Calathea care: watering and light
Calatheas have leaves patterned like fabric, and move them through the day. They’re beautiful and demanding: they want humidity, the right water and no sun.
Calathea needs water roughly every 5 days in summer and every 10 in winter (north-facing window, in a 16 cm plastic pot with a drainage hole). Before watering, always check with a finger in the soil: if it’s still damp, wait.
At a glance
- Scientific name
- Goeppertia orbifolia
- Also known as
- Round-leaf calathea
- Preferred light
- Medium indirect light
- Difficulty
- Demanding
- Tolerates drought
- No
- Tolerates shade
- Yes
- Where it lives
- Indoors
Where to put it
They want indirect light, never direct sun, which fades the patterns and scorches the leaves. A north-facing window, or a spot back from a bright one, works. A bathroom with a window is great for the humidity.
How to water
The soil should stay slightly moist: water when the top layer dries, without letting it dry out completely or get soggy. Calatheas are sensitive to the minerals and chlorine in tap water — use filtered water, rainwater, or water left to stand overnight.
Common mistakes
Crispy brown edges mean dry air or hard water. Curled leaves are asking for water. Yellow leaves with soggy soil mean overwatering. Keep it away from radiators and air conditioning, and group it with other plants to raise the humidity.
How many days between waterings, spot by spot
| Where it lives | In July | In January |
|---|---|---|
| Bathroom with a window | 5 days | 10 days |
| East-facing window | 3 days | 6 days |
| North-facing window | 5 days | 10 days |
| Hallway or corner with no window | 7 days | 14 days |