How to Grow and Care for Peacock Plant

Although the entire Calathea genus is sometimes referred to as peacock plants, it is Calathea makoyana that fits this common name the best because the eye-catching patterns on the broad leaves resemble peacock feathers. The foliage patterns of this tropical houseplant come in a variety of hues including green, cream, pink, white, and gray. The stems are always a reddish-maroon shade, and the undersides of the leaves are dark purple. With a clump-forming habit, the lush and dense foliage will look great and thrive in any warm, humid spot shielded from direct sunlight. Because of its particular light conditions, peacock plants aren't always the best choice for novice houseplant collectors but if you provide the right conditions, you will be rewarded with a beautiful plant that is sure to impress any visitors.

Peacock Plant Care

Here are the main care requirements for growing a peacock plant:

• Plant the peacock plant in well-draining potting medium that is high in organic matter.
• Choose a location in the shade or with filtered light.
• Water it just enough to keep it consistently moist.
• Monitor the room temperature; it should be between 60 and 75 degrees F.
• Create a high level of humidity by either misting the plant, using a humidifier, or placing it on a pebble tray with water.

Light

Despite being a tropical species, peacock plants are not fans of intense, direct sunlight that causes the patterns and colors on the foliage to fade. Filtered light conditions are recommended, but these plants also tolerate full shade, although growth wll be significantly slower.

Soil

For your peacock plant, you want to select a potting medium that retains moisture yet has good drainage. A mixture of peat, sand, and perlite is often recommended. To guarantee lush and vibrant leaf production and color, the soil should also be humusy and high in organic matter.

Water

Getting the balance right when it comes to irrigation is key for peacock plants. Curling leaves may be a sign of underwatering. Too much water, on the other hand, may cause root rot. These plants like consistent and even levels of moisture and many plant enthusiasts use a moisture meter to help them gauge when the plant needs watering. It is better to underwater than to overwater the plant.

Although these plants still need watering during the winter, they do like to have a rest period during which the watering frequency should be reduced considerably.

Distilled water or rainwater is generally considered better than tap water. Peacock plants are sensitive to fluoride, and using tap water may result in the leaf tips turning brown. The water should be lukewarm or at room temperature. Overly cold water risks a shock to the plant.

Temperature and Humidity

The ideal temperature for peacock plant is between 60 to 75 degrees F. It is also important to ensure the plant is not exposed to any sudden and extreme changes in its environment. Cold drafts and quick shifts in temperature are problematic.

High levels of humidity are key to keeping your peacock plant thriving. Low humidity levels commonly lead to browning or curling leaves. Misting is beneficial and, if you are concerned your home environment may be too dry, it could be worth investing in a humidifier. Another option is to add a tray filled with pebbles under the well-draining plant pot. That way, any excess water will drain through and sit directly under the pot, adding humidity without leaving the plant in standing water.

Fertilizer

Feeding your peacock plant from spring to fall, during its growth period, is another important consideration given its profuse foliage production. Feeding every two weeks with a diluted liquid fertilizer is recommended. To enhance the color depth of new plants, apply a foliar spray that contains nitrogen and iron. In the winter months, no fertilizer is needed as no active growth is taking place.

Types of Peacock Plant

While there is only one peacock plant, Calathea makoyana,there are dozens of other calathea species that share the same characteristic foliage and care guidelines. Some varieties that you might consider adding to your plant collection are listed below, Note that calathea species with rosette-shaped flowers have been assigned to the Goeppertia genus so you might find the plants listed under a different botanical name.

• Calathea rufibarba: called furry calathea, furry feather calathea, or velvet calathea, it has long pointy leaves that are bright green on top and a rich burgundy-purple underneath. The bottom side of the leaves is also fuzzy.
• Calathea white fusion: a cultivar of Calathea lietzei, this plantt has leaves that are punctuated with broad and bright white stripes and are colored a light lavender on their undersides.
• Calathea medallion (Calathea roseopicta ‘Medallion’): also known as rose-painted calathea, it has large, oval leaves that look painted. Their pattern expands from the center of the leaf in light green, to dark green, to white, to medium green.
• Calathea ornata:it has thin white lines that look painted along each side of the foot-long leaves, earning it the common name of "pinstripe plant." The light burgundy stems add even more visual interest.
  

Pruning Peacock Plant

Prune peacock plants as desired to help keep them more compact. This should be done in the fall and winter. You may also want to remove dead or mostly brown leaves by cutting the stems to which they are attached down near the soil. If a leaf shows only minor browning at the tips, it is acceptable to simply cut the brown areas away. Remove brown parts of the plant whenever they appear.

Propagating Peacock Plant

Before you set out to propagate your peacock plant, make sure it is not a cultivar that is prohibited from propagation, such as ‘Color Full Medallion’. Otherwise, peacock plants are best propagated through division. Wait until the plant has matured and formed a well-established and large clump.

1. On the day before dividing the plant, give it a good soaking.
2. Slide the root ball out of the container. Use your fingers to gently pull apart the root system with your fingers. Clumps on the side usually detach easily. Make sure that each division has a good number of roots attached to it.
3. Repot each section in its own pot with a mix of peat moss and perlite or another good potting mix. Adding some soil from the mother plant helps reduce transplant stress.
4. Keep the new plants moist, warm, and humid while they establish. If the environment tends to be on the dry side, cover the plants with a plastic dome or perforated clear plastic sheets. The divided section should be well established in about two to four weeks.

How to Grow Peacock Plant From Seed

While not as common as propagating by division, it is possible to grow peacock plant and other calathea species from seeds:

1. Start the seeds in trays or small pots filled with a high-quality potting or seed-starting mix. Moisten the potting mix.
2. Plant each seed about one-third of an inch or less deep.
3. Cover with clear plastic wrap or a clear seed tray cover to trap the humidity. Place them in a warm spot between 70 and 85 degrees F with bright, indirect light.
4. Keep the soil lightly moist but never let it get soggy.
5. When the plants reach about 1 to 1 1/2 inches in height, transplant them into their permanent pots.
   

Potting and Repotting Peacock Plants

Healthy, thriving peacock plants, with their clump-forming habit, often grow rapidly, and this means they tend to need repotting every couple of years. Divide the plant at the same time if you want to reuse the same pot; otherwise, you will need to opt for a larger container that also has decent drainage holes.

Overwintering

The peacock plant is usually grown as a houseplant year-round but during the warm summer months, a location in filtered sun or shade outdoors is also suitable. Make sure to bring the plant back inside before the nighttime temperatures start to dip below 60 degrees F. Be sure to check for pests before bringing it in and also remove any dead branches or yellow foliage.

Common Pests & Plant Diseases

Peacock plants are not known to have any major pests or disease problems. The appearance of red spider mites is usually a sign that the environment is too dry. Provide adequate humid conditions and keep the plant out of direct sun. If spider mites appear despite these precautions, use neem oil to get rid of them.

Common Problems With Peacock Plant

Providing the ideal conditions to help your peacock plant thrive might seem difficult at first but usually the plant will give you some signals as to what it needs. If you see that the leaves are curling, this is probably a sign that it is in need of more water. Brown tips on the leaves could indicate that the plant is in a drafty area, exposed to low humidity, or spending too much time in direct sunlight. If the plant's leaves start to droop, it might be located in an environment that is too cold, but if the stems also begin to droop or get mushy, it might indicate root rot. This would need to be addressed right away by removing the damaged roots and adjusting your watering schedule.

From: thespruce