Calathea makoyana

peacock plant
Dramatic green leaves with painted fishbone pattern and micro patterning within. Leaf backs flushed in purple.
Calathea makoyana
height 1–2ft
width 2–3ft
tolerates Pots
water
needs		 Moderate
water
info		 Water when the soil surface is dry. This plant wants water when the top of the soil is dry, but you can still feel moisture just below the surface. This plant will often fall into a once-a-week watering cycle, but remember that your watering should be based on the moisture left in the soil, which will depend partly on the moisture in the room and the weather outside. The soil ‘surface’‘ goes a bit deeper for larger pots; for example, a plant in a 14-inch diameter pot should dry out a couple of inches deep before you water it, while a plant in a 4-inch pot will only want to dry out in the top ½ inch or so of soil.
hardy
to		 55F
exposure Full Shade
indoor
outdoor		 Indoor
drainage In Pots: Potting Soil
fertilizing All Purpose
origin E Brazil
california
native		 No
sunset
zones		 H2

Sunset Zones Map

Indoor Exposure Guide

INDOOR EXPOSURE GUIDE

Direct Sun
Beams of light hitting the plant near a window four or more hours a day. The most intense light. If you're in a direct sun spot, you can feel the warmth of the sun on your skin.

Partial Direct
Occurs when you have a plant that is in less intense direct sunlight. This happens when a plant is in a few hours of direct morning sun, or an hour or less of direct afternoon sun. It also happens when a plant is in direct sun, but more than six feet from a window, where the light is diffused.

Bright Indirect
This is just beyond the direct beam of light (or through cracked blinds or a sheer curtain filtering direct sun). Bright indirect areas are characterized by a place where you can sit and read a novel comfortably without artificial light.

Moderate Indirect
Beyond the bright indirect light. In these areas you wouldn't turn on a light walking through the room, but if you were hanging out there you would probably have the lights on, even during the day.

Low Light
Dim spots, usually the backs of rooms or hallways where you would always turn lights on, even if just walking in to grab something.

SUNSET ZONES MAP

Growing Notes

This plant naturally grows from the center, and as new leaves replace older ones the lower leaves will brown and then shrivel up. Pruning the leaves off once they begin to brown won’t hurt the plant. Alternatively, once the leaves are totally dry and they can be removed once they come off with a light tug.
Brown tips on newer leaves is often a sign of too little humidity in the room and should be dressed by moving the plant to a more humid area, like near a kitchen sink or bathroom.
Mature, fully unfurled leaves rolling back together is a sign of under watering or too much light, usually being direct sun.

Special Interest

During the day leaves spread out, showing off graphic patterns on their tops. These plants evolved their characteristic patterns to convince bugs and other predators that they’ve already been eaten and only the leaf skeleton remains. Amazingly, at night the leaves fold upwards and inwards. The undersides are dark, helping to cloak the plant from any predators. This upward nightly posture gives this plant its common name: the prayer plant.

Most houseplants are poisonous to cats and dogs, but calathea are not!