Calathea leopardina (Calathea Freddie) Indoor Care and Propagation Guide
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Calathea leopardina (Calathea Freddie) blossoms in bright indirect light, warm and humid conditions and consistently moist, rich, well-drained, all purpose soil coupled with monthly feeding in the growing season.
Calathea Freddie is one of the popular Calathea varieties and bears long, light-green leaves with darker green zebra stripes and purple undersides which grow almost horizontally and are held up by long stems which makes it easy to admire them as they grow.
Botanical name: Calathea leopardina
Synonym: Goeppertia concinna
Family: Marantaceae
Common name: Calathea Freddie
Origin
Calathea leopardina also called Goeppertia concinna is native to the tropical forests in southeast region of Brazil where it grows as an understory plant.
Size and Flower
Calathea Freddie grows in clumps to a height of about 2-3 feet. The plant is not grown for the flower but for the pretty foliage and is unlikely to flower under room conditions.
Is Calathea leopardina toxic?
Calathea leopardina like other Calathea Plants is non-toxic to humans and pets as outlined by ASPCA. It is safe to grow in the home.
Related Plants
Calathea leopardina is related to the Marantas, Ctenanthe and Stromanthe which are collectively called Prayer Plants in reference to their curious characteristic of closing their leaves at night.
Where to Buy
If you would like to add Calathea Freddie to your collection, you may obtain them online from Etsy (Link to Etsy).
Calathea Freddie Care Indoors
Calathea leopardina (Calathea Freddie) flourishes in bright indirect light, average warmth of 15-260C, high humidity of 60-80% and consistently moist, rich, well-drained, all purpose soil coupled with monthly feeding during the growing season.
Calathea Freddie requires pruning to keep it neat and also reduce pest and disease infestations. Repotting is needed only when the plant becomes pot-bound. Keep reading for more on the best growing conditions and how to provide them.
Watering
Water Calathea Freddie liberally and keep the soil consistently moist at all times during the growing season. Reduce watering in the cold season as growth is minimal at this time but do not allow the soil to dry out completely.
It is advisable to water the plant with water that is at room temperature to avoid shocking the tropical plant. The water should also be free of chlorine and flourides as like other Calathea, it is sensitive to chemicals dissolved in water which will cause brown leaf tips and edges.
Make sure that the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead to root-rot and eventual loss of the plant. To minimize fungal infestations like leaf spot diseases, avoid wetting the foliage during watering or water from the bottom instead.
Light Requirements
Calathea leopardina grows best in bright indirect light away from direct sunlight to avoid scorching of the leaves and loss of leaf color.
If the natural lighting is not sufficient, you may grow the plant under grow lights to ensure it receives the right amount of light. Check out these full spectrum grow lights on Amazon.
For even growth to prevent lopsided growth, regularly rotate the pot to ensure that the plant receives light on all sides.
Temperature and Humidity
Calathea Freddie prefers average warmth of 15-260C. At temperatures below this range, the plant stops growing while temperatures above this range may cause the plant to die. Keep it away from drafts as they cause sudden changes in temperature which the plant cannot tolerate and may cause it to die.
Calathea leopardina requires high humidity of 60% to 80% to thrive. Low humidity causes the plant to develop brown leaf tips and edges. To raise humidity, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier. Check out these techniques on how to raise humidity for houseplants.
You may also grow the plant in a well-lit bathroom, kitchen, laundry area and other moist areas in the home. Calathea leopardina is one of the best plants for the bathroom due to its requirement for warm, humid conditions.
Keep the leaves clean by damp-wiping with a soft cloth to get rid of dust and reduce pest and disease infestations. Make sure there is proper air circulation to discourage fungal diseases.
Fertilizer
Feed Calathea Freddie monthly during the growing season with a balanced, liquid fertilizer to promote a lush growth. Stop feeding in the cold season as growth is minimal and feeding at this time can lead to fertilizer burn.
Regularly, flush out accumulated chemicals (salts) from the soil by running a stream of water through the soil. Allow the stream of water to run for some time and repeat the process several times.
Potting Mix
The best potting mix for Calathea leopardina should be rich in organic matter and free-draining to prevent it from getting soggy while providing the required nutrients. All purpose potting mixes are ideal for this plant.
Repotting
Repot Calathea Freddie every 1 or 2 years at the beginning of the growing season or when it becomes root-bound. Take care not to injure its delicate roots. Use a pot one size larger than the current one and ensure that the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead to root-rot. Check out these ceramic pots on Amazon.
One day before repotting, water the plant thoroughly to hasten establishment as a well hydrated plant suffers less repotting shock. A large plant that has outgrown its current pot, can be divided into several sections and the splits used to propagate new plants. After repotting some of the leaves may droop but the plant will eventually recover in about 3-4 weeks once it takes root.
