Calathea Orbifolia
Goeppertia orbifolia
Calathea Orbifolia is a striking foliage houseplant with large, rounded, silvery-green leaves banded in darker stripes. Humidity-loving, it is grown for its bold, decorative foliage.
- Light
- Bright indirect light
- Water
- Keep evenly moist
- Difficulty
- Moderate
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Overview
Calathea Orbifolia (now botanically Goeppertia orbifolia) is a Bolivian prayer plant prized for its large, nearly circular leaves patterned with alternating silvery and deep-green stripes.
Like other prayer plants, it performs nyctinasty, raising and lowering its leaves on a daily rhythm in response to light. It is grown purely for foliage; the flowers are insignificant.
It has a reputation for being a bit fussy, demanding consistent moisture, warmth, high humidity, and ideally low-mineral water to avoid brown leaf edges, but it rewards good care with lush, dramatic foliage.
How to identify it
Identify by:
- Large, rounded (orbicular) leaves, often 20 to 30 cm (8 to 12 in) wide
- Silvery to pale blue-green leaves striped with darker green lines fanning from the midrib
- A bushy, clumping habit reaching about 60 to 90 cm (2 to 3 ft) tall
- Daily leaf movement (raising at night, lowering by day)
- No conspicuous flowers; the appeal is entirely foliar
Care & growing
Reward comes from consistency.
- Light: Bright indirect light; direct sun fades the silver patterning and scorches leaves
- Water: Keep evenly moist, never soggy or bone dry; use rain, distilled, or filtered water to prevent leaf-edge browning
- Soil: Light, moisture-retentive but well-draining mix with peat/coir and perlite
- Temperature: Warm, 18 to 27 C (65 to 80 F); avoid cold drafts
- Humidity: High humidity (60%+) is important; dry air causes crispy edges
- Feeding: Dilute balanced fertilizer monthly in the growing season
- Propagation: By division of the rhizome/clump during repotting
Habitat & origin
Native to eastern Bolivia in tropical South America.
It grows naturally on the humid, shaded rainforest floor, where filtered light and constant moisture suit its broad leaves. It is grown worldwide as an indoor ornamental and thrives in terrariums or humid rooms.
Frequently asked questions
Why are the leaf edges turning brown?
Brown, crispy edges usually come from low humidity or mineral buildup in tap water. Raise humidity and switch to rain, distilled, or filtered water.
How do I recognize Calathea Orbifolia?
Look for large, nearly round silvery blue-green leaves striped with darker green lines that fan out from the midrib, on a bushy clump 2 to 3 ft tall.
Why do the leaves move during the day?
Prayer plants show nyctinasty, raising their leaves at night and lowering them by day via small joints at the leaf base, following a daily light rhythm.
How do I propagate it?
By division. When repotting, gently separate the rhizome clump into sections, each with roots and leaves, and pot them up individually.
Calathea Orbifolia guides
In-depth guides for identifying, growing, and caring for Calathea Orbifolia.
