☘ Origin: Tropical Americas
☘ Family: Marantaceae
☘ Botanical Name: Calathea
☘ Common Name: The Prayer Plant
Symbolism: The Calathea symbolizes a new beginning. That meaning is derived from the expression 'to turn over a new leaf', which is what the plant does when it gets dark. So give a Calathea as a gift to someone who starting afresh.
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💡 A quirky fact about the foliage of Calathea is that it opens and closes in response to night and daylight, this movement is how they also became known as the 'Prayer Plant'. During this fascinating display of movement, the plant more prominently shows off its purplish magenta undersides.
🔆 Light
Moderate to bright indirect sunlight. Do not place your plant in full sun as it can burn the leaves.
Give your plant a turn every few days to expose all sides to light for even growth from all sides.
💧 Water
Keep the potting mix lightly moist; and don't let it dry out. Allow the top 1”- 4” (2.5-10cm) of the soil dry out between waterings depends on the planter size. Avoid overwatering, which will cause root rot.
To give your plant the absolute best, room-temperature rainwater and bottled spring water are your best options. Any water containing sugar or salt will hurt your plant!
☁️ Humidity
Calatheas are tropical houseplants and high humidity levels are a must. Stand on a wet pebble tray to improve humidity and mist frequently. Pop it in the shower room or kitchen from time to time to give an extra boost. It will be great if you water-spray the leaves 2-3 times a week with filtered-water and even better to use a cool-mist room humidifier near the plant.
🌡️ Temperature
Average to warm room temperatures (18-27°C). Hot weather and direct sunlight will cause leaves to turn brown or burn.
🧴️ Food
Feed monthly with balanced fertilizer.
🐾 Toxicity
Non-Toxic to Dogs, Non-Toxic to Cats, Non-Toxic to Horses according to ASPCA.
➕ Additional Tips
Wipe leaves with a damp cloth to remove accumulated dust. Do not use leaf shine as this will damage the foliage. Brown tips may occur.