Pruning
Pruning Calathea leopardina involves removal of dead and yellow foliage to maintain the plant neat and also discourage pest and disease infestations. Cut the leaves with a clean, sharp knife or with a sharp, clean pair of pruning scissors at the base, where the leaf meets the stalk.
Propagation
Calathea leopardina (Calathea Freddie) is best propagated by plant division at the beginning of the growing season (in spring) during repotting. Dividing the plant at this time hastens establishment as it is in the active growth phase.
Read more on how to propagate Calathea Plants in 2 easy ways.
Calathea Freddie Problems
Calathea leopardina (Calathea Freddie) growing problems include plant dying, drooping leaves, yellow leaves, loss of leaf color, brown leaf tips, pests and diseases among others. Keep reading for more on these problems and how to fix them.
Pests
Calathea Freddie is prone to scales, aphids, mealy bugs and spidermites. Isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to the other plants and treat it appropriately for the pests. Learn how to identify and get rid of pests in houseplants.
Diseases
Calathea Freddie is prone to leaf spot disease which is promoted by the humid conditions in which it grows. The disease is indicated by brown patches surrounded by a yellow halo. Isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to the other houseplants and treat it for the disease. Read more on how to treat leaf spot disease in houseplants.
Plant dying
Calathea leopardina may die due to root-rot, underwatering, wrong temperature, cold drafts, poor feeding, low humidity, pests infestations among other reasons.
Read more on these 12 Reasons Why Calathea is Dying and How to Save It.
Drooping leaves
Calathea Freddie drooping leaves are due to three possible causes. One possible cause is too dry air (low humidity) as the plant is very sensitive to low air humidity. To elevate humidity, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier or grow the plant in a well-lit bathroom.
The second possible cause of drooping leaves in Calathea leopardina is incorrect watering; either overwatering (soggy soil) or underwatering. Water the plant liberally during the growing season and maintain the soil consistently. Decrease watering in the cold season but do not allow the soil to dry out completely.
Ensure that the soil is free-draining and that the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy. Learn more on how to water indoor plants the correct way.
The third possible cause of drooping leaves in Calathea Freddie is that the plant is root-bound. This means that the roots have filled the pot and there is very little soil to hold water when you water the plant.
Therefore, there is no water for the plant to take up to the leaves and as such, the leaves loss their stiffness and they droop. Check the bottom of the pot if roots are growing through the drainage hole. If so, repot the plant into a pot one size larger than the current one or divide it into several sections to propagate new plants.
Check out these 10 Causes of Calathea Drooping Leaves and How to Revive It
Leaves appear washed out
Calathea Freddie washed out leaves are due to exposure of the plant to hot direct sunlight as it grows best in bright indirect light. Position the plant in a more shaded place or instal a light curtain to shield it from direct sunlight to prevent its eventual death.
Curled, yellowing leaves
Calathea leopardina curled and yellowing leaves are caused by incorrect watering; either overwatering (soggy soil) or underwatering. Overwatering (soggy soil) causes the roots to die due to lack of oxygen in the soil. When the roots die they cannot take up water and therefore the leaves begin to curl, yellow and eventually die.
Underwatering implies that there is too little moisture in the soil and therefore, the plant has no water to take up to the leaves. Thus, the leaves begin to curl, yellow and eventually die if the situation is not corrected.
Water the Calathea Freddie thoroughly and keep the soil consistently moist during the growing season. Lessen watering in the cold season but do not allow the soil to dry out completely. Make sure that the soil is free-draining and that the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy
Brown, dry leaf tips and edges
Brown, dry leaf tips and edges in Calathea Freddie are due to four possible causes. One possible is dry air (too little humidity). To raise humidity, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or grow the plant in the bathroom and other moist areas in the home.
The second cause of brown, dry leaf tips and edges in Calathea leopardina which is accompanied by stunted growth is infestation by spider mites due to too dry air (low humidity). Remove the dead growth and raise humidity for the plant to discourage the pest infestations.
The third cause of brown, dry leaf tips and edges in Calathea Freddie is watering with hard water. Water the plant with chlorine-free water only like rain water.Like other Calathea, it is sensitive to chlorine and other chemicals dissolved in water and it responds with brown leaf tips and edges.
The fourth cause of brown, dry leaf tips and edges in Calathea leopardina is accumulation of salts or chemicals in the soil which may have come from the water or fertilizers used. Flush out accumulated chemicals (salts) from the soil regularly by running a stream of water through the soil. Allow the stream of water to run for some time and repeat the process several times.
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