How to Propagate Your Peacock Plant

The peacock plant, Calathea makoyana, is known for its foliage featuring intricate, painted-on patterns. For this plant, the only reliable propagation method is division, a process of separating it into smaller, self-sufficient sections. This technique ensures new plants have a strong start with their own roots and leaves.

When to Propagate Peacock Plants

The best time to divide your plant is during its active growing season in the spring or early summer. Propagating during this period allows the new divisions to establish their root systems and produce foliage before winter, which minimizes stress on the plant.

Select a plant that is mature, healthy, and growing densely in its container. A plant that is slightly root-bound is a good candidate, as its divisions will be substantial enough to survive on their own. Dividing a sparse or unhealthy plant can put too much strain on it and may result in the loss of both the original plant and the new sections.

How to Propagate by Division

You will need new pots with drainage holes, a fresh, well-draining potting mix, and a clean knife or pruning shears. Watering your peacock plant a day or two before you plan to divide it makes the process easier by ensuring the soil is moist and the roots are hydrated.

Carefully remove the entire plant from its current pot. Tip the container on its side and gently slide the plant out, using your hands to support the base of the stems and the root ball. Once it is out, shake or brush off excess soil so you can clearly see the root system and the rhizomes.

With the roots exposed, identify natural separation points within the clump. Each new division must have at least one leaf and a healthy portion of the root system attached to its rhizome to ensure its survival. Use your sharp knife to make clean cuts through the rhizomes to separate the clumps, or gently tease them apart by hand if possible.

Fill your new containers partway with a suitable potting mix, such as one that is humus-rich and slightly acidic. Place each new division into its pot, spread out the roots, and fill in with more potting mix, firming the soil around the base. The new pots should be appropriately sized for the divisions to prevent the soil from staying wet for too long.

Caring for New Divisions

New divisions require higher humidity than established plants to help them acclimate. You can create a humid microenvironment by loosely covering the pot with a clear plastic bag or by placing the new plants near a humidifier. This increased moisture in the air reduces water loss from the leaves while the root system re-establishes itself.

Water the new divisions carefully, keeping the soil consistently moist but never waterlogged, as overwatering can quickly lead to root rot. Place the new plants in a location that receives bright, indirect light, avoiding any direct sun that could scorch the leaves.

Hold off on fertilizing your new peacock plants for at least the first month or two. Adding fertilizer too soon can burn the new, delicate roots. Once you observe new growth, which is a sign that the plant is establishing itself, you can begin a regular feeding schedule with a diluted, balanced fertilizer.