Calathea (Prayer Plant family)
Goeppertia spp.
Family Marantaceae
Calathea leaves carry a pattern nothing else matches — pinstripes, medallions, and purple undersides no two plants repeat — and every evening they fold upward like praying hands, then open again at dawn. It's the closest a shelf plant comes to being both artwork and animation.
Be warned that beauty has a rider: it's the demanding one of the pet-safe plants, particular about its water and humidity. For collectors who enjoy a little devotion, nothing on the shelf rewards it better — bring one home for the patterns alone.
Medium indirect — direct sun bleaches the patterns
High water
Moderate growth
None winter chill
From the print shop
Growing calathea (prayer plant family)? Hang it.
Our Plant Library collection carries calathea (prayer plant family) — Goeppertia, print Nº 85, “Calathea (Prayer Plant family).”
526 designsfrom $12.99white or black backgroundmatte poster, unframed
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) · Common problems
Common calathea (prayer plant family) problems
Pests
2 problems on file
- Spider Mites (the #1 killer in dry homes)
- Fungus Gnats
Diseases
2 problems on file
- Leaf-edge burn from tap water minerals
- Salt Burn
Calathea (Prayer Plant family) · Growing & propagation
Growing calathea (prayer plant family)
- Light
- Medium indirect
Direct sun bleaches the patterns
- Water
- High-maintenance: distilled/rain water, evenly moist, high humidity
Soil- Peaty mix + perlite · pH 6.0 - 6.5
Fertilizer- Monthly quarter-strength
Pruning- As needed
Trim crispy edges with scissors following the leaf line.
Spacing- One per pot
How to plant & propagate calathea (prayer plant family)
- Propagate
- Stem/leaf cuttings, division, or pups
Calathea (Prayer Plant family) · Seasonal care & spray guidance
The calathea (prayer plant family) growing playbook
When to spray calathea (prayer plant family)
Growing season. Humidifier nearby prevents 90% of problems.
Calathea (Prayer Plant family) · Calculators & field guides
A little help in the garden.
Calathea (Prayer Plant family) · Yearly calendar
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.
Calathea (Prayer Plant family) · Ecology & uses
Ecology & uses
Goeppertia spp.
Calathea (Prayer Plant family) in the garden system
Moisture- Facultative / average
Deer- Browsed
Protect young plants
Origin- Introduced
What calathea (prayer plant family) is grown for
✓ Not known to be toxicSafe for pets
Use- Pattern collectors
- Use
- Pet-safe drama
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.
Calathea (Prayer Plant family) · Varieties & cultivars
Choosing a calathea (prayer plant family) variety
'Orbifolia'; 'Medallion'; 'Rattlesnake'; 'White Fusion' (hardest)
Sources & plant identity
Know what you’re growing.
See where the knowledge comes from.
Calathea (Prayer Plant family)
Goeppertia spp.
The plant, at a glance.
- Botanical name
- Goeppertia spp.
- Plant family
- Marantaceae
- Growth habit
- Houseplant · Perennial
- Origin
- Introduced
- USDA plant symbol
- CALAT
- Invasive risk
- Low
Hardiness, size and timing vary with your cultivar, soil and climate.
Rooted in research.
University extension research, brought together with hands-on growing experience at Story Thyme Farms.
for Calathea (Prayer Plant family)
Research from these sources
Publisher marks identify sources, not sponsorship or endorsement.
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.
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.
Elsewhere
Where calathea (prayer plant family) sits in the library.
Monstera
Golden Pothos
Snake Plant
Heartleaf Philodendron