Calathea

Calathea 
 
 
The calathea is a plant native to South America. It thrives in warm, humid climates; in our latitudes, it's grown as a houseplant.
 
Its foliage is highly ornamental: the leaves (usually green with a purple underside) are rounded, oval or lance-shaped depending on the species, and display contrasting patterns in shades of light green, dark green, cream, pink or brown. The plant generally reaches 40 to 60 cm in height, and the leaves can grow up to 60 cm long. The calathea grows slowly: it produces only 2 to 3 new leaves each year... but what leaves!
 
The calathea is a low-maintenance plant; its main requirement is enough humidity. In summer, water generously twice a week with non-calcareous water; the substrate must not dry out (without leaving water standing in the saucer or planter cover). In winter, weekly watering is enough, provided the temperature isn't too high (ideally: 13 to 16°C in winter, and 16 to 25°C in summer). If the air is too dry or too warm, mist the undersides of the leaves daily and set the pot on a bed of water-soaked clay pebbles. Your calathea will benefit from being placed next to other green plants, so it enjoys a humid "micro-climate".