The peacock plant, whose scientific name is Calathea makoyana, is a beautiful tropical houseplant whose leaves are patterned to look like peacock feathers. It’s easy to see why the peacock plant is so popular among people who like houseplants. Its leaves have beautiful, unusual colors. There are, however, some specific conditions and care needs that must be met in order to keep a peacock plant happy and healthy.
In this complete guide, I’ll share everything you need to know about how to care for a peacock plant, including ideal conditions, watering, humidity, light, soil, fertilizer, troubleshooting common issues, and more. Follow these peacock plant care tips and you’ll have a thriving, eye-catching addition to your indoor plant collection.
Overview of Peacock Plant Care
Here is a quick overview of the key things you need to provide for your peacock plant
- Soil – Peat-based, well-draining soil that retains some moisture
- Light – Bright, indirect light or partial shade
- Water – Consistently moist soil, water when top inch is dry
- Humidity – Average room humidity of 60% or higher
- Temperature – Ideal range of 60-75°F
Taking care of these basic things will help peacock plants stay healthy. Read on for more details!.
Choosing the Right Potting Mix
The peacock plant prefers a rich, peat-based potting mix that retains moisture but also provides good drainage. A quality potting soil formulated for tropical plants is ideal.
You can make your own peacock plant soil by mixing
- 2 parts peat moss or coco coir
- 1 part perlite or bark chips
- 1 part worm castings or compost
The peat helps retain moisture while the perlite and bark chips provide drainage The worm castings supply nutrients
Always use pots with drainage holes when growing peacock plants. This prevents soggy soil that can lead to root rot.
Providing the Right Amount of Light
Peacock plants thrive in bright, indirect light. Some options for providing suitable light include:
- East or west-facing windows (avoid direct southern light)
- A couple feet back from a south-facing window
- Under a sheer curtain in a south window
The striking leaf patterns will fade and lose vibrancy if the plant receives too little light. Move the plant closer to a window if the leaves start to look dull.
The leaves will get burned by direct, hot sunlight, so block the light if you need to. North-facing windows generally don’t provide enough light.
Maintaining Ideal Temperature
Peacock plants prefer daytime temperatures between 60-75°F and nights no cooler than 55°F. Keep them away from drafty areas, air vents, and excessive heat sources.
Sudden temperature fluctuations can shock the plant and cause leaf damage. If growing as a houseplant, aim to keep the temperature in this ideal range year-round.
Watering Correctly
Consistent moisture is key for peacock plants. Allow the top inch or so of soil to dry out between waterings. Check by sticking your finger in the soil.
Water thoroughly until it drains from the bottom of the pot. Never let the plant sit in water. Pour out excess from the drainage tray promptly.
Some tips for watering peacock plants:
- Water when soil feels slightly dry. Don’t wait until completely dry or leaves start to droop.
- Reduce watering frequency in winter when growth slows.
- Use room temperature filtered or distilled water. Tap water may burn leaf tips.
- Underwatering is safer than overwatering these plants.
Providing High Humidity
Peacock plants demand high humidity to thrive. Ideal levels are 60% and above. There are a few ways to increase humidity around your plant:
- Use a humidifier
- Place the pot on a pebble tray filled with water
- Mist the plant daily using a spray bottle
- Group plants together to increase local humidity
Lack of humidity causes browning leaf edges and tips. Boost moisture levels if you see these signs of low humidity damage.
Fertilizing for Healthy Growth
Feed peacock plants lightly but regularly when actively growing in spring and summer:
- Use a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half-strength
- Fertilize every 2-3 weeks during the growing season
- Avoid over-fertilizing, which can burn the foliage
- Take a break from fertilizing in fall and winter
Look for signs of nutrient deficiencies like yellowing leaves and treat with an appropriate fertilizer.
Repotting Your Plant
Repot peacock plants every 2-3 years in spring as needed. Slide the rootball out and move to a container one size larger. These plants like to be slightly rootbound.
Use a sterile, sharp knife to divide rootbound plants. Each division should have 3-5 leaves and healthy roots.
Wipe leaves down after repotting to remove any dust or residue and keep your plant looking its best.
Caring for Peacock Plants Outdoors
In tropical zones like USDA 10-12, peacock plants can be grown outside as landscape plants. Site them in a shady, sheltered spot protected from hot sun and wind.
Provide peacock plants with the same care outdoors as indoor plants. Keep them well-watered and fertilized. Move pots to a sheltered area in winter if temperatures drop below 55°F.
Troubleshooting Common Peacock Plant Problems
Here are some common issues you may encounter when growing peacock plants and how to fix them:
- Brown leaf edges – Usually caused by low humidity. Increase humidity levels.
- Curled leaves – Sign of underwatering. Check soil and water more frequently.
- Leaf spotting – Can indicate too much fertilizer or minerals in tap water. Flush soil and use filtered water.
