Care guide
Calathea
Peacock Plant
Goeppertia spp. / Calathea spp.
Extravagantly patterned leaves that rise and fall with the light — plants that are visibly alive and worth their few extra demands. This guide covers the common Goeppertia and related houseplants sold as Calathea; Maranta and Ctenanthe have their own guides.
At a glance
tap for detail ↓Just arrived?
Welcome home! A little settling-in is completely normal — here’s what to know in week one.
- A dropped leaf or a little droop in the first week is just travel shock — give it a calm, bright spot and time.
- Don’t repot for at least 4 weeks. It ships happy in its nursery pot — just sit that inside your decorative cover.
- Check the plant-specific watering guidance below before giving it a drink — different plants prefer very different levels of dryness.
Light
Bright shade, always — Calatheas live on the rainforest floor and direct sun bleaches those patterns fast. An east or north aspect, or well back from a brighter window, keeps Medallion, Greenstar and Leopard Plant at their boldest.
Watering
Keep the compost lightly, consistently moist — check twice a week and water when the surface has just dried. Calatheas are fussy about tap water; rainwater or filtered water prevents most brown-tip complaints.
Humidity & temperature
Higher humidity strongly reduces crisp edges, especially in centrally heated rooms. A bathroom or kitchen is ideal, although many plants adapt to ordinary room humidity when watering is consistent. Keep them above 16°C and away from radiators and draughts.
Feeding
A half-strength balanced feed monthly through spring and summer is plenty — Calatheas burn easily on strong fertiliser.
Repotting & size
Repot every couple of years in spring into a light, moisture-retentive peat-free mix, only one size up. Division at repotting time is the easiest way to make more.
Something wrong?
Most problems are fixable — find the symptom below.
Brown, crispy edges
Cause
The classic Calathea complaint — dry air or tap water minerals.
Fix
Switch to rainwater or filtered water and raise the humidity. Existing damage won’t reverse; new leaves will tell you if you’ve fixed it.
Leaves curling into tubes
Cause
Thirst or low humidity — the leaf is protecting itself.
Fix
Water (with soft water), mist around it, and it usually unfurls within a day.
Patterns fading
Cause
Too much light.
Fix
Move it into gentler light; the contrast returns on new growth.
Leaves not moving day to night
Cause
Very low light, or the plant is stressed.
Fix
The day-night dance is a health signal — improve light and consistency of care and it resumes.
Yellowing leaves
Cause
Overwatering.
Fix
Just-moist means just — let the surface dry before each watering and check drainage.
Spider mites
Cause
Dry air.
Fix
Shower the foliage, raise the humidity, and treat with a mild soap spray weekly until clear.
Meet the plant
About Calathea
Common names include: calathea, prayer plant, peacock plant, zebra plant, rattlesnake plant.
- The prayer plant group sold as calatheas is generally regarded as pet-safe — a rare and welcome trait among statement foliage plants.
- The leaves fold up each night like hands in prayer, a rhythm called nyctinasty — you can genuinely watch it happen at dusk.
- Botanists have reclassified many plants sold as Calathea into Goeppertia, but the trade - and most plant shelves - still say Calathea.
Shop this plant
Seasonal care tips, four times a year
What to change as the light changes — no spam, ever.
