Do you know some plants fold their leaves at night? Yes, members of the family Marantaceae fold their leaves at the sunset. If you are an early riser, you can enjoy the dramatic opening of the leaves at the dawn. Calathea ornata is a popular prayer plant, native to South America. It is grown for the beautiful foliage. The thick and glossy dark-green leaves look like some painter has painted baby pink strips on the upper surface. As the leaves grow, the pink stripes turn yellow and finally turn white on maturity.
Furthermore, baby leaves have a purplish underside which gets deep green in adulthood. You can get this exotic beauty for indoor as well as outdoor decoration. Let us learn more about the artistically beautiful Calathea pinstripe plant.
Calathea Ornata Classification
The biological classification of the plant is as under;
Family: Marantaceae. (Arrowroot family)
Genus: Calathea.
Species: C. ornata.
Genus Calathea
“Basket” is the English synonym of the Greek work Calathea. This refers to the typical spacious flowers of the genus. The genus Calathea comprises dozens of perennial flowering plants. They belong to the tropical regions of America. The prominently colored leaves are the point of attraction in some of the members. Alternatively, others are grown for their beautiful flowers.
Calatheas can do equally well indoors as well as in the outdoor environment. Moreover, people grow them for their big thick leaves which are usable in packing and making handicrafts. Calatheas and their family members are commonly known as Prayer Plants.
Common Names of Calathea Ornata Plant
Some of the names are as follows;
- Pinstripe Calathea.
- Calathea Ornata pinstripe.
- Pinstripe Prayer Plant.
- Pink Calathea.
Features of The Calathea Ornata Plant
- Calathea ornata pink is a terrestrial plant.
- The height and spread of an average indoor plant are around 2 feet. Furthermore, it grows much taller in the outdoor and wild environment.
- The length of a mature leaf ranges from 5 to 8 cm. While the width is around 5 cm.
- In bloom season, you will see beautiful orange flowers on your plant. Moreover, the Pink Callathea flowers are small in size, oval in shape, and grow on spiral bracts.
- Just like other prayer plants, the Calathea Pink Stripes is non-toxic and pet-friendly. Thus, it is a good houseplant for naughty kids and the ‘not so good boys’.
- You will get the added benefit of air purification.
Varieties
This plant has many varieties. Popular ones include;
- Calathea roseolineata.
- Calathea sanderiana.
The Calathea sanderiana is included among the largest varieties of the prayer-plants. These are popular houseplants and look pretty similar to the parent plant.
Calathea Ornata Care
Unlike many popular houseplants, this one is a little specific about its care. Thus, we don’t recommend it for beginners.
Water Requirement
This plant needs watering. Water the plant generously once or twice a week in summer. Moreover, you can keep the top layer slightly moist on hotter days. On the other hand, it will be enough to water once every two weeks on the colder days. Let the upper layer of the soil get completely dry before you water again. Furthermore, avoid over-watering and keeping the soil soggy. Because it leads to plant issues like fungus and rotting.
Sunlight Requirement
This is an understory plant in the wild. Thus, it is naturally adapted towards partial to complete shade. Though, the Ornata plant foliage shows bright colors in medium to bright indirect light. An important part of Pinstripe Calathea care is frequent rotation of the plant. This will ensure uniform exposure to sunlight.
Windows create reflection and enhance the sunlight as well as the temperature. Thus, avoid keeping the plant near the windows. Furthermore, don’t place your pot in direct sunlight for a long duration, as it will scorch the leaves. A fade-in stripe color is a possible indication of overexposure to sunlight.
Soil Requirement
The Calathea plant usually likes well-drained porous soil. Moreover, you can also use a commercially prepared peat-based potting mix. Peat and perlite in ratio 2:1 are a suitable option for domestic mixing.
Temperature Requirement
The optimum temperature range for Pink Calathea is 15 to 20 °C. Temperature below 15 °C will freeze or harm the plant’s health.
Humidity Requirement
Being the dwellers of tropical areas, these plants love moisture. Thus, an important part of Calathea ornata Care is the high humidity level. In dry weather, consider using a pebble-water tray under the pot or introduce a humidifier. Moreover, you can also mist the plant once a day to avoid dryness.
Fertilizer Requirement
Pinstripe Calathea shows good results with fertilizer. You use a diluted well-balanced fertilizer for house plants every two to three weeks in the growing season. Howbeit, don’t fertilize after October until the spring arrives.
Pot Requirement
A drainage hole is a must for the pot of the C. ornata plant. If you feel that the plant needs a bigger container, you can repot it. Although, Repotting more than once a year is not suitable for plant health.
Pruning Requirement
If you feel that the plant is growing and getting an unpleasant appearance, you can remove a few leaves from the lower side twice or thrice a year. Preferably, you should prune the unhealthy leaves.
Calathea Ornata Propagation
A preferable method for propagation of Marantaceae family members is by the division of rhizome. Ideal days for propagation are the middle of spring until the end of the summer.
Select a healthy adult plant and gently take it out from the soil. Now use a sharp knife to cut the rhizome and plant into few divisions. Pot the plantlets in moist soil. Now, put the keep the pot in a low-lit, humid, and warm place.
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Summary
Calathea ornata pinstripe is a prayer plant belonging to the genus Calathea. This plant is well-adapted to both indoor and outdoor atmosphere. Juvenile leaves are dark green in color with prominent pink stripes and purplish-red underside. On maturity, the stripes turn white while the undersides get a deep green shade. Pinstripe Calathea Care includes moist soil, high humidity, and dappled shade. Apart from the small flowers, the uniquely striped leaf surfaces are enough to make you go gaga over the Calathea ornata.