- Drooping leaves – Indicates plant is too cold. Move to a warmer spot.
- Root rot – Caused by overwatering or slow drainage. Reduce watering and repot in fresh mix.
Catch problems early and adjust care to get your peacock plant thriving again.
Enjoying Your Gorgeous Peacock Plant
With its bold patterns and tropical style, the peacock plant is sure to be a showstopper in any indoor plant collection. Just be sure to provide it with warm temperatures, indirect light, consistent humidity, and moist soil.
Take care not to overwater and give it a pebble tray or humidifier if your home runs dry. Feed lightly and wipe leaves often to keep it looking its best. Repot when rootbound.
Follow these simple tips and you’ll be rewarded with a happy, healthy peacock plant that brings eye-catching beauty indoors. The vibrant foliage patterns are sure to draw admiration from all who see them!
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.
- The plant Calathea rufibarba is also known as furry calathea, furry feather calathea, or velvet calathea. It has long, pointy leaves that are bright green on top and a deep burgundy-purple color on the bottom. The bottom side of the leaves is also fuzzy.
- A type of Calathea lietzei plant called Calathea white fusion has leaves with broad, bright white stripes and a light lavender color on the underside.
- Calathea medallion, or Calathea roseopicta “Medallion,” has big, oval leaves that look like they were painted. It is also called rose-painted calathea. In a circle around the leaf, they go from light green to dark green to white to medium green.
- Calathea ornata is called a “pinstripe plant” because each of its foot-long leaves has thin white lines that look like they were painted on them. ” The light burgundy stems add even more visual interest.
Propagating Peacock Plant
Before you try to grow more of your peacock plant, make sure it’s not a cultivar that can’t be grown from seed, like “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.
- Give the plant a good soak the day before you divide it.
- Slide the root ball out of the container. Pull the root system apart gently with your fingers. Clumps on the side usually detach easily. Do not forget to connect a lot of roots to each division.
- Put each piece back in its own pot with peat moss and perlite or another good potting mix. Adding soil from the mother plant can help ease the stress of transplanting.
- For the first few weeks, keep the new plants warm, damp, and moist. In dry places, put a plastic dome or perforated clear plastic sheets over the plants to keep them moist. In about two to four weeks, the divided section should be well set up.
Peacock Calathea: CARE GUIDE!
FAQ
How do you take care of a peacock plant indoors?
Peacock Plant Care Light: Prefers bright, indirect sunlight. Direct sun can fade the stripes on the leaves and cause burn marks. Ideal near a window with sheer curtains or in a room that receives plenty of natural light without direct exposure. Soil: A well-draining, peat-based mix is suitable.
Why are my peacock plant leaves turning brown?
Crispy Brown Leaf Edges are a sign of low humidity. Remove the brown bits and raise the humidity by regularly spraying, moving to a more humid area, or putting them on a pebble tray (a tray with pebbles and water in it).
Where is the best place to put a peacock plant?
Choose a place for your plant with bright indirect light—for example, near a window. Avoid staging your plant near direct sun because it can damage the green leaves. Peacock plants can also live in low light as long as the temperature and humidity in the room are kept in check.
How do you care for a Calathea Peacock?
Taking care of Calathea peacock can include frequent, lukewarm showers. Place them near a sink with a spray attachment or put them in the shower with other plants that need a lot of water. Fashion a humidity tent to use at night, or cover with a cake cover. A humidifier is a good investment when growing peacock houseplants too.
How to care for a peacock plant?
For increasing the humidity in a natural way, place the peacock plant on a tray of pebbles with water. Ideal Temperature requirements: The ideal temperature for peacock plant care is between 18 degrees to 27 degrees Celsius. Don’t place the plant near air conditioners or heaters. Places with sudden temperature changes can stress the plant. 4.
How do you grow a peacock plant indoors?
To grow peacock plants indoors, place your Calathea makoyana plant pot in bright light but protected from direct sunlight. Calathea species grow in dappled sunlight on the forest flower. The Calathea houseplants will grow best beside an east- or north-facing window.
Can peacocks grow outside?
Given their tropical origin, peacock plants are typically grown indoors where the temperatures are steadily warm all year round, but peacock plants can be grown outside in certain growing zones. USDA Hardiness Zones 10A to 11 are warm enough to grow the plants outside under the canopy of other trees or shrubs.
Are peacocks a good houseplant?
As with many other houseplants, the peacock plant also has tropic origins which is one of the reasons it does so well indoors. It is native to the tropical forests of Brazil, found growing under the shade canopies of the tall, tropical trees. The attractive foliage on the Calathea is what makes them popular with homeowners as houseplants.
Do peacocks need humidity?
Group peacock houseplants with other humidity-loving plants and the transpiration will offer humidity. A pebble tray located indoors on which plants sit is a good way to provide humidity as well. Frequent misting offers some humidity, but not enough to provide 60 percent in a dry, heated room.