Calathea makoyana care
Calathea makoyana
Calathea makoyana — the peacock plant — is one of the most painterly leaves in the catalogue. Pale green ovals scrubbed with darker green markings, like brush strokes on watercolour paper. The plant moves through the day too: leaves open in the morning and close upward at night.
Light
Bright indirect
Water
Regular
Sourcing
Direct from growers
Pet safety
Pet-safe
Difficulty
Moderate
How to care for it
Place in bright indirect light, well away from direct sun. Calatheas are sensitive to bright light and to tap water; if you have filtered or rainwater, use it from the start. Group with other plants for humidity. Water thoroughly on arrival.
Water when the top inch of soil feels dry, keeping the soil consistently moist but never waterlogged. Use filtered or rainwater whenever possible. Feed monthly in spring and summer with a balanced liquid fertiliser at half-strength. Higher humidity than the average room — a pebble tray or grouped plants. Wipe leaves occasionally.
Brown crispy edges: low humidity or tap water sensitivity. Switch water and raise humidity. Curling leaves: thirst, low humidity, or cold drafts. Faded patterns: too much direct light; faded too far means damage. Yellow leaves: overwatering or normal old-leaf turnover at the base. Drooping with brown patches: too much sun.
Common questions
Two main culprits: low humidity (especially with central heating in winter) and tap water minerals or fluoride. Calatheas are one of the most sensitive houseplants on both counts. Use filtered or rainwater, and raise local humidity with grouped plants or a pebble tray.
Yes — Calathea species are non-toxic to cats and dogs. One of the more pet-friendly statement houseplants we send. Discourage pets from chewing for the leaves' sake, but it is not harmful if they do.
It is natural. Calatheas are prayer plants — the leaves rise upward in the evening and open flat again at dawn. The movement is driven by changing water pressure in the leaf base. A healthy Calathea moves visibly between day and night; a stressed one does not.
Mild curling is normal at night. Persistent curling during the day means thirst, low humidity, or cold drafts. Check the soil, raise humidity, and move away from any window that draughts cool air.
Bright indirect — but no direct sun. Direct sunlight fades the painted markings and burns the leaves. Too little light produces small, pale, leggy growth. A spot a few feet back from a north or east-facing window suits perfectly.
Too much direct light bleaches the markings; too little light produces faint patterns. Move to brighter indirect (no direct sun). If the patterns are damaged rather than faded, those leaves will not recover, but new growth will come in correctly patterned once light is right.
See also
