Care of the indoor plant Calathea makoyana or Peacock plant |
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The genus Calathea, family Marantaceae, comprises 100 species of herbaceous plants native to the tropical forests of America, Africa and Australia. Some species are: Calathea makoyana, Calathea lutea, Calathea crocata, Calathea zebrina, Calathea ornata, Calathea insignis, Calathea roseopicta. Common names: Peacock plant, Cathedral windows. This species is native to eastern Brazil. They are tropical plants that reach 50 cm (1.64 feet) in height. They have attractive oval shaped leaves and 20 cm (7.87") in length; on the upper surface they are light green with dark spots and fine V-shaped lines; on the underside they are pinkish purple. At night the leaves are usually placed in a vertical position to return to a horizontal position at sunrise. The flowers are insignificant from an ornamental point of view. They are used as indoor and greenhouse plants. Calathea makoyana needs a shade exposure and annual average temperatures of 15-21 ºC (59-70 ºF). The soil can be a mixture of 3 parts of peat, 1 of leaf mulch, and 1 of coarse siliceous sand. Water abundantly with lime-free water (never puddle) in spring and summer. If the temperature is above 23 ºC (73.4 ºF), spray the plant every day and place a plate with wet gravel under the pot. In winter water waiting for the surface of the substrate to dry. Fertilize in spring and summer with mineral fertilizer every 15 days. If the humidity is low, it can be attacked by mites and mealybugs. They propagate by division at the time of transplantation. |
Images of the indoor plant Calathea makoyana or Peacock plant |
 Calathea makoyana  Calathea makoyana  Calathea makoyana |