Calathea Medallion

How to care for Calathea Medallion

Light

Goeppertia roseopicta thrives in bright, indirect light, such as a position set back from an east- or north-facing window, or shielded from direct sun behind a sheer curtain on a south- or west-facing aspect. Direct sunlight will scorch the leaves and cause the vivid patterning to fade significantly. Conversely, very low light slows growth and also diminishes leaf colour. Avoid placing the plant near cold draughts or heating vents.

Watering

Water with room-temperature, low-mineral water such as rainwater or filtered water, as this species is sensitive to fluoride and chlorine, both of which can cause brown leaf tips. Allow the top centimetre of compost to dry slightly before watering again, then water thoroughly so that excess drains freely. Reduce watering frequency in autumn and winter when growth slows, but never allow the root ball to dry out completely. Overwatering is the most common cause of decline and root rot.

Soil and potting

Use a well-draining yet moisture-retentive, peat-free potting mix. A suitable blend consists of two parts general houseplant compost, one part perlite, and one part coco coir. Good aeration around the roots is essential to prevent waterlogging while still retaining enough moisture to satisfy this plant's needs. Avoid heavy, compacted compost that stays wet for extended periods.

Feeding

Feed with a balanced, water-soluble fertiliser diluted to half the recommended strength once a month during spring and summer. Avoid feeding in autumn and winter when the plant is not in active growth, as excess fertiliser salts can accumulate in the compost and damage the roots. Over-feeding is as harmful as under-feeding and can cause leaf tip browning or spotting.

Humidity and temperature

This plant requires high humidity, ideally between 60 and 80 percent, to replicate its rainforest habitat. Grouping plants together, placing the pot on a tray of damp pebbles, or using a room humidifier are all effective methods; misting is less effective and can encourage fungal issues if water sits on the foliage. Maintain temperatures between 18 and 27°C and protect the plant from temperatures below 15°C. Cold draughts from windows or doors are particularly damaging.

Repotting

Repot every one to two years in spring when roots begin to emerge from the drainage holes or circle the surface of the compost. Move up only one pot size at a time, as too large a pot holds excess moisture and increases the risk of root rot. Terracotta pots can help regulate soil moisture, but plastic pots are equally suitable provided drainage is adequate. Handle the roots gently during repotting as they are delicate.

Pruning

Pruning requirements are minimal. Remove any yellowed, brown, or damaged leaves at the base of the stem with clean, sharp scissors or secateurs to keep the plant looking tidy and to prevent the spread of any fungal issues. Dead leaves should not be left to sit on the soil surface. The plant does not require any structural pruning and will not benefit from cutting back healthy growth.

Is Calathea Medallion toxic?

Common problems

How to propagate

Division

The most reliable method. At repotting time in spring, gently separate the root ball into two or more sections, ensuring each division has several healthy stems and a good portion of roots. Pot each division into appropriately sized containers with fresh compost and maintain high humidity and warmth while the divisions establish.

Stem cuttings with node

Take a cutting that includes at least one node and a leaf, and place it in water or moist compost in a warm, humid environment. Success rates are lower than division and rooting can be slow, so patience is required. This method is less commonly used for this species.

Where Calathea Medallion comes from

Native to Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru.

Story and origins

The genus name Goeppertia honours Johann Heinrich Robert Goeppert (1800-1884), a German botanist and palaeobotanist who was a professor at the University of Breslau and made significant contributions to the study of fossil plants. The species epithet roseopicta is derived from the Latin words 'roseus', meaning rose-coloured or pink, and 'pictus', meaning painted, together describing the characteristic rose-pink painted markings that appear on the leaves. The now-superseded genus name Calathea comes from the Greek 'kalathos', meaning a basket, a reference to the way the leaves of some species were traditionally used to weave baskets in their native South American range.

Goeppertia roseopicta was first formally described by the German botanist Auguste de Saint-Hilaire in the nineteenth century, having been collected from the tropical rainforests of Brazil. The species was long classified within the genus Calathea, under which name it became popular in the European houseplant trade during the latter decades of the twentieth century. The 2012 reclassification into Goeppertia, based on molecular evidence published by Borchsenius and colleagues, placed it more accurately within the Marantaceae family's phylogeny, though growers and retailers have been slow to adopt the updated nomenclature. Indigenous peoples of Amazonia have long made use of large-leaved Marantaceae plants, including related species, for weaving, food wrapping, and roof thatching, reflecting a deep cultural relationship with this plant family across its native range.

Varieties to know

Goeppertia roseopicta 'Medallion'

The trade cultivar most commonly sold; features large rounded leaves with silvery-green and dark green patterning and rose-pink feathering radiating from the midrib.

Goeppertia roseopicta 'Dottie'

Has very dark, near-black green leaves with a vivid pink-to-red ring pattern and pink midrib, making it one of the more dramatic cultivars.

Goeppertia roseopicta 'Cora'

Displays broad silver-grey patterning on a dark green leaf with a contrasting dark purple underside.

Goeppertia roseopicta 'Rosy'

Features predominantly pink and rose tones on new leaves, which gradually mature to reveal the typical dark green and silver patterning.

Goeppertia roseopicta 'Princess Jessie'

A lesser-known cultivar with dark green leaves and a more subdued pink striped pattern, retaining rich purple undersides.

Fun facts

• The nyctinastic leaf movements of Goeppertia roseopicta are driven by changes in water pressure within specialised cells called pulvini located at the base of each leaf stalk, not by growth.
• The genus Goeppertia was separated from Calathea following a comprehensive molecular phylogenetic study published in 2012, though the Calathea trade name remains dominant in horticulture.
• In its natural Brazilian rainforest habitat, Goeppertia roseopicta grows on the shaded forest floor, where it receives only dappled light filtered through the forest canopy.
• The distinctive rose-pink patterns on the leaf surface of this species are thought to mimic the appearance of young leaves or damage to deter herbivores, though the precise ecological function is not fully understood.
• Goeppertia roseopicta rarely flowers when grown as a houseplant indoors in the UK; when it does flower, it produces small, inconspicuous white or pale lilac blooms that are largely insignificant compared to its foliage.

Calathea Medallion FAQ