Goeppertia orbifolia

Calathea Orbifolia, Prayer Plant, Round-leaf Calathea, Calathea orbifolia

Moderate careTerrestrialNon-toxic30–90 cm

One of the largest Calathea relatives, with broad, round leaves carrying bold silvery-green and dark green stripes. A Brazilian Atlantic Forest understory species that needs consistent high humidity and indirect light. It works well in closed terrariums where stable moisture mirrors its native rainforest floor conditions, though its size calls for a larger enclosure.

Build a terrarium with this plant
Calathea Orbifolia image

Photo by Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz·CC BY-SA 4.0

Care

Light

Indirect light(preferred)Shade tolerant

Humidity

High (60–80%)(preferred)Very high (80%+)

Temperature

10°C25°C40°C
18°C – 27°C

Soil

Peat moss(preferred)Well draining

Moisture

Moist(preferred)

Soil pH

5.5 – 7

Appearance

Growth habit

ClumpingUpright

Leaf shape

Round

Leaf texture

SmoothLeathery

Distribution

Propagation

Divide the rhizome during repotting in late spring or early summer. Each division needs several healthy stems and roots. This can be tricky — keep divisions substantial for the best chance of success.