Growing guide · Houseplant

Calathea ornata

How to grow Pinstripe Calathea 'Beauty Star'.

Pinstripes, minus the corner office.

Light
Medium
Water
High
Zones
Indoors, any
Size
18–24 in. tall
Pot
4.5 in. pot; move up one size in spring only when roots fill it.
Pets
Pet-safe · ASPCA
Calathea with long dark green leaves striped in pink and white

Light

Medium, indirect light. Direct sun fades the stripes and burns the leaves.

Water

Keep the soil lightly moist, never soggy. Use filtered, distilled or rain water; tap water salts brown the tips. Leaves that curl inward are thirsty.

Pot and soil

A peat- or coir-based potting mix with perlite that holds moisture but drains. Group it with other plants or use a humidifier.

Pot it inRosy Houseplant Soil · 4 qtThe everyday peat-free mix. 4 qt repots 2–3 plants. Peat-free, by Rosy Soil

Feeding

Half-strength liquid fertilizer monthly in spring and summer.

Grooming

Cut browned or tired leaves off at the base of the stem.

Through the year

Spring and summer: feed lightly and keep the soil evenly moist. Fall and winter: heated air is the enemy, so add humidity, stop feeding and keep it away from vents.

If something's off

Crispy brown edges mean dry air or hard water; curling means it needs a drink. Watch leaf undersides for spider mites. Non-toxic to cats and dogs.

Plays well with

Plant it with friends.

Calathea 'Like a Prayer'
Calathea hybridCalathea 'Like a Prayer' from $35
Prayer Plant 'Say Grace'
Maranta leuconeuraPrayer Plant 'Say Grace' from $25

Why we stock it: It's a pet-safe plant with genuinely good tailoring.

That's the whole guide. Thanks for reading.

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Kits with Pinstripe Calathea 'Beauty Star'.

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