How to Grow the Peacock Plant in Your Home: Simple Tips to Follow!

Gardening Basics

How to Grow the Peacock Plant in Your Home: Simple Tips to Follow!

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Probably one of the most beautiful indoor plants you've laid eyes on, this stunning Calathea is all the rage with plant enthusiasts everywhere... and honestly, we don't blame them!

A little bit of a picky princess, the Peacock plant is not everyone's cup of tea; making it even more desirable to anyone who ever lays eyes on it. It is undoubtedly one of the best lookers we've seen and it fits in perfectly with all kinds of interiors. Talk about versatile and stunning!

Bring Home Your Peacock Plant!

 

Everyone wants her, everyone needs her. But can everyone care for her? Absolutely! As long as they know just what she needs and can give her the world. So, let's talk about some basics of Peacock plant care and figure out how to make your plant happy!

 

Peacock Plant Care: Simple Secrets to a Happy Plant!

Ugaoo Peacock Plant

Also known as the Calathea Makoyana, the Peacock plant is a darling to have indoors. Every time you look at her, you will feel a rewarding sense of achievement, and believe us, you're not alone. 

So, let's keep your plant happy with these simple steps and Peacock plant care tips!

 

1. Light

Unlike many other plants, the Peacock plant does not need a lot of light to thrive. Like we said, she's a little different and so, Peacock plant light requirements are a little twisted, too. 

For optimal growth, keep your plant in a shaded spot with plenty of shade or little filtered light. 

Calathea peacock plant light requirements

Direct light or too much light = faded variegations, which isn't something we want!

 

2. Water

As a tropical plant, the Calathea Makoyana needs enough watering to thrive. She doesn't demand much but the very basics of Peacock plant watering are that you must water her at least twice a week.

Calathea peacock plant watering

However, this demand may vary. Summertimes can demand more watering and winters, less. 

How to tell when Peacock plant watering is needed?

  1. Finger Dip Test: Basically, you stick your index finger into the soil till the second knuckle. If it comes out dry, it's time to water. If not, your plant is perfectly hydrated! 
  2. Sustee Watemeter: An even more effective solution, the Sustee will solidify your Philodendron Birkin watering schedule. How? It has a water-level indicator that tells you exactly when your plant needs to be watered.

 

Clear signs of underwatering are curling leaves and a dead giveaway of overwatered Makoyanas are mushy leaves and overly wet soil. 

 

3. Soil

Another basic yet very particular requirement of the Peacock plant -aka the Calathea Makoyana - is well-draining soil that ensures proper aeration and breathability. 

This plant hates wet feet and cannot stand being overwatered. To avoid this, one of the main players is the soil.

Ugaoo Pot-O-Mix for proper Peacock plant care

You can either make your own potting mix with cow manure, coco peat, perlite, and soil; or you can use Ugaoo's ready-made Pot-O-Mix, which is the perfect mix of 11 such ingredients and more. 

 

4. Humidity and Temperature

Just like many other tropical plants, the Peacock plant needs some of its natural growth conditions mimicked. 

Ensure that you're giving your plant a lot of humidity. No, we mean it, a lot. Mist it every day and make sure that it doesn't ever feel like it has left its tropical forests and come elsewhere. 

Ideal Temperature Range: 19-24°C

 

5. Fertilization

Like a bunch of other plants, the Makoyana dislikes being overfed. So, striking the right balance is key. Believe us, we know. 

Peacock plant leaf close-up

Attaining a balanced routine for Peacock plant care means understanding when to fertilize it. So, fertilize your plant once a month during its growing season (i.e. during the summer and spring months).

During the fall and winter months, you can reduce fertilization to once in 2 months!

Shop Organic Fertilizers for Your Plant

 

Sure, the Makoyana may seem slightly tricky to care for at first glance. But, the more you understand it, the more you'll see - all it needs is to be understood. Once that's done, you will be able to perfect and nail down your Peacock plant care routine. 

So, take that chance and bring home the Calathea Peacock plant... we know you've been wanting to!

 

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