The illustrated growing guide
Calathea (Prayer Plant family)
Goeppertia spp.
Family Marantaceae
Est. zones 10-12
The most beautiful and the most demanding shelf plant — leaves fold up at night like praying hands. Skip it if you won't do distilled water.
Medium indirect — direct sun bleaches the patterns
High water
Moderate growth
None winter chill
From the print shop
The closest print we make
We don’t print Goeppertia spp. The closest we have is Goeppertia orbifolia (“Calathea”) in the Houseplants Vol. 1 collection — the same genus, Goeppertia, not the same species.
16 designsfrom $21.99white or black groundmatte poster, unframed
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Overview
Will calathea (prayer plant family) suit your garden, and what goes wrong.
Will it thrive where you are?
Enter your ZIP — we look up your USDA hardiness zone (2023 map) and check it against what calathea (prayer plant family) actually needs.
Hardy inZones 10-12Calathea (Prayer Plant family) at a glance
Common calathea (prayer plant family) problems
- Spider Mites (the #1 killer in dry homes)
- Leaf-edge burn from tap water minerals
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Growing
Light, water, soil, propagation and the season’s jobs.
How to grow calathea (prayer plant family): light, water & soil
How to plant & propagate calathea (prayer plant family)
When to spray calathea (prayer plant family)
Growing season. Humidifier nearby prevents 90% of problems.
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The year
What calathea (prayer plant family) asks for, month by month.
The calathea (prayer plant family) year, month by month
No fixed season calendar for calathea (prayer plant family) — its care follows conditions, not the calendar.
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Ecology & uses
What it does for the garden, and what it is grown for.
Calathea (Prayer Plant family) in the garden system
What calathea (prayer plant family) is grown for
✓ Not known to be toxicSafe for pets
Edibility, identification, and traditional-use notes here are general reference — not medical or veterinary advice, and not a claim that any plant treats or prevents anything. Medicinal ratings record how strongly a plant features in herbal tradition, nothing more. Never eat or dose a plant you have not positively identified. More on how to use this library.
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Cultivars
Named varieties of calathea (prayer plant family), ruled as a catalogue.
Best calathea (prayer plant family) varieties & cultivars
'Orbifolia'; 'Medallion'; 'Rattlesnake'; 'White Fusion' (hardest)
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Sources & plant ID
Where the care distinctions come from, and how the plant is filed.
Research basis
Sources behind this profile
No extension citations are attached to calathea (prayer plant family)yet. The care figures below come from the library's own catalogue rather than a traced primary source.
Plant ID
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Where to buy
Third-party nurseries — not Story Thyme Farms.
Third-party nurseries, not Story Thyme Farms. Prices are theirs.
Story Thyme Farms may earn a small commission from these links, at no cost to you — it never changes what we recommend. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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Questions
Calathea (Prayer Plant family) questions, answered straight.
Is calathea (prayer plant family) safe for kids and pets?
Calathea (Prayer Plant family) is commonly eaten and isn't considered toxic, but "commonly eaten" isn't a guarantee for any particular person or animal — allergies, quantity, and which part you eat all matter. One caveat on this one: Safe for pets. Never eat a plant you haven't positively identified, and check with a vet before letting pets or livestock graze anything new.
How do you propagate calathea (prayer plant family)?
Stem/leaf cuttings, division, or pups.
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Elsewhere
Where calathea (prayer plant family) sits in the library.
Monstera
Golden Pothos
Snake Plant
Heartleaf Philodendron