Calathea

These tropical plants, also called Zebra Plants, are natives to Brazil and tropical America. They have insignificant flowers, but their leaves are very attractive and large. Their height may range from 6 inches to 3 feet tall. The foliage varies in color; some have rose, yellow, olive or white leaves. A minimum winter temperature of 55 degrees is required. C. insignis has wavy-edged leaves that grow up to 18 inches long. The top of the leaf is pale green with blotches of dark green and the underside is dark maroon. C. makoyana, the Peacock Plant or Cathedral Windows, has oval, pale green leaves with oblong, dark green blotches and creamy white feathering; it is purplish-red underneath. It has interesting transparent "windows" on its leaves. The flowers of the Peacock Plant are tubular and produced irregularly in short, thick spikes; they are white with purple lobes. C. majestica 'Sanderiana' has oval, olive green, leathery leaves that are glossy on top and plum red underneath. The leaves are striped with pink and white. The tubular flowers are produced in compact spikes once in a while. They are white or mauve, with yellow-brown bracts. Other kinds will be mentioned below in the varieties section.

Calatheas need a consistent temperature, humid atmosphere, and a draft free position. In cooler regions, grow as a house or greenhouse plant. Good compost to use would consist of equal parts of loam, peat and leaf mold, with broken charcoal and coarse sand added for good drainage. These plants will die if they don't have adequate drainage. Their soil needs to be kept just moist with soft water and shade must be available or else the leaves will be scorched. In the winter, water should only be given when the dirt is somewhat dry. Repotting needs to be done annually in February or March so they will flourish.

Propagation

You can produce more plants by dividing the clumps when you repot them in the spring. Keep the divided sections in a closed propagating case for a few weeks until they form roots.