How to Care for Calathea veitchiana (Medallion calathea)

Korean name: 칼라테아 메달리온

This calathea features beautiful medal-shaped green patterns on the front of the leaves and a purple underside. It is fun to grow as a prayer plant that folds its leaves at night.

Key facts

Care Guide

Detailed care guide

Medallion calathea is a foliage plant known for its unique medallion-shaped patterns and the fun of watching its leaves fold up every night. Its purple leaf undersides make it especially rewarding to grow indoors.

Watering

This plant needs care to avoid both overwatering and drying out. It's safest to water with distilled water or rainwater, and you should water roughly once every 7 days, keeping the soil from drying out completely. Overwatering turns leaves yellow and mushy, while underwatering can cause the leaf tips to turn brown.

Light

It prefers low to medium indirect light. Extended direct sun exposure can damage the leaves, so keep that in mind. Insufficient light can cause the stems to grow leggy.

Humidity

Humidity should be kept at 60% or higher for healthy leaves. If the indoor air is dry, the leaf tips can dry out, so pay close attention to humidity.

Temperature

18–26°C is the ideal temperature range for this plant. Temperatures that are too low or too high can cause the leaves to droop or slow growth.

A common first-timer mistake

The most common mistake is watering too often. Check that the soil surface is still moist before watering again.

If you have pets

Medallion calathea is not known to be toxic to pets. That said, eating a large amount of any plant can cause an upset stomach, so if your pet chews on it habitually, move it out of reach.

Seasonal Care

In spring and summer, fertilize about once a month and keep the soil consistently moist. In fall and winter growth slows down, so it's best to skip fertilizer and space out watering a bit more. Pay attention to maintaining indoor temperature and humidity as the seasons change.

Common Problems and Fixes

Brown, dry leaf tips are usually caused by dryness or low humidity. If the leaves turn yellow and feel mushy, suspect overwatering. Insufficient light can cause the stems to stretch out, so keeping it in indirect light is important.

Repotting and Propagation

Repot once the roots have filled the pot, using a soil mix that holds moisture well. To propagate, divide a healthy parent plant and plant the divisions in a new pot. Be careful not to damage the roots while doing this.

Who It's Good For

This plant suits people who can consistently provide high humidity, moderate indirect light, and regular care. Those who observe their plants closely and notice changes quickly will have even more success. It's a great pick for anyone who wants to bond with a companion plant and look forward to watching its leaves fold up each night.

Written by AI from the care facts in this entry. Treat it as a starting point.

Common questions

How often should you water Calathea veitchiana?

Use distilled or rainwater. Be cautious of both overwatering and drying out. Roughly every 7 days is the baseline; adjust for the season and the spot it sits in.

Where should you keep Calathea veitchiana?

It likes Low to medium indirect light. You can grow it indoors. Use Moisture-retaining mix.

Is Calathea veitchiana safe around pets?

No known toxicity, so it is fine to keep around pets.

Is Calathea veitchiana good for beginners?

Difficulty: Demanding. Keep it around 18~26°C. Humidity: Above 60%. Fertilise Fertilize once a month from spring to summer.