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Calathea

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Calathea spp.

Genus

Calathea

Family

Marantaceae

Order

Zingiberales

How to care for Calathea

💦 Water

How often to water your Calathea

Calathea 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

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Calathea in your home

Calathea can tolerate being far from a window and light source.

Place it less than 6 feet from a south-facing window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Calathea in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Calathea

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Calathea: repot after 2X growth

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 after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

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💡 FAQs

⭐ Difficulty Level

Calathea is generally easy to care for, though some plant parents report facing challenges with growing it. Check out the reviews down below to read more about their experiences!

How to Grow Calathea →

Benefits of Growing Calathea →

Common Calathea Problems →

Indoor Care Guide for Calathea →

Outdoor Care Guide for Calathea →

💦 Water Needs

Calathea prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Calathea Water Frequency →

Calathea Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Calathea may have difficulty thriving and will drop leaves 🍃 without ample sunlight. Place it less than 3 feet from a window to maximize the potential for growth. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Calathea Light Requirements →

Calathea Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Calathea is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.

💨 Humidity

Calathea prefers dry environments. Providing extra humidity or misting your plant allows water to linger on leaves, which can create the perfect environment for harmful types of fungi.

Calathea Humidity Needs →

🪴 Soil

Calathea is very sensitive to dry soil, so choose a potting soil that retains moisture. A good soil will still drain well and contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir or sphagnum moss.

Best Soil Mix for Calathea →

Best Pots for Calathea →

When and How to Successfully Repot Calathea →

What Are Healthy Calathea Roots →

💩 Fertilizer

Calathea should be repotted after it doubles in size or once a year, whichever comes first. Fresh potting soil has all the nutrients your plant needs, so as long as it’s refreshed yearly, you shouldn’t need to use fertilizer. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!

How Much and When to Fertilize Calathea →

🌎 Native Region

Calathea is native to Tropical Americas.

🌸 Flowers

Yes, you may see your Calathea bloom with the right amount of sunlight and water.

Calathea Flowers →

Is Calathea an Annual Plant? →

Is Calathea a Perennial Plant? →

Calathea Pollination Guide →

Common Calathea Flower Problems →

⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Calathea is a clumping plant, meaning new growth will emerge from the soil around the parent plant.

Calathea Lifecycle →

Calathea Size Guide →

How and When to Prune Calathea →

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Calathea can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 10a-12b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Calathea Temperature Tolerance →

Calathea Hardiness Zones →

Landscaping Ideas with Calathea →

When to Plant Calathea →

How to Plant Calathea →

Where to Plant Calathea →

Winter Care for Calathea →

Best Companion Plants for Calathea →

Is Calathea a Weed? →

🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Calathea, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.