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Kiersten lives in New Orleans, LA and graduated with her masters degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Tulane University in 2019.
She has conducted or assisted on research studies covering trees such as the bald cypress, swamp maple, and water tupelo, as well as important marsh grasses including Juncus, Spartina, and Phragmites.
Kiersten is a certified Louisiana Master Naturalist and regularly volunteers with local community gardens and nonprofits to help restore critical ecosystems along the Gulf Coast.

3.9 out of 5 (147 experiences)


About Rose Calathea
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 roseopicta
Goeppertia
Marantaceae
Zingiberales
Also known as
Jungle Velvet and Calathea roseopicta

How to care for Rose Calathea

How often to water your Rose Calathea

every 9
Rose 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

Check the growing potential in your area
A plant's growing potential is determined from its location, the time of year, and current local weather.

Select a city to check sunlight intensity

Finding light for Rose Calathea in your home

a window
Rose Calathea 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 Rose Calathea in your home 🏡.

How to fertilize Rose Calathea

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

Rose Calathea can be challenging to care for, according to some plant parents. Check out the reviews down below to learn from their experiences!
Water Needs
Rose 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.
Sunlight Needs
Rose 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 🏡.
Toxicity
Rose 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
Rose Calathea doesn’t require additional humidity. Plants absorb most water through their root system rather than their leaves, so the best way to provide humidity for your plants is through watering the soil.
Soil
Rose Calathea does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!
Fertilizer
Rose 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!
Native Region
Rose Calathea is native to Tropical Americas.
Flowers
Yes, you may see your Rose Calathea bloom with the right amount of sunlight and water.
Growth Pattern
Rose Calathea is a clumping plant, meaning new growth will emerge from the soil around the parent plant.
Growing Outdoors
USDA Hardiness Zone
Rose Calathea can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 11a-12b. Find your local hardiness zone here.
Propagation
Rose Calathea can be propagated by division into new individual plants.
- Check to see if there is more than one plant. In some cases they may still be beneath the soil surface. If you feel confident, you may remove the soil to check for baby plantlets below!
- If there are multiple plants growing, unpot the plant and gently tug the plants apart, being careful not to disturb too many of the roots. They may be connected by large root segments which you may need to break to free the plantlet.
- Pot up the new plant in well-draining soil
- Repot the parent plant back into its original pot
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 Rose 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!
Care Summary for Rose Calathea
Rose Calathea
Greg recommends:

0.5 cups every 9 days

< 3ft from a window

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












A beautiful plant, but in true Calathea style, they’re drama queens. Make sure before you get one or whilst you are buying it that you have a space with enough humidity for them.
For my Rose Calathea, I have her set up with a pebble tray inside of a fishbowl. This focuses the humidity on to the plant.
They like to be damp, but not wet.
Make sure they’re not too close to the window. Mine is about 3ft away from a window with blinds, and that’s where she’s seemed happiest.
Finding a happy medium takes a little work, but once you have it, you’ll have a happy plant.
Best of luck!! 🌱








So I’ve had a few crispy edges that I’ve trimmed down but otherwise, it hasn’t been as dramatic as I’ve read/heard. My humidity generally fluctuates between 40-60% but it seems happy as long as I keep it’s soil consistently moist but not wet. I love its leaves, it stands out among all the green. And its been putting out a new leafy almost weekly and growing fast!








I know that people have difficulties with Calathea, but Julio has been thriving and putting out new leaves since I got him in April 2021. I think the trick is to follow Greg’s watering advice, and put somewhere super bright. I have him about 10ft away from a west-facing window so he gets lots of bright indirect light throughout the day, and then about an hour of direct light when the sun is going down. He’s far enough away from the window that he doesn’t burn from the sun. I also kept him in the plastic pot I got him in so there’s plenty of drainage. He’s just living his best life!


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Greg’s plant care information is derived from first-principles biology and physics and supported by peer-reviewed research, academic institutions, and industry experts. We are committed to providing the highest-quality plant care information available, so if you have any concerns about our content, feel free to reach out to our support.
- Plants for a Future. “Plant Database.” pfaf.org. N.p., n.d. Web.
- Encyclopedia of Life. “Encyclopedia of Life.” eol.org. N.p., n.d. Web.