Goeppertia aka Bella Carlina Calathea

Taxonomy

Goeppertia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Marantaceae, native to the New World Tropics. It contains 243 accepted species, many of which were until recently assigned to Calathea. The genus name of Goeppertia is in honor of Heinrich Göppert, a German botanist and paleontologist. These plants, commonly known as prayer plants, have delightfully patterned leaves that come in all sorts of colors and shapes. A tender, upright, clump-forming perennial, Goeppertia features glossy, oval variegated bright green and yellow leaves with red undersides. Small purple and white flowers occasionally appear in summer. Interestingly, the leaves of some species fold up at night through a process called nyctinasty, meaning night movement.

Common names

Bella Carlina Calathea, Black Rose Calathea, Calathea 'Flamestar', Calathea 'Mia', Calathea 'Misto'

How to care for Bella Carlina Calathea

Water

Bella Carlina Calathea should be watered regularly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings.

Soil

Bella Carlina Calathea loves a well-draining soil. Perlite and vermiculite help with drainage, while coco coir adds organic matter, so a good potting soil mix will have all three. You can improve store-bought soil by adding some perlite to it.

Lighting

To ensure optimal growth, the Bella Carlina Calathea prefers bright indirect light for 6-8 hours each day. Insufficient light can result in slow growth and leaf drop, so it's important to find a well-lit location for this plant. Place it near a window, within a distance of 1 meter (3 feet), to enhance its potential for thriving.

Toxicity

Ploi's records do not contain confirmed information on the toxicity of this particular plant. In the event of accidental ingestion of plant material with questionable toxicity by you, a family member, or a pet, it is always a good idea to consult a healthcare professional.

Humidity

The Bella Carlina Calathea is not in need of supplementary humidity. Most water is taken in by plants through their roots, thus soil watering is the most efficient way to provide humidity to your plants.

Fertilizer

The Bella Carlina Calathea should be repotted either when it doubles in size or annually, whichever comes first. Providing new potting soil with all the vital nutrients annually is enough to support the growth of the plant, and thus, there is no need for fertilizer. Remember that plants derive their energy from the sun, not fertilizer.

Region of origin

Bella Carlina Calathea’s native range is Tropical Americas.


More info:
Wikipedia