Rosy Calathea

Rosy Calathea (Calathea roseopicta 'Rosy') has the boldest markings in the genus: a wide brush of rose pink through the centre of each dark green leaf, over a deep burgundy underside. It forms a neat clump around 60cm tall and wide, which stays in scale on a side table or a shelf. It is also genuinely pet friendly, so it can sit at floor level in a home with a curious cat.

Why you'll love it

• Foliage that looks painted. The pink centre and burgundy reverse give more colour than most flowering indoor plants manage.
• Safe around cats and dogs. Not toxic to pets, which rules it into rooms where the popular aroids cannot go.
• Compact and slow. At about 60cm each way it stays where you put it and will not need a bigger pot every year.
• The leaves move. Like other prayer plants it lifts its leaves in the evening and lowers them by day.

Where it works best

Indoors. This is first and foremost a house plant, at home in a bright room away from direct sun. Bathrooms and kitchens suit it because the air there is naturally more humid.

Pots and containers. A 200mm to 250mm pot with a drainage hole is the right home for a single plant. Group three for a fuller display on a hallway console.

Balconies and courtyards. In tropical and subtropical gardens it lives outdoors in deep shade year round. Anywhere colder, treat it as an indoor plant that holidays outside in summer.

Growing Rosy Calathea in Australia

Position and climate. Bright indirect light keeps the markings strong, while direct sun bleaches them within days. It is frost tender and wants steady warmth, so outdoors it is limited to tropical and subtropical gardens.

Soil. A quality indoor potting mix opened up with extra perlite or bark. It wants moisture but not a swamp, and the pot must drain freely.

Water and feed. Keep the mix evenly damp, watering once the top few centimetres dry. Calatheas are sensitive to salts and chlorine, so rainwater or filtered water noticeably reduces brown leaf edges. Feed at half strength monthly through spring and summer.

Humidity and grooming. Dry indoor air is the honest weak point of this plant. Group it with others, stand the pot on a pebble tray, or keep it in a humid room. Snip damaged leaves off at the base.

What to expect when it arrives

Rosy Calathea is supplied in 125mm pots, sold in packs of ten. That is a quantity suited to a decorating project rather than a single windowsill, and each plant is a young established clump ready to pot up into a 200mm container.

Leaves may arrive folded upright, which is the plant resting rather than a problem, and they open again within a day or two. Give it a week in a bright sheltered spot before repotting, and expect new leaves within four to six weeks. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• How to keep your indoor plants alive
• More pet friendly plants for the home
• Browse pet friendly indoor plants
• Find a pot that drains properly

Common questions

Is it safe for cats and dogs?

Yes. Calatheas are not toxic to cats or dogs, so this is a reasonable choice for a floor level position. A pet that eats a lot of any foliage may still get an upset stomach.

Why are the leaf edges going brown and crisp?

Almost always dry air or minerals in tap water. Lift the humidity around the plant and switch to rainwater or filtered water, and new leaves will come through clean.

How much light does it need?

Bright but indirect, ideally a metre or two back from a window. In deep shade the pink fades and growth stalls, and in direct sun the markings scorch.