Calathea vittata (Goeppertia elliptica) Indoor Care, Common Problems and Fixes

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Calathea vittata also called Goeppertia elliptica blossoms in medium to bright indirect light, warm and humid conditions and consistently moist, rich, well-drained, all purpose soil coupled with monthly feeding in the growing season.

Calatheas have a bit of a diva reputation when it comes to care. But with the right care, your Calathea Vittata will thrive indoors. In this guide, we will cover everything you need to know about Calathea Vittata indoor care.

First, let's dig into some facts about this plant. Goeppertia elliptica is one of the popular Calathea varieties and bears elliptical, bright-green leaves with distinctive white stripes and burgundy-purple undersides.

Calathea vittata is among the best plants for the office space and has become a favorite recently that will truly stand out in any plant collection.

Botanical name: Calathea vittata
Synonym: Goeppertia elliptica
Family: Marantaceae
Common name: Elliptica

Origin

Calathea vittata is native to the tropical forests in Brazil and South America where it grows as an understory plant. It is among the best tropical foliage plants that you can grow in the home, office or any other suitable place.

Size

Goeppertia elliptica grows to a height of about 1-1.5 feet and about 1 foot wide which makes it one of the best low-light plants for the limited spaces.

Flower

Calathea vittata is not grown for the flower but for its pretty foliage and it is unlikely to flower under room conditions.

Is Calathea vittata pet-friendly?

Goeppertia elliptica like other Calathea Plants is non-toxic to both humans and pets as indicated by ASPCA. It is safe to grow indoors.

Related Plants

Calathea vittata 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

Goeppertia elliptica are outstanding plants for your collection. You may get these plants online from Etsy (Link to Etsy) or from Amazon (Link to Amazon).

How do you care for Calathea vittata indoors?

Let’s dive into how to keep your Goeppertia elliptica happy indoors. Calathea vittata requires medium to bright indirect light (dappled light), average warmth of 18-28⁰C, humidity of 60-80% and consistently moist, fertile, well-drained, all purpose potting soil coupled with monthly feeding during the growing season.

Goeppertia elliptica care requires repotting when it has become pot-bound. Pruning is necessary to keep it neat and also minimize pest and disease infestations. Keep reading for more on these growing conditions and how to achieve them.

Watering

Water Calathea vittata liberally during the growing season (spring and summer) and allow the top 1-2 inches of soil to dry out between waterings. Keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy to avoid yellowing of leaves.

Lessen watering in the cold season (fall and winter) as growth is minimal at this time to keep the soil slightly moist. Do not allow the soil to dry out completely to prevent wilting and drooping leaves.

Use water that is at room temperature to avoid plant shock which can result in reduced growth. Use water that is free of chlorine and flourides which can lead to 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 yellowing, root-rot and death of the plant.

To reduce fungal infestations like leaf spot disease, avoid wetting the foliage during watering or water from the bottom instead.

Light Requirements

Goeppertia elliptica grows best in medium to bright indirect light (filtered light). Keep it away from direct sunlight as it can cause scorching of the leaves. Avoid too bright light as it will cause the leaf colour to fade and appear washed out.

If your plant is getting curled leaves, leggy growth, or losing its stripes, the light is not enough. Move the plant infront of a large, well-lit window or consider investing in grow lights if you do not have adequate light in your home.

For even growth and to prevent lopsided growth, regularly turn the pot to ensure that the plant receives light on all sides.

Temperature and Humidity

Calathea vittata prefers average warmth of 18-28⁰C. Below this range, the plant stops growing while above this range may cause the plant to die.

Keep the plant away from hot and cold drafts from windy doors, drafty windows, air conditioning units, hot stoves and other heat sources as they cause sudden changes in temperature which can result in curled leaves, stunted growth and death of the plant.

Goeppertia elliptica requires high humidity of 60-80% to thrive. Low humidity can lead to brown leaf tips and edges. Use a hygrometer to monitor the humidity for the optimum growth of the plant. To up scale humidity, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or grow the plant in a well-lit bathroom and other moist areas in the home. Ascertain that there is good air circulation to minimize fungal diseases.

You may also grow the plant in a closed terrarium. On account of its compact size and requirement for humid conditions, Calathea vittata is one of the best plants for a closed terrarium.

Fertilizer

Feed your Calathea vittata with a balanced, liquid fertilizer every 4 weeks through out the growing season (spring and summer) for lush growth.

Withhold feeding in the cold season (fall and winter) as growth is minimal and feeding at this time can lead to fertilizer burn causing brown tips on leaves.

Flush out accumulated chemicals (salts) from the soil every 1-2 months 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.

Calathea vittata Soil

The best soil for Calathea vittata should be rich, light, airy, and well-draining soil that retains moisture but doesn’t become soggy. It should comprise of 1 part peat moss or coconut coir (for moisture retention), 1 part perlite (to improve drainage) and 1 part potting soil (to provide nutrients).

