Mostly grown in gardens for the handsomely patterned foliage. Calathea prefers moist, shady, jungle-like conditions in a garden and is also often grown as potted specimens. When it is used as a house plant, the leaves should be sprayed with water several times a week. Propagation is by root division. Water with soft water. Keep uniform high humidity and temperature. Varieties: on C. metallica the undersides are silvery green and red and on C. majestica the top is patterned with white or pink stripes. One variety grown for its inflorescences is C. Jancifolia, the Rattlesnake Plant, which produces tall stalks of flowers enclosed in yellow bracts.
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