
All calatheas share the basic care above. Easier varieties are listed first.
Calathea musaica
Also sold as Network calathea
Bright green leaves with a fine, mosaic-like grid pattern.
Care: One of the easiest calatheas. Tolerates average humidity better than most.
Calathea rufibarba
Also sold as Velvet calathea, furry feather
Long, wavy green leaves with fuzzy, purple undersides.
Care: Easy and tolerant. Avoid wetting the velvety leaves.
Calathea concinna Freddie
Light green leaves with dark green feathered stripes.
Care: Compact and forgiving. A good first calathea.
Calathea lancifolia
Also sold as Rattlesnake plant, Goeppertia insignis
Long, wavy leaves with dark spots and purple undersides.
Care: Among the easiest. Handles lower light and the occasional missed watering.
Calathea ornata
Also sold as Pinstripe calathea, pink stripe
Dark green leaves with fine pink or white pinstripes.
Care: Needs high humidity and soft water. The stripes fade in strong light.
Calathea orbifolia
Big, round, silver-striped leaves.
Care: Fussier: needs high humidity and steady moisture. Brown edges are the first sign of dry air.
Calathea medallion
Also sold as Roseopicta, veitchiana
Round leaves with dark green, silver and purple medallion patterns.
Care: Standard care. Keep out of direct sun to protect its pattern.
Calathea roseopicta Dottie and Rosy
Near-black leaves with pink outlines (Dottie) or pink-blushed leaves (Rosy).
Care: Medium light keeps the pink vivid. High humidity.
Calathea makoyana
Also sold as Peacock plant
Thin, translucent leaves with a peacock-feather pattern.
Care: Needs high humidity. Its thin leaves curl quickly in dry air.
Calathea Beauty Star, White Star and Maui Queen
Long leaves with pink, white or silver striping.
Care: Standard care. Medium light keeps the stripes bright.
Calathea vittata and elliptica
Bright green leaves with thin white stripes.
Care: Standard care with soft water.
Calathea zebrina
Also sold as Zebra plant
Large, velvety leaves with bold zebra stripes.
Care: Grows big. High humidity and room to spread.
Calathea White Fusion and Yellow Fusion
Marbled white or yellow and green leaves with purple undersides.
Care: The fussiest. Needs high humidity, soft water and very consistent moisture.
Calathea warscewiczii
Also sold as Jungle velvet
Large, velvety, dark green leaves with a lighter feather pattern.
Care: High humidity and lots of room. Water the soil, not the velvety leaves.
Calathea crocata
Also sold as Eternal flame
Dark leaves with bright orange flower spikes.
Care: Needs bright, indirect light and high humidity to flower.
Triostar and Burle Marx
Also sold as Stromanthe, Ctenanthe (fishbone)
Pink, cream and green stripes (Triostar) or fishbone-patterned leaves (Burle Marx).
Care: Close relatives sold as calatheas. Same care, but Triostar needs brighter light.
Your Calathea watering schedule
Every 6 days · about once a week
Water the soil
Pour water slowly onto the soil around the base, not over the leaves, until it runs out of the drainage holes. Empty the saucer after 15 minutes.
Check first: When the top inch is dry. Keep the soil lightly moist, never soggy.
Schedules are a starting point. Always check the soil before you water. Full Calathea care guide
Too many plants to keep track of? We water them for you.
Calathea questions
Are calatheas hard to care for?
They're fussier than most houseplants, but predictable: medium light, soft water, evenly moist soil and humidity above 50%. Easier varieties include musaica, rufibarba, Freddie and rattlesnake.
How often should I water a calathea?
When the top inch of soil is dry, usually weekly in spring and summer and every 10 to 14 days in winter.
Why are my calathea's leaves turning brown at the edges?
Tap water chemicals, low humidity or underwatering. Switch to filtered or rain water and add a humidifier.
Why are my calathea's leaves curling?
Thirst or dry air. If they curl at night only, that's normal; calatheas fold their leaves up after dark.
How much light does a calathea need?
Medium, indirect light. Direct sun fades and burns the leaves.
What's the easiest calathea to care for?
Calathea musaica (network), rufibarba (velvet), concinna Freddie and lancifolia (rattlesnake) are the most forgiving.
Is a calathea a prayer plant?
Yes. Calatheas are in the prayer plant family (Marantaceae), along with Maranta, Stromanthe and Ctenanthe, and all fold their leaves at night.
Are calatheas safe for pets?
Yes. Calatheas are non-toxic to cats and dogs.
Calatheas, kept perfect
Leafstruck designs with calatheas for homes, spas and boutique hotels, and our technicians handle the soft water, humidity and grooming they need, with free replacements.
Plants that like the same light
Test what you know
Water It Right game
Ten plants, two questions each: how often, and where does the water go?
GameFind the Right Spot game
Place each plant in the room where it will thrive, from sunny windows to windowless hallways.
QuizPlant matcher quiz
Answer five questions about your light, space and style to get three plants that will thrive.