Calathea
Goeppertia spp. (formerly Calathea)
Through the year 🗓️
☀️ Summer now
High humidity and distilled water keep the edges crisp-free.
🍂 Fall
Spider-mite season begins as the heating comes on, so inspect weekly.
❄️ Winter
Keep above 65 °F, reduce water a little, and run the humidifier.
🌱 Spring
Divide while repotting; fresh patterned leaves unfurl quickly.
The details
Light & placement
- Light
- Medium–bright indirect only; direct sun bleaches the painted patterns
- Ideal PPFD
- 100–250 µmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹
- Grow-light distance
- 20–28 in below LED
Water & feed
- Watering method
- Keep lightly moist with distilled/rain water, since tap minerals brown the edges fast. Never bone-dry, never swampy.
- Fertilizer
- Balanced feed at ¼ strength, monthly in spring–summer.
Home & habit
- Soil
- Airy, moisture-retentive mix (peat/coco + perlite); pH 6.5
- Humidity
- High (60%+); a humidifier is honestly the difference between thriving and crisping
- Temperature
- 65–80 °F, no drafts
- Mature size
- 1–2 ft
- Repotting
- Every 1–2 yrs in spring
- Propagation
- Division at repotting; cuttings don't work.
When something looks wrong
- Overwatering signs
- Yellowing limp leaves, rotting base
- Underwatering signs
- Curling into tubes, crispy brown edges
- Common pests
- Spider mites (the #1 enemy), fungus gnats
Common problems 🩺
The usual suspects when Calathea looks unhappy. Most houseplant trouble is watering or light, not disease — see all plant problems if you are not sure which plant is the culprit.
Crispy brown edges
Likely cause
Dry air or tap-water minerals — calatheas are fussy about both.
What to do
Raise humidity above 50% and water only with filtered or rainwater.
Curling or rolling leaves
Likely cause
Underwatering or low humidity.
What to do
Keep the soil lightly moist (never soggy) and add a humidifier nearby.
Fading patterns or pale leaves
Likely cause
Too much direct sun bleaching the markings.
What to do
Move it to medium-to-bright indirect light, out of any direct rays.
Fine webbing under the leaves
Likely cause
Spider mites, which move in fast when the air is dry.
What to do
Rinse the leaves, raise humidity, and treat with insecticidal soap or neem weekly until clear.
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