Goeppertia louisae ‘Maui Queen’

Origin and background

‘Maui Queen’ is a cultivar of Goeppertia louisae. The species is native to southeastern Brazil, where it grows in warm, humid tropical forest.

In the wild, G. louisae grows beneath taller forest plants in filtered light, with regular moisture around its roots.

How to care for ‘Maui Queen’

• Light: Give it bright, indirect or filtered light. Strong midday sun can bleach or scorch the leaves. Use a sheer curtain if midday sun falls directly on the foliage.
• Watering: Keep the mix lightly and evenly moist while it is growing. Water when the surface has just started to dry, then let excess water drain fully from the pot. In cooler rooms or darker weeks, check the surface and pot weight because the mix stays moist for longer.
• Humidity: High humidity helps the broad leaves stay in good condition. Aim for steady humidity, using a humidifier or naturally humid room when indoor air is dry.
• Temperature: Keep it above about 16°C with steady indoor warmth. Cold draughts, cold windows and direct radiator heat can damage the foliage.
• Potting mix: Use an airy houseplant mix that holds moisture and drains freely, with added bark, perlite or similar material.
• Feeding: While new leaves are appearing, feed about once a month with a balanced houseplant fertiliser at the label rate. Feed less often as growth slows.
• Structure: The clump is normally self-supporting. Turn the pot from time to time if the plant is leaning strongly toward the light.
• Repotting: Move it to a pot only slightly larger once the clump has filled its container.
• Propagation: Divide a well-established clump when fresh growth is underway, keeping several leaves and a healthy section of roots on each division.

Common issues

• Brown tips or edges: Dry air, uneven watering or mineral-heavy water are common causes. Raise humidity, water more consistently and try rainwater or low-mineral water if the problem continues; the brown leaf tips guide covers the main checks.
• Leaves curling or drooping: Check the pot before adding more water. A dry mix points to thirst, while a wet mix with limp leaves suggests the roots are short of air; correct the moisture level. If the leaves feel chilled, move the plant to a warmer part of the room.
• Yellowing leaves: If the mix stays wet, the roots may be short of air. If yellowing or limp growth continues after the mix drains, inspect the roots. Use disinfected scissors to remove any brown, mushy roots, throw away the cut material and repot in fresh airy mix. See the root rot guide if damage is extensive.
• Fine speckling or webbing: Inspect the leaf undersides for spider mites. Isolate the plant, wipe or rinse away as many mites as you can, then use a houseplant treatment labelled for spider mites. Repeat only at the interval given on the label.
• Pale or scorched patches: Strong direct sun can bleach the pattern or leave dry patches. Move the plant back from the window or soften the light with a sheer curtain.

Goeppertia louisae ‘Maui Queen’ is non-toxic to cats and dogs

• This plant is non-toxic to cats and dogs.
• Its effects on people are unclear, so keep it away from young children who may chew it.
• Eating a large amount can still cause an upset stomach. Seek medical or veterinary advice if symptoms continue.

About the names Calathea louisae and Goeppertia louisae

The genus name Goeppertia honours Heinrich Göppert.

Christian Gottfried Daniel Nees von Esenbeck established the genus Goeppertia in 1831 in Linnaea, volume 6, page 337.

François Gagnepain first described it as Calathea louisae in 1908 in Bulletin de la Société Botanique de France, volume 55, page xlii. Finn Borchsenius and Luz Stella Suárez later placed it in Goeppertia as Goeppertia louisae in 2012 in Systematic Botany, volume 37, page 632.

The familiar former name is Calathea louisae. Finn Borchsenius, Luz Stella Suárez and Linda M. Prince restored Goeppertia for this group in 2012 in Systematic Botany, volume 37.