If you've ever brought home a Calathea Medallion plant thinking, "Wow, this is the prettiest plant I’ve ever seen," and then watched it slowly start to droop, curl, or crisp up... you're not alone.
I’ll be honest with you:
I used to be terrible at keeping plants alive, let alone the Calatheas. Like, crispy-leaf, “why-do-you-hate-me?” levels of bad. After a while, I finally figured out how to keep most plants, including my Calathea Medallion, not just alive, but thriving.
This beautiful plant with its bold, round leaves and stunning purple undersides is worth the effort. It might seem a bit dramatic at times (Calatheas do love to show off their moods), but once you understand what it needs, it’s honestly not that hard to keep happy.
Here are my top 7 easy tips to care for your Calathea Medallion, straight from someone who’s been in the trenches.
How to Care for Your Calathea medallion (7 Easy Tips)
1. Watering Your Plant
I learned this the hard way:
Calathea Medallion does not like tap water. The fluoride, chlorine, and minerals can mess with its roots and cause those dreaded brown, crispy leaf edges. If your plant looks like it’s been through a drought even though you’ve watered it, the culprit might be your water.
What works best?
Filtered, distilled, or rainwater. I actually leave a jug of tap water out overnight to let some of the chemicals evaporate, and my plant’s been way happier since.
Also, keep the soil evenly moist but never soggy. Let the top inch dry out before watering again. Overwatering can lead to root rot, which is pretty much a death sentence.
Here’s a detailed guide on watering potted plants.
2. Provide High Relative Humidity
Calatheas are native to tropical rainforests, so dry air makes them super cranky. If your home has dry air (especially in winter), you’ll want to bump up the humidity.
I use a small humidifier near mine, but you can also mist the leaves occasionally or place the pot on a tray of pebbles with water. Just make sure the pot isn’t sitting directly in water; nobody likes soggy feet.
If you’re interested, here’s a list of the best plant humidifiers. Be sure to check it out.
Pro tip: Grouping your plants together helps create a microclimate with more moisture. Plus, it just looks so cozy and jungle-like.
3. Temperature
Calathea Medallion loves a consistent, cozy temperature, ideally between 65°F and 80°F. Avoid cold drafts, open windows in winter, or place it next to a heater.
I know someone who left theirs too close to a window, and overnight, the temperatures dropped.
The next morning?
Limp leaves and a very dramatic plant sulking in its pot. Lesson learned.
4. Bright Indirect Light
This plant is a bit of a diva when it comes to lighting. It doesn’t want full sun (it’ll scorch those gorgeous leaves), but it does need bright, indirect light to thrive.
Keep it near a north-facing window, and it’ll be happy there. If your only option is a brighter spot, just diffuse the light with a sheer curtain. And don’t panic if you see the leaves moving, they do a little daily dance! Calatheas naturally raise and lower their leaves in response to light.
It’s kind of magical.
5. Don’t stress over fertilizer
You don’t have to overthink feeding your Calathea. In fact, less is more. Use a diluted liquid houseplant fertilizer once a month during spring and summer.
In fall and winter? Leave it alone.
Too much fertilizer can cause leaf burn, and honestly, these plants aren’t fast growers anyway. They just want to chill in their pot and look pretty.
6. Repot every couple of years
Calatheas like to feel a little snug in their pots, so there’s no rush to repot every year. But if you notice roots coming out of the drainage holes or the plant dries out super fast, it might be time.
Choose a pot that’s just one size up and has good drainage.
I usually use a mix of potting soil with a bit of orchid bark or perlite to keep things airy. And always repot in the spring if you can. Plants are more resilient when they’re actively growing.
7. Watch for pests
Spider mites love Calatheas, especially in dry conditions. I check the undersides of the leaves once a week just to be safe. If I spot anything, I gently wipe the leaves with a damp cloth and spray with neem oil.
One trick I’ve found helpful: give your Calathea a “shower” every now and then. A gentle rinse under lukewarm water keeps the leaves clean and helps wash off any tiny intruders.
Conclusion
If your Calathea Medallion looks sad sometimes, don’t beat yourself up. These plants will throw a fit if conditions aren’t just right, but once you tune into what they like, it becomes second nature.
The good news is, once you dial in the basics (light, humidity, water quality), it gets a whole lot easier. And when you see those gorgeous leaves unfurl, it’s so worth it.
I’d love to hear from you.