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Photo: Mokkie / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Wikimedia Commons
IndoorExotic

Calathea

Goeppertia spp. (syn. Calathea)

A boldly patterned foliage plant whose leaves fold up at night. It wants humid air and soft water, so in an air-conditioned Dubai flat it is the demanding one: crisp edges come fast.

Mature size0.2–1 m tall, 0.3–0.8 m spreadGrowthModerateSunPart shadeWaterModerate
Heat: 1 of 5
Salt: 1 of 5
Drought: 1 of 5
Shade: 3 of 5
Ease of care: 2 of 5
Use in a designGet it looked after

Season

Through the Dubai year

How Calathea behaves through Dubai's seasons, month by month.

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
24°
26°
29°
34°
38°
40°
42°
42°
40°
36°
31°
27°

New leaves unfurl

Apr – Sep

Monthly feed

Apr – Sep

Repot or divide

Apr – Jun

Hot glass and dry AC air

Jun – Sep

Check for spider mites

Mar – Oct

Growth slows; watch for oedema

  • New leaves unfurl: Apr–Sep

    Strongest in warm, bright, humid conditions.

  • Monthly feed: Apr–Sep

    The RHS says monthly April to September, none from October to March.

  • Repot or divide: Apr–Jun

    The RHS says repot every few years in spring or summer; divide clumps in spring.

  • Hot glass and dry AC air: Jun–Sep

    Browning edges are usually dry air; keep out of direct sun.

  • Check for spider mites: Mar–Oct

    The RHS lists red spider mites, mealybugs, soft scale and fungus gnats.

  • Growth slows; watch for oedema: Dec–Feb

    The RHS says take care not to overwater in winter.

Calathea keeps its patterned leaves all year, and its daily movement is a feature at every season. From April to September the RHS gives the growing season, which is when to water moderately to keep the compost evenly moist, feed monthly and repot or divide. In July and August hot glass and dry, constantly running air conditioning are the main threats, since brown leaf tips and edges are usually due to dry air. From October to March allow the surface to dry before rewetting, but never let the compost dry out completely, and take care not to overwater to avoid oedema.

Meet the plant

Meet the Calathea

Meet calathea, the plant that moves. Its leaves rise and fold upward at night like hands in prayer, a movement the RHS calls nyctinasty, then lower again in the morning, so the whole plant changes posture between evening and dawn. It is one of the few houseplants whose daily rhythm you can actually watch.

The patterns are the draw: feathered stripes, ovals like painted brushstrokes, deep green above and, on some species, purple beneath. These plants come from the tropical Americas, and the RHS says they like warm, humid conditions and bright but indirect light. That is close to the opposite of an air-conditioned Dubai room, which is why calathea is the demanding plant in this collection.

The mood, when conditions suit, is a painted screen: one plant turns a shelf or a bathroom ledge into a pattern you can read from across the room. When they do not suit, the edges brown and curl quickly, and the plant tells you so. Choose it when you can offer humid air, not when you want a plant that ignores you.

Most plants sold as calathea were moved to the genus Goeppertia after a 2012 DNA study, though they are still sold under the old name. The RHS lists Ctenanthe, Goeppertia and Stromanthe together as calatheas, or prayer plants. They are clump-forming perennials in the prayer-plant family, Marantaceae, and range from about 20 to 100 centimetres tall.

Light should be bright but indirect. The RHS says calatheas grow best out of direct sunlight, and that low light gives poor, weak growth, especially in Goeppertia. In Dubai, that means a bright room set a metre or two back from an east-facing window, or behind a sheer curtain, never in hot afternoon glass.

Humidity is the hurdle. The RHS says calatheas enjoy high humidity, suggests a bathroom, a tray of damp gravel or grouping with other plants, and says browning leaf tips and edges are usually the result of dry air. It recommends 16 to 21°C and avoiding temperature swings, so keep it away from draughts and heat sources, which in a Dubai flat means vents and sunny glass. It also advises evenly moist compost in spring and summer, and that mains tap water contains lime and chlorine, though calatheas tolerate tap water that has stood for at least 24 hours; distilled water from a dehumidifier is another option.

Feed monthly from April to September and not at all from October to March (RHS). In winter, take care not to overwater, which can cause oedema, patchy water-soaked areas on the leaves. Watch for spider mites, mealybugs and fungus gnats. The ASPCA lists calathea as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses.

Design

Where to use it

Patterned foliage accentBright bathroomShelf or consoleHumid grouping

Choose a spot by humidity first, light second. A bright bathroom with a window is the best home in a Dubai flat; the RHS names bathrooms and kitchens as the most humid rooms. Otherwise place it in a bright room a metre or two from an east-facing window, on a tray of damp gravel and grouped with other plants. Keep it out of direct sun and well away from AC vents.

Flamingo lilies

Anthurium

Anthurium wants the same humid, bright, indirect conditions, so the two can share a bathroom or gravel tray, and its solid red or pink spathes set off calathea's patterned leaves.

Peace lily - 1 - cropped

Peace lily

Peace lily's broad glossy leaves and white spathes provide a plain counterpoint to calathea's patterned ones, and it likes the same moist, bright, indirect conditions.

Chlorophytum comosum 'Vittatum'

Spider plant

Spider plant's arching striped leaves add a different texture at a lower level, and it is as pet-safe as calathea.

Care guide

How to grow it in Dubai

Watering

Summer: Water moderately, keeping the compost evenly moist (RHS), often every 5 to 7 days in a cool AC room. Use water that has stood for at least 24 hours, or distilled water.

Winter: Allow the surface of the compost to dry before rewetting, but never let it dry out completely; take care not to overwater, to prevent oedema.

Soil
A free-draining, moisture-retentive, peat-free compost (RHS) in a pot with drainage holes.
Feeding
A general-purpose liquid fertiliser or balanced houseplant fertiliser once a month from April to September; none from October to March (RHS).
Pruning
No pruning is needed; snip off faded brown leaves and dead stems just above the compost (RHS).
Planting
Repot every few years once the clump has filled the pot, in spring or summer, into a pot one or two sizes larger (RHS); divide the clump in spring.
Pests
Spider mitesMealybugsSoft scaleFungus gnats

Avoid these

Common mistakes

  • Treating it like a ZZ plant or snake plant and putting it in a dry room or by an AC vent. The RHS says browning edges are usually a result of dry air.
  • Watering straight from the tap without letting it stand. The RHS says mains tap water contains lime and chlorine; stood water or distilled water is better.
  • Putting it in direct sun. The RHS says calatheas grow best in a bright spot out of direct sunlight.
  • Choosing a spot for light alone. A bright bathroom with a window beats a lounge with a vent; humidity decides whether it thrives.
  • Overwatering in winter. The RHS says careful winter watering is needed to prevent oedema, patchy water-soaked areas on the leaves.

Extra notes

Good to know

  • Most cultivated calatheas were moved to the genus Goeppertia in 2012, so you may see either name on the label.
  • The nightly folding is called nyctinasty (RHS); it is a normal daily movement shared by many members of the prayer-plant family.
  • The ASPCA lists calathea as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses.
  • It is more demanding than ZZ plant, snake plant or pothos; if you cannot offer humid air, those are better choices for an air-conditioned flat.

Toxicity: Non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses, according to the ASPCA (Calathea spp.). As with any plant, chewing a lot of foliage can still upset a stomach.

Pros

  • Boldly patterned leaves that fold up at night
  • Non-toxic to cats, dogs and horses (ASPCA)
  • Compact clump suits shelves, tables and bathroom ledges
  • Needs only bright, indirect light; no direct sun at all

Cons

  • Leaf edges crisp and brown quickly in dry, air-conditioned rooms
  • Prefers water that has stood 24 hours, or distilled, over fresh tap water
  • Weak growth in low light (RHS)
  • Too-wet compost in winter causes oedema (RHS)

FAQ

Common questions

Why are my calathea leaves crispy and brown at the edges?
The RHS says browning of the leaf tips and edges is usually a result of low humidity, which is typical of air-conditioned rooms. Move it to a bathroom or onto a tray of damp gravel, group it with other plants and keep it clear of vents.
Why do my calathea leaves fold up at night?
It is a normal movement called nyctinasty (RHS). The leaves fold upwards at night like hands in prayer and lower again in the morning. It is not a sign of a problem.
What water should I use for calathea in Dubai?
The RHS says tap water contains lime and chlorine, though calatheas tolerate it if it has stood for at least 24 hours. Distilled water, such as collected from a dehumidifier, is another option.
Is calathea safe for cats and dogs?
Yes. The ASPCA lists calathea as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses, which makes it one of the pet-safe patterned foliage plants.
Is calathea a good choice for a Dubai apartment?
Only if you can give it humid air, such as a bright bathroom with a window. In an air-conditioned lounge it browns quickly. For a low-effort plant, ZZ plant or snake plant are better; for pet-safe choices, areca palm and spider plant are easier.

Not sure how it suits your garden?

Ask about Calathea on WhatsApp

Sources

  1. 1. RHS: How to grow calatheas
  2. 2. ASPCA: Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants — Calathea
  3. 3. Borchsenius et al. (2012): Molecular Phylogeny and Redefined Generic Limits of Calathea (Marantaceae) — Systematic Botany

Last reviewed 2026-10-05 by Ghaf Gardens horticulture desk.

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