Rose Painted Calathea

Rose Painted Calathea Care

Calathea roseopicta

Other names: Rose Painted Prayer Plant

What is the plant

The red-pink color palette of this fascinating prayer plant captivates enthusiasts from every corner of the world. And even its fussy nature fails to undermine the allure of the tropical queen.

Calathea naturally grows in the Brazilian rainforest, under the shade of tropical trees. Its wide foliage strikes with a mixture of green and pink colors. The reverse side of the leaves is painted in deep pink, and in the evenings, when this queen folds the leaves, the whole look gets a burgundy hue. The leaves themselves can reach 30 inches (70cm) tall.

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Humidity

High

Lighting

Part Sun

Temperature

18°C - 25°C

Hardiness zone

10a - 11b

Difficulty

Medium

Hibernation

Cold Period

How to Care for the Plant

Water
This is where stuff goes wrong for many Calathea newbies. This plant can’t stand underwatering, but also hates soaking in water. Water it a couple times per week during the growing period when the top inch (3 cm) of soil feels dry. When the plant is dormant, you can let the soil dry in half before watering again, but never let it go completely dry!
Pruning
Prune dead and damaged leaves to reduce disease risks and improve your plant’s looks. Other than that, pruning isn’t needed.
Fertilizer
Use balanced diluted fertilizer every 2-4 weeks during the growth period. Don’t fertilize in winter.

Disease diagnosis

Check your plant’s health

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Sunlight
Bright but indirect light is best. North, west, and east-facing rooms are ideal. Avoid direct sunlight, as it can damage the foliage.
Soil
You’ll need a peat-based potting mix with ⅓ of added perlite. The soil should retain moisture, but also drain well.
Propagation
You can propagate your Calathea by division. It’s best to do it in spring when you’re planning to re-pot the plant. Take your plant out of the pot and carefully separate leaf clusters with roots. Plant each cluster in a separate pot with new, slightly moist soil, and place it under bright indirect light. Your plant should resume putting out new leaves very soon!

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Temperature
Average room temperatures of 65-75ºF (18-24ºC) will let your Calathea flourish. Don’t let the temperature drop lower than 60ºF (15ºC). Keep the plant away from cold drafts.
Container
There are no specific potting requirements, but your pot should have holes for drainage in the bottom.
Fun fact
Rose painted Calathea is a member of the Prayer plant family, which are named for the way their leaves resemble praying hands when folded at night.