Plant tip Tuesday is all about the beautiful but high maintenance Calathea!

Calatheas lure us in with their gorgeous foliage but then break our hearts when they don’t get what they need.  We certainly don’t want to deter you from owning one, we just want to make sure you have all the info, so you have the best shot for success!

They LOVE a humid location, and this is one of the reasons that they sometimes don’t perform well in our homes. This shows up as brown edges or curling crispy leaves.  Regular light misting, a humidifier, or a pebble tray can help.

Calatheas grow best in a bright filtered light location.  This particular plant will raise their leaves up through the night and lower them for the day to maximize their light absorption.

They appreciate small consistent watering, with a mild foliage fertilizer during the growing season. They can be sensitive to chemicals in tap water.  If possible, watering with distilled or filtered water is best.

 A nice feature of Calathea is that they are non-toxic and good if you have pets that like to take a nibble from time to time.

So much fun foliage to choose from!