How to water Calathea leopardina, and how often?

Calathea leopardina is a plant native to warm, humid regions, so it has relatively high water requirements. Watering is a very important factor when growing any plant, and for a moisture-loving plant like Calathea leopardina, watering is an especially important matter.

How to water Calathea leopardina

During the growing period of Calathea leopardina, water it thoroughly to keep the potting soil moist, but also take care to avoid waterlogging the soil, which can cause root rot and even kill the plant. Because the leaves of Calathea leopardina are relatively large and lose water quickly, you need to maintain fairly high air humidity around it. You can mist the leaves frequently to keep the air around them humid, which helps the leaves grow and spread. If you notice the leaves curling or shrinking, it means the plant is short of water.

How often to water Calathea leopardina

Water once every ten days and repot once every other year. It is best to use a fertile, loose, slightly acidic soil that is well aerated and well drained and rich in humus.

The benefits of Calathea leopardina

1. Ornamental value

Calathea leopardina is shade-tolerant and easy to keep alive. It also has a beautiful growth habit: the plant grows in clumps overall, with broad leaves that are densely packed and spread out upright. Because the two sides of the leaf's midrib bear white bands and dark green bands interwoven in a feather-like arrangement, its colors are bright and richly varied. In addition, its leaf surface is dotted with black spots, round and amusing like a panda's eyes, which is also the origin of its name. In summary, Calathea leopardina is suitable as a home decoration and for beautification, used to accent balconies, studies, bedrooms and so on, adding a sense of elegance. It can also be used to decorate commercial venues such as shops and hotels. In South China it can often be seen planted in courtyards, parks and along roadsides for landscaping purposes.

2. Air-purifying effect

Purifying the air is also one of the major benefits of Calathea leopardina. Although it cannot be compared with the spider plant, the air-purifying effect of Calathea leopardina should not be underestimated either. Its ability to absorb harmful gases such as formaldehyde and ammonia is still far greater than that of many plants. Therefore, for a newly renovated house, Calathea leopardina is also a good choice.

The difference between Calathea leopardina and Calathea makoyana

1. The plant forms of Calathea makoyana and Calathea leopardina differ

Calathea leopardina can reach 100 cm in height, and because it resembles arrow feathers it is also known as arrow-feather calathea. The underside of its leaves is brown or purple, the leaves are rather slender, the leaf spots are round, and the leaf margins are wavy and undulating. Calathea leopardina has a head-like inflorescence, membranous bracteoles, a capsule that splits into 3 valves, triangular seeds, and pale yellow flowers. Calathea makoyana, by contrast, can reach 60 cm in height; its leaves are broader and shorter, and its spots are slender. The leaves are thinly leathery, the petioles are purplish red, and the shape is ovate-elliptical. The leaf surface bears feather-like markings alternating dark green with white or pale yellow, just like the patterns on a peacock's tail feathers, which is how it got its name. Moreover, the leaves of Calathea makoyana spread out during the day and fold up at night, which is its unique trait.

2. The suitable temperatures for Calathea makoyana and Calathea leopardina differ

For Calathea leopardina, the daytime growing temperature is 18-21°C and the nighttime temperature is preferably 16-18°C. The suitable growing temperature is 20-30°C, and the safe overwintering temperature is 10°C. When cultivating Calathea makoyana, the temperature should be kept at around 12-29°C, and in winter it is enough to maintain it at 16-18°C.

3. The flower meanings of Calathea makoyana and Calathea leopardina differ

Calathea leopardina represents temptation. The flower meaning of Calathea makoyana, by contrast, is the radiance of beauty, beautiful and proud.

4. The main values of Calathea makoyana and Calathea leopardina differ

Both Calathea leopardina and Calathea makoyana can be used for indoor arrangements, landscaping and cut leaves for potted plants, and so on. In addition, the rhizomes of Calathea makoyana contain starch and can also be eaten, with effects such as promoting urination and clearing lung heat.

Water Calathea leopardina about once every ten days, keeping the soil moist. At the same time, when planting Calathea leopardina, choose a loose soil with fairly good aeration, which can effectively prevent water from accumulating in the soil and causing root rot. Overall, Calathea leopardina is still a relatively easy plant to grow.