Large Peacock Plant (Calathea)
Like its namesake, the Peacock plant is known for its beautiful presentation. The leaves boast an unusual watermelon-like leaf pattern with a contrasting maroon-purple color on the undersides. Like other Calatheas, the Setosa will fold up its leaves at night, and then "bloom" open to greet the sunshine, giving it the nickname “prayer plant.”
PEACOCK PLANT CARE
LIGHT
In nature, Calatheas live under the canopy of the large rainforest trees and can only get some indirect light. These plants can be finicky, so you might experiment with different spots until you can make your Calathea happy. The Peacock is happier with less light than too much, so if you see brown spots or crispy edges to the leaves, move it to a place with less light.
WATER
These plants like moist soil, so water when you feel that the top inch or so of the soil is dry. They love humidity, so if you do not have a humidifier, you can put pebbles in a tray and place the pot on top. Any excess water in the soil will drain into the tray and keep the roots humid without adding too much moisture to the soil.
GROWTH HABITS
Peacock plants looove to be clean. Every few weeks or so, you'll want to gently wipe any dust off the leaves with a clean, damp cloth. A fully mature plant can grow up to 4 feet tall in the right environment, but you can keep them small by keeping them in smaller pots.
