Calathea Dottie Care
Basic Calathea Dottie Care
Loved for their incredible dark black/green and pink-lined leaves, the Calathea Dottie is a must-have for every plant enthusiast! Below you’ll find our complete Calathea Dottie care guide with everything you need to know to help it thrive.
Bright Indirect Light
I love the sunshine but too much direct light will damage my leaves.
Water Moderately
I don't like my soil to be too dry or too soggy. Little and often is what I'm after.
High Humidity
I thrive in humid environments so please mist my leaves every so often.
Potting Soil
I need soil specifically for indoor plants as it retains the right amount of water.
Detailed Calathea Dottie Care Information
Whether you're looking to make sure your Calathea Dottie is in it's perfect conditions, or looking to see if one could work for your space. We've got you covered.
Bright but indirect light is best
You’ll want to find a nice spot with ample bright but indirect light for your Calathea Dottie. Keep them away from intense direct light as this can scorch the leaves.
Water your Calathea Dottie little but often
Calathea Dottie plants don’t like to have a really dry or super soggy potting mix. The best way to water them to ensure some moisture in the soil is little but often. This avoids any risk of root rot or drought.
Calathea Dottie plants need warm temperatures
It’s important that you find a nice warm spot for your Calathea Dottie as they won’t do so well in cool temperatures. Anything from normal room temperature and above is ideal.
Keep them away from drafty doors/ windows or air conditioning vents as the cool stream of air will damage your plant’s health.
High humidity is vital
Your Calathea Dottie will love you if you make sure the humidity level around it gets a good boost! The best ways to do this are by misting a few times per week, showering occassionally or investing in a humidifier to keep a nice stable humidity level.
Feed once a month during the growth period
If you do choose to fertilise your Calathea Dottie then we recommend using a water-soluble or liquid fertiliser once a month during spring and summer. Make sure you weaken it more than recommended to avoid fertiliser burn and cut back entirely during autumn and winter where growth is dormant.
Dust the leaves regularly
Calathea Dottie plants have large flat leaves which means they are prone to a quick build-up of dust. To make sure that your plant is able to maximise on the light it is getting make sure to dust them often. It will also keep the leaves from looking faded and dull which is a bonus!
Propagate a Calathea Dottie through division
The best way to propagate a Calathea Dottie plant is by division of the mother plant. Make sure that each section has a good amount of the root system for success. Repot each new plant into fresh potting mix and resume usual care.
Find out more on how to divide your plant in our guide to Calathea propagation.
Calathea Dottie plants are air purifying
Calathea Dottie plants are great for bedrooms and offices as they remove toxins from the air! Just another reason to have them around…
Calathea Dotties are safe for pets
Good news – Calathea Dottie plants are totally non-toxic and safe to have around pets. You don’t need to worry about keeping them out of reach of your furry friends if they are prone to nibbling on your plants!
Calathea Dottie FAQs
Quick and simple answers to the most common questions we see about the Calathea Dottie.
Watering your Calathea Dottie can be a little tricky because they need a good balance of moist but not soggy soil. They don’t like their potting mix to be dry for extended periods of time but are also sensitive to root rot.
Whilst Calathea Dottie plants can adapt to lower light levels, growth will be slow and often smaller. On the other hand, if exposed to intense direct light, it can scorch and burn the leaves.
Calathea Dottie plants fit somewhere in the middle of being fast and slow growing. You’ll see plenty of new growth during the warmer months of the year but it won’t outgrow the space too quickly.
The Calathea Dottie won’t grow too large as a houseplant and will reach a maximum of 60-80cm in height.
Calathea Dottie plants aren’t totally low maintenance but also won’t kick up a fuss if the slightest thing is wrong. The one thing you need to be careful of is moisture in the soil but also boosting the humidity to prevent the leaves drying out.
We don’t tend to recommend these for beginner plant parents but you don’t need to be an expert to keep these thriving.
Calathea Dottie Care Starter Kit
We've put together this great little starter kit that includes all of the equipment and information you'll need to take proper care of your Calathea Dottie.
Common Problems with your Calathea Dottie
Here are some common issues that you might run into. It's important to diagnose any issues early to give your plant the best chance of bouncing back.
If you notice the leaves on your Calathea Dottie are dry and yellow then they may be getting burnt by the sun. However, if the leaves and stems feel soft and yellow, overwatering is the most probable cause.
Brown leaf tips on Calathea Dottie plants can be caused by sensitivity to tap water. This can happen if you live in a hard water area. Use distilled or rainwater in future to avoid a build-up of fluoride.
Brown leaf tips are also the first sign of your Calathea Dottie struggling with dry air. They need humid environments to thrive so start misting your plant regularly and invest in an affordable humidifier to keep a nice stable humidity level around your plant.
The most common cause of brown leaves on a Calathea Dottie is watering issues. The best place to start is by checking the moisture levels in the soil to see if it is being overwatered or underwatered. Calathea Dottie plants don’t like to have super dry soil but can also suffer from root rot if the potting mix is waterlogged so it is all about finding the right balance.
Simple Calathea Dottie Care Requirements
It sometimes helps to take caring for your plants back to the basics, here's the key considerations that you should take into account when caring for your Calathea Roseopicta Dottie.
These simple points should give you all you need to keep your plant happy and healthy for years to come.
| Common Name | Calathea Dottie |
| Latin Name | Calathea Roseopicta Dottie |
| Light | Bright Indirect Light |
| Water | Water Moderately |
| Humidity | High Humidity |
| Soil Type | Potting Soil |
Comment (0)