{"id":6116,"date":"2026-02-02T03:14:28","date_gmt":"2026-02-02T11:14:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wrwofficial.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/02\/how-to-grow-and-care-for-pinstripe-calathea\/"},"modified":"2026-02-02T03:14:33","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T11:14:33","slug":"how-to-grow-and-care-for-pinstripe-calathea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wrwofficial.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/02\/how-to-grow-and-care-for-pinstripe-calathea\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Grow and Care for Pinstripe Calathea"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Soil<\/h3>\n

Members of the Marantaceae family require a rich, peaty growing medium to stay hydrated. However, they also require excellent drainage.<\/p>\n

G. ornata<\/em> tolerates soils that are slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, with a pH ranging from 6.1 to 7.8.<\/p>\n

And since prayer plants are prone to brown tips, it\u2019s best to avoid growing mediums that include perlite, since the fluoride content in this common ingredient can cause tip burn.<\/p>\n

My preferred peat-free<\/a><\/strong> potting mix for these plants is actually a combo \u2013 I like to mix one part coconut coir to help retain moisture with one part De La Tank\u2019s Houseplant Soil Mix.<\/p>\n

This provides good drainage as well as ingredients that will promote healthy growth, such as compost, biochar, and humic acid.<\/p>\n

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De La Tank\u2019s Soil Mix<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

You\u2019ll find De La Tank\u2019s Soil Mix in one-, eight-, or 16-quart bags from Arbico Organics<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

If you don\u2019t already have a supply of coconut coir (also known as cocopeat) on hand for gardening use, you can purchase it in a compressed block, which makes it more space efficient.<\/p>\n

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\"A\"A<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Prococo Compressed Coconut Coir Block<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

You can find 10-pound blocks of compressed coconut coir also available from Arbico Organics<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Water<\/h3>\n

G. ornata<\/em> prefers moist soil, so don\u2019t let it dry out much between waterings. I like to water my prayer plants when the surface of the soil has just barely started to dry.<\/p>\n

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Photo by Kristina Hicks-Hamblin.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Use a houseplant watering can<\/a><\/strong> to evenly hydrate the surface of the soil, watering until liquid runs out of the drainage holes in the bottom of the pot.<\/p>\n

Wait until the water has finished draining before returning it to its decorative pot or placing it back on top of the drainage saucer.<\/p>\n

You might also want to try the bottom watering method for this plant<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Humidity<\/h3>\n

Prayer plants require higher than average humidity, and pinstripe calathea is no different.<\/p>\n

Aim for humidity that is between 40 and 60 percent. If you live in a climate with humid summers, you should be all set and won\u2019t need to add any more moisture to your air.<\/p>\n

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Photo by Kristina Hicks-Hamblin.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

During wintertime and for those of us in more arid climates, a few extra measures can help.<\/p>\n

I grow humidity-loving houseplants such as pinstripe calathea in my arid climate by keeping them grouped with buddies, and placed in terrariums<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The houseplant buddies help to raise the ambient humidity, and the terrarium helps to hold the moisture in. (It also helps to protect my plants from my curious cats.)<\/p>\n

Fertilizing<\/h3>\n

Prayer plants prefer a gentle fertilizing regimen, so I like to use worm compost tea to nourish them.<\/p>\n

If you don\u2019t have worm compost<\/a><\/strong> bins of your own (yet!), you can fertilize your houseplant using worm compost tea sachets.<\/p>\n

To use this method, you soak these \u201ctea\u201d bags in room temperature water and feed your plants while watering.<\/p>\n

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Teadrops All Purpose Houseplant Fertilizer<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

You can find organic worm compost tea sachets from Earthworm Technologies via Walmart<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Where to Buy<\/h2>\n

You can find pinstripe plants in nurseries and garden centers that carry a good selection of houseplants.<\/p>\n

Or you can shop online!<\/p>\n

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\"A\"A<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Pinstripe Plant<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

You can find pinstripe plants in six-inch pots from Fast Growing Trees<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Beauty Star<\/h3>\n

\u2018Beauty Star\u2019 is a cultivated variety of G. ornata<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Its dark green leaves have flushes of pale green between the midrib and leaf margins, forming a light green background behind delicate creamy pink stripes.<\/p>\n

The stripes appear in a wispy, feathery pattern and the undersides of the leaves are deep purple.<\/p>\n

This cultivar tends to grow only up to 18 inches tall and wide, with pink flowers.<\/p>\n

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\u2018Beauty Star\u2019<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

You can purchase \u2018Beauty Star\u2019 in six-inch pots from the American Plant Exchange via Amazon<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Maintenance<\/h2>\n

You\u2019ll only need to prune your pinstripe calathea if you want to shape it up a bit or if it gets the occasional brown leaf tip.<\/p>\n

Like other prayer plants, G. ornata<\/em> is quite sensitive to temperature and humidity fluctuations and it\u2019s not uncommon to find brown leaf tips, even on well-cared for specimens.<\/p>\n

Feel free to prune off brown tips with a pair of sterilized scissors. You can wipe the scissors down with rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide to sterilize them.<\/p>\n

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Photo by Kristina Hicks-Hamblin.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

If you get quite neglectful and miss a watering or two, you might find entire leaves that have gone crispy.<\/p>\n

Trim back the dead leaf as close as possible to the soil surface.<\/p>\n

There are many causes for brown leaves on prayer plants \u2013 learn how to troubleshoot this issue in our guide<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

When it\u2019s time to water, this is a good opportunity to give its leaves a quick cleaning.<\/p>\n

Wipe each leaf down with a damp paper towel, top and bottom, and make sure the leaves remain relatively dry.<\/p>\n

As a fairly slow grower, pinstripe calathea will only need to be repotted every two or three years \u2013 do this in spring when it is actively growing.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n