Calathea pink and black 'Dottie

Credit: Mokkie

Dark green and pink Calathea 'Dottie' leaf

Credit: Mokkie

Young Calathea 'Dottie

Credit: Francis Pérez

Calathea 'Dottie' flowers

Credit: HQ Flower guide

Calathea roseopicta 'Dottie', black and pink foliage

Calathea 'Dottie' is a cultivar obtained from Goeppertia roseopicta. This plant of the Marantaceae family has inherited its large, round leaves from its ancestor. But it has added its own palette of colors.

How to recognize Calathea roseopicta 'Dottie'?

Calathea 'Dottie' is a perennial with a bushy, upright habit. The largest specimens are no more than a metre high and have a spread of 60 centimetres.

The broad, round leaves are thick. Their green is so dark as to appear almost black. The midrib and margins are marked with pink, as if a painter had wanted to brighten up the dark foliage with a few brushstrokes. On the reverse, the leaf blades are purple, as in goeppertia majestica 'White Star

If you look closely at your plant, you'll notice a bulge at the base of the blades. This is the pulvinus. It's thanks to this organ that Calathea 'Dottie' can fold its leaves when night falls. Scientists differ on the usefulness of this behavior. For some, it enables the plant to protect itself from predators. For others, it helps to conserve moisture.

However, all specialists agree on one point: Calathea 'Dottie' is not toxic. It presents no danger when touched or if its leaves are ingested.

Our maintenance tips

Not very demanding, your Goeppertia roseopicta 'Dottie' is content with a location without direct sunlight and plenty of humidity.

Watering

Goeppertia roseopicta 'Dottie appreciate freshness. Their soil must be kept slightly moist in spring and summer. But the plant doesn't like excess. Be careful not to soak the substrate!

Provide water at room temperature, without lime. You can, for example, collect rainwater or use filtered water.

Once you've watered your Goeppertia roseopicta 'Dottie', empty any stagnant water from the saucer or planter. It may rot the roots.

Spray

Your Calathea 'Dottie loves humidity. But the air in our homes is often too dry! To remedy this, spray the foliage with non-calcareous water.

In addition to increasing humidity, misting dusts the leaves and limits pest attacks.

Repotting

Every spring, repot your Goeppertia roseopicta 'Dottie' to give it more space.

Obtain a pierced pot of a larger size than the previous one. Don't hesitate to choose a ceramic or plastic model. These materials retain moisture and allow you to space out watering. Your Calathea 'Dottie also prefers a wide pot to a deep container to give it room to grow.

Line the bottom with gravel or clay balls for drainage. Then pour in potting soil for green plants. You can lighten it by adding perlite.

Plant your subject in the middle and fill in with substrate. Water for the first time to eliminate air bubbles and encourage rooting.

Fertilization

To promote the growth of your Goeppertia roseopicta 'Dottie', apply fertilizer in spring and summer.

Feed your Calathea 'Dottie with green plant fertilizer.

Cleaning

Clean the leaves with a clean wet sponge. This removes dust and improves photosynthesis. It's also a way of preventing mite infestations.

Prune

Remove dried or yellowed leaves.

Cutting

Cutting is carried out during the strong growth phase, generally in spring and early summer.

Take advantage of repotting to divide your Calathea 'Dottie. Once your plant has been dug up, locate a rhizome with one or more stems. Each stem should have at least three leaves.

Using your hands or a clean, sharp tool, separate the rhizome from the rest of the plant.

In a pierced pot, pour a drainage layer (clay balls or gravel, for example).

Add potting soil for seedlings and plantations. Plant your graft in the substrate. To help you, you can use a pen to make a pilot hole.

Water for the first time to eliminate air bubbles and encourage rooting.

Diseases / Threats

Red spiders

Mealybugs

Information

Family	Marantaceae - Marantaceae
Type	Goeppertia - Goeppertia
Species	Goeppertia roseopicta - Goeppertia roseopicta
Lifecycle	Perennial
Foliage	Evergreen
Exposures	Half-shade Shade
Substrat	Humus soil
Planting method	In pots
Categories	Interior Rhizome Herbaceous
Tags	Fritillary Soiffarde
Origin	South America
Hardiness (USDA)	10b
Leaf color
Flower color