Calathea makoyana are beautiful statement houseplants that can tower up to two feet tall. They are also called Peacock plants or “Cathedral Windows” after their intricately detailed leaves. In this article, we’ll delve into every aspect of Calathea makoyana husbandry.
What is a Calathea makoyana?
Calathea makoyana are endemic to the eastern coastal regions of Brazil. These tropical plants are famous for their intricate marbled patterns, earning them nicknames such as “Cathedral Windows” or the Peacock plant. Oval-shaped dark green leaves are covered with pale white-green inner parts that surround more dark green markings. Underneath the foliage, the plant boasts rich purples and dark pinks.
Quick Summary
Botanical Names: Calathea makoyana, Goeppertia makoyana
Native to: Eastern Brazil
Care: Moderate
Size: Reaches up to 2 feet tall
Common Problems: Low humidity, too much sunlight, overwatering, mealybugs, spider mites
Toxicity: Non-toxic to animals and humans
Alternative plant recommendation: another popular plant is the Aglaonema harlequin from East Asia and Africa.
How to care for Calathea makoyana
Sunlight
As natives of tropical Brazilian forests, Calathea makoyana plants don’t get much natural light. Simulate this indoors by positioning them somewhere with low to medium indirect light. Too much intense sunlight can cause their leaf patterns to become washed out and faded.
Watering
As natives of humid, tropical climates, Calathea makoyana depend on consistently moist soil. In the summer months, don’t wait until the soil is too dry before topping up with filtered water or rainwater. During the winter, the soil can be allowed to dry a little more until the top half-inch or so is dry.
Humidity & Temperature
Replicating a tropical atmosphere means high humidity and warm temperatures. Calathea makoyana plants love temperatures between 61 to 75ºF (16 to 24ºC). Aim for a consistent humidity level of around or over 60%. You can monitor this effectively using a hygrometer.
Humidity can be maintained by displaying a Calathea makoyana alongside other species with high humidity requirements. This creates a small microclimate around the group. Placing a dish of water in between them also increases humidity. Regular misting or warm showers can also provide short-term boosts.
Cleaning
With such large leaves, Calathea makoyana can quickly become covered in dust. Dusty houseplants are a clear sign of neglect. Gently wiping down the plant regularly with a clean, slightly moist cloth solves the problem.
Fertilizing & Soil
A Calathea makoyana requires a growing medium that both retains moisture and drains well. As confusing as this sounds, it’s easily achieved by using a 2:1 mix of houseplant compost and horticultural sand. Perlite is a welcome addition, and a larger amount can substitute for sand.
The main growth period for Calathea makoyana is late-spring to mid-fall (April to October). During this period, a fortnightly feeding of diluted fertilizer that’s rich in nitrogen will help produce fantastic foliage.
Other soil guides
How to Prepare and Make Healthy Gardening Soil
To nurture a garden is to feed not just the body, but the soul — Alfred Austin Having healthy gardening soil is a process that’s easy to learn but hard to master. If you’re wondering how to make healthy gardening…
Repotting
Repot Calathea makoyana plants once every one or two years. Only move up one pot size during each repotting. Aim to repot in the spring to give the Calathea makoyana a chance to acclimatize before the start of the growing season.
Propagation
Calathea makoyana are best propagated by separating their fleshy rhizomes. Like other Calatheas, these plants are clumped together by the rhizomes. Gently pulling the plant out of its pot and opening up some of the soil will reveal the joins between the clumps.
Gently tease the clumps apart or use a sterile, sharp knife, to cut through the main rhizomes connecting the clumps to the main plant. Each clump should retain its own small root system. Place the newly separated plants into individual pots and support them with a similar growing medium as the main plant.
Toxicity
Contrary to popular belief, Calathea makoyana aren’t toxic to pets or people.
Pruning
Laborious pruning isn’t necessary for Calathea makoyana plants. Pruning mainly consists of snipping off any dead or drooping leaves to allow the plant to focus on healthier foliage. Cut just at the bottom of the leaf, leaving some stem in place to stimulate new growth.
Looking for a statement plant for your home, then check out the Neoregelia plants.
Pests and other common problems
Low humidity and temperature
Humidity or temperatures that are too low are detrimental to a Calathea makoyana. Foliage will turn brown or shrivel up. Cut off any affected leaves and raise the humidity around the plant.
Too much sun
Exposure to intense, unfiltered sunlight will damage the alluring foliage of a Calathea makoyana by making it look faded or drained of color. Move the plant to a more shaded area.
Overwatering
Watering a Calathea makoyana too aggressively causes root rot, which inhibits the plant’s development. The soil should be kept fairly moist at all times, but not so wet that the medium is sodden. Allow the plant to dry out a bit and use a hygrometer to determine if watering is necessary.
Mealybugs
Black spots or white, waxy growths on the foliage can indicate an infestation of mealybugs. Mealybugs siphon vital sap from a plant. Monitor the Calathea makoyana consistently and prune away any affected leaves to contain the spread.
Spider mites
If the underside of the foliage is suddenly tangled with thin webs, spider mites could be present. Yellowing or spotted leaves is another indication that these sapsuckers have infested the plant. Maintaining high humidity can curb these critters.
Common FAQs
Are Calathea makoyana plants difficult?
The fussiest requirement of a Calathea makoyana is the correct amount of humidity and temperature. Otherwise, these plants are pretty straightforward in terms of maintenance. Various methods to increase humidity can be utilized, such as water dishes, positioning alongside other humidity-dependent plants, and regular mistings or warm showers.
Should I mist my Calathea makoyana?
Giving a Calathea makoyana a misting every few days provides an immediate but short-term jump to humidity. Misting should be used in conjunction with other methods of increasing humidity, not relied on as the only action.
How do you make Calathea makoyana so bushy?
To cultivate thick foliage, ensure that the humidity is always kept in the optimum window. Fortnightly fertilizing during the main growth cycle also helps, as does pruning away expired leaves to coax fresh shoots from the specimen.
Should I cut brown leaves off my Calathea makoyana?
With a Calathea makoyana, insufficient humidity usually manifests as browning leaves. Cut off any withered foliage and make environmental tweaks to increase humidity.
How long does it take a Calathea makoyana to reach full growth?
In an optimal environment, a Calathea makoyana can reach its full mature size of around 2 feet within a year or so.
How do you grow Calathea makoyana indoors?
Calathea makoyana specimens need moisture levels of around 60%, with a temperature window ranging from 61 to 75ºF (16 to 24ºC). Use a well-draining medium composed of indoor potting mix and either perlite or sand. Apply a dose of watered-down fertilizer once a fortnight during the growing period.
Do you have pets, then check out the safe and non-toxic plant Calathea warscewiczii from Central America.
