If you are plant parents, you must be familiar with Calatheas. Calatheas are part of the family of plants known as Marantaceae, species of flowering plants from tropical areas such as Africa. The popularity of these plants has been incredibly increasing nowadays—and it is easy to guess, why! This is all because Calatheas are beautifully colorful—often featuring striking patterns of green, white, pink and purple.
There are many different varieties available—each has its unique pattern, color scheme and leaf shape. Plant parents usually fall in love with the way the leaves fold up at night, like hands folding in prayer (which earns them the name “Prayer Plants.”) If you are interested in collecting Calatheas, here are some varieties recommended for your indoor garden.
- Calathea Lacifolia—also known as Rattlesnake Calathea. This plant has unique dark green dots on its narrow ruffled leaves.
- Calathea Zebrina. This variety of Calathea features beautiful bright green veins on dark leaves. This plant is one of the easiest varieties of Calathea to take care of.
- Calathea Starshin. This variety of Calathea features a wide border of really light green with dark green edges and centers, with a lighter stripe right in the middle of the leaves.
- Calathea Ornata. Among all Calatheas with beautiful foliage, this variety of Calathea is definitely on the top three of the list. This plant features dark green leaves with a pinstripe pattern that can range from light green to bright pink.
- Calathea Roseopicta. This variety of Calathea features large, oval green leaves with rose-colored patterns, while the undersides of the leaves are deep burgundy or purple. This plant is usually quite expensive because it is generally prized for foliage that stands out in any setting.
Collecting Calatheas without knowing how to take care of them will do harm for these lovely plants. To avoid it, make sure to apply the following tips to grow your Calathea collections.
- Best place to put Calatheas
Similar to Philodendrons, Calatheas are also easy to care for—most varieties can tolerate fairly low-light situations and don’t need frequent watering. If you want to make your Calathea plants thrive, place them in places with bright indirect light—like places closer to sunny windows with a sheer curtain that can protect your plants from getting direct sunlight.
- Watering Calatheas
For watering, although Calatheas don’t need frequent watering, leaving them to dry out completely isn’t good either. Calathea plants love moist soil which feels like a sponge that has been wrung out well. Calatheas grow from rhizomes, they store enough water in their root system so they can last quite a while before needing water. Get in the habit of feeling the soil in your Calatheas’ container about once a week—by pushing your finger into it. If the soil feels dry, it’s time to give your Calatheas water.
If you apply these simple tips to your Calatheas, your lovely plants will thrive well. Now, why don’t you get started by choosing which varieties of Calathea you want for your garden? (Don’t forget to check them out all after that!)