Calathea
Calathea is a vegetable in the Marantaceae family. It grows best in part shade with medium to wet moisture, and is listed for USDA zones 10-12.
Varieties
1 · sorted by days to maturity▸Calathea
PROPAGATION CATEGORY: Tropical houseplant (division) (not in original seed catalog). Use: Boldly patterned leaves that fold at night. Note: Pet-safe but fussy about humidity/water quality.
Calathea (Calathea/Goeppertia) is grown for spectacularly patterned leaves that fold up at night; pet-safe but demanding, needing high humidity and filtered or distilled water.
Growing notes: Botanical name: Calathea spp.|Hardiness zones: 10-12|Propagation: division|Light: Bright indirect light|Water: Medium to high|Mature size: 1-2 feet
Plan your calathea planting
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Start your free plan →Calathea care at a glance
Medium to bright indirect light; the painted patterns fade and edges crisp in direct sun. It's genuinely happy a few feet back from a window.
Water when the top inch starts to dry, ideally with rain, distilled, or filtered water — calatheas mark tap-water minerals (fluoride, chlorine) as crispy brown edges.
The make-or-break factor: 50%+ humidity or the leaf edges brown no matter how carefully you water. A humidifier beats misting.
Keep above 60°F — cold damage starts below that.
A peaty, well-draining mix that holds gentle moisture — two parts peat to one part perlite works well.
Dilute balanced fertilizer monthly in spring and summer; salts build up fast, so flush the pot occasionally.
In winter: Ease off in winter: let the top inch dry fully first, and keep it away from radiators that swing humidity.
Non-toxic to cats, dogs, and people — one of the best statement plants for pet homes.
Pet listing per the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants database.
How to propagate calathea
Division
- Unpot in spring when new growth starts.
- Separate the clump at natural divisions, each with roots and a few stems.
- Pot into fresh airy mix and water with filtered water.
- Keep warm and extra humid (a loose bag helps) for two to three weeks while divisions settle.
Common calathea problems
Why are my calathea's leaf edges brown and crispy?
Likely cause: Tap-water minerals and dry air — calatheas are sensitive to fluoride and chlorine, and to humidity below ~50%.
Fix: Switch to filtered, distilled, or rain water, raise humidity with a humidifier, and trim damaged edges with clean scissors following the leaf's natural curve.
Why are my calathea's leaves curling?
Likely cause: The plant is protecting itself from moisture loss — usually thirst, dry air, or both. (Gentle up-folding at night is normal prayer-plant movement.)
Fix: Check the mix: if the top inch is dry, water thoroughly with filtered water and boost humidity. Leaves that curled from a missed watering usually relax within a day or two.
Why is my calathea's pattern fading?
Likely cause: Too much light washes out the leaf markings.
Fix: Move it further from the window or behind a sheer curtain; new leaves will emerge with full contrast.
Does my calathea have spider mites?
Likely cause: Fine webbing and pale stippled leaves in dry air — calatheas are a favorite spider-mite target when humidity drops.
Fix: Shower the foliage (both sides), raise humidity, and treat weekly with insecticidal soap or neem until webbing stops reappearing.
Care profile compiled from extension and horticultural society guidance and the ASPCA toxic-plants list. Conditions vary by home — treat ranges as starting points.
At a glance
Storing & preserving
Most keep best refrigerated; storage crops prefer a cool, dry spot.
- Freeze: Blanch briefly, cool, then freeze — keeps color and texture.
- Can: Pressure-can low-acid vegetables; water-bath only pickled/acidified ones.
General home-preservation guidance — for tested processing times and safety, follow the National Center for Home Food Preservation.
Growing timeline
Care & troubleshooting
No curated care & troubleshooting advice for calathea yet. Our extension-sourced library currently focuses on common edible crops; we're expanding it over time.