Calathea Orbifolia
Huge, round, silver-striped leaves that can reach a foot across, on a plant that grows into a soft green fountain. The most beautiful calathea and one of the most demanding: high humidity, soft water, and no cold drafts, ever.
Orbifolia is the calathea people buy for the photograph and then learn from. The leaves are enormous, almost circular, pale green with bands of silver running out from the midrib, and a mature plant is a two-foot dome of them. Nothing else in the family is as calm or as striking.
It is also the least forgiving. It wants steady warmth, humidity above sixty percent, soft water, and to be left exactly where it is. Meet those and it grows steadily; miss them and the leaf edges brown, then the leaves curl, then it stops. Worth it, with a humidifier.
Light
Medium, indirect light. A north window or a spot a few feet from an east window. Bright light fades the silver; direct sun scorches immediately. It does surprisingly well under a good grow light, where the humidity and light can both be controlled.
Water
Evenly moist, never wet, never dry. Water when the top inch is dry with filtered, distilled or rain water at room temperature. Every four to five days in summer, every week or so in winter. Tap water is the most common reason for brown edges on this plant.
Soil and potting
A moisture-holding, airy mix: coco coir, potting soil and perlite in equal parts. Drainage is essential. Repot every eighteen months in spring, gently; it dislikes root disturbance. Divide only when the clump is clearly crowded.
Feeding
Quarter-strength balanced feed every four weeks in spring and summer. Skip winter. Overfeeding shows as brown tips within days.
Propagation
Division in spring, and only from a large, healthy plant. Each division needs several leaves and a good root mass. Divisions sulk for a month or two; keep them warm and humid under a bag or in a cabinet.
In a hot, dry home
Honestly hard. Sixty percent humidity in a desert house means a humidifier running next to it from May to October, or a glass cabinet. It cannot be anywhere near the AC vent. Use filtered water only. If you want the look without the fight, a rattlesnake plant or a Stromanthe is far more forgiving; if you want this plant, budget for the humidifier.
Problems and fixes
Brown, crispy leaf edges
Likely cause: Low humidity or tap water
Fix: Humidifier and filtered water. Damaged edges will not recover; new leaves will be clean.
Leaves curling inward
Likely cause: Dry soil, dry air or a draft
Fix: Water, raise humidity, move away from vents.
Yellow leaves
Likely cause: Overwatering or cold
Fix: Let the top inch dry; keep it above sixty-two degrees.
New leaves small and slow
Likely cause: Root-bound or underfed
Fix: Repot in spring and feed lightly.
Calathea Orbifolia questions
Is Calathea orbifolia pet safe?
Yes. Non-toxic to cats and dogs.
Why are the edges going brown?
Almost always humidity or water quality. It wants sixty percent humidity and filtered water. Both, not one.
How big do the leaves get?
Up to a foot across on a mature, happy plant. Indoors, eight inches is more typical.
Plants with a similar rhythm
Calathea White Fusion
- Light
- Low to medium
- Water
- Every few days
- Pets
- Safe
Stromanthe Triostar
- Light
- Medium to bright indirect
- Water
- Weekly
- Pets
- Safe
