Calathea: The Perfect Bedroom Plant?

Calathea is a beautiful tropical houseplant with colourful, variegated foliage. It is a great choice for bedrooms as it increases the visual appeal along with purifying the air. Calathea thrives in spots with high humidity, making it a particularly good pick for kitchens and bathrooms. It is also a great air purifier, removing impurities from the air such as benzene, formaldehyde, and ammonia. Calathea is a demanding plant and requires medium to bright indirect light to thrive. It is best to water them when about half the soil has dried out.

Calathea's air-purifying abilities

Calathea is a beautiful tropical houseplant that is great for bedrooms. It is known for its colourful, variegated foliage and its ability to move its leaves throughout the day. This plant is native to the tropical forests of Central and South America, where it grows on the forest floor covered by canopies, receiving dappled sunlight.

Calathea is an excellent air purifier, making it a great choice for improving the air quality in your bedroom. It thrives in spots with high humidity, which can be achieved through the use of a humidifier or by placing the plant in a bathroom or kitchen. The ideal spot for a Calathea is near a window that provides bright indirect sunlight for 8-10 hours, such as a south-facing window. It is important to avoid direct sunlight as this can scorch the delicate leaves.

Calathea is a moisture-loving plant and prefers medium to bright indirect light but can tolerate low indirect light. When it comes to watering, it is best to wait until about half the soil has dried out before watering again. This could be weekly in the spring and summer or every 10-14 days in the fall and winter, depending on the environmental conditions.

The unique feature of Calathea is its nyctinastic movement, which means it moves its leaves up at night and lowers them during the day. This movement is in sync with its circadian rhythm and helps maximise light absorption. This natural mechanism makes Calathea an excellent plant to have near your bed, as it can signal when it's getting close to bedtime by closing its leaves.

In addition to its air-purifying abilities, Calathea can also add to the visual appeal of your bedroom with its striking foliage. Overall, Calathea is an excellent choice for a bedroom plant, providing both functional and aesthetic benefits.

The plant's humidity requirements

Calathea is a beautiful tropical houseplant that thrives in spots with high humidity. They are commonly kept in kitchens and bathrooms, where humidity is often higher. However, they can also be kept in bedrooms, as long as their humidity requirements are met.

Calathea plants prefer humidity levels of 50% and higher. In drier indoor environments, you can increase the humidity around your plant by placing a humidifier nearby, or by putting the plant on a pebble tray filled with water (ensuring that the bottom of the pot isn't touching the water). Grouping your calathea with other houseplants can also increase humidity, as their transpiration will raise levels.

To avoid reducing humidity, keep your calathea away from air conditioning units, ceiling fans, and drafty windows or doors. If you live in a particularly dry area, you may need to mist your calathea with water. However, this is not a long-term solution to low humidity.

Calathea is a demanding plant to care for, and people often report that they have killed several before learning how to keep them alive. To avoid this, ensure your calathea is placed in a warm, humid environment with indirect bright light and warm temperatures.

Calathea's light needs

Calathea plants are native to the tropics of Central and South America, where they grow on the jungle floor beneath a canopy of trees. As a result, they thrive in low-light conditions and are well-suited to indoor environments. However, they do require a certain amount of light to grow, and their distinctive foliage can fade in the wrong lighting. Here is a detailed guide to Calathea light needs:

Light Intensity

Calathea plants require bright, indirect light to grow. Direct sunlight will burn their leaves and cause their vibrant patterns to fade. A good way to test the light intensity is to hold your hand 8 to 10 inches away from a white piece of paper in the desired location. If you can only see the blurred outline of your hand, the lux level is about 10,000 to 15,000 lux, which is perfect for Calathea.

Light Duration

Calathea plants need at least 8 to 10 hours of bright, indirect light per day, with 8 hours of darkness. In winter, you may need to use a grow light to provide the same number of daylight hours. However, do not provide the plant with more than 16 hours of artificial light, as Calatheas need darkness to increase their respiration rate and distribute energy for growth.

Light Quality

The quality of light refers to the spectrum of light emitted by the source. Red light will help the plant photosynthesize, while blue light encourages richer colour in the variegations of Calathea leaves.

Choosing a Location

The ideal location for a Calathea plant is near a south-facing window, as north-facing windows are usually too weak, and west-facing windows can be too intense. If you only have access to a west-facing window, use a sheer curtain to reduce the intensity of the afternoon sun. You can also place the plant near a mirror to reflect light onto it.

Rotating the Plant

Calatheas naturally grow towards the light, so you may notice that one side of the plant is growing more rapidly than the other. To encourage more balanced growth, rotate the plant during watering.

The ideal temperature for the plant

Calathea is a tropical plant native to Central and South America. It is highly sensitive to cold and thrives in a warm, humid environment.

The ideal temperature range for a calathea plant is between 65-80°F (some sources say 70-85°F). It is important to keep the plant away from direct sources of heating or cooling, such as radiators, air conditioning units, or drafty windows and doors. The temperature range should also be consistent, as the plant can be harmed by fluctuations.

If the temperature is too low, the calathea will show signs of stress and may go dormant. If the temperature is too high, the leaves may scorch.

To maintain the ideal temperature for your calathea, find a bright room that receives indirect sunlight, such as a room with a west- or east-facing window. Avoid placing the plant near a south-facing window, as the intense rays may cause the leaves to scorch. Ensure the plant is not exposed to cold drafts, and consider adding a humidifier to the room to maintain the humidity level.

How to care for a calathea

Calathea plants are native to Central and South America and are known for their bold, patterned foliage. They are commonly known as prayer plants because their leaves fold up at night and open during the day. They are non-toxic and pet-friendly, making them a great addition to any home. Here are some tips on how to care for your calathea:

Light

Calathea plants thrive in medium to bright indirect light but can tolerate low indirect light. They are rainforest plants, so they are used to getting dappled light through the jungle canopy. Avoid placing your calathea in direct sunlight, as it can burn the leaves and cause their vibrant patterns to fade. The ideal spot for your calathea is in front of an east-, south-, or west-facing window, where it will receive indirect sunlight.

Watering

Water your calathea when the top 2 inches of soil feel dry to the touch. The frequency of watering will depend on how fast the soil dries out, but on average, it will need to be watered once a week. Water until liquid flows through the drainage hole at the bottom of the pot, and discard any excess water that has accumulated in the saucer. If you notice that the leaves are wilting, it is a sign that your plant needs more water.

Humidity

Calathea plants prefer higher humidity levels of 50% and above. They are tropical plants, so they thrive in humid environments. To increase the humidity around your plant, consider using a fine-mist mister or humidifier, or placing the plant on a pebble tray filled with water. The bathroom or kitchen is also an ideal spot for your calathea, as these areas tend to be more humid.

Temperature

Calathea plants prefer temperatures between 60°F and 85°F (15°C-30°C). Avoid exposing your plant to temperatures below 60°F, as it can cause cold damage. They are sensitive to cold drafts and sudden temperature changes, so keep them away from windows and heaters.

Soil

The ideal soil for calathea plants is well-draining potting soil or a mix containing ingredients like compost, pine bark, coco coir, worm castings, and perlite. These provide nutrients and help maintain moisture without becoming waterlogged. The soil should be slightly acidic to neutral.

Fertilizer

Feed your calathea with a liquid balanced fertilizer every four weeks during the spring and summer. No fertilizer is needed during the winter when plant growth naturally slows. For a lusher, fuller plant, use a fertilizer at half strength.

Common Issues

Calathea plants are generally easy to care for, but some common problems to look out for include wilting, curling leaves, and yellowing leaves. Wilting and curling leaves can be a sign of underwatering or low humidity levels. Yellowing leaves may be caused by overwatering or mineral buildup from tap water. To avoid this, use distilled water, rainwater, or allow tap water to sit overnight before watering to let any chlorine or fluoride evaporate.

Frequently asked questions