Care Level: Medium care

The genus Calathea—characterized by boldly marked, oblong leaves in a dazzling array of colors—includes some of the most beautiful tropical plants in the world. Due to the plants' eye-catching stripes and veining, they're often known by nicknames such as the zebra plant, peacock plant, or rattlesnake plant. Calatheas are also referred to as prayer plants, a common name that other species use as well.

When growing them indoors, indirect sun from an east-, south-, or west-facing window should suffice. It is helpful to rotate your plant, so the sun hits it evenly. You might notice the leaves of your calathea moving throughout the day, folding up at night, and opening wider in the morning. This is so the plant can maximize sun absorbency.

Water: Keep moist, when the top half inch of soil appears dry, water again. Do not let the plant stand in water. Water less frequent in the winter months