Calathea Freddie 'Concinna', Zebra Plant

Sometimes, when you walk into someone else’s house, it’s hard to tell if someone’s prized centerpiece houseplant is fake or real. Calatheas don’t make this easier. These plants have unreal patterns and colors on their foliage which are sometimes likened to intricate weavings or stained glass; thus, it’s given names like Calathea (thought to come from the Greek word “Calathus,” or “basket”) and Cathedral plant (which fits its other colloquial name, Prayer Plant, which refers to the way the plant folds upward at night before you go to bed). Despite their showy decorative appearance, calatheas developed these looks to fit into their native surroundings, and they’re actually quite sensitive to any real adversity. Over the years, their tendency to fold upward at night and spread out during the day associates this plant with new beginnings (for the association with turning over a new leaf), and just like fresh starts are sensitive and need to be cultivated over time, so too will your calathea need patience to grow under your loving care.

How to Care for Calathea Freddie?

Originally from the tropics of Latin America, these plants were found on hot rainforests floors. They don’t mind the heat as much as they mind the cold, and just as they were mothered by the stronger taller trees around them, they prefer to be coddled in an environment based in bright indirect light and humid, well-draining soil.