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Color Full® Soft Kitty Velvet Calathea Calathea rufibarba

  • Proven Winners® leafjoy® Cocoon® Collection
  • Proven Winners® leafjoy® SpaScene® Collection
  • Proven Winners® leafjoy® WorkLife™ Collection

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Learn more about Proven Winners® leafjoy® houseplants

Exposure
  • Low
  • Medium
  • Details

    12 - 36 Inches
    0 -
    0 -
    30cm - 91cm
    0cm
    0cm

    Features

    Color Full ‘Soft Kitty’ won’t purr when you pet her, but she does have furry stems and leaf undersides–thus, her common name is “Velvet Calathea’. Her leaves are lance-shaped and light, glossy green with wavy edges. Petioles are purple in color, and covered with soft, fine hairs. ‘Soft Kitty’ will maintain a smaller stature and brighter, lighter coloration than the other Calathea rufifbarbas in our collection.

    Adaptable As Houseplant
    Foliage Interest
    Harmful To: 
    Pets

    Characteristics

    Plant Type: 
    Houseplant
    Height Category: 
    Medium
    Height: 
    12 - 36 Inches 30cm - 91cm
    Foliage Colors: 
    Green
    Foliage Shade: 
    Light green
    Habit: 
    Upright
    Container Role: 
    Thriller

    Plant Needs

    Light Requirement: 
    Low
    Light Requirement: 
    Medium

    Low - No direct sun, not near a window. Medium - Medium bright indirect light in the AM or PM, typically from an east or west window. High - Bright direct or indirect light for much of the day, typically from a south window.

    Maintenance Category: 
    Moderate
    Preferred Temperature: 
    60 - 85 °F
    Water Category: 
    Consistent
    Humidity Preference: 
    Medium
    Humidity Preference: 
    High
    Container Soil Type: 
    Indoor Potting Mix
    Needs Good Drainage
    Uses: 
    Desktops
    Uses: 
    Humid Spaces
    Uses: 
    Low Light Spaces
    Uses Notes: 

    Not for human or animal consumption.

    Maintenance Notes: 
    • For optimal performance, keep your Calathea at 60-85°F (15-29°C). 
    • Calatheas perform best in medium to bright levels of indirect light. Avoid placing them next to a window that gets direct sunlight, unless it is early in the morning, or late in the afternoon. Direct midday sun can cause leaf scorch. Bright shade or filtered light is just enough for Calatheas.
    • Calatheas appreciate moderate to high levels of humidity. To keep humidity at around 40%, you may need to position your Calathea near a humidifier or on a pebble tray. 
    • Calatheas should not be watered with tap water, or excessively hard or treated water. Distilled water or filtered water are better options. These plants are sensitive to impurities and salts in tap water, which can cause leaf edges to burn or leaf spots to form. 
    • Calatheas prefer to have moist, but not soggy soil. As such, water when the top inch or so of soil is dry.  If the soil gets too dry, your Calathea may wilt or develop leaf curl–both of which are good indicators to water your plant. If it is very dry, you may need to soak your pot in water until the soil is thoroughly rehydrated. This can take up to half an hour. Once the soil is moist, allow your pot to drain thoroughly, as your Calathea shouldn’t sit in standing water for extended periods of time. 
    • Feed your Calathea once per month at half strength when it is actively growing. Reduce frequency of fertilization in the winter months. If no new leaves are growing, it does not need to be fertilized.
    • Protect furniture when watering & fertilizing.
    • When repotting your Calathea, use a chunky all-purpose potting mix, with additional orchid bark and perlite added, to ensure it has good drainage and plenty of nutrients.
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