Calathea Peacock Care | How to Grow Peacock Plant

Calathea Peacock Care is easy as long as you know to do it right. Learn How to Grow Peacock Plant and more to ensure it thrives for a long time to come!

Calathea makoyana or the Peacock plant is famous for its stunning foliage that displays different shades of colors in style. If you want to know How to Grow Peacock Plant, then our detailed guide on Calathea Peacock Care will help you out!

Check out our article on Shami Tree care here

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The Peacock Plant

 

The plant mottled leaves, uniformly hued with vivid shades of colors and stripes, that resemble a Peacock’s tail, hence the name. Its deep green leaves make the plant stand out in homes while the deep maroon underside of the foliage makes it quite stunning to look at!

Also, according to ASPA, the plant is safe for both pets and kids!

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How to Propagate Calathea Peacock

The division is the best method to propagate the peacock plant

• Propagate the plant from division when it is well grown and large enough. Avoid dividing small plants.
• Take the plant out of the pot and remove the excess soil around the root ball.
• Gently pull the roots apart to divide the whole plant. Use a sanitized knife to cut them from the plant.
• Do make sure to pot one division in one pot. Do not pot multiple divisions in a single container.

Note: To save time, it is best to buy a well-grown plant online or from a local nursery.

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Best Pot Size to Grow Peacock Plant

A 6-8 inches pot will be more than sufficient for good growth. Make sure that the container has a drainage hole at the bottom. Also, prefer pots made from breathable materials like terracotta or ceramic.

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Growing Requirements of Peacock Plant

Sunlight

The plant does well in bright, indirect sunlight. For indoors, choose a spot where it gets a light exposure of 2-3 hours. Avoid exposing it to the harsh afternoon sun for long hours. Exposing it to direct morning sun for 2-3 hours will make its color pop more!

Water

Always let the top 2-inches of the soil dry completely before watering. Avoid overwatering the plant at all costs. If you are using tap water then let it sit overnight so that it does not cause any salt buildup in the soil.

Soil

Use a well-draining growing medium for the best growth. You can prepare your own potting mix by blending equal parts of peat moss, coconut coir, pine bark, and perlite/coarse sand.

Alternatively, you can also use 2-parts of peat with 1-part of sand or perlite.

Climate

This houseplant does well in the tropical climate of India. Temperature between 15-26 C is best for its growth.

Humidity

Peacock plant requires 50% or more relative humidity in general, especially when the air is dry. Raise the humidity levels by misting its leaves or keeping the pot on a tray with pebbles and water. In case of low humidity, you may witness leaf tips browning, or yellowing leaves.

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Calathea Peacock Care

Fertilizer

Use a balanced houseplant fertilizer like 15-15-15, diluted to half of its strength, once in 6-8 weeks during the growing period. Avoid fertilizing in winters. Refer to the instruction label for details.

Pruning

This plant does not require much pruning, though you can regularly cut back yellow and brown wilted leaves. Nevertheless, you can lightly prune it for bushier growth or to keep its size and shape in check.

Pests and Diseases

The plant may be susceptible to spider mites and aphids. You can easily deter them with a strong jet of water or use a neem oil solution.