This plant has many names – which one is the most correct, or common… Calathea, I guess, and this is said to be a Prayer Plant in English, too, as this plant closes or raises its leaves for the night-time and opens or lowers them again in daylight. In the Finnish language we actually understand this to be the act of sleeping – this plant is called nukkumaija in Finnish, meaning like Maija (a Finnish female name), who goes to sleep. 🙂
These tropical friends, Calatheas, originate from South America. They are very strong plants.
As houseplants…? Well, it depends… 🙂 Calatheas like water, but they don’t like drowning. They like some light, but they don’t like full sunlight. Calatheas like a bit of warmth, too, and humidity – they like some misting with a spray of water. (Which I did for the first time before taking these pics. :)) Jungle plants – not too much light, but humidity.
So deep, it’s like black… I saved this plant from a supermarket the other day. For half the normal price. I knew what this plant is called and what it is. I had a different-looking Calathea before, but it got too dry because of my life situation at that time. (I was away from home for too long.)
However, in the supermarket, I was a bit worried about the colour of the leaves of this plant. – They were so purple, so black, also the top sides, and almost all of the leaves (and it has many leaves) – is the plant already at its end…? – Some of its bigger leaves were not in so good shape anymore (-half the price). First I thought I should leave this plant there, but I had already chosen her (or she had already chosen me! 🙂 ), so I just couldn’t leave it behind. And I even tried to google a bit while in the supermarket, but couldn’t find any answer. But yes, at home I had a bit more time and peace to investigate, and I found out that Calatheas come in so many colours, this very deep one as well. And this plant also has many tiny leaves (under the bigger leaves, can be seen in the first pic) – a fairly big flower pot might be necessary.
Now I should buy fresh potting soil for my Calathea and for some of our other houseplants as well – we have many houseplants (and more coming… ;D ) And by the way, I’m planning on taking pics of all of our other houseplants, too, in future.
Some green and pink, too! 🙂
And hopefully some more pics of my Calathea in future as well.
-Leena
