Calathea Zebra Plant

Calathea Zebrina houseplants are held in high esteem due to their incredible range of colours and shapes. Native to tropical jungles of the Amazon, as houseplants they provide a centrepiece of colour and interest. In South America, Calatheas play a key role in local culture as they have a wide range of uses including transporting food, making roofs for houses, as well as for medicinal properties. While they are popular houseplants, due to habitat destruction in their native South America they are becoming increasingly threatened in the wild.

In the wild Calatheas live on the jungle floor and have adapted to thrive below the canopy. They have big leaves with a wide surface area to capture any water that leaks down from the canopy above and the light that prisms from higher up. Many Calatheas follow a process called nyctinasty, where their leaves furl up at night and unfurl at dawn following a circadian rhythm. It is believed they do this to follow the sun through the sky and absorb as much light as possible.

To give Calathea Zebrina houseplants the best chance of thriving it's important to recreate the conditions of their native habitat. They should be kept out of direct sunshine, by a north-facing window or set back from the window in a bright room. Calatheas love high humidity, making them perfect for a kitchen or bathroom. They like to have constantly moist but not wet soil, so it is best to water them little and often. They can also be fussy with the type of water, so rainwater or filtered water is best. They also hate the cold, so avoid exposure to any temperatures below 15 degrees celsius.

Calathea Zebrina houseplants are said to symbolise a new beginning as each day their leaves furl up in the evening and unfurl in the morning. It is said that the phrase turning over a new leaf comes from this behaviour.

Calathea Zebrina houseplants are non-toxic so although not advised should pose no harm if accidentally chewed or eaten by your furry friends.

Zebra plant; Prayer Plant; Maranta