Eternal Flame belongs in the Marantaceae family and is one of 300 different species of Calatheas. With proper care, the tropical plant adds a splash of color with its lush foliage and bright orange-yellow blooms resembling a flame.
Calathea crocata is native to the jungles of Brazil and Central and South America, making its way to Hawaii in the 1970s, so it’s a relatively new houseplant, compared to some of the other plants that thrive indoors. When its proper conditions and care are met, Eternal Flame Plant can be considered easy to care for.The best solution to avoiding potential problems is meeting your Calathea crocata’s requirements from the moment you bring it into your home.
Use distilled water or rainwater collected from the garden as the plant is very sensitive to the type of water. Never allow the plant to sit in standing water or root rot can develop.
Situate in a location indoors receiving bright indirect light. An east-, west-, or north-facing window is an ideal location.
Grow Calathea crocata in a fertile, lightweight potting mix that contains some peat. You can make your own potting soil by mixing about 25 percent peat moss with 75 percent compost or a potting mix that is rich in organic materials. Make sure your mixture is lightweight, drains well and isn’t too heavy.
Use fertilizers every other month during the growing seasons of spring through summer. The plant goes through a dormant period (growth slows) during winter, so there’s no need to fertilize.
