Light
Bright indirect • approx. 10,000–20,000 lux
Marantaceae
Goeppertia (Calathea) orbifolia
- Curated selection:
Every plant is hand‑picked for health and visual appeal, so you receive a strong, well‑established plant.
- Representative photos:
Product images show a typical plant of this variety. Natural differences in leaf number, shape or variegation are normal, your plant will still match in type and quality.
- Size details:
Listed sizes refer to pot diameter (cm) and approximate overall height (cm) from the base of the pot to the tallest leaf or stem.
- “Get What You See” items:
If you are buying the exact plant shown in the photos, this is clearly stated in the size section.
- Individual photos:
One‑off photos are only provided when this is explicitly mentioned in the size section. - For special traits or small quirks, please check the full product description.
VAT included · plus
Your new plant has just travelled a long way and needs a calm start in its new home. For step-by-step unboxing and first-week care, check our after-delivery care guide. For deeper tips on how your plant settles in over the next weeks, read our houseplant acclimatization guide.
- Care basics , Main hub with links to all houseplant care guides.
- After delivery & first week , Unpacking, first placement, and early recovery.
- Light, How much light houseplants really need indoors.
- Watering , When to water and how to avoid root rot.
- Substrates & roots, Potting mixes and drainage for strong root systems.
- Humidity, When humidity matters and what actually helps.
- Fertilizing, Simple feeding routine without burning roots.
- Problems & pests, Yellow leaves, brown tips, bugs, and fixes that work.
- Semi-hydro, How to run low-maintenance mineral substrates.
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Goeppertia (Calathea) orbifolia
Quick Care Guide
Watering
Water when upper 20–30% dry
Substrate
Moisture-retentive but airy • Fine bark/coir + perlite or pumice • Good drainage
Temperature
Ideal: 18–24 °C • Avoid below: 16 °C
Humidity
Humid 60–80 % +
Growth habit
Upright clumping rhizomatous herbaceous perennial.
Support
not needed
Growth speed
Average
Max size indoors
Max. height: 100 cm • Max. spread: 100 cm
Toxicity & safety
Non-toxic
Origin & habitat
Native to eastern Brazil
Outdoor growing
Outside from 15 °C · sheltered spot
How to read these values
These care values are quick reference points for indoor growing. Use them as a guide, then adjust for pot size, substrate, temperature and how quickly the substrate dries.
For more detail, read the full product description or visit our Plant Care Guides.
- Light: level and approximate lux at leaf level.
- Watering: “% dry” shows how far the substrate should dry before watering again.
- Substrate: structure, drainage, moisture retention, base material and particle size.
- Temperature: “Ideal” shows the preferred range; “Avoid below” marks the cold-stress threshold.
- Humidity: target range; steady conditions usually matter more than exact numbers.
- Growth habit: how the plant grows, such as upright, climbing, trailing, clumping or rosette-forming.
- Support: whether a stake, pole or trellis is needed, optional or unnecessary.
- Growth speed: expected pace under suitable indoor conditions; use as a guide, not a promise.
- Max size indoors: realistic long-term indoor size under good conditions.
- Toxicity & safety: irritation, toxicity or physical hazards such as spines or bristles.
- Origin & habitat: native range, hybrid background or typical habitat where relevant.
- Outdoor growing: when a potted indoor plant can be placed outside and what outdoor protection it needs.
Goeppertia (Calathea) orbifolia
Goeppertia (Calathea) orbifolia has rounded green leaves crossed by soft silver-green bands. Each leaf rises from the base on a slender petiole, then opens into a broad, gently curved blade.
The familiar shop name is Calathea orbifolia. Botanically, the species belongs to Goeppertia orbifolia.
This species grows from rhizomes below the substrate surface. Mature plants gain width and height as fresh basal shoots develop.
- Growth habit: Rhizomatous and clump-forming.
- Leaves: Large, round to broadly oval and softly waved.
- Pattern: Silver-green bands across a green surface.
- Mature form: Wide, full clump, often around 60–90 cm tall indoors.
- Flowering: Small white flowers are possible, but indoor flowering is rare.
Goeppertia orbifolia comes from rainforest regions of eastern Brazil. Its broad, thin leaves are adapted to sheltered forest conditions with filtered light, warmth and humid air. Indoors, those same leaves collect dust, lose moisture along the edges and show sun damage quickly.
Care for broad silver-banded leaves
- Light: Bright indirect light keeps new leaves broad and even without scorching the wide surface.
- Watering: Water when the upper 15–25% of the substrate begins to dry. Moisten the root zone evenly and let the pot drain fully. The substrate should stay lightly moist, drained and airy.
- Water quality: Rainwater, filtered water or low-mineral water is best if your tap water is hard. Mineral build-up often appears as brown leaf edges.
- Substrate: Use a moisture-retentive but airy mix, such as peat-free houseplant compost or coir with fine bark and perlite or pumice.
- Humidity: Keep around 60% or higher. The broad leaves crisp at the edges when the air stays dry.
- Temperature: Keep around 18–24°C, away from cold draughts, cold windowsills and sudden drops.
- Feeding: Feed lightly during active growth with diluted balanced fertiliser. Reduce strength when growth slows.
- Cleaning: Wipe the broad leaves regularly because dust gathers quickly on the large surface.
- Repotting: Repot when the clump has filled the container. Move up one pot size and keep the rhizome base level with the substrate.
- Propagation: Divide mature clumps, keeping roots and several healthy leaves on each division.
Orbifolia leaf edge and root problems
- Brown leaf edges: Dry air, hard water, fertiliser salts and uneven watering all leave marks on the wide margins.
- Curling leaves: Dry substrate, cold air or a sudden humidity drop can make the leaves pull inward.
- Yellow lower leaves: One old leaf can age naturally. Several yellow leaves suggest wet, airless substrate.
- Pale or scorched patches: Direct sun can mark the broad leaf surface quickly.
- Fine speckling or webbing: Spider mites often appear when indoor air is dry. Look closely at the undersides.
- Leaf spots: Wet foliage and weak airflow can leave marked areas on the leaves.
The leaves move naturally through the day. They often sit more open in daylight and lift more upright in the evening. Limp petioles, tight curling or collapse are stress signs rather than normal prayer-plant movement.
Goeppertia orbifolia is safe for cats and dogs. Chewing can still damage the broad leaves and may upset the stomach.
The name orbifolia comes from Latin roots meaning round leaf, matching the plant’s broad, circular leaf shape. Goeppertia honours Johann Heinrich Robert Göppert; Calathea refers to a basket-like vessel.
Plant names, growth habits, natural habitats and indoor care guidance are checked against trusted botanical, habitat and horticultural references before publication.View our plant care resources and references.
Goeppertia (Calathea) orbifolia
Sale price€10,00
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Goeppertia (Calathea) orbifolia
Sale price€10,00
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