Family: Marantaceae
Common name: Roseopicta, Rose-painted Calathea, Calathea roseopicta, Like a prayer, Calathea like a prayer
Roseopicta is a beautiful plant belonging to the prayer-plant family of Marantaceae, very popular garden plant loved by gardeners for their artistically beautiful foliage. They are native to Brazil and other regions of South America, though they are now found in gardens all over the world.
Plant characteristics
Roseopicta plants only grow to a height of 50 cm with a similar spread of about 30-45 cm. Stems are relatively short and sturdy with a greenish hue.
The leaves are the most striking feature of this plant – large, broad, oval, and variegated leaves with a green or purple base and white, dark green or pink highlights painted on them. Leaves are 25-30 cm long with a smooth margin.
The leaves of Roseopicta are so stunning and artistic that they look like art installations rather than just an indoor plants.
The lower surface of the leaves are pale green, pink or deep pink in color, adding to the visual appeal of the plant. These leaves seem to emerge directly from the base of the plant in a rosette-like formation.
Roseopicta’s compact growing nature and beautiful foliage makes them ideal for home gardens and landscaped areas as ornamental plants.
Roseopicta plants also produce small, delicate flowers that are white or pale purple in color, growing in small clusters in late spring or early summer.
They are 3-5 cm diameter, growing on long, slender spikes rising high above the foliage. Plants grown in home gardens are not known to produce fruits.
Gardening tips
These plants prefer indirect or filtered sunlight and can grow well indoors, provided there is good sunlight coming in. Too much light can cause the leaf edges to burn, and too little light can make the plant long and leggy.
Roseopicta plants grow well in warm, humid conditions. So they need to be watered well, misted regularly, or even kept in a water tray to maintain moisture levels.
These plants need moist, well-drained soil that is not clayey or water-logged. Since the stem is quite tender, excessive watering can lead to water and stem rot very quickly.
Pruning is needed to keep the plant bushy and well-rounded. Fertilize occasionally with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer to keep the foliage healthy.
Roseopicta plants are reasonably resistant to pests, but they can be sprayed with neem oil or an organic pesticide every couple of months to keep pests away.
Uses of Roseopicta
These plants are mostly grown as ornamentals in gardens and landscaped areas, with no known medicinal uses.
They can be grown indoors or outdoors to bring in a tropical vibe to the gardens. These plants do not tolerate frost, and hence they should be grown indoors in colder weather.
Plants belonging to Marantaceae family are called prayer plants since their leaves close at night and open in the morning in response to the light and dark cycles.
Propagation
Propagation is through stem cuttings and root division.
Mature stem cuttings with sufficient leaf nodes can root well in moist, well-drained soil. Parents plants produce small plants all around them, which can be carefully separated and replanted.
Photographed at: Gardens in Bangalore, Sri Lanka
