Calathea is a genus of plants belonging to the Marantaceae family. There are a large number of species in the genus. Calathea are native to the tropical Americas. They are characterized by large colourful and patterned leaves.
Placement
Calathea are hardy but prefer good light in indoor situations where they create a dramatic foliage affect. A perfect plant for bathrooms and offices. They can also be used in tropical and subtropical gardens in sheltered positions.
Plant Care
Calathea prefer filtered light, keep away from direct sunlight. Calathea are a tropical plant and will tolerate temperatures down to 10 degrees Celsius. Water regularly and avoid drying the plant out. Calathea prefer reasonable humidity. Feed with a balanced liquid fertiliser during the summer months and ensure a good quality peat based mix is used when repotting. Tolerant to most diseases but can be affected by aphids, scale and mites. Should you need to clean off the leaves, use a moist paper towel with nothing more than water.