Calathea Peacock Plant, also called Calathea Makoyana and Cathedral Windows, is a spectacular tropical houseplant from the Marantaceae family. This evergreen plant is famous for its contrasting green, purplish, and red foliage that can brighten up any space. Native to eastern Brazil, this beautiful herbaceous perennial is often grown as a houseplant for its fascinating leaf textures and patterns.
Though peacock plants feature a regal look, some gardeners believe these plants need a little work to be in good shape and condition. Interested in growing this thriving peacock plant in your home? Well, you’re at the right place!
This post features all the information you should know about the growth and care of Calathea Makoyana plants on your own. Keep reading for details.
How to Care for Calathea Peacock Plant
Since the Calathea peacock plant has some particular care requirements, it can be a little challenging to nurture for new houseplant collectors. This section covers different aspects of caring for this stunning peacock plant. With proper care, you can turn this plant into a gorgeous display of lush foliage. Let’s talk about them.
a) Sunlight Requirements
Peacock plants love bright but indirect sunlight. Direct light can dull the foliage of the leaves. They also do good in full shade, but the lack of sun can slow down growth eventually. All in all, keep your peacock plant in at least 8 hours of bright light each day.
b) Soil Requirements
Peacock plants grow well in soil that retains moisture but also drains well. You can prepare this type of potting mix by adding sand, peat, and perlite to regular garden soil. However, ensure your potting mix is organic and humusy to ensure healthy growth and lush leaf production. Try to keep the soil pH in the range of 6.1 to 7.8.
c) Water Requirements
Maintaining the right soil balance is the key to the healthy growth of your peacock plants. These houseplants prefer consistent and even levels of moisture. Overwatering can cause root rot, and underwatering can lead the leaves of your peacock plant to curl up. Therefore, it is essential to follow a proper watering pattern. Water in a way that the potting mix remains evenly moist but not soggy. However, reduce the watering frequency in winter as these plants need little rest. Also, consider using rainwater or distilled water, as chemicals in tap water can damage your peacock plants.
d) Temperature Requirements
Since peacock plants are tropical species, they do well in average to warm room temperatures. The ideal temperature range for these stunning houseplants is 15ºC to 29ºC (60°F to 85°F). Also, it is essential not to expose your plant to sudden and extreme environmental changes. It is recommended not to let the temperature drop below 12°C or 55°F to protect your peacock plant from damage.
e) Humidity Requirements
Calathea Peacock Plant needs high levels of humidity for the best growth. Low humidity can lead the leaves of your plant to turn brown and curl up. The ideal humidity range is above 60%. Try to aim for this level, regardless of the season. Remember that the humidity level varies significantly in winter, which affects the plant’s growth. To avoid this problem, consider moving your peacock plant to a humidified space in cold months. You can also increase humidity by placing your plant pot on a tray with pebbles.
f) Fertilizer Requirements
Fertilization is another essential factor to consider to encourage dense and rich foliage production. The right time to feed the Calathea peacock plant is during its growth period, from spring to fall. Though these plants are not heavy feeders, you should use a balanced or nitrogen-rich fertilizer for feeding. Add this liquid fertilizer once a month during the growth period. Also, stop fertilization in winter as the growth of peacock plants automatically slows down throughout the cold season. Excess fertilizer can cause small spots on leaves and burn the root system.
g) USDA Zones Requirements
The ideal USDA hardiness zones for these plants are 10A to 12. Peacock plants thrive in warm environments. Considering their tropical nature, Calathea Makoyana plants are usually grown indoors where the temperature remains warm year-round. However, you can also plant them outside in specific growing zones.
Calathea Makoyana Flowering
Generally, Calathea peacock plants are grown for their gorgeous leaves rather than their blooms. However, their small flowers on long spikes make them even more eye-appealing. The blooming season of matured peacock plants is from spring to late summer.
Nevertheless, if conditions are appropriate, plants may bloom in the fall too. Depending on the variety of your Calathea peacock plant, the color of the flowers can be white, yellow, or purple.
The structure of the Calathea flower is asymmetric. These plants produce alluring, non-toxic flowers with a light citrus fragrance which attracts bees and other pollinators.
If you want your Calathea peacock plant to bloom, take care of the following conditions:
- As Calathea plants are particular about the quality of the water they get, consider using filtered or distilled water.
- Although Calathea plants like damp soil, avoid overwatering.
- The potting mix must consist of a combination of coco coir, perlite, and garden soil.
- If you have kept the plant indoors, ensure the humidity is above 60%.
- Make sure your plant gets indirect but bright light.
- Give your Calathea plant Phosphorus fertilizer to promote blooming.
Calathea Peacock Plant Size (Height, Width, Growth)
Calathea peacock plant can grow 2 to 4 feet in height. Due to its tendency to form clumps, the plant expands horizontally too. Its leaves grow out from the center and spread outward. As a result, a mature Calathea peacock plant can have a width between 2 to 4 feet.
Calathea Makoyana Potting & Repotting
Like every plant, your indoor Calathea peacock plant will need repotting with its growth. Depending on the growth, you should repot the plant every 1 to 2 years.
When Should You Repot Your Calathea Peacock Plant?
You must consider repotting your Calathea peacock plant every time you notice the following conditions:
- The roots fill the pot and grow out.
- Root bound causing slow growth of the plant
- The soil is not able to absorb adequate nutrients and water
- You notice fungal or unpleasant odor on your plant
Since spring is the growing season for the Calathea peacock plants, repot them during this time of the year. Below are quick tips for repotting Calathea Makoyana.
- Get a pot that is slightly bigger than the existing pot to ensure optimum plant growth.
- Use quality and well-drained potting mix having rich nutrients.
- Make sure the container has appropriate drainage holes at the bottom to prevent water accumulation.
- Use gravel or rocks at the bottom of the pot for proper drainage.
- Cut damaged roots and repot the plant.
- Water it thoroughly.
- Place the plant in indirect sunlight.
Pruning Calathea Makoyana
As you may know, peacock plants grow pretty slowly. It states that you don’t need to prune them frequently to maintain their shape and size. However, remember to take off old leaves whenever they start turning brown.
Propagating Calathea Peacock Plant
Repotting is usually the right time for the propagation of the peacock plant. Let’s talk about the propagation method in detail.
a) Propagate Calathea Peacock Plant by Root Division
The easiest way for the propagation of the Calathea peacock Plant is by division. Wait for your plant to grow large enough before using it for propagation. Also, consider propagating the plant in summer or spring. Here are the steps:
Step 1: Lift your peacock plant from the pot and remove the soil from the roots gently.
Step 2: Divide the root ball with a sterile knife. Ensure all divisions have a few leaves.
Step 3: Plant each clump into separate containers. Keep these divisions warm, moist, and humid to help them establish.
This is how you can have two or three new peacock plants from a parent plant. Place these new plants in different corners around your home or give them away as gifts.
Calathea Makoyana Pests & Diseases
Though peacock plants are typically low maintenance in the pest & disease department, they might face several common pests and diseases. To minimize the overall damage, you must keep analyzing your plants to catch and treat the possible problems at an early stage. Some of the common issues are:
Spider Mites: These sucking pests sit underside the leaves of your peacock plants. They feed on the water inside the leaves, resulting in discoloration and yellowing foliage. Whenever you spot spider mites, treat these insects immediately by rubbing the infested leaves with alcohol and spraying them with neem oil.
Aphids: These are the common tiny insects that affect indoor plants. They suck the sap from the plant tissues and leave a sticky substance behind. Get rid of aphids by cleaning the plant with a soft cloth and then spraying it with dish soap and neem oil.
Pseudomonas Leaf Spot: This bacterial disease causes multiple reddish-brown spots on the plant’s leaves, leading to leaf distortion. You can prevent this problem by keeping the leaves dry while watering. Also, if you find spots, consider removing all the infested leaves.
Root Rot: Root rot is another common problem among peacock plants. It usually occurs due to overwatering, especially in winter. When you add excess water, the roots die due to the lack of oxygen. If you spot root rot, try to save your Calathea peacock plant by repotting it. You can also replace the soggy soil with a clean, fresh potting mix.
Toxicity of Calathea Makoyana towards Humans or Pets
Calathea Makoyana plants are non-poisonous, making them safe for humans and pets. That means you can grow them freely near your kids and pets.
Conclusion
The striking appearance and evergreen, lush foliage of the Calathea peacock Plant make it a statement decoration. Though they need little attention and care, these colorful plants can brighten any room. If you’ve peacock plants in your home, keep the atmosphere correct and look for problem signs to ensure healthy growth. Hopefully, the information in this post will help you grow a healthy, fuller, and bushy Calathea peacock plant.
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