Repotting

Repot Calathea vittata every 2-3 years at the beginning of the growing season when it becomes root-bound. Take care not to injure its delicate roots.

Use a pot one size larger than the current one. Ensure that the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy as it can lead to rotting and loss of the plant. Check out these self waatering planters with drainage hole on Amazon.

Before repotting, water the plant thoroughly at least 1 day before to hasten establishment. A well hydrated plant suffers less repotting shock and takes a shorter time to take root.

If the plant is large and has outgrown its current pot, divide it into several sections and use the splits to propagate new plants. Repotting may cause the leaves to droop but the plant will eventually recover once it takes root; in about 3-4 weeks.

Pruning & Grooming

Pruning Calathea vittata involves removal of dead and yellow foliage to maintain the plant neat and tidy. It also discourages pest and disease infestations. Cut the leaves at the base with a sharp knife or pair of scissors, where the leaf meets the stalk.

Occasionally clean the leaves by damp-wiping with a soft cloth to get rid of dust as well as minimize pest and disease infestations.

Calathea vittata Propagation

Calathea vittata (Goeppertia elliptica) is easily propagated by plant division during repotting. The best time to propagate is at the beginning of the growing season in spring as the plant is in the active growing phase which hastens establishment.

Read more on how to propagate Calathea vittata (2 Ways of Goeppertia elliptica Propagation).

Calathea vittata Problems & Remedies

Calathea vittata (Goeppertia elliptica) problems include brown leaf tips, curled leaves, drooping leaves, plant dying, loss of leaf color, pests and diseases among others. Keep reading for more on these problems and how to fix them.

Brown leaf tips and edges

Brown leaf tips and edges in Calathea vittata are caused by low humidity, spidermites, hard water and salts build up. Let's look at how to fix these issues.

• Too little humidity. To raise humidity, set the pot on a wet pebble tray or use a cool mist humidifier. You can also grow the plant in a well-lit bathroom and other moist areas in the home.


• Spider mites infestation which is prevalent in dry air. Isolate the infested plant, remove the dead growth and treat with insecticidal soap or neem oil. Increase humidity to discourage the pests.


• Watering with hard water. Use water that is free of chlorine and other dissolved chemicals. Rain water, filtered water and distilled water are good choices.


• Accumulation of salts and chemicals in the soil originating from the water or fertilizers used. Once in a while, flush out these salts from the soil by running a stream of water through the soil. Allow the stream to run for 5-10 minutes and repeat the process several times.

Curled leaves

Curled leaves in Calathea vittata are caused by overwatering, underwatering, direct sunlight, little light, temperature stress, overfeeding.

• Overwatering: Do not water on a schedule; water when the top 1-2 inches of soil feel dry. Further, ascertian that the soil is free-draining and that the pot has a drainage hole to prevent the soil from getting soggy.


• Underwatering: Keep the soil consistently moist during the growing season and slightly moist in the cold season. Never allow the soil to dry out completely.


• Exposure to direct sunlight: Place the plant in a shaded place away from direct sunlight.


• Too little light: Position the plant infront a large bright window where it will receive bright indirect light or use a grow light if the natural light is not enough.


• Temperature stress: Keep the plant from hot and cold drafts emanating from hot stoves, AC units, drafty windows, windy doors among others.


• Overfeeding: Take care not to overfertilize. Feed the plant monthly in spring and summer. Do not feed in the cold season (fall and winter).

Drooping leaves

Drooping leaves in Calathea vittata are caused by dry air, improper watering, being root-bound.

• Too dry air: To up humidity, set the pot on a wet pebble tray, use a humidifier or grow the plant in a terrarium.


• Incorrect watering: Either overwatering or underwatering. Maintain the soil moist and do not allow the soil to dry out completely. Learn more on how to water houseplants the right way.


• Being root-bound: Check the bottom of the pot for roots growing through the drainage hole. 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

Plant dying

Calathea vittata may die due to root-rot, pests infestations, underwatering, wrong temperature, cold drafts, poor feeding, low humidity among other reasons.

Check out these 12 Reasons Why Calathea is Dying and How to Save It.

Pests

Goeppertia elliptica is prone to mealybugs, aphids, scale insects and spider mites. Isolate the affected plant to prevent spread to the other plants and treat it appropriately with appropriate products. Learn how to identify and get rid of these pests.

Diseases

Calathea vittata is prone to leaf spot disease due to the humid conditions in which it grows. The disease is characterized by brown patches surrounded by a yellow halo. Isolate the affected plant to minimize spread to the rest of the plants.

Leaves appear washed out

Calathea vittata washed out leaves are due to exposure of the plant to hot direct sunlight. Position the plant in a more shaded spot or instal a light curtain to protect it from direct sunlight to prevent its eventual death.

Conclusion

Calathea Vittata is a stunning, tropical beauty that elevates any indoor space. With proper light, humidity, and watering, it will reward you with lush, patterned foliage all year round. Although it has a reputation for being fussy, once you understand its needs, it becomes a low-maintenance, rewarding houseplant.

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