Calathea care
Calatheas have painted leaves that fold up at night and open in the morning. They are beautiful but demanding about water quality and humidity.
Also called prayer plant relative.
Light
Medium, indirect light. Direct sun fades the patterns and burns the leaves.
Watering
Keep evenly moist but never soggy. Use filtered, distilled or rain water: calatheas are sensitive to fluoride and salts in tap water.
Soil, feeding and repotting
Soil: Airy mix that holds some moisture: potting soil with perlite and bark.
Feeding: Half-strength fertiliser monthly spring to summer.
Repotting: Every 1–2 years in spring.
Propagation
Division at repotting.
Problems and fixes
| What you see | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Crispy brown edges | Low humidity or tap-water minerals. | Use a humidifier and filtered or rain water. |
| Curling leaves | Thirst or very dry air. | Water and raise humidity. |
| Faded patterns | Too much light. | Move away from direct sun. |
Not sure what you’re looking at? Upload a photo to the plant doctor in “What’s wrong with it?” mode.
Ask about your calathea
Questions gardeners ask
Why are my calathea leaves curling?
Curling during the day usually means thirst or dry air. Folding up at night is normal movement.
Can I use tap water on calathea?
It often causes brown tips. Leave tap water out overnight at minimum, or use filtered or rain water.