Calathea

Calathea

Shop our Calathea Collection

Calathea or Prayer Plants are amazing for so many reasons. They get their name from the way they ‘sleep’ at night. You will notice their leaves slowly turn upwards in a praying-like shape as the sun sets, and by morning they fold back down as they go through a circadian rhythm. We tend to keep lots of different Calathea varieties in the shop 1) because they’re beautiful, but 2) they are all pet-safe! Although these plants offer so much, they do require some more care than your average philodendron or pothos.

  • Soil

Almost any well-draining potting mix will do for Calathea. Calathea tpically like soil that remains moist (while not soggy) so adding some extra peat moss or coconut coir to your soil mix is a great way to keep your Calathea happy. We recommend Fox Farm Ocean Forest potting soil for added nutrients 

  • Watering

Water every 7-10 days depending on how quickly your soil is drying out. Be sure that at least the first couple of inches feel dry before watering but don’t let your Calathea completely dry out or it will respond with shriveled, drooping leaves.

Calathea are known for being picky about the kind of water they receive. If you live in a city or area with hard tap water, this will often cause yellow/brown tips on your Calathea’s leaves. Ideally, use filtered or distilled water on your Calathea to avoid issues. Alternatively, if you fill your watering receptacle and let it sit overnight, most of the chemicals found in tap water will evaporate leaving you with a more palatable water for your Calathea.

  • Sunlight

Calathea's will be happy in any degree of moderate, indirect light. They tolerate lower light as well but never place a Calathea in direct sunlight. This will cause the leaves to scorch and lose their beautiful colors.

  • Humidity

All Calathea varieties love lots of humidity. If you notice the leaves are curling at the edges, this is likely caused by a lack of ambient humidity. The best way to solve this is by adding a humidifier to your home; however, a cheaper alternative is to set a tray of pebbles filled with water near the plant to naturally create humidity.

  • Fertilization

During the summer months your Calathea will appreciate a monthly dose of any standard plant fertilizer, diluted at half strength.

FAQ’s

  • Pet friendly?

    • Yes! This is one of the greatest perks of Calathea varieties - they’re all completely pet-safe!

  • Pruning

    • As you work out just how to care for your new Calathea, you may inevitably end up with some yellowed, unsightly leaves. If these show no hope of survival, feel free to snip them where the leaf stem meets the plant stem, and wipe the open wound with a tiny dab of hydrogen peroxide to ensure the plant does not get infected in this spot.

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