The Unique Plant Life

Calathea roseopicta

Kingdom:Plantae

Clade:Tracheophytes

Clade:Angiosperm Monocots Commelinids

Order:Zingiberales

Family:Marantaceae

Genus:Calathea

Species:C. roseopicta

Calathea roseopicta, the rose-painted calathea, is a species of plant in the family Marantaceae, native to northwest Brazil. It is a clump-forming evergreen perennial growing to 50cm. Like many plants, the Calathea enjoys bright light without direct sunlight. North, east or west facing rooms are suitable. Watering: This species enjoys being in moist soil at all times.

The most common cause of a Calathea dying is overwatering, leading to root rot. Keep the soil lightly moist, rather than soggy. Other common causes of a Calathea (Goeppertia) houseplant dying are low humidity, pests, temperature stress, and underwatering.

It’s all about the foliage with this one. The green elliptic leaves display pinkish colored stripes from the midrib. The midrib is also pinkish in color, although this and the stripes will turn white when the plant matures. These leaves fold up slightly when night time arrives which gives a grower the additional feeling of the plant being alive. The leaves grow at the top of the stalks and reach up to 30 inches tall. 

Flowering: Calathea roseopicta will bloom during the summer with small white and purple flowers which are non-showy, but still nice to see.

Displaying: Two important factors to consider when displaying this plant is not to seat it near cold drafts or in direct sunlight. Displaying within a shaded room where you can place the plant at a height level with a table will enable you to show off both sides of the leaves.