With bold, eye-catching patterns and elongated leaves, Calathea plants offer a wide selection of colors, shapes, and sizes. These tropical plants are not only popular for their decorative appeal but are also known by a variety of names, including “prayer plants,” “zebra plants,” “peacock plants,” and “rattlesnake plants.” Each type stands out thanks to its one-of-a-kind foliage. While some Calathea do produce blooms, they’re mostly appreciated for their lush leaves and ability to thrive in warm, humid environments — though they can be a bit finicky outside of their native habitat.
Indoors, Calathea make a beautiful focal point and can grow up to two feet tall when fully developed. In outdoor settings, they work well as low-lying accent plants between flowerbeds or under shady trees. If you're curious about how to give your Calathea the best care possible, keep reading for our complete guide:
Are Calathea Plants Toxic to Humans and Animals?
Before diving into care tips, it’s a good idea to know whether your new plant is safe for everyone at home. Thankfully, Calatheas are non-toxic to both pets and people — in fact, their leaves are even used as food wrappers in Brazil! Still, unless you're planning to cook with it, it’s best to keep your Calathea out of reach of curious kids or animals who might be tempted to take a bite.
General Care
With a massive genus of over 300 species, you’re bound to find some Calathea plants that require slightly different care than others. Generally, though, Calathea all have pretty similar care needs:
Light
Calathea prefer dappled or filtered light to thrive. Their delicate leaves are sensitive to direct sun and can easily scorch or lose color if exposed to harsh light. To keep your plant healthy and vibrant, place it near a bright spot where it gets plenty of indirect sunlight — east, west, or south-facing windows usually work well, as long as there’s some shade during the hottest part of the day. Rotate your Calathea occasionally to help it grow evenly and prevent it from becoming leggy.
For light, your Calathea needs dappled or filtered sunlight.
Soil
Calathea plants grow best in loamy soil with a neutral pH. A peat-based potting mix is ideal, as it helps retain nutrients while allowing proper airflow around the roots. You can also mix in well-draining, organic materials like coir, compost, or pine bark. To improve drainage, consider adding a bit of perlite as an inorganic component to the mix.
Water
Calatheas enjoy consistently moist soil but don’t tolerate sitting in water. Water your plant regularly - typically once every one to two weeks - and make sure any excess water drains out completely. If your environment is dry or the humidity is low, you may need to water more often to keep the soil from drying out.
Temperature and Humidity
As tropical plants, Calathea thrive in USDA agricultural zones 11 and 12. These plants can tolerate temperatures between 70 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit but wither if exposed to temperatures below 60 degrees. Best kept indoors, your Calathea will need moderate humidity of around 50% to thrive. To achieve a regular 50% humidity, use a humidifier or mist your plant regularly.
Fertilizer
For fertilizer, we recommend frequent feedings during the springtime growing season. Use a water-soluble, balanced fertilizer once a week during the growing season, but avoid feedings during the winter months.
When and How Should You Repot Your Calathea?
You’ll only need to repot your Calathea when the plant starts to become root bound. To ensure your colorful plant babies get the most out of their pot, use one that’s roughly 10% larger than your Calathea’s previous pot, preferably made from a porous material like concrete, terra cotta, or ceramic to improve drainage. In addition, make sure you repot your Calathea in the springtime. When you repot your plants outside of their growing season, they’ll take longer to recover from transplant shock, and since Calathea don’t do well with sudden disruption, they may not survive an inopportune repotting.
Blooming
Calatheas are most loved for their striking foliage, but they can flower too! While not always common, these blooms typically appear for 2-3 months during the growing season and only under the right conditions. To encourage your Calathea to flower, gradually increase its light exposure and raise the humidity level from 50% to around 60%. Keep the temperature steady at about 75°F, and ensure the soil stays moist - but never soggy - between watering. With the right care, you might be rewarded with vibrant flowers that beautifully complement the plant’s patterned leaves.
What’s the Best Way to Propagate Your Calathea?
The best way to propagate your Calathea is through division during its active growing season. Once the plant starts forming clumps around the root ball, you can gently separate them - ideally a day after watering, when the soil is moist and the roots are easier to handle. Replant each clump into fresh, well-draining soil, and treat each one as a new individual plant ready to grow on its own.
How Do You Deal with Pests and Other Calathea Complications?
Calathea plants are subject to common houseplant pests like spider mites, aphids, mealybugs, and scale. If left overwatered, your Calathea might also become subject to fungal gnats, which prefer wet soil with poor drainage.
Another common complication with Calathea is their leaves losing their color and patterning. When this happens, your Calathea is getting too much sunlight. Simply relocate them to somewhere a bit shadier, and their patterning will return over time.
