Calatheas
 Calatheas, which are native to the tropical Americas, are extremely
popular for their attractive foliage and bright flowers. They are
commonly referred to as Prayer or Zebra Plants. Calathea flowers come in
a wide variety of colors and generally resemble a small beehive in
shape. Additionally, calatheas have intriguing leaves that fold up at
night. These large leaves can reach some nine inches in length and are
oval in shape. Depending on the specific breed of calathea, leaf color
and can vary. In fact, some plants have a unique, purplish pattern on
the underside of their leaves. Calatheas grow well indoors and can reach
a few feet in diameter. They can also be transferred outdoors, where
they will become larger in diameter but remain fairly low to the ground.
Compared to other tropical plants, calatheas are rather easy to grow.
They can thrive either indoors or outside. When indoors, calatheas will
help purify the air, while outside they attract bees and hummingbirds to
your garden. While they prefer to be kept between 60 and 70 degrees
Fahrenheit, Calatheas can tolerate a wide range of temperatures.
However, they prefer higher levels of humidity and leaves may brown if
the air is too dry. If you do not live in a humid region, you can easily
supplement the humidity with a pebble tray or humidifier. As for
location, bright but indirect sunlight is best. Watering should be done
regularly, but the plants will persist despite slightly dry soil.
Calatheas should be fed with fertilizer every other week. |
