Calathea Makoyana 200mm

🌿 Calathea makoyana

Common Name: Peacock Plant
Family: Marantaceae (Prayer Plant family)
Origin: Native to Brazil, where it grows in tropical forest understorey

📏 Physical Description

• Growth Habit:
  A compact, upright, clump-forming tropical plant that typically grows to 30–60 cm tall (12–24 inches) and about as wide.

• Leaves:
  The standout feature—oval, translucent light green leaves marked with bold dark green feather-like patterns, resembling the eye spots on a peacock's tail.
  The leaf undersides are a rich reddish-purple, giving the plant a striking two-tone effect.
  Each leaf is borne on a long, slender maroon petiole, and the foliage sways gently with air movement.

• Movement:
  Like other Calatheas, it exhibits nyctinasty—the leaves raise at night and lower during the day, like praying hands.

🌸 Flowers

• Appearance:
  Rare indoors. When they appear, flowers are small, white to creamy-pink, and grow at the base.
  Grown primarily for its stunning foliage, not for flowers.

🌱 Care and Cultivation

• Light:
  Prefers bright, indirect light.
  Can tolerate medium to low light, but best coloring occurs in filtered light.
  Avoid direct sun, which can fade patterns and scorch leaves.

• Watering:
  Keep the soil consistently moist, but never soggy.
  Water when the top 2–3 cm (1 inch) feels dry.
  Use distilled, rainwater, or filtered water to avoid leaf tip burn from minerals or fluoride.

• Humidity:
  High humidity (60–80%) is essential.
  Place near a humidifier, mist daily, or use a pebble tray to maintain moisture in the air.

• Soil:
  Use a light, well-draining soil mix.
  A blend of potting soil, peat or coco coir, perlite, and orchid bark works well.

• Temperature:
  Prefers warm, stable temps between 18–26°C (65–80°F).
  Avoid cold drafts or temperatures below 15°C (59°F).

• Feeding:
  Feed with a diluted, balanced liquid fertilizer every 4–6 weeks during the growing season (spring–autumn).

• Propagation:
  Best propagated through division during repotting.

✅ Quick Care Summary

RequirementDetailsLightBright, indirect (no direct sun)WaterKeep soil consistently moistSoilWell-draining, rich tropical mixHumidityHigh (60–80%)Temperature18–26°C; protect from cold airFeedingEvery 4–6 weeks in growing seasonPropagationDivision

✅ Perfect For:

• Tropical indoor gardens

• Bathrooms or kitchens with higher humidity

• Display on shelves or plant stands where foliage can shine

• Pet-safe households – Calathea makoyana is non-toxic

Fun Fact:
When backlit, the leaves of Calathea makoyana appear almost translucent, making the feather-like markings even more vivid—like natural stained glass!