How to Grow and Care for Calathea Medallion
Learn to maintain the health and striking patterns of your Calathea Medallion. Our guide provides the essential knowledge for a consistently thriving plant.
The Calathea Medallion is a popular houseplant celebrated for its foliage. Its large, round leaves feature a pattern of silver and emerald green bands on a deep green surface, with deep purple-red undersides. This plant is a “prayer plant” due to a behavior called nyctinastic movement, where its leaves rise at night and lower during the day in a fascinating daily rhythm.
Essential Care Requirements
Light
Calathea Medallions flourish in bright, indirect light, which mimics their native tropical forest floor. Place them near an east-facing window or a few feet away from a south or west-facing window to provide adequate brightness without direct exposure. Direct sunlight will scorch the leaves, causing brown spots and fading the vibrant patterns. While they tolerate lower light conditions, the leaf coloration will be less pronounced.
Soil
The right soil mixture provides a balance of moisture retention and aeration. An ideal potting medium for Calathea Medallion is well-draining but holds enough moisture to remain consistently damp. A peat-based indoor plant mix amended with perlite or orchid bark works well. This combination prevents the soil from becoming waterlogged, which can lead to root rot. Repot every one to two years, or when the plant becomes root-bound.
Water
Maintain consistently moist soil without allowing it to become soggy or waterlogged. A reliable method is to water thoroughly when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. These plants are sensitive to the minerals found in tap water. Using filtered, distilled, or collected rainwater is highly recommended to prevent the leaf tips from turning brown and stressing the plant.
Temperature and Humidity
As tropical natives, Calathea Medallions thrive in warm and humid conditions. They are most comfortable in a stable temperature range between 65°F and 80°F (18°C to 27°C). Protect them from sudden temperature drops, cold drafts, and direct air from heating or cooling vents. High humidity is a must for keeping the foliage lush. Increase ambient moisture by placing the plant in a bathroom, using a humidifier, or setting the pot on a pebble tray with water.
Fertilizer
A Calathea Medallion benefits from regular feeding during its active growing season in the spring and summer. Use a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer, diluted to half its recommended strength. Apply it once every two to four weeks. Over-fertilizing can lead to chemical burn on the roots and damage the leaves. Reduce or stop fertilizing entirely during the fall and winter when growth slows.
Propagating Calathea Medallion
The most reliable method for propagating a Calathea Medallion is through division, best performed during spring repotting. After carefully removing the plant from its pot, inspect the root ball for natural clumps. Gently tease the roots apart by hand, ensuring each new division has a healthy mass of roots and several leaves to support its growth. Pot each new division into its own container with fresh soil, using a pot just large enough for the new root system. Keep the new plants in a warm, humid location with evenly moist soil to encourage new growth.
Common Issues and Solutions
Crispy, brown leaf edges are most often a direct result of low humidity or minerals in tap water like chlorine. To prevent further damage, switch to filtered or distilled water and increase ambient humidity. Misting the leaves or placing the plant near a humidifier provides the necessary moisture.
Leaves that turn yellow are a sign of overwatering. When the soil remains waterlogged, roots are deprived of oxygen, which leads to root rot. Before watering, check that the top inch of soil has dried out and ensure the pot has functional drainage holes.
When the leaves of a Calathea Medallion curl inward, it indicates the plant is underwatered and its soil is too dry. A thorough watering will cause the leaves to uncurl within a day. Monitor the soil moisture more frequently to prevent this from recurring.
Spider mites are a common pest attracted to the dry conditions that Calatheas dislike, making proper humidity a preventative measure. They can be identified by fine webbing on the undersides of leaves and a stippled appearance of the foliage. If an infestation occurs, wipe the leaves with a damp cloth and treat the plant with insecticidal soap or neem oil.