Calathea orbifolia

For this plant

Soil always lightly moist, never waterlogged: water every four to six days with filtered or rested water.

The principle

A high need means a substrate that stays fresh but never waterlogged. Check every two or three days in summer and water before the surface turns pale. Mulch, a closed outer pot or a bed of damp clay pebbles stabilise humidity without drowning the root ball.

For this plant

Soft, filtered light; direct sun fades the silver stripes.

The principle

Partial shade is bright but filtered light: a metre back from a glazed door, behind a sheer curtain, or morning sun only. It is the broadest and easiest exposure to achieve in a Moroccan interior. Direct afternoon sun, by contrast, leaves irreversible bleached patches on the leaf.

For this plant

Half-strength feed every four weeks from April to September.

The principle

Moderate growth is fed once a month from March to September with a balanced liquid feed at the maker's dose. Water with plain water first, then feed: on dry substrate, concentrated fertiliser burns the fine roots. Nothing from October to February, the resting period.

For this plant

From 18 to 27 °C with humidity above 50 %; dislikes cold and dry air-conditioned air.

The principle

Heat-sensitive: above 32 °C this plant closes its stomata, stops growing and lets its tips brown. Give it a cool, bright room away from south- and west-facing glass in summer. Grouping it with other plants creates a microclimate worth several points of relative humidity.