How to Grow and Care for Calathea Vittata

The Calathea Vittata is a distinctive houseplant known for its elegant, striped foliage. Its slender, bright green leaves feature fine, white pinstripes, creating a striking visual. As a member of the Marantaceae family, it’s often called a “prayer plant” due to its habit of folding its leaves upward at night. This natural movement, known as nyctinasty, resembles hands in prayer and adds a dynamic quality to the plant.

Calathea Vittata Care

Light

Calathea Vittata thrives in medium to bright, indirect sunlight, which is necessary to maintain its vibrant leaf pattern. Avoid direct sun, as it will scorch the leaves and cause their patterns to fade. An ideal location is near an east-facing window or set back from a west- or south-facing window. If the leaf colors look washed out, the plant is receiving too much light.

Water

Keep the soil consistently moist but never waterlogged. Water when the top inch of the soil feels dry to the touch. Calathea Vittata is sensitive to minerals and chemicals in tap water, such as fluoride and chlorine, which can cause browning leaf tips. For this reason, using filtered, distilled, or collected rainwater is strongly recommended for irrigation.

Soil

Calathea Vittata prefers a well-draining, peat-based potting mix that retains some moisture. A mixture of standard potting soil with perlite, orchid bark, or vermiculite will improve drainage and aeration. This balance ensures that the roots have access to both the moisture and oxygen they need without sitting in excess water, which can lead to root rot.

Temperature and Humidity

As a tropical plant, Calathea Vittata flourishes in warm and humid conditions. It prefers temperatures between 65°F and 80°F (18°C to 27°C) and must be protected from sudden temperature drops or cold drafts. High humidity, above 60%, is needed to prevent crispy brown leaf edges. You can increase humidity with a room humidifier, by placing the pot on a pebble tray with water, or by grouping it with other houseplants.

Fertilizer

During the spring and summer growing season, feed your Calathea Vittata every four weeks. Use a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer diluted to half-strength. Reduce or stop fertilizing during the fall and winter when growth slows.

Repotting Your Calathea Vittata

Repot your Calathea Vittata every one to two years in the spring. Signs it’s time for a new pot include roots emerging from drainage holes, slowed growth, or water running straight through the soil. Repotting in spring aligns with the start of the growing season, helping the plant recover quickly.

Select a new container one to two inches larger in diameter than the current one. A pot that is too large can hold excess moisture, leading to root rot. Gently remove the plant, inspect the roots, and trim away any that appear mushy or damaged. Place it in the new pot with fresh soil, ensuring it sits at the same depth as before.

Propagating Calathea Vittata

The most reliable method for propagating Calathea Vittata is through division. This process is best done in the spring during repotting to minimize stress on the plant. Division takes advantage of the plant’s natural clumping growth to create new plants.

To begin, remove the plant from its pot and shake off excess soil to expose the root ball. Look for natural separations in the root system and gently tease them apart. Ensure each new division has a healthy portion of roots and several leaves. If the roots are tightly bound, use a clean knife to make careful cuts. Pot each new division into an appropriately sized container with fresh soil and water it thoroughly.

Common Calathea Vittata Problems

Crispy, Brown Leaf Edges

Crispy, brown leaf edges or tips are a frequent issue with Calathea Vittata. This is almost always a sign of insufficient humidity in the plant’s environment. To resolve this, increase humidity by misting the leaves, using a pebble tray, or placing a humidifier nearby. Poor water quality can also be a cause.

Yellowing Leaves

Yellowing leaves on a Calathea are an indicator of overwatering. Waterlogged soil deprives the roots of oxygen, which leads to root rot and causes the leaves to turn yellow. Ensure the pot has adequate drainage holes to allow excess water to escape. If you suspect overwatering, inspect the roots for rot.

Pests

Spider mites are a common pest for Calathea Vittata, especially in dry conditions. They create fine webbing on the undersides of leaves and cause the foliage to appear speckled or discolored. If you spot spider mites, isolate the plant to prevent them from spreading. Wipe the leaves with a damp cloth to remove the pests and their webbing, and use an insecticidal soap or neem oil for persistent infestations.

Calathea Vittata Toxicity

Calathea Vittata is non-toxic to cats, dogs, and humans, making it a safe choice for households with pets and children. The ASPCA confirms this plant is safe for homes with curious pets. While ingesting a large amount of any plant can cause mild digestive upset, the Calathea Vittata itself contains no toxic compounds.