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Calathea Orbifolia Care
Calathea Orbifolia
Basic Calathea Orbifolia Care
Known for their unique large silver striped leaves, Calathea Orbifolia is a great houseplant for those who want something a little different. Below you will find all the care information you need for your Calathea Orbifolia to thrive!
Medium Light
I prefer areas that aren't too bright or shady. Finding a balance is important.
Water Moderately
I don't like my soil to be too dry or too soggy. Little and often is what I'm after.
Medium Humidity
Please make sure the air isn't too dry, otherwise I won't be a happy plant.
Potting Soil
I need soil specifically for indoor plants as it retains the right amount of water.
Detailed Calathea Orbifolia Care Information
Whether you're looking to make sure your Calathea Orbifolia is in it's perfect conditions, or looking to see if one could work for your space. We've got you covered.
They don't need bright light to survive
Medium to low light levels are best for a Calathea Orbifolia. Make sure you don’t place it in any direct sunlight as it will scorch and burn the leaves which is unfortunately permanent. You can use a light meter to help you measure the sunlight levels in your home to make sure you’re placing your Calathea Orbifolia in the best place.
They like their soil to be moist
We recommend taking a little but often approach to watering your Calathea Orbifolia. They like moist, but not waterlogged soil so it is important to check the soil before watering. We often use our moisture meter to help know when our Calathea plants need a water which helps to prevent over or underwatering. You can pick up a really affordable moisture meter from Amazon here.
Slightly more humid rooms are best
We recommend growing your Calathea Orbifolia in a bathroom or kitchen if the light levels are right in there as the natural lift in humidity caused by steam from the shower/cooking is perfect. You can also use a humidifier to keep a nice constant level near your Calathea.
Keep the temperatures warm for your Calathea Orbifolia
Try to avoid putting your Calathea Orbifolia near a drafty window or AC vent as the cold temperatures can harm your plant’s health. Using a digital thermometer, we recommend checking the temperatures throughout the day/night as well as throughout the year to spot any extreme temperatures.
Only fertilise in the growth period
As with the majority of your other houseplants, only fertilize your Calathea Orbifolia in spring and summer. We recommend feeding once a month using a regular houseplant fertiliser. We tend to use this one from Miracle Gro.
They are perfectly safe for pets and humans
A great thing about Calathea Orbifolia is that they are not toxic for your cats, dogs and children which means you don’t need to keep them out of reach or worry about them getting a little nibble.
Propagate your Calathea Orbifolia using division
The most successful way of propagating a Calathea Orbifolia is by dividing the mother plant into smaller, separate plants. As they will each have part of the main root system attached, you can plant directly into soil and don’t have to place in water first.
Calathea Orbifolia FAQs
Quick and simple answers to the most common questions we see about the Calathea Orbifolia.
Knowing how much to water your Calathea Orbifolia 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 if the potting mix is soggy.
Whilst Calathea Orbifolia plants can adapt to lower light levels, growth will be slow and will often result in smaller leaves. On the other hand, if your Calathea Orbifolia is exposed to intense direct light, it can scorch and burn the leaves leaving irreversible yellow and brown patches.
Calathea Orbifolia plants fit somewhere in the middle of being fast and slow growing. Whilst you will see plenty of new growth during the warmer months of spring and summer, you don’t need to worry about it outgrowing the space too quickly.
Calathea Orbifolia plants don’t get too large as a houseplant and will reach a maximum of 60-80cm in height.
Calathea Orbifolia plants aren’t totally low maintenance but also won’t kick up a fuss if the slightest thing is wrong as they can adapt to a range of environments. The one thing you need to be careful of is moisture in the soil but also boosting the humidity to prevent the leaves from drying out. We don’t recommend these for beginner plant parents but you don’t need to be an expert to keep your Calathea Orbifolia thriving.
Common Problems with your Calathea Orbifolia
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.
Brown tips on a Calathea Orbifolia can be a little difficult to diagnose because there are several causes. It may be due to underwatering, dry air or sensitivity to chemicals in the tap water. Check the moisture in the soil using a moisture meter and leave the water to sit for a day so the fluoride can evaporate.
A yellowish tinge on the edges of the leaves suggest a reaction to the fluoride and chlorine in your tap water. We recommend using rain water or alternatively leaving your tap water to sit for a day to the chemicals can evaporate.
Limp stems on a Calathea Orbifolia is a sign of overwatering. Check the moisture levels in the soil using a moisture meter and replace if waterlogged. Adjust your watering schedule going forward and the stems should start to recover.
As with drooping stems, drooping leaves are a sign of overwatering. Check the moisture levels in the soil using a moisture meter and replace it with fresh high-quality potting mix if waterlogged. Adjust your watering schedule going forward and the leaves should start to pick back up again.
Simple Calathea Orbifolia 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 Orbifolia.
These simple points should give you all you need to keep your plant happy and healthy for years to come.
| Common Name | Calathea Orbifolia |
| Latin Name | Calathea Orbifolia |
| Light | Medium Light |
| Water | Water Moderately |
| Humidity | Medium Humidity |
| Soil Type | Potting Soil |
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