Calathea Orbifolia
4.2 out of 5 (57 experiences)
Large, lush leaves
Browns easily
About Calathea Orbifolia
Many of the houseplants we used to know as Calatheas now belong to the genus Goeppertia (say that three times fast). These plants have delightfully patterned leaves that come in all sorts of colors and shapes! Commonly known as prayer plants, the leaves of some species fold up at night through a process called nyctinasty meaning night movement! 😴
Taxonomy
Goeppertia orbifolia
Goeppertia
Marantaceae
Zingiberales
Also known as
Calathea orbifolia, Calathea, Calathea orbifolia and Calathea orbifolia.
How to care for Calathea Orbifolia
How often to water your Calathea Orbifolia
every 9
Calathea Orbifolia needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.
Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.
Water 0.5 cups every
9
Finding light for Calathea Orbifolia in your home
a window
Calathea Orbifolia may have difficulty thriving, and will drop leaves 🍃, without ample sunlight.
Place it less than 3 feet from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.
Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Calathea Orbifolia in your home 🏡.
How to fertilize Calathea Orbifolia
Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.
By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.
To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Calathea Orbifolia after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.
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Orbifolia yellowing My beloved Orbifolia is getting yellowing on its leaves. I just gave him a grow light, and he’s in a self watering terracotta pot. Any advice?
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My leaves are turning yellow quickly. Thursday they were fine and by Monday they are yellow. Watered on Thursday 1/2 cup per app cycle on once a week. #PrayerPlant
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Is my plant getting too much light? It’s sitting on the floor in my southwest window. #PrayerPlant
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Some of the leaf edges of my calathea orbifolia are turning brown? #PrayerPlant
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Brown leaf #PrayerPlant
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My calathea seems pretty happy but has some super sad leaves, see below. Any idea what’s wrong? It the activity it says recently repotted, but that’s not correct… #Calathea #CalatheaCrew
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Do you like my plant?
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What’s up with my plant? My Calathea Orbifolia looks so unhappy. The leaves are crispy and have yellow spots on all of them. One turned completely yellow. It has been hotter in my apartment recently. Does anyone know what is going on?
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#Calathea #CalatheaCrew I have 3 calatheas and two of them right now are really struggling with brown edges. I do have rocks to add humidity and I water them when they're still moist. They're near an east-facing window but I don't think there's too much sun. Is this just something I need to live with with calathea? The zebrina was in terrible shape when I got it so I'm mostly glad it's alive. They're both putting out new leaves all the time.
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How should I remove this dying leaf? Hi! One of my leaves is dying on my calathea orbifolia and I want to remove it to prevent it harming the healthy ones. Where on the stem should I cut it from to prevent harming the rest of the plant?
Care Summary for Calathea Orbifolia
Calathea Orbifolia
Greg recommends:
Water
0.5 cups every 9 days
Placement
< 3ft from a window
Nutrients
Repot after 2x growth
Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.
What other plant parents say
Large, lush leaves 44
Browns easily 29
Fast grower 13
Survivor 6
Easy to propagate 3
Blooms easily 2
Pest magnet 2
04/07/2022
What a diva. But all is forgiven when you look at her stunningly gorgeous leaves! Temperamental and high maintenance in the beginning, but once you learn her ways, she will grow and shine.
Large, lush leaves
Browns easily
03/17/2022
Hard to care for.
Browns easily
02/23/2022
Gorgeous leaves, beautiful shape. Keep humidity high enough and don’t water 💦 too much.
Large, lush leaves
01/17/2022
One of my favorites. Needs indirect light or the leaves will burn quickly. High humidity is also a must.
Large, lush leaves
Fast grower
01/13/2022
Love her leaves, but browns easily, she is a Diva.
Large, lush leaves
01/10/2022
Calatheas can be very fussy, but with filtered water and good humidity they will thrive!
Large, lush leaves
Fast grower
Easy to propagate
Browns easily
12/21/2021
Such an annoying plant but the leaves are so gorgeous when they’re big that I’m just going to let it string me along and stomp on my heart for the next 5 years
Large, lush leaves
12/15/2021
Huge leaves with a texture that begs to be stroked. Happy in a shady corner & lets me know if she’s thirsty before Greg thinks she’s due a soaking, by drooping. Soon perks up again. Brings me inordinate amounts of joy ❤️
Fast grower
Large, lush leaves
Browns easily
12/04/2021
So hard to care for her! I don’t know what she wants from me most of the time! 🥲
11/24/2021
Pretty dramatic, even for a calathea - but also decent at rebounding. The leaves are so beautiful when they’re happy.
Large, lush leaves
11/20/2021
This plant browns really quickly when it’s unhappy! Keeping it in a warm and humid environment will maintain those beautiful green leaves and encourage steady growth. Don’t be afraid to carefully prune browned leaves- just make sure the plant still has plenty of leaf surface area left to photosynthesize!
Large, lush leaves
Browns easily
09/29/2021
Finicky with water and humidity, but worth the trouble.
Large, lush leaves
Browns easily
09/07/2021
I love my calthea I just really hope it doesn’t die
Large, lush leaves
Browns easily
08/30/2021
She didn't do well shipping. Hoping mines adjusts well and begins sprouting new leaves.
Large, lush leaves
Easy to propagate
Browns easily
08/10/2021
You have to spray the leaves all the time
Browns easily
08/05/2021
i love her she’s so pretty
Large, lush leaves
08/05/2021
i love her she’s so pretty
Large, lush leaves
07/11/2021
Use room temperature water, not tap! I made this mistake once and my leaves started browning. When I went back to room temperature water, my plant baby was happy again :)
Large, lush leaves
06/17/2021
Stunning leaves
Large, lush leaves
06/16/2021
I have had this plant for a month or so and I have found it so hard to keep it happy, it has already lost a leaf. I have learnt that they like distilled water or rainwater, good drainage. However I have not found what this plant likes enough to keep it healthy yet :/
Browns easily
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