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Meet the gorgeous Calathea Orbifolia, a beautiful Prayer Plant that can eventually grow to three feet tall but goes at a slow pace. In the meantime, you'll have time to count the silvery-green stripes on his slightly large, handsome leaves. It plays the camouflage game by folding its leaves upward at night to showcase green leaves underneath.
Calathea Orbifolia 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.
Guard your Prayer Plant against temperatures below 60°F to avoid foliage damage.
Outside: Grow in morning light, partial shade (4-6 hours) where nights are above 45°F. Indoors: The Prayer 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 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, indoor potting soil mix or 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 Orbifolia Plant: Overview
Calathea Orbifolia (Calathea orbifolia, also known as Goeppertia orbifolia) is a slow-growing indoor plant with magnificent, oval-shaped leaves marked by silvery green stripes. Calathea Orbifolia is a popular prayer plant, which gets its name because it folds its leaves at night, making it look like it’s praying.
A tropical plant suitable for hardiness zones 10-11, this Calathea reaches up to 3 ft. tall when mature. The Prayer Plant Calathea Orbifolia belongs to the Marantaceae family and grows natively in the tropical rainforests of Bolivia, Brazil, and Columbia. The Calathea Orbifolia enjoys bright to medium indirect sunlight and high humidity and requires extra care to flourish. Calathea isn’t toxic to cats, dogs, or humans, making it a favorite among pet owners and families with little children.
The Calathea Orbifolia plant symbolizes new beginnings and dedication. In Feng Shui, this beautiful plant is believed to promote harmony and stability.
Prayer plants are valued for their gorgeous, patterned leaves in various colors. From the rare and dramatic Calathea Rattlesnake to the elegant Calathea Concinna “Freddie”, Calathea plants will add interest to any display with their beautiful foliage.
Calathea Plant: Benefits
- Excellent air-purifying qualities
- A popular pet-safe plant
- Symbolizes new beginnings
- Visually appealing foliage
- Reduces stress and enhances good mood
Calathea Orbifolia: Care Guide
While Calathea prayer plant care can be tricky, once you know your plant's needs, you’ll master its maintenance. Here are some Calathea care tips for growing a healthy and happy plant:
Watering and Humidity
The Calathea Prayer Ppant prefers consistently moist soil. Water well but don’t let the soil get soggy. For the best Calathea Orbifolia care, use filtered or overnight’ water. Keep the humidity high around this plant by placing it on a pebble tray, misting it, or using a humidifier. This is especially important in winter when the air tends to get dry because of the heating.
Light and Temperature
Calathea plants enjoy medium to bright indirect light. Too much direct sunlight can leave unsightly burns on your plant’s leaves. The ideal indoor temperature range for your Calathea is 65°F-75°F. To prevent cold damage, bring your plant inside if kept outdoors when the night temperatures don’t go below 45°F.
Soil, Feeding, and Repotting
The best soil for your Orbifolia plant should be well-draining. To enhance drainage, mix in some perlite with the potting soil. Feed your plant with a liquid fertilizer high in nitrogen to promote the growth of healthy new leaves during the growing season. Let the plant rest in the winter months. Repot once in 3 years, choosing a 2-inch larger pot with drainage holes.
Propagation
Calathea plants are relatively easy to propagate. The easiest method for prayer plant propagation is division, so repotting is a good time to divide a large Calathea Orbifolia. Water your plant well before removing it from its container. Unravel the roots and divide your Calathea into several new plants. Transplant each in well-draining potting soil and keep them in a spot with indirect light and high humidity.
Pruning, Cleaning, and Common Issues
Trim off any damaged or wilting leaves and stems. Clean the plant’s large leaves using a shower to remove dust particles and other debris. If the leaf tips of your Calathea are crispy brown, it needs more humidity. Brown or curling leaves on your prayer plant indicate underwatering while yellowing leaves often signal poor drainage. The Calathea Plant can shed its leaves if exposed to cold drafts or a sudden change in surroundings.
Calathea Orbifolia Prayer Plant: Placement, Companion & Alternative Plants
Your Orbifolia Calathea makes an amazing standalone plant, but it can also be used in lush indoor plant displays or grown as a stunning porch plant in warm climates.
Best Locations & Uses
- Calming and air-improving bedroom plant
- A perfect plant for spaces with high humidity, like bathrooms
- Calathea is a great gift plant for new beginnings
- Ideal for plant lovers with pets
- Spectacular statement plant for well-lit offices
Companion Plants
Calathea Orbifolia Prayer Plant grows well with other companion plants with unusual foliage. Here are some suggestions for complementary and alternative plants to consider:
- Aglaonema Red Siam (Aglaonema commutatum ‘Red Siam’): The moisture-loving Aglaonema Red Siam is prized for its gorgeously colored leaves and easy-going nature.
- Zebra Plant (Aphelandra squarrosa): The arresting, striped leaves of the Zebra Plant are not its only attraction; this finicky beauty also produces a showy, spike-shaped yellow flower.
- Black Raven ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia 'Black Raven'): A rare variety of the popular ZZ Plant, the Black Raven ZZ Plant has dramatic, purplish-black foliage and is just as easy to care for as its more common green counterpart.
Alternative Plants
If you’re looking for alternative to Calathea Orbifolia plants to furnish your indoor oasis, we’ve gathered some top options available on Lively Root:
- Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior): Extremely low-maintenance, the Cast Iron Plant is a pet-safe and nearly indestructible plant, ideal for beginners or people with busy schedules.
- Maranta Red Prayer Plant (Maranta leuconeura var. kerchoveana): The beautiful Maranta Red Prayer Plant has elegant, oval-shaped leaves with red veins; this charming plant also produces tiny purple blossoms.
- Calathea Cathedral Windows (Goeppertia makoyana (syn. Calathea makoyana)): With gem-like emerald-green spots on its light green, oval leaves that sport a pinkish purple underside, the Calathea Cathedral Windows is aptly named, resembling a masterpiece in stained glass.
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