Goeppertia makoyana

Native range and habitat

Goeppertia makoyana is native to Espírito Santo in southeastern Brazil. It grows naturally in warm, humid tropical forest.

Taller forest plants filter the strongest sunlight, while the soil stays regularly moist and airy.

Care for Goeppertia makoyana

• Light: Place it in bright indirect light or light shade. Strong midday sun can scorch its thinner leaves, so filtered light is especially useful near bright windows.
• Watering: Water when the surface of the mix begins to dry while it still feels lightly moist below. Let excess water run out freely after each watering. As light levels fall or the room cools, growth and drying both slow, so leave a longer interval between waterings.
• Humidity: Aim for around 60% humidity. Use a humidifier or naturally humid room to keep humidity steady.
• Temperature: Aim for about 18–24°C. Cold windows, draughts and direct heater airflow can mark or curl the leaves.
• Potting mix: Use a loose, moisture-holding mix that drains freely, such as a houseplant mix with bark and perlite.
• Feeding: Use a balanced liquid feed roughly every four weeks while new leaves are appearing. Cut back once active growth slows.
• Structure: Its compact clump supports itself. Give the leaves enough room to open freely around the clump.
• Repotting: Move a crowded clump up by one pot size.
• Propagation: Split a mature clump when it is producing new growth, making sure each rooted section carries several healthy leaves.

Common issues

• Crispy brown edges: Low humidity, missed waterings or mineral build-up are the usual causes. Water more consistently, raise humidity and use lower-mineral water if your tap water is hard.
• Leaves rolling inward: Check whether the mix has become too dry and whether the plant is sitting in hot, dry air. Rewater a dry root ball thoroughly and let it drain. Keep the plant around 18–24°C and raise humidity if the surrounding air is very dry.
• Fading leaf pattern: Low light can fade the pattern. Move it to brighter indirect light and look for stronger colour in new leaves.
• Yellow leaves: If the pot stays wet for too long, reduce watering and check that the drainage holes are clear. If roots are soft or brown, cut them away with disinfected scissors and dispose of the cut material. Repot in fresh free-draining mix; the root rot guide gives the next steps.
• Fine yellow speckles or webbing: Check both sides of the leaves for spider mites. Isolate the plant, remove visible mites, then use a houseplant treatment labelled for spider mites. Repeat only at the interval given on the label.

Goeppertia makoyana 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.

Which name is used now: Calathea makoyana or Goeppertia makoyana?

The genus name Goeppertia honours Heinrich Göppert. Makoyana commemorates the Belgian horticultural firm Jacob-Makoy.

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

Charles Jacques Édouard Morren first described it as Calathea makoyana in 1872 in Annales de l’Horticulture Belge et Étrangère, volume 22, page 321. Finn Borchsenius and Luz Stella Suárez later placed it in Goeppertia as Goeppertia makoyana in 2012 in Systematic Botany, volume 37, page 632.

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