Peacock Plant
Calathea makoyana
A compact perennial houseplant known for its ornamental foliage featuring pale green, translucent leaves with dark green blotches along the veins and deep purple undersides.
- Light
- Bright, indirect light for 6 to 8 hours daily; protect from direct sun.
- Water
- Water when the top inch of soil feels dry, maintaining even moisture. Use filtered water if possible.
- Growth
- Clump-forming evergreen perennial growing to a mature height and spread of 1 to 2 feet with a moderate growth rate.
Care instructions
Provide bright, indirect sunlight, keep the soil consistently moist but never waterlogged, use well-draining, slightly acidic soil, and maintain high humidity.
Growing details
Sunlight
Bright, indirect light for 6 to 8 hours daily; protect from direct sun.
Watering
Water when the top inch of soil feels dry, maintaining even moisture. Use filtered water if possible.
Soil
Rich, porous potting mix with peat moss or perlite for drainage; ideal pH range between 5.5 and 6.5.
Hardiness zone
USDA zones 11 to 12; grown primarily as an indoor plant in cooler climates.
Growth habit
Clump-forming evergreen perennial growing to a mature height and spread of 1 to 2 feet with a moderate growth rate.
Bloom season
Rarely blooms indoors; produces small, inconspicuous white or purple flowers when mature under optimal conditions.
Propagation
Propagated through division of root clumps during the spring repotting season.
Common pests & issues
Prone to spider mites and fungus gnats in dry indoor air or over-moist soil. Leaf tip browning can occur from low humidity or mineral buildup in tap water.
Similar species
Often confused with other prayer plants such as Maranta leuconeura, but distinguished by its translucent leaves and distinct feather-like dark markings.