Calathea Burle Marx

This plant does well in medium to bright indirect light, similar to the filtered sun it gets under the Brazilian jungle canopy. Direct sun is its enemy, strong rays will scorch the thin leaves and bleach out that silver and dark green pattern.

It handles lower light better than a lot of variegated plants, but too much time in the dark will slow its growth and make it lose its bushy shape. Keep it a few feet back from a bright east or north-facing window, or use a sheer curtain to soften the light.

Keeping the soil evenly moist is key with this plant. Don't let it dry out completely, even a short dry spell will make the leaves crisp up and curl.

When you water, soak the soil until water runs out the bottom, then empty the tray right away, don't let the roots sit in water. Use room-temperature distilled, filtered, or rainwater to keep the leaf edges looking good, this plant doesn't handle the fluoride and minerals in tap water well.

As a true rainforest plant, this one wants humidity, ideally 60% or higher. Dry indoor air is the main reason for crispy leaf edges.

Group it with other tropical plants, use a pebble tray under the pot, or run a small humidifier nearby to keep the leaves soft and healthy. Keep the room between 65°F and 80°F. Keep it away from cold drafty windows in winter, hot drafts in summer, and any heating or cooling vents.

Since this plant needs steady moisture but doesn't do well with wet roots, it needs a specific kind of soil. Use a peat-rich mix with plenty of perlite and orchid bark mixed in, so it holds moisture without clogging up and still lets air reach the roots.

Feed it monthly during spring and summer with a balanced liquid fertilizer, diluted to half strength. Skip fertilizing entirely in fall and winter while the plant slows down.

Like other prayer plants, you can't propagate this one from a leaf or stem cutting, root division during spring repotting is the way to go. Once the parent plant is mature and full of offshoots, take it out of its pot and brush away some soil to expose the roots.

Carefully untangle the roots to find a clump of stems with its own root system. Use a clean knife to cut it away cleanly, pot it in fresh, well-draining soil, and keep it warm, humid, and shaded until it takes hold.

Repot this plant every 12 to 18 months in spring to refresh the soil and give the roots room to grow. Choose a pot 1 to 2 inches wider than the current one, with drainage holes.

Be gentle with the fine roots during the move, rough handling can cause a lot of shock. Fill in the gaps with fresh soil, keeping it loose rather than packing it in tight.

This plant is completely pet safe and non-toxic for cats and dogs. There's nothing toxic in it at all.

You can put this one on a low table, shelf, or plant stand, even if pets sniff, brush against, or nibble on it, there's no risk of poisoning or irritation.

This plant is native to the warm, humid rainforest floors of Brazil. Growing under a thick, layered jungle canopy, it adapted to grow in moist, organic-rich soil where temperatures stay warm year-round, humidity stays high, and direct sunlight rarely reaches the ground.

This plant is named after Roberto Burle Marx, one of the most influential landscape architects of the 20th century. He was a dedicated botanist who introduced over 50 Brazilian plant species, including several Calatheas, to the world of horticulture, and helped raise awareness for rainforest conservation.