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Add our beautiful Calathea Freddie Calathea concinna 'Freddie') to your plant collection. Its gorgeous leaves look as if Monet has painted them with brush strokes on a silvery gray sky! This prayer plant moves its leaves at night. It's almost like getting a new plant in the evenings to see the colorful underside of the leaves as they rise upwards. Expect your calathea to grow to 2 feet tall and wide.
Calathea Freddie Concinna Care Guide & Presentation
This plant enjoys bright to medium indirect light.
Keep the soil slightly moist and water when the soil reaches a #5 on the moisture meter. Use filtered, bottled, or tap water sitting 24 hours to release the chemicals and water enough to discharge out of the drainage holes. Once the water is fully drained, replace it into the cache or decorative pot. Don't let the roots sit in standing water. During winter months, water less frequently but keep it humid around the plant.
Add up to 60% humidity by adding a pebble tray filled with water, grouping with other plants or using a humidifier.
Avoid any sudden temperature changes. Keep humidity high in warmer temperatures.
Outside: Grow in morning light, partial shade (4-6 hours) where nights are above 45°F. Indoors: The Freddie Plant prefers bright to medium, indirect light for at least six hours in a southern, eastern and western windows.
Fertilize monthly during its growing period. Use a high nitrogen liquid fertilizer at half strength to increase foliage health. Reduce during the fall and winter months while the plant is in its dormant phase. Flush the soil periodically to eliminate salts from fertilizing.
When receiving the plant, do not repot immediately but wait at least 6-12 months. Repot in the spring, using a 2" wider pot. (Too large of a pot could cause the soil to dry slower, which is not helpful.) Use a well-draining indoor potting mix with perlite to help with drainage or an african violet potting mix. Place a piece of screening at the bottom of the container over the drainage hole to secure the soil and allow it to drain. Add soil to the bottom to elevate the root ball. Lift the plant and release the roots against the existing planter. Use a clean knife or garden trowel to wedge between the pot and the soil to loosen. Inspect the root ball. Notice if there are any dead or rotting roots and trim off with sterile pruners. If the plant is rootbound, cut through the roots to alleviate continued encircling. Ensure the plant is sitting about 1" below the edge of the pot to avoid water spillage. Add more soil and backfill around the sides by tamping down. Fill up to the soil line but not over. Water thoroughly, leaving the soil damp but not soggy. If settling occurs, add more soil. Enclose the new plantings in plastic bags, mist and keep them in medium light. Remove the plastic bag when the roots are established. You may observe some leaf changes as it acclimates to its new environment. It may suffer some transplant shock depending on how tight the roots were intertwined together. Trim off any declining leaves as it regains its energy and gets rooted into the soil over time.
Trim off any dead or damaged stems to keep energy moving to the healthy leaves. Shower the leaves using a watering can with filtered or rainwater to remove dust. Remove any debris on the soil and replenish soil if needed.
Indoors: Propagate and divide Freddie Prayer plants in the early spring when emerging from dormancy. Pull from the container and brush or wash away the soil carefully. Carefully divide and repot in a rich African violet mix. Use a container that has drainage and is deep enough for the roots to grow. Set it in medium to bright, indirect sunlight while they are rooting. Enclose the new plantings in clear plastic bags, mist and keep them in medium light. Remove the plastic bag when the roots are established. You may observe some leaf changes as it acclimates to its new environment. It may suffer some transplant shock depending on how tight the roots were intertwined together. Trim off any declining leaves as it regains its energy and gets rooted into the soil over time. Check the moisture and humidity each day and add misting to keep the soil moist while the roots establish. After 6-8 weeks, roots will begin to establish. You can tug onto the stem to ensure the roots are anchoring well. You can remove the clear plastic bag at this time but still maintain high humidity around the plant. Outdoors: Carefully loosen the soil and dig the roots up and separate the plant in new locations in your garden. Add rich, damp, and loamy soil in a part-shade morning sun location. Water with filtered or rain water at soil level.
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Calathea Freddie: Overview
The Calathea plant, also known as Goeppertia concinna, is a striking prayer plant admired for its beautifully patterned foliage. This tropical perennial features elongated leaves with dark green stripes on a lighter green background, creating a feather-like pattern that adds a touch of elegance to any indoor space. As a member of the Marantaceae family, Freddie Calathea is native to the tropical regions of South America, where it thrives in the warm, humid canopy of rainforests.
This plant is typically grown in hardy zones 10-11 and can reach a height of about 12-24 inches, making it an excellent choice for smaller indoor spaces. The Freddie Plant is not a sun-loving plant and prefers low to medium indirect light, making it ideal for rooms with filtered light. The plant is moderately easy to care for, though it requires consistent moisture and humidity to thrive. This makes it a bit more suited for plant enthusiasts who are attentive to their green companions.
Symbolically, prayer plants, like the Calathea Freddy, are associated with healing, peace, and growth, making them a meaningful addition to your home or office. Additionally, Calathea isn’t toxic, ensuring that it’s safe for households with pets.
Other popular Calathea varieties include Calathea Orbifolia, known for its large, round leaves with silver stripes, and the Calathea Cathedral Windows, which features silvery-green leaves.
Calathea: Benefits
- It has strong air-purifying properties, hence it improves indoor air quality.
- Pet-safe, making it ideal for homes with animals.
- Symbolizes new beginnings and personal growth.
- Adds aesthetic value with its striking vibrant foliage.
Calathea Freddie: Care Guide
Calathea Freddie, also known as Goeppertia concinna, is perfect for those who appreciate vibrant foliage and want to add a pet-friendly plant to their collection. Below are our Calathea care instructions to keep your Freddie Prayer Plant thriving.
Watering and Humidity
Prayer Plant Calathea prefers consistently moist soil that is not waterlogged. Water the plant when the top inch of the soil feels dry, using distilled or rainwater to avoid leaf browning. High humidity is essential for this plant, so consider placing it near a humidifier or misting it regularly to maintain the necessary moisture levels.
Light and Temperature
This Calathea plant thrives in medium indirect light. Direct sunlight can scorch the leaves, causing them to lose their vibrant patterns. A temperature range of 65°F to 75°F (18°C to 24°C) is ideal, and it should be kept away from cold drafts and sudden temperature changes.
Soil and Repotting
Calathea Freddie Plant does best in well-draining, aerated soil that retains some moisture. An ideal mix of peat, perlite, and potting soil is ideal. In spring, repot the plant every 1-2 years or when it outgrows its current pot to refresh the soil and give it room to grow.
Feeding and Propagation
Feed your Calathea Freddie with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer every 4-6 weeks during the growing season (spring and summer). Prayer plant propagation is best done through division, typically during repotting, by gently separating the plant into smaller clumps, ensuring each section has roots and foliage.
Pruning, Cleaning, and Common Issues
Prune any yellow or damaged leaves to encourage new growth and maintain the plant's appearance. Regularly clean the leaves with a damp cloth to keep them dust-free and improve photosynthesis. Common prayer plant leaf issues include browning leaf edges (often due to low humidity or poor water quality) and yellowing leaves, which may indicate overwatering or poor drainage. Adjust care as needed to resolve these problems.
Calathea Concinna Freddie: Placement, Companion & Alternative Plants
Calathea Concinna Freddie is a versatile and visually striking plant that fits beautifully into various indoor environments. Its adaptability and pet-friendly nature make it a popular choice among plant enthusiasts.
Best Locations & Uses
- Its air-purifying properties and low-light tolerance make it ideal for creating a tranquil and healthy sleeping environment in your bedroom.
- Calathea Freddie is a symbol of new beginnings and growth, making it a meaningful gift for friends and loved ones.
- This non-toxic plant is safe for homes with cats and dogs, ensuring peace of mind for pet owners.
- It thrives in places like bathrooms or kitchens, where higher humidity levels can keep its foliage vibrant and healthy.
- If you live in a warmer climate, this indoor plant can be a lovely addition to a shaded porch, adding elegance to outdoor spaces.
Companion Plants
If you're looking for complementary easy-care plants, consider these green beauties:
- Peperomia Frost (Peperomia caperata ‘Frost’): Known for its silvery foliage, the Peperomia Frost is a great companion plant to Calathea Freddie.
- Chinese Money Plant (Pilea peperomioides): With its cute, coin-shaped leaves and easy-care nature, the Chinese Money Plant adds a touch of tropical elegance to any space and beautifully complements the Calathea Freddie.
- Spider Plant Variegated Reverse (Chlorophytum comosum): A classic houseplant with arching leaves and air-purifying qualities, the Spider Plant is ideal for beginner gardeners.
Alternative Plants
If you're seeking similar pet-friendly options with comparable care needs and aesthetic appeal, consider these alternatives available on Lively Root:
- Calathea Rattlesnake (Calathea lancifolia): Calathea Rattlesnake is a striking rare prayer plant with long, wavy green leaves and dark brushstrokes.
- Maranta Red Prayer Plant (Maranta leuconeura var. kerchoveana): The Maranta Red Prayer Plant features vibrant red veins on its leaves, which add color and charm to any indoor space while being easy to care for.
- Peacock Plant (Calathea roseopicta): Known for its intricate feather-like leaf patterns, the Peacock Plant is perfect for pet owners and adds a touch of elegance to your home.
Green Up Your Space With a Calathea Freddie From LivelyRoot Today!
Expand your greenery at home with the beautiful Calathea Freddie by ordering yours from Lively Root today